Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-03-09

u boy nOOQ anu Sli4HooN uaN Will pS
lived over again; text Timothy, V. 1:
Let them learn first to show piety at
home"
During the summer months the tend
ency is to the fields. to visitation, to for
eign travel and the watering places,
and the ocean steamers are throngedr
but in the winter it is rather TO gather
in domestic circles. and during these
months we spend many of the hours
within doors, and the apostle comes
10 us and says that we ought to eNcr-
else Christian behavior amid alb such
circumstances. Let them learn first
TO show piety at home.'
There are great many people long
ing for some grand sphere in which
to serve God. They admire Luther at
the diet of Worms and only wish they
had some such great opportunity in
which to display their Christian prov
ess. They admire Paul making Felix
tremble. and they only wish that they
had some snch grand occasion in which
to preach Righteousness. temperance
and Judgment to come. All they want
is an opportunity to exhibit their
Christian heroism. Now. the apostle
practically says: Il will show you a
place where YOU can exhibit all that
is grand and beautiful and glorious
in Christian character, and that is the
domestic circle. Let them learn first
to show piety at home" If one is not
faithful in an insignificant sphere, he
will not be faithful in resounding
sphere. If Peter will not help the
cripple at the gate of the temple, he
will never be able to preach 5000 into
the kingdom at the Pentecost. If Paul
will not take pains to instruct in the
way of salvation the iailer of the Phil
ippian dungeon, he will never make
Felix tremhle He who is not faithful
in a skirmish would not be faithful in
an Armageddon. The fact is, we are
all placed in just the position in which
we can most grandIy serve God, and
we ought not to be chiefly thoughtful
about some sphere of usefulness which
we may after awhile gain, but the all
absorbing question with you and with
me ought to be: Lord, what wilt thou
have me now and here to do"
There is one word in st. Paul's ad-
iuration around which the most of our
thoughts viii revolvc. That word is
home" Ask ten different men the
meaning of that word, and they will
give you ten different definitions. To
one 1t means love at the hearth, plen-
ty at the table, industry at the work
stand, intelligence at the books. devo-
ton at the altar. In that household
discord never sounds its warwhoop and
deception never tricks with its false
face To him il means greeting at
the door and a smile at the chair, peace
lowering like wings, Joy clapping its
hands with laughter. Life is a tran
quill lake. Pillowcd on the ripplcs sleep
the shadows Ask another man what
home is, and he will tell you it is want
looking out of a cherries fire crate.
kneadiug hunger in an empty bread
tray. The damp air shivering with
curses. No Bible on the shelf. Chill
dren robbers and murdercrs in embryo.
Obscene songs their lullaby. Every
face a picture of ruin. Want in the
background and sin staring from the
front. No Sabbath wave rolling over
that doorsll Nestibule of the pit.
Shadow Of internal walls. Furnace Tor
forging everlasting chains. Fagots for
an amending funeral pile Awful word,
1t is spelled with curses, it wecps with