Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-08-02
EPWORTH LEAGUE.
Tonic For the Week beginning AuG
4, "GaininR by Losing"-Te1t,
MurL y, 2S-30.

It does cost something to be a Chris
tim. Choice must be made in many
things. We cannot have all things at
the same time. There are companions
ships, associations, plans, pleasures,
occupations, gains which must be aban'
doned If one will follow Christ. If W.
gain these, we must lose Him. IL we
would gain what He proffers, we must
renounce and forsake these. There are
times When the restrictions seem pecul'
iarly severe and painful. Cases are
not infrequent when the family ana
previous social life have been opposed
to the service of Jesus. If one resolves
to be a true follower of God, the family
and former associates have to be LEFT
and new friends found. This is most
severe ordeal and tests all the loyalty
and genuine piety of the soul, Such
strains come more often in heathen
lands or in conversion from nomlnal
Christianity than in our ordinary eX-
perience.
Sometimes we find people, however,
in our churches who feel that they
have given up much to become Chris
tians, and especially in becoming
Methodsts. "Our rules are so strict
we cannot do SO many things which
others do" What Il pity such souls do
not open their eyes to the riches OF
their Inheritance and claim all the
privileges open to them.
The most helpful social privileges the
world affords are wide open to every
real, hearty believer in Christ. The
best of culture, the broadcast learning,
the truest courtesy and sincerest friend
ship are found in large measure in the
Christian church, and one has no need
to look outside its circles for the most
helpful influences. No one need long
for worthy and elevatiug association
without finding it. The doors are wild.
open and welcome is hearty. Exclu-
siveness bars none Of the gateways to
the house of God.
For every friend lost in becoming a
Christian ten better are found.
Any one who has moved much in So
ciety has not failed to see the strife for
pre-eminence, the jealousies, envies, in
trigues and endless annoyance which
necessarily assal every one within the
circle No one is too high, mole too
low, to feel the sting and modification.
Genuine peace is rare, deep friendships
still rarer. There is nothing on which
they can feed the soul.
In the service Of Christ the whole
motive is changed. Work for others is
the very inspiration of the life. The
good of others is TO be sought rather
than the advantage of self. One finds
happiness in giving more than in get
ting. We lose and find we have gained.
The sense OF companonship with the
good of all the ages, the oneness OF
spirit with the followers of Christ ey-
erywhere. now gives fullness of soul
unknown 70 any but those of the fam
lily Of God. Men become brethren TO
US. We are conscious Of the sentiment
Of fraternity in ourselves toward them,
and we find expressions and indica-
tons In them of the same feeling 10
ward US. Our circle of acquaintance
has enlarged wondrously. We are In
terested in many and find others in
creasingly interested in US. Our broth
ers are in every land. our sisters are in
all communions, fathers and mothers
multiply, and all the blessings of low
! ing regard increase as the Lord prom
! ised until it becomes marvellous even
/ to our own souls. How insignificant
| have been the losses and privations!
How rich the gains and numerous the
/ friends given!