Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-03-10
Neglect Of Opportunities.

Neglect OF Opportunities.
Mr.. Editor:-I want to be help to
my brothers and sisters-for the world
Is kin. Will you grant me little
space in your valuable paper, that i
may speak word, preach short
big sermon on the above subject. ST.
Paul speaks to us of "redeeming the
tlme' that is buying up the opportu.
nifty, as great christian duty. We
may proftably ask ourselves, how
much of our lives are made up Of ne
elected opportunities We have all
read the old saying, and 1 almost
shudder to repeat it: "Hell is paved
with good Intentions" When we look
back over our lives, how sad the
view, to tell OF the countless opportu-
mites which God, in mercy has
placed within our reach, but which
we have let slip away, unimproved.
They are beyond our power of
recovery--gone. Why did we let them
go unimproved? l think we NAV
answer: Because we did not believe
in the seriousness and Importance of
the question at issue; because we
have not, and possibly do not realize
our need, and therefore have no
heartlongings for something which
shall satisfy its cravings. Perhaps the
very abundance Of our opportunities
blinds us to their value; what we
think we can do any day we are apt
never to do at all. Or itmay be that we
shrink from the trouble, or incon-
venience, necessary to improve the
opportunity, we are contented to be
as we are, and we do not think it
worth while to get up and better
ourselves in quest of some fancied
good which may not be given to us
at oil. Think-just now "Jesus of
Nazareth passeth by" This is the call
of watchmen on the walls of Christ's
Kingdom. What shall it profit if you
gain the world, and lose heaven?
Jesus passeth by!' He will go this
way, possibly no more, for some who
read this exhortation, this opportu-
nifty is ours, it may never come again.
How shall we escape if we neglect so
great salvation2 Today If ye will hear
His voice, harden not the heart, the
conscience. As parents we are re-
sponsible for human lives, for the
trainining of immortal souls, that we
may succeed we meet the opportuni-
ties that are ours, opportunities
which we cannot prise too highly, or
to embrace too feryently. Life Is
truly battle. We must have person.
al courage, We must look
into the faces and eyes of our dear
children and realize our God given
responsibility in the formation of
OF their lives and characters. We
will do we'll to ask ourselves what
will l say to God in the day, when He
shall say to me: As a parent, al
steward, to whom by your own
choice, committed the care of chill
dren, the responsibility of souls-what
have you done for them. What has
been your example? Have you by
precept and example led them to see
the good and warned them of the
evil? What of the opportunities
which were intended to fortify their
soul and body safely from the con-
tamination of sin? Here is the chris
tian church, just what we need to
help us in the battle of life, here is
the Nurture" of the Lord, safe
retreat for parents and children, a |
place where, ''As iron sharpeneth
iron, so does the face of a brother his
friend" The ministry pray that you
may lay hold upon yonr opportunity
They want to have you with them
as soldiers with them in the great
battle of life, and to win with them a
welcome into the paradise of God
when the conflict is ended. For one,
believe me, / shall be glad of your
company. Will you GOMEZ Will you
be there with me7 / have read that
after the battle of Marengo, Napoleon
had medal struck bearing on one
side the name of the battle on the
reverse side simply these words II
was there" Let us take care that at
the last we may be able to say Of
Gods battle against sin, 81 was
there"
am cordially your friend,
REV. A. v. GoRRELL.