The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-08-30
PlTHY SERMONS
IN THE SUNDAY "NEw YORK HERALD.
BY REV. GEORGE H. HEPwORTH.
The Best Possible Life.

The Best Possible Life.
In the world ye shall have tribulation;
but be of good cheer: I have overcome
the world.-St. John xvi, 33.
Tn the government of God things
which are most desirable are within
reach of all. Not, of course, things
which we with biassed judgment re-
gard as the most desirable, but those
which are really so in view of the souls
origin and destiny.
If this world were all we should
have very different standard of NOR
ality, and the qualities of character
which involve self-sacrifice and the sur
render OF life for the sake of principle
would have much less value than now.
Draw line about a mans seventy
years. Tell him there is nothing be-
yond that line, and he naturally con-
centrates his whole attention on the
narrow territory he occupies. He will
get oat of his circumstances all the
comfort and enjoyment they can pro-
duce at any cost, either to his honor
or to his neighbo1s and competitors.
A narrow prospect makes narrow
man. The laws which govern human
nature have decided that subject in
just that way. The man who lives in
dark cellar will never equal the man
who lives in the sunshine under
broad sky. The soul always fits itself
to its surroundings. If they are large
the soul grows to be large; if they are
small the soul dwindles to like proper
tions.
The glory of Christianity is that it
not only fixes no limits to spiritual de-
velopment, but declares in emphatic
terms that there are no limits. In the
heart of the roughest and crudest man,
who has hardly attained to self-con-
sciousness, who is blind as to his esti-
mate of himself, and who stumbles and
totters and falls and at last dies, for
saken and unknown, there is a germ
of glorious life to which by effort he
may hereafter attain. No one is so
brutal that he has not the making of
an angel in him. The spiritual pro-
toplasm may seem like an inert atom,
and even the philanthropist may de-
spair of, but the electric life of God
will sometimes enter that atom, and
its inertness will give away to energy.
1t will start on its eternal upward
journey, and every cycle of the future
will help to develop it and make that
soul the bright produce of infinite wis.,
dow and love.
When we look, therefore, We must
look at what is afar of, not at what is
close at hand, In reckoning as to the
things that we ought to do, and as to
the spirit in which we ought to strug-
gle and endure, we must look through
the telescope of religion and get
glimpse of the stars. That glimpse, if
it be clear, will decide our duties, will
make envy and covetousness mere
spectres, and reveal those qualities of
character which, if life continues after
death, are alone worth striving to
possess.
The best possible life is made out of
that kind Of material. 1t may not have
a mine of gold in its garden; it may
not be richly endowed with leisure
and the appurtenances of luxury;
on the contrary. it may consist large
ly of struggle with adversely and
sickness, but it is life which produces
a rich harvest, life you can look
back mp when you stand on the other
shore without regret.
Look yourself carefully over; find
out critically what you are made of
discovery your weak and your strong
points; vivisect yourself with the
keen skill Of a surgeon. What are
you? What are you worth to God, to
the world, to yourself? Where are you
going, and how are you to get there
These are sharp questions, and no
man can answer them without causing
himself to change his whole outlook
and inlook. He will he born again
when he has done that work thorough
ly. A great many things he has
priced will lose their value, and other
things which he has neglected will
assume large proportions.
Then comes the last question, name
ly, Are you willing to work along the
line of this new revelation willing to
forgive your enemies F.; willing to lend
a helping hand when it is needed; will
ing to live your own life in your own
way, or rather in Gods way; willing
to suffer as Christ suffered, under the
guidance ofangels willing to search
for the sweet and avoid the bitter as
q religious duty; willing to look for
the LIGHT. sure that the clouds will
break and the sun come out? If
that question is properly answered,
you will become transformed and
transfgured soul your burdens will
be lightened, your shoulders broaden
ed you hands strengthened, your heart
peaceful serene and contented. Every
experience will contribute to your