Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-04-08
HEAVEN FOR WORKERS.
NEW TESTAMENT a DESPERATELY
SENSIBLE BOOK"

tue Rev George 10. HepNorth's SUNDAY
sermon LEA the New York Herald h I'm
titled. Thing. Not Worth W hiie"-l'r.
TalmaEr breaches an Unfair Conduct.
TExr; Thou hast sinnri against thy
soul. H.. 10
The oigect OF religion is To make life
sweet and satisfactory. Nbru man has
done the best he could under the cirtum-
stances be has done all that God requires
81 him. Heaven l. uu; Tor those who be-
lieve ihings but for those who DO things.
Christ vas working mau In it, largest and
most divine sense. while we ARE all working
men an small sense. tie worked Tor
others. and was therefore divine; we work
for ourselves. and are therefore pititully
human. His religion teaches u To become
part Of the life Of those who need our
help: our tendency il tu take from others
for our own ease and comfort. and 10 give
as little a. possible. tie emphasizes the
value of the soul, givc- il a dignity aud u
grandeur, the gait and bearing 81 king.
our philosophy Of life minimlZes spiritual
pleasures and mIguilr~ what l. sensuous.
never tire of the New Testament, be-
cause 1t i such desperately sensible book
and because il fatty contralirts the ideas
which worldly society puts into my head.
Ii is always new. therefore, aud almost al
ways startling. II the soul j. what lie tells
me IL is. then must huvea large plan. II
| am really little lower than the angels,
then | must cease to be childish. aud the
small cares OF life must not be allowed to
tease and fret me. In that ease / should
look life IN the face and say to my soul that
it must busy Itself ahout great things aud
keep in mind that petty things are not
worthy Of attention.
For example, il il not worth while to be
impatient because what happens is not to
our liking. We are apt To make hot re-
ply when an ill-natured remark is made.
somebody elses BAT mood eXcites IA bad
mood in us We catch the disease instant
lv. aud then there are two persons in "a
bad mood instead of one. Passion is heat
ed to the exploding point we give rein to
our tongue, and pitched battle OF words
takes place. We loosen the bonds of Il
friendship. we wound the heart of airec-
lion, for what we say is Il consuming fire.
II we had apertect control of ourselves we
should not be powder to any ones torch. A
little patience, very difficult to attain, |
admit. would Keep us from striking when
we are struck. 1t is noble to keep still,
and the rebuke of silence is like keen
sword. 1t is not worth our while, not worth
the souls while to step down to lover
level because some one addresses us from
that level. We should maintain our dig
nifty though others lose theirs.
Then, again, 1t is not becoming in a
princely soul to allow the habit Of fault
/ finding to get possession of it. 1t renders
/ one uncomfortable, it units one for the en-
joyments which cross our path. it dulls the
/ edge ef happiness, it Is like eating lemon
! instead OF an orange. The man who finds
fault with others seldom has time TO lnd
fault with himself. which is his chief duty.
Instead of being charitable he is
censorious. Not even the Lord eau
please him. and If he ever gets to
| heaven he will insist that things shall BE-
arranged to suit his personal taste. FAINT
finding is simply self-concet in subtle
disguise. Such man hints that the
! universe is wrong. but that he eau pat it
right. 1t is not worth while to peer ut the
defects Of others and to ignore their vir-
tues. 1t is better to look for good things,
| because you are sure to find them il you
| look long enough. than to look for bad
things and then waste your time in
grumbling because they are bad. II God
were dethroned such II man would try to
take His place: but since God reigns il
would be well for the fault finder to retire
to the background and try to be thankful
for mer'ies received, rather than rriticist
the Almighty for not giving him what he
thinks he ought to have.
Once more it is not worth your while tC
look on the dark side of life, for that d..
stroys your power OF resistance and endur
nncp. There is sometimes Il hard side t
Gods providence. but never & dark side
He does undoubtedly ask us to do somt
strange things, and to go through sLmt
strange experiences: but II He goes witt
us We are not only in good company bu
are sure to derive some benefit from it all
Strong characters are wrought by tears
and Affections are stepping stones t
heaven If we view them from the rigl
standpoint and put them to their proper
use. Lie IS not all Gladness, but sadness
is the hot fire in which the Toledo blade il
forged We may not always know why W,
suffer, for no explanation has ever beer
souls are always the noblest, provided the,
suffer under the shadow OF Gods sym
pathy. 70 be unconscious of His presenc
makes life very heavy aud laden, but to b
conscious OF it Is like catching glimpse o
the distant home when the weary travee
is ready to drop by the wayside,
Yes, Il SOUL an immortal soul, witt
heaven and heavenly things all about, is
magnificent mystery. 1t must live up t,
its destiny, and put under its feet the fear
and doubts which are so intrusive and :,
persistent. Think OF yourself a Col
child, to whom no real harm can pO,sibl,
come, and the clouds will part and YOU
depression will be lightened. There are
still stars overhead, and II blue sky.
will be all right by and by. In the mean
time be patient, and, above all, keep yoal
faith bright and pure.
GEORGE II, HEPwoRTu
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