The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-10-13

nature. 1t is click, click, click! won
der why some great Providence does
not come and with one stroke prepare
you for Heaven. All, mol God says that
is not the way, and so lie keeps on by
strokes of little vexations until at last
you shall be a glad spectacle for angels
and for men.
You know that large fortune may
be spent in small change, and vast
amount Of moral character may 90
away in small depletions. 1t is the little
troubles of life that are having more
effect upon you than great ones. A
swarm of locusts will kill a grain field
sooner than the incursion of three or
four cattle. You say: "Since / lost
my child, since lost my property, I
have been a different man." But YOU
| do not recognize the architecture of lit
! tie annoyances that are hewing, dig
| ging, cutting. shaping. splitting and
interioining your moral qualities. Rats
may sink Il ship. One lucifer match may
send destruction through block of
storehouses. Catherine de Medci got
her death from smelling n poisonous
rose. Columbus, by stopping aud ask
ing for. piece of bread and a drink
of water at Franciscan convent, was
led TO the discovery of new world.
And there is an intimate connection be-
tween trines and immensitles, between
nothings and everythings.
Now, be careful to let none Of these
annoyances go through your soul unar-
raigned. Compel them TO administer to
your spiritual wealth. The scratch of n
siNpenny nail sometimes produces lock-
jaw, and the clip of most infnitesimal
annoyance may damage you forever.
Do not let any annoyance or perplcxity
come across your soul without it's maxi
ing you better.
Our national government when it
wanted money did not think it belit-
Ting TO put tax on pins aud tax
on buckles and a tax on shoes. The in
dividual taxes did not amount to much,
but in the aggregate to millions and
millions of dollars. And | would have
you, o Christian man, put high tariff
on every annoyance and veXation that
comes through your soul. This might
not amount to much in single cases.
but in the aggregate IL would he a great
revenue of spiritual strength and sat
isfaction. a bee can suck honey even
out of a nettle, and if you have tho grace
of God in your heart you can get sweet
ness out of that which would other
wise irritate and annoy.
returned missionary told me that
n company of adventurers rowing up
the Ganges were stung to death by
flies that infest that region at certain
seasons The earth has been strewn
with the carcasses of men slain by in
sect annoyances. The only way to get
prepared for the great troubles of life
is TO conquer these small troubles.
What would you say of soldier who
refused to load his gun or to go into
the conflict because il was only a skir-
mish, saying: 81 am not going to ex-
pend my ammunition on skirmish.
Wait until there comes general en-
gagement, and then you will see how
courageous | am and what battling |
will do?" The general would say to
such man: "If you are not faithful
in general engagement" And | have
to tell you, o Christian men, if you
cannot apply the principles of Christ's
religion on n small scale you will never
be able to apply them on larger scale.
If ! had my way with you, | would
have you possess all possible worldly
prosperity. l would have you each one
a garden, a river flowing through it,
geraniums and shrub1 on the sides ana
the grass and flowers as beautiful rs
though the rainbow had fallen. would
have you house, II splendid mansion
and the beds should he covered with
upholstery dipped in the setting sun.
would have every ltall in your house.
set with statues ana statuettes, and
then 1 would have the four quarters
OF the globe pour in all their Injuries
ON your table, and you should have
forks of silver and Knives of gold, in
laid with diamonds and amethysts.
Then you should elUrh one of you have
the finest horses and your pick of the,
quipages of the world. Then | would
have you live $50 years, and you should
not have Il pain or an ache until the.
last breath.
mot each one o3 us?" you say. Yes.
each one Of you. Not TO your ene-
plies" Yes. The only difference /
would make with them would he thut
would put little extra gilt on their
walls and.a little extra embroidery
on their slippers. But, you,say; "Why
does not God give us all these things"
All! | bethink myself. lie is wiser. 1t
would make fools and sluggards Of us
il we had our way. No man pubs his
best picture in the portico or vestibule
OF his house. God meant this world TO
be only the vestibule of Heaven, that
great gallery of the universe toward
which we are aspiring, We must not
have 1T too good in this world, or we
would want no Heaven.
Polyearp was condemned to be burned
to death. The stake was planted. He
was fastened TO ii. The fagots were
plheed around him, the fires kindled,
but history tells Is that fha Aon,as