St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-12-17

bats and making something by the
bargain. and they are going to be mer-
chants. When Able de Rance had so
advanced in studying Greek that he
could translate Anacreon at IL years
OF age, there was no doubt left that
he was intended for . scholar But
in almost every lad there comes a time
when he does not know what he was
made for, and his parents do not know,
and 1t is a crisis that God only can
decide. Then there are those born for
some especial work and their fitness
does not develop until quite late.
When Philip Doddridge, whose sermons
and books have harvested uncountcd
souls for glory, began to study for the
ministry, DR.. Calamy, one Of the wisest
and best men, advised him to turn his
thoughts to some other work. Isaac
Barrow, the eminent clergyman and
Christian scientist-his books are
standard now, though he has been dead
over 200 years-was the dishearten-
ment Of his father, who used to say
that II 1t pleased God to take any of
his children away he hoped it might
be his son Isaac. So some of those who
have been characterized for their stu
pidity in boyhood or girlhood, have
turned out the mightiest benefactors
or bencfactresscs of the human race.
These things being SO, am I not right
in saying that in many cases God only
knows what is the most appropriate
Al ~ -, - IL MI vyc ho np1n
to ask? And let all parents and all
schools and all universities and all col
leges recognize this and large num-
Der of those who spent their best years
in stumbling about among businesses
and occupations, now trying this and
now trying that and failing in all.
would be able to go ahead with def
mite, decided and tremendous purpose,
saying: ITO this end was born"
But my subject now mounts into the
momentous. Let me say that you are
made for usefulness and Heaven. ]
judge this from the way you are built.
You go into q shop where there is
only one wheel turning and that by a
wcrkHlan's foot on u treadle, and you
say to yourself: Here is something
good being done. yet on small scale, :"
Tut il you 60 into a factory covering
many acres and you find thousands of
Lands pulling on thousands of wheels
and shuttles flying and the whole
scene bewildering with activities,
driven by water or steam or electric
power. you conclude that the factory
was put up to do great work and on
vast scale. Now, look at you. and il
] should find that you had only one
faculty of body. only one muscle, only
one nerve, if you could see but not
Eear, or could hear md not see. if you
had the use of only one foot or one
hand. and, as to your higher nature. if
you had only one mental faculty and
you had memory but no judgment. or
Judgment but no will. and If you had
= soul with only one capacity, should
say not much is expected of you. But
stand up. oh. man, and let me look you
siuarely in the face. Eyes capable of
seeing everything. Ears capable OF
bearing everything. Hands capable Of
grasping everything. Minds with more
wheels than any factory ever turned,
more power than any Corl;ss engine
ever moved. \ soul that will cutlive
all the universe except heaven. and
would o,Itliyc all heaven if the life of
the other immortals were a moment
short of the eternal. Now, what has
the world right to expect OF you?
What has God right to demand Of
you? God is the greatest of econo-
mists in the universe, and He makes
nothing uselcssly. and for what pur-
rose did He build your body, mind and
soul rs they are built? There are only
two beings in the universe who can
answer that question. The angels do
ret know. The schools do not know.
Your kindred cannot certainly know.
Gcd knows, and you ought to know.
\ factory running at an expense OF
$500. 1000 q year and turning out goods
worth 20 cents year would not be
such an incongruity as you, 0 man.
with such scni-infnite equipment do
ing nothing, or next tc nothing. in the
way of usefulness. "What shall do?'
you ask My brethren. my sisters, do
not ask me. Ask God. There. some
path OF Christian usefulness open. 1t
may be rough path or it may be
path, long path or short
path. 1t may be on the mount of con-
spicuity or in the valley unobserved.
but it is path on which you car start
with such faith and such satisfaction
md such certainty that you can cry
out III the face of earth and hell and
heaven: ITO this end was born"
Do not wait for extraordinary quail
(ications. Philip, the conquercr, gained
bis greatest victories seated on a mule
and il you wait for some caparisoned
to ride into the conflict you
will never get into the worldwide fight
ii all. Samson slew the Lords en-
smies with the iawbone of the stupid
EST beast created. Sh.mgar slew GOD
II the Lords enemies with an OK goad.
Under God spittle cured the blind
mans eyes in the New Testament story.
Take eli the faculty you have and say:
% Lord, here is what nave! Show
ne the field, and back me up by omnipo-
tent power. Anywhere, anyhow, any
;me for God"
It may be helpful il rccite my own |
experience in this regard. started
or the law without asking any divine |
direction. I consulted my own tastes.
liked lawyers and coIrtrooms and
Judges and juries. and reveled in hearing |
he Frelinghuysens and the Bradleys
If the New Jersey bar. and as assistant
u the county clerk, at 16 years OF age,
searched titles. naturalized foreign
rs, recorded deeds. received the con-
'ession Of judgments, sworc witnesses
ind juries and grand juries. but after
lwhile I felt call to the gospel minis
ry and entered it, and felt some salts
action in the work; but one summer,
when was resting at Sharon Springs
ind while seated in the park Of that vii
age. said to myself: IF have an es-
,ecial work to do in the world. | ought
% find it out now" and with that de-