Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-07-23
OVERCOMING DIFFICULTIES.
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Some one has said we need not look
afar across sands and seas for our Holy
Land. Our Holy Land. if we will make
| it such, is right around us The strug-
| gle of valiant soul against the odds
; that lie about makes all ground holy
| ground. Fight the good fight of faith;
| lay hold on eternal life" Do it right
where you are, and the ground wherein
you stand is holy ground.
Certainly there are enemies enough
about us to supply the one condition OF
| opposition by which every resolute soul
attains. The foes of the souls highest
interests lurk and confront us every
| where. We are in the enemy's land and
must fight to win. And these very foes,
when overcome, help to higher things.
! This is the significance of the scrip
ture at Mum. 400 regarding the giants
of the land. They are bread for us, "
said Joshua and Caleb, the heroic minor
ity of the spies. Instead of hindrance
we may turn them to help; wings instead
| of weights. Make bread of the giants
and go on from victory TO victory, grow
ing stronger as we go.
1t is the secret of mastery IN this
world. Take your hindrances and over
come them, making stepping stones to
higher attitudes. Use the world as not
abusing it. BE not overcome of evil, but
overcome evil with good"
But here is the sharp alternative: Over
| come or be overcome. Eat the giants
or they Will eat you. The people that
| timorously and fa:ohlessly cried out, "We
| are but grasshoppers," grasshoppers they
| were, and as such were disposed OF under
the heel Of the vengeful Canaanite. 1T
is land that eateth up the inhabitants
| thereof" True indeed. Eat or be eaten.
| We can so act, cravenly and cringingly,
| as to invite defeat Of the ordinary ele-
ments and agencies that lie about US,
| suecumbing to circumstances, or we can
| stand boldly forth and conquer our en-
| vironment and wiring victory out of de-
| feat, prevailing over our surroundings.
| Come let the Caleb and Joshua spirit
| have the ascendency. Never mind the
: towards within or the giants without.
| We be stronger than they. 1t is not a
clamorous cry. The evil spies Of the
heart always outnumber the brave and
hopeful five to one. But the master mind
is there 1t bids US arise and prevail
over sin aud evil. BY the grace of God
we may be more than conquerors, which,
as the Quaker said, is not simply to put
our enemies to flight but to take them
and compel them to serve us.
Here is the giant of natural deprayity.
Shall we yield to him? Many do, but it
is not necessary; it is cowardly, it is
faithless. Where sin abounds grace
did much more abound" God has pro-
vided in the philosophy of the plan of
salvation not only a way of escape, but
a scheme of victory whereby We may
put our foot on Satan's neck and triumph
over him openly. Adams posterity may
rise higher than Adam. Through the
shedding of the blood we are made sons
of God, heirs and joint heirs with Christ
better than Eden. Leap to the heights
of this faith and prove the victory of the
vanquished.
Here are the giants of sinful propensity
and of beSetting sin. The land is full of
them; they come in at every avenue and
We find them hiding in every ravine Of
the territory of mans soul. What shall
we do with them? Fight Them over
come them. But there is only one way.
Paul himself, gazing in at them, cried out
in the sense of his own waywardness ana
weakness, 20 wretched man that l am,
who shall deliver me from the body Of
this death?' Then Ike Christian in the
dungeon of Giant Despair. ne reached
forth his hand and laid hold of the key
that extricated him. II thank God
through Jesus Christ" and he was out
and away in the blessed freedom and full
ness of the eighth of Romans.
ha rio aFA rto al
tations that are all around about us. Did
Christ leave us in their midst to be an
noyed and overcome? No, Gut to over
come and get strength out of tie over
coming, and to give him the glory in it
all. l pray not that thou ''shouldst take
them from the evil" And then ne says:
"Sanctify them through thy truth" Now,
touch not the Lords anointed. We are
his set apart for holy use. This is what
has happened Satan thought to pull Us
down with temptation and trial. and so.
at our cry, God stopped down and phcck-
ed us up and set our feet on a rock; and,
coming out of this very test, harsh AND
painful as it has been, there is a strength
that we had not before, and God has a
new victory that adds to his glory and
the honor of his Son. who sa S and loves
to save unto the uttermost
And here are giants of enmity. OBJ
serve the antagoniSm of the wicked world
about us; the gaming table, the dance
hall. the saloon. Shall the church yield
to these? No; thu are here but to prove
us. Met and overcome in the might of
righteousness, they become trophies to
trail eventually at the chariot wheels of
him who shall ride victor at last. Note
the antagonism of skepticism, infidelity
and distinctive criticism. Out of these
fires comes the Word Of God, shining
brighter than ever, helped on by its very
foes. Sec tho antagonism Of false relig-
ions, whether pagan or civilized. The
white light Of pure religion viii eat them
all up and feed at last upon their sub
stance as he 0t the white horse comes
forth at last eonquering and to conquer.
And last of all the giants of disease
and death. Oh the beautiful Christian
spirits that have risen up from the sick
bed to praise God and to glory in tribula-
ton also, for tribulation worketh pa
thence, and patience experience, and ex-
perien"e hope. and the love Of God shed
abroad in the heart! And as for death!
Here at his last fell blow Satan meets
his worst discontinue, as the freed spirit
rises chanting, Thanks be to God that
giveth US the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ"
CHRIST THU LIBERATOR.
BY Rev ". n. Carsardfne.
Christ is the divine libarator. There
are many ways Of looking at the Savior.