The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-05
THE DISCIPLINE OF DIFFICULTIES.
Rev. z. f. Cooks Sermon at Wesley
Monumental Church.

At Wesley Monumental Church yester-
day morning Rev. E. F. Cook preached on
THE Discipline of Difficulties" His text
was II Timothy, lis, Thou therefore en-
dure hardness as a Good soldier of Jesus
Christ"
Mr.. Cook said that discipline, hardship
and danger are necessary to make a good
soldier, and also a good Christian. The
private soldier does not always understand
and appreciate this necessity, nor does the
Christian always sees the way of his suf-
ferings and disappOintments. but there is
divine philosophy in such experiences.
I'VE grow detected at the very things
which God intends should lift US up"
said Mr.. Cook, Just because we cannot
always have our own way. Often in Bit
ter experiences God intends divine bless
ing. Jesus Christ teaches us this in the
suffering which he endured in order that
the world might be saved. For a complete
development of character we need adverse
winds The sea captain would never be-
come expert in sailing if the wind was al
ways in his favor, and If there was always
a dead calm he would learn nothing.
If the heart of the Christian is firm IN
purpose and his faith is fixed on Cod"
said Mr.. Cook, "he can surmouut all diff
culties, and find them profitable in increas-
ing his strength When, however, our
temptations come from the base passions
which we have ourselves fostered and
nourished, a single victory over these
counts for but little; they must
be eradicated from the heart.
The Indian warrior believed that the
spirit of the brave whom he killed enter
ed his own breast and reinforced his own
courage and skill, and so he sought al
ways to Stay the bravest of his enemies.
So every victory won by the Christian
strengthens him for another conflict.
Christs temptation enabled him after
ward to withstand the Jews who tried to
make him king, and TO endure the ago
MES of Gethsemane and the crucifxion
Stonewal Jackson's struggle in early
life to keep in the path of Christian duty
helped to prepare him for the great con-
flict which came later on. Abraham Lin
coins hardships and privations schooled
him so that he was enabled TO rise from
the towpath of a canal TO the presidency.
A man cannot pass successfully through
sorrow and hardship without becoming
greater and better. Let us meet and hear
our responsibilities alone, for we learn to
do only by doing.
MANY of the sweetest joys of the
Christians life" Mr. Cook said "come
through bitterness of suffering. We
ought 20 thank God for these bitter expert
ences as we'll as for the sunshine, the rain
and other blessings. Many man has 10
be mined into the kingdom SO long as
our mind is filed, and our affections en-
gagged by other matters we Will forget
God, and it is when these are taken
away that we draw near 10 God"
The choir, just as this point, sang
Nearer My God TO Thee
How often have We sung this hymn"
said Mr. Cook, but how seldom have we
offered the prayer. We shrink from ev-
cry sacrifice and burden, not realizing that
often these burdens placed upon become
wings, which lift us nearer to God
and eternal happiness"