The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-18

healthy use OF OR limbs. We arc 90
stupid that nothing but the misfor-
tunes or others can rouse rs up to Dur
blessings. As the OK grazcs in the
pasture up to its eye in clio .er. yet
never thinking who makes the clover.
and as the bird picks up the worm
from the furrow. not knowing that Il
is God who makes everything. from
the animaicule In the sod to the seraph
on the throne. so we go on eating.
drinking and enjoying. but never
thanking. or seldom thanking. or. IL
thanking at all, with only half q
heart.
l compared III Indifference to the
brute. but perhaps l wronged the
brute. I do not know but that. among
its other instincts. 1t may have an In
stinct by which 1t recognizes the divine
hand that feeds II. l do not know but
that God Is. through ii, holding COM
munication with what we call IRA
tional creation" The COW that stands
under the willow by the watercourse
chewing it's cud looks very thankful,
and who can tell how much a bird
means by its song? The aroma Of the
flowers smells like incense. and the
mist arising from the river looks like
the smoke OF a morning sacrifice. oh,
that we were as responsive! Yet who
thanks God for the water that gushes
up in the well. and that foams in the
cascade. and that laughs over the
rocks. and that patters in the showers,
and that claps its hands in the sea?
Who thanks God for the air. the foun-
tain of life. the bridge of Sunbeams,
the path of sound. the great fan on a
hot summers day? Who thanks God
for this wonderful physical organism,
this sweep of the vision. this chime o.
harmony struck into the ear. this soft
tread of n myriad delights over the
nervous tissue. this rolling of the GRIM
son tide through artery and vein. this
drumming Of the heart on our march
to Immortality? We take all these
things as n matter of course.
Gods Common Blessings.
But suppose God should withdraw
these common blessings. Your body
would become an inquisition of tor
ture. the cloud would refuse rain. every
green thing would crumple up. and the
earth would crack open under your
feet. The air would cease it's healthful
circulation. pestilence would swoop.
and every house would become a place
of skulls. Streams would first swim
with vermin and then dry up. and
thirst and hunger and anguish and de-
spair would lift their scepters. Oh,
compare such n life as that with the
life you live with your families! Is 1t
not time that, with every word of our
lips and with every action of our life
we began to acknowledge these every
day mercies? whether We eat or
drink or whatsoever We do. do all to the
glory of God" Do l address a man or
a woman who has not rendered to God
one single offering of thanks?
l was preaching one Thanksgiving
day and announced my teXt-"Oh.
give thanks unto the Lord. for he is
good. for his mercy endureth forever"
l do not know whether there was any
blessing on the sermon or not, but the
text went straight to a young mans
heart. He said to himself as | read
the text: "'Oh. give thanks into the
Lord. for he is good Why. l have
never rendered him any thanks! Oh.
what an migrate l have beenw Can it
be. my brother. that you have been fed
by the good hand of God all these days.
that you have had clothing and shelter
and all the b%enefcent surroundings,
and yet have never offered your heart
to God? Oh, let a sense of the divine
goodness shown you in everyday bless
ings melt your heart. and If you have
before uttered one earnest note
of thanksgiving let this be the day
which shall hear your song! What |
say to n | say to all. Take this prac-
teal religion I have recommended into
your everyday life. Make every day a
Sabbath and every meal q sacrament
and every room you enter a holy Of
holes. We all have work to do: let
US be willing to do 1t. We all have
sorrows to bear: let us cheerfully bear
them. We all have battles to fight: let
us courageously fight them. II you
want to die right. you must live right.
Negligence and Incidence will win the
hiss OF everlasting scorn. while faith
fulness will gather its garlands and
wave its scepter and sit upon its
throne long after this earth has put on
ashes and eternal ages have begun
their march. You 20 home today and
attend to your little sphere of duties.
| will 90 home and attend to my little
sphere Of duties. Every one in his own
)lace. So our every step in life shall be
a triumphal march. and the humblest
footstool on which we are called to sit
will be q c%onuueror's throne.
copyright. 1902. Louis kiopsch. n. VI