The age-herald., 1901-02-25
NECESSITY AN
 OBJECT OF WORK Eloquent Sermon by Rev. Ed
 ward E. Cobb AT CHURCH OF THE ADVENT Work Is the Interchangeable Law of the Universe-IdIeness is Not Only Physical But Spiritual
 Death.
 
AT CHURCH OF THE ADVENT

elOuuenI Rev Edward E. Cobb of Montgomery. His text was from St, James, the second part of verse 22 And by works was faith made perfect"
 "It requires a deep faith" said MT, Cobb, "and a strong heart, untiring en- ergy and unlimited perseverance, to guide our feet always along the narrow path way of life, to give us the heart and the courage to struggle on, to do our duty | even through those hours when courage and faith and duty have lost their mean ing for us.
 "The great pathway of life is thronsed and pressed with thousands of eager pill grims, and yet every man is walking alone along new and untried path, and every path somewhere leading through the deep and dark wilderness, along the narrow and slipping edge of the preei- pie.
 "Oh. what soul, however strong, how | ever full of faith has not known what l it means to be bewildered on the way Who has not passed through these hours of gloom and doubt? Who has not found himself grouping in the darkness, | struggling Ter? Who has not known these bitter moments of unutterable anguish, when the heart feels that lifes meaning has l been ruthlessly swept away, the distant l light whose rays once guided and cheer- ed gone, the pathway once so bright so 1 certain, Is lost-ended?
 'Then it is that from out the waste 1 there comes to the man figure clad Tn 1 the garments of friendship, and under the guise of helpfulness and with sooth- ing words upon his lips he lays his hand upon our head, saying, come and rest 1 Oh, serpent, fend, arch enemy ot the hu- man race, thy name is idleness. Thou | comest thou stealest in when mans bet ter self is asleep Yes, with the look, with the words of friendship, but with the touch of thy fingers is curse; doubt, l desire, sorrow, remorse, indignation, de- l spair, hopelessness, hate, misery and sin l follow in thy train. There is but one | way for any man to pass through the hours of his agony scathless, and that is by obstinately, consistently clinging to moral good, by going on manfully doing his duty.
 Work is a Moral Support.
 'It is work, hard work that-shall SUD- l port man in the darkness and bring 1 him at last to the light And 1t is idle- ness that shall steal away the last vest age of hope, of light, of truth and of God likeness will rob us and beat us and kill us ultimately. The purifying glow of labor, of work. shall run out all the poison within and shall send out a light to mark the pathway of life.
 "There is no more inspiring, no more stimulating spectacle in all life than the l figure of strong man who works on in cheerful Godliness, from day to day, per forming those tasks that fall to his lot Sometimes lost in the night of doubt, very often not understanding, with many a misgiving, many a heart failure, many a fall, many sin but always working I At last, if any man ever knows, the man who works will be that man. If fife has 1 any meaning, the man who works will learn it.
 Admirable indeed was the saying of the old monks work is worship for in | all true work, were it but true hand labor. there is something of divinencss. In all true religion there is place for work, and work is sacred. Work is manly, work is brave, work is worship
 Listen to the deep searching words of l Carlyle: No man has worked or can | work except religiously. All men if they work not as in a great taskmasters eye will work wrong, work unhappily Tor themselves and you What splendid con | lou al yates and ennobles even the meanest physical work.
 Speaking of the absolute necessity Of work for the development of any man, l the same writer asks what could the most assiduous potter do without hls wheel? Even such potter were Dest1ay with a human soul that would rest and 1 lie at ease, that would not work and spin. Of an idle, unrevolving man the kiudest destiny, like the most assiduous hotter without a wheel can bake and lxnead nothing other than botch: let him spend on him what expensive color ings what gliding and enameiing she will. he is but a botch-a mere enameled vessel of dishonor.
 The Idle Are the Dispairing.
 "Why is it that we are not vessels ol honor in the church of God? Dear peo- pfe the atmosphere of the sweetest and unrest home, the most careful and wisest | guidance by Christian parents, the most | djvinelv instituted church of God, with it's inspired prayers, its sweet soothing bvmns-all these things and many more united with blessings of environment and with the gifts of the kindliest des- tiny can make but botch Of the man or the woman who will not reVolVe' who will not work. The people who are "orK- l ing in the world, they are the cheerfui' the optimistic the living-those who are idle are the despairing, the miserable the doubting, the hating, the shining. l ''To the old question, Why is it that your religion is not reaching the men? l Why is 1t that your churches are not | atioa x.,itb ,,oan9' I answer the cause is