Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1898-08-25
SATURDAY SERMON.
For Sunday Perusal and Every Da!
Guidance.

ILL, 2.
We should be better fitted to
master the difficult problems of
our life if we had ahigher estimate
of our ability to do SO.
Mere self-conceit is an abomi-
nation, but self-appreciation IS one
of the prime conditions of sue
cess.
The conceited man is under the
impression that the assistance of
the Lord is not necessary, for he
is quite sufficient unto himself.
Conceit is sometimes an eccentri-
city, at other times a species of
mild insanity, and always an hall
lucination. There is no weaker
man on the planet than he who is
boastful of his own strength.
Self appreciation is very diff
ferent matter. When a man rev.
erently recognizes the fact that
the breath of God is in his soul,
that he came forth from omnipo-
tence, wisdom and love, and that
it was the intention of the Creator
that he should reflect these attri-
butes SO far as mortality permits,
he thereby becomes at once exalted
and humble. He is exalted by
the consciousness of noble descent,
and he is humble by the knowl.
edge that he must work with and
for God or absolutely nothing can
be accomplished. With his own
arm he may make brave fight
and win grand victory, but the
arm must WELD the sword of the
Spirit. It is the Holy Ghost in
a man which makes him great to
achieve.
You are to be of good cheer.
That should be your normal con-
dition. You are like a finely con>
structed organ which has some-
how got out of tune. You can
play on it, but there are some
keys which will not respond to
the touch. You need not destroy
the organ and build another, fo1
God made, and Gods work is
always good. It is not totally out
of repair, for a few days. work
on the part of the angels and you
will have an instrument with
which you can fitly praise the
Lord for His goodness and
mercy.
True religion teaches that God
Himself laid the cornerstones OF
our character, then gave US a
plan of the building, saying that
invisible agencies would assist
us in our daily task. He is with
US always, and they are always
with US.
Why should we not recognize
these facts and shape our lives in
accordance with them? Why not
strive with cheerful hearts, be.
lieving that there is never a
moment when despair need in.
wade the. soul? We are too dull,
too heavy, too discouraged. The
Lord is not in the tomb where
Lazarus laid His body. He is
risen, is within reach of you,
voice, and is ready always te
render assistance. Our difficulty
is that our faith and our doubt
are yoked together. We half be:
lieve and half deny. Some life
fritters itself away and nothin e
is done.
How should we fare if we were
to do business after this manner
The man who makes a fortune
has certain convictions and acts
on them. He does not hesitate
about an investment until the op
portunity slips by. He does no
begin by persuading himself tha
he is not equal to his task, he is
not dull, nor sullen, nor doubt,
full, nor despairing. Under such
conditions he would face bank
ruptcy every day, and the time
would come when everything
would be swept away. On the
contrary, he wrestles with the
impossible and overcomes it, he
has a perfect faith in his ulti.
mate success, and no obstacles
bring dismay--they only nerve
him to greater effort.
| How can we do we'll in religion
If we act on principles which
would be sure to bring disaster
in business? What we most neet
is deeper confidence in our,
selves based on larger conf,
dence in God. We Cannot fail
we will not fail, for Heaven itsel.