The Washington times., 1901-10-28
A MODEL STRENUOUS LIFE.
Active Moral Careers Advocated by
the Rev. II. G. Enston.

An unusually large congregation at
tended the II o'clock services al the East
ern Church, Sixth and c Streets north
east, where the Rev Thomas Chalmers
Easton. the pastor. delivered sermon on
the subject Of "A Model Strenuous Life. '
DIR. Easton spoke from the text Of st.
Luke. Xii:5O: Il have a baptism to be
baptised with, and how am l strait
encd till it be accomplished Dr. Easton
spoke in part as follows:
Modern life is pitched upon the high
est keynote. To fall below concert pitch
seems to De regarded as out of tune and
discordant. The music of the world to-
day is rapid and military. and thrills
earnest souls to live a strenuous career
The one supreme idea is that a life lack
ing enthusiasm, ard only marked by in
difference to the great events of the
period, merits Ceusure. disgust and in
dignation. Jesus was the worlds model
OF intense earnestness. His whole being
was possessed with the thought that life.
to be of any value, must be strenuous
The model strenuous lifel What are
some of the essential conditions of such
life? First, it must have a great pur-
pose. No life can be earnest without
purpose. A small purpose. a concentra-
tion Of our powers upon mere trifies, will
not do. The making of an immense
fortune and the winning of a high sound
ing name, the applause of the multitude
and the highest ambition the world can
offer is not big enough to draw forth the
full strength and earnestness of an i'm
mortal soul.
To lead true life modelled after our
Lords strenuoTs career. is needed a pur-
pose as mighty as that of the Lord him
self. 1t is ne dlcss to say that such
life viii be practical. active. aggressive
and intense. L. Will be necessarily busy,
manifesting tsrif as a power in words
that burn, in dds of breadth, in quick
ening footstep. 80 bear the messages of
God, and heart sympathy to uplift the
fallen and save the lost
Nor can such strenuous life be main
tanned in a white glow of Chrstlike love
and earnestness but by effectual prayer.
1t is the effectual feryent prayer, the
earnest prayer, the energetic prayer, the
agonizing prayer, that availeth much to
execute our high commission
Just in front of my study window,
where l write. is u str 7et under which, it
is said. powerful electric current is con-
stantly moving for the propulsion Of
street cars. l cannot see it. it does not
report itself to hearing, or sight, or taste.
or smell. and 50 far as the testimony Of
senses is to be taken, l might reasonably
discredit its existence. But the hand of
the motorman on the car turns the crank
and communication is established with
the current Immediately the car. with
its heavy load of passengers, moves along
the track as though seized in the grasp
of some mighty giant The power was
there. Only now the car lays hold of It,
or rather is laid hold of by il. since 1t
was touch OF the invisible, and not
grip by which the motion was communi-
Gated
80 the true secret of successful ser
vice lies in having power communicated
by coming in touch with God by prayer,
and yielding to him to be used in doing
this work. Cease trying 10 have God
help you but fail into Gods way. and
let him lead. He will carry US so that we
can 20 the other way.
Mississippi, you must go down the river.
If you are in the bosom Of God. YOU have
to go with him. II would De hard TO take
the Mississippi and run it up TO Chicago.
SO it would be hard to compel God to
run your way.
But by trusting yourself to God your
life Will be as strong, as magnetic and
as beautiful as omnipotence can make II.
and as sweet as the cdors Of paradise.
May ii be ours to know the exceeding
greatness OF his power, filed with all the
fullness of Cod