The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-09-10
Pri.e Of the High Calling.

One of Paul's vivid word paintings from
the great picture gallery Of the ages 10 set
for our contemplation. The race OF the
prize OF the high calling. Who has not in
IMAGINATION viewed that race in the wcrid's
vast arena? We know Just how far one
runner has gone ahead OF the rest; he has
Sassed the first turning. Not near the
goal yet, but doing well. But there is still
q chance Of losing the race. The runner
has made q good start he must not grow
Lax, neither cease to husband his strength,
nor forget to bend his every energy and at
tention to the business in hand. -.
Not a. though had already attained"
he says, not over.cop6dent, but trusting IN
the strength that sustains;
Rather he is one set in full view OF
great result" says Robert Rainy. Some
experience Of the benefits Of it 10 already
entering into his history. but is yet TO DO
brought to pass in its fulness, and that
must be along line OF believing cndeavor,
Christ working and Paul working; Christ
ter, If that may lay hold and extend my
grasp, seeing Christ has laid hold with His
grasp on me. .,
But suppose when the race was well
started he had paused to look back with
, satisfaction on the course he had already
come, as so many Christians do after the
FIRST start, and seeing others so far behind
turned his attention toward the beauties OF
the way, forgetting the need OF earnest at.
tention If he would win! Another migns
gain the advantage, and suddenly he might
find that he who had thought SO easily 70
outdistanee all was left too far behind to
ever hope to win the goal before the race
was ended and the set time passed away.
II then We would 60 on unto perfection
! we must be steadfast, seeking the Lord
! first, rs we did when we first found Him
casting all other things ASIDE that may
come in the way OF our vision OF Him. we
must have steadfastness, for without this
| all other means Of growth, though they be
/ on every hand. may be passed by UNDECIDED
while we pursue some butterfly along the
way. Thus an invalid must eat only those
things which will build up healthy flesh
and muscle, must observe the laws OF
! health. must take exercise daily and SieeeP
the requisite number Of hours If he would
/ hope TO win Eealth again. And II he be
not steadfast in purpose he may allow HIM
self lapses in his diet, grow weary OF fol-
lowing rules and stay up late, indulglng
himself in some pastime, forgetting that
he is losing ground where he had gained It
but the day before by careful following OF
! the physcian's directions:
"As newborn babes desire the sincere
milk OF the word, that We may grow there
BY" And next We must have food.the
word of God Without the daily Bible
reading bow can We expect to thrive spirit
ually?
Through the weekly. church services We
may get in training and grow strong. Much
has been said against the clause in our good
old pledge concerning attendance on the
regular services OF our church. The pledge
is only our setting forth of the rules and
laws OF spiritual health by which We may
! grow more like Jesus. We but Subscribe
| Ourselves to be steadfast in our endeavor
TO follow them faithfully in order that we
may grow into the perfection Jesus would
| see in Us.
That yc might walk worthy Of the Lord,
unto all pleasing
I'VE should ask ourselves, Do we make
| II our ver.prcsent object to satisfy jesus
Christi" says Alexander Maclaren, and
adds. Nothing will 80 string the muscles
for the fight and free Us from being en-
tangled with the things Of this life as the
ambition TO please Him who has called US
to be soldiers
Ard the great means Of growth. the mys.
tical communion table-where by faith we
| oartake of His broken body and shed blood,
! where He infuses, az it were, into us His
own lIie-LnS pTeCIous Hcahp VI kLo"so,
His last blessing. We are never to forget
nor neglect. It'll He comes"
Henry Drummond saws:
NO man can make things grow. He can
&c; them TO grow by arranging all the cir
cum,tanccs and fulfilling all the conditions.
Do not imagine that you have
got ,hese things because you know how 10
&c, them A. well try to feed upon a cook
cry book. Spend the time you
have spent IN signing for fruits, in fulfilling
the conditions Of their growth. The fruits
the Mill and Express.