The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-03-05
OUR BEST.

We Need Not Greater Capacity, but
Motive for Greater ExertiOn.
|. ''our greatest need is somebody to make
us do our best"
Did Emerson ever write a truer line?
The poverty, weakness and want which
we see all about us in the physical and
spiritual realms are not the result of
mans lack of ability and talent, and
they would quickly disappear if some
influence could induce each member of
the human family to exercise fully and
in the right directions the capacities
which he already possesses.
am acquainted with young man
who carried off the highest honors at
school and college, but his father, when
congratulated on his sons talent, re-
piled that the boy was naturally no
more of scholar than most boys, but
that his mother was determined that
he should excel. and that, stimulated
by her constant ambition, he had made
the efforts necessary to success. Ben
jamin West said: "My mothers kiss
made me painter"
All, mothers, what opportunities are
yours! BY example and persuasion. pa
tiently and perseveringly teach the dear
children to be satisfied with nothing
less than doing and being their best, to
go on day by day,
without hating, without rest
Lifting better up to best"
Sometimes it is the influence OF a
| friend that brings out the best there is
in man. John B. Cough upon the lee
ture platform, moving thousands to
| temperance and manhood and God by
his matchless eloquence, was the stag
gering, drunken John B. Cough at his
best, and, hnmanly speaking, it was the
sympathetic touch and encouraging
word of friend that brought him
there.
In "The Changed Life" Henry Drum.
mond says: "There are some men and
some women in whose company we are
always at our best. While with them
we cannot think mean thoughts OF
speak ungenerous words. All the best
stops in our nature are drawn out by
their intercourse, and we find a music
in our souls that was never there be-
fore. Suppose even that influence pro
longed month, year. a lifetime, what
might not life become? Here even or
the common plane of life, talking oul
language, walking our streets. work
ing side by side, are sanctifers Of
souls"
"Sanctifiers of souls" how we'll tn,
term describes Drummond himself. TIL,
possessor of such a blessed infuenc,
must ever be unconscious of it, yet w,
may well pause and ask ourselves if on,
friendship and intercourse brings our
the best in our associates. But do som,
sigh because their environment bring
out their worst traits and the infuenc,
of their companions in life constant.
tends to lower their ideals?
Listen to Drummond again: "If t.
live with men, diluted to the milliontl
degree with the virtue of the highest
can exalt and purify the nature, wha
bounds can be set to the influence o
Christ ?"
And we can each one have Christ fc
constant companion and nearest friend
Can there be any more powerful incen
tive to be and do our best than love TO
Christ and desire to please Him?
"Christ wants the best. He in the far-oi
ages
Once claimed the flrstling Of the flock, tn
finest Of the wheat,
And still he asks His own with gentles
pleading
To lay their highest hopes and brightes
talents at His feet,
He'll not forget the feeblest service, hum
blest love,
He only asks that Of our store We'll Civ
to Him
The best we have.
Christ gives the best He takes the heart
we offer
And fills them with His glorious beaut!
joy and peace,
stronger,
The calls to grand achievements still il
crease,
The richest gifts for us on earth. or in III
Heaven above,
Are hid in Christ. In Jesus we receive
The best we have.
And Is our best too much? Oh, friend
let US remember,
How once our Lord poured out His sol
for us,
And in the prime of His mysterious mai
hood
Gave up His precious life upon the eros
The Lord Of lords, by whom the worlt
were made,
Through bitter grief and tears gave us