El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-31
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
.'Contentment Ever yWhere and In
All ThinuS.''

All Things"
At the Presbyterian church Sunday
morning, the pastor, Rev. 81. w. Moore
preached from the text: 81 have learn
ed in whatsoever state 1 am Herewith
to be content" Phil. ALL. The sub
iect was 'Conten tment everywhere and
in all thing" The sermon in brief il
here giveI:
One of the hardest lessons we have to
learn Is L, be more quiet in our work
Our lives are like oceans in their
restlessness. We are aspiring, long
ing for something the world cannot
give. Yet we all could do better work
If we were more cOntented. GOd new
err makes noise. The sunbeams fall
unheard by human car. Gravitation
works silently with no rattle of ma
chinery, yet it holds the world and
stars in their courses. Electricity does
its works as noiselessly as baby's
pulse. Death is silent in its doings. It
beckops but never speaks.
Paul had learned to be content in
whatsoever state he was. Think OF
that. Did eminent scholarship ever
excel that ss an attainment? Can
Princeton or Yale or our state univer-
stiles give diploma like that? This
does not preclude ones aspiring or
striving for higher things. Only run
ming water is sweet. Only q moving
bicycle stands. The secret of content
ment is simply .kis: Having the con-
viction that the place you are in now,
is Just God's place for you now. That
the work you are doing now, or should
do now, is inst the work God would
have you do now. And if'you rise to q
greater sphere of labor even then to
believe that work is Gods will con-
corning you. Paul said he had SO
learned to develop the forces within
him tina he no longer depended on out
ward things for his happiness.
Think of it: SIN all things to be
content" Most of US can be content in
some thing. A mother says, am happy
with my children all about me. She
with my children" Paul could say, 1
am co tent when the baby dies.
Some men are only happy when
Paul was content when poor and
when he had to make tents for his
daily crust. Some are only happy when
with their friends. Paul was happy
when with his enemies."In all things"
How ia that for an attainment. Think
of it, to have that in you that will
make you happy whether you live in
New York or Texas, or Colorado or
Arizona. Most people caa stand an
even life in any condition-but to en-
dure the changes in life is the hard
part. 1t is no small thing to have to
give up home, friends, social advan-
tages, school and move to distant parts. |
large salary, good frien on account
of i'll health. No small thing to fail in
business and have to call John bsck
from college, or Jennie from the Sc
But Paul could be con-
tent amid all this. Thank God for
those, who, when money is gone are
still sweet and content.
But mark you, Paul had to learn
this. It took him forty years to learn
stripes, religion, all as teachers. Con-
tentment does not come naturally to
any of US. If we were well trained we
could bear trouble better. A well
ira ned horse will stand still by his
sing locomotive. A badly trained
horse will leap and turn aud run
way, killing all the children in the
selves steady in trouble. Men not
raiued will break the halter and dash
way at break neck speed and stop at
as; bruised and bleeding. Oh, how
low we are to learn. Most of our
roubles are those that never come.
The fear of becoming poor is harder to
,eer than being poor. Bereavementit-
elf is easier to bear than the fear of
,eing bereaved. Men don't learn
ontentment by sermons or books. 1t
ONES through self discipline. He
it, Oh, when.w will we'lesrn that
'ud and blossom, blade, ear aud full
hook Ii not come in a day
Did you ever think of the causes OF
iscontent? That it is hot because We /
O not have to eat, or wear, or that we
o not have friends. Lots of discon- {
emit comes from worrying because we
Z Dot have money. How many worry .
Dr. fear they will not be able to dress /,
3 well next year as now. Many worry ..
ecause they may die and leave the
.mily unprovided for. They forget in 9
nose cases that God takes care of them
ost often, better than they would
ave been cared for if their father had
we'd. How many are miserable with
ices all twisted out OF shape, not be- t
suse of rheumatism, but because they 3
ave not money. Oh, what peacocks
L the money we wanted. How many J.
re unhappy because they will not co
,m 7thing. No one can be happy who
oes nothing but look after herself. Z
nd hear this: what an immense
mount of unhappiness is caused by r
nerishing an unforgivirg spirit, envy,
city thoughts. NJ Insincere man is
appy. "l.e roads that lead to peace :
re al -ng the beautiful paths of humil- ,
Y, 5incerity, forgiveness. AS long as
,methiug in you says 81 ought" ard ]
1u say, 81 will not" you will have
D peace. Write that on the
81 N of your hand on your watch case.
I tell you. much of the discomfort of
fe comes from false view of life. 1
ultivate your whole nature if you
ould be happy. Laughter is just as
81 ~ t1r,I
sed, is just as divine as church going.
is the development of the
hole man. Blessed are all those who
an see the funny aide of Life. They |