Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-12-17
THE WAY OF GROWTH.
BY J. r. aiIIer. D. D.


effect produced upon the mind itself
by the effort to learn. 1t grows by
exercise. Then there is also a sub
jective moral impression produced by
the way the task is performed. II one
is faithful and conscientious, truly do
ing his best, the endeavor leaves Il
mark Of beauty in the life. But II
one is unfaithful indolent, false TO
ones self, there is left a wound,
trace of marring and blemish, weak
ening of the life.
The same is as true of all lifess cali
ings as of school work. The farmer
is cultivating his soil, tilling his fields,
looking after the manifold duties OF
his occupation; but this is not all that
he is doing. At the same time he IS
making character Of some kind, build
ing up the fabric of his own manhood.
The carpenter is working in wood put
he is also working on life-his own
life. The mason is hewing stones ana
setting them in the wall. but he Is also
quarrying out blocks for the temple OF
character, which he himself is building
in himself Men in all callings ana
employInents are continually produe-
ing a double set of results, in that on
which they work and in themselves.
We are in this world TO make char
acter and every hour we leave some
mark, some impression on the life With
in us, an impression which shall en-
dure when all the work of our hands
has persisted.
But there is also a growth of char
acter which goes OH continually under
the influence of Iife's circumstances
and experiences. Fruits are developed
and are brought on toward ripeness
by the influence of the weather and
the climate. 1t takes all the seasons,
with their variety Of climatic eondi-
lions, to produce delicious apple, a
mellow pear, or q cluster of luscious
grapes. Winter does its part as well
rs spring, summer and autumn. Night
and day, cloud and sunshine. cold and
heat. wind and calm. all work together
to bring the fruit to ripeness.
In like manner all life's varied OK
periences have their place in the max
ing and culture of our character. All
sunshine would not make good frat,
nor would all gladhess and joy yleltt
the richest character. We need the
dark as well as the light; cold. rough
winter as well as warm, gentle sum
mer. We should not, therefore, be
afreid of life, whatever experiences it
MAJ bring to rs But we should never
for ret that nothing in life's expert
ences ought to be allowed to hurt our
Spirit Temptations may make their
fierce assaults. may cause us sore trou-
bles, but we need not be harmed by
them, need not carry away from them
any stain. Earthly want may leave
it's marks of emaciation on our body,
but the inner life may not bear any
trace of enfeebling. We ought to be
growing continually in beauty and
strength of character. however painful
our lot in life. Sickness may waste
physical strength and blight the beauty
of the face, but it need not leave any
hlrtful trace on the character. In
deed, in the midst Of the most exhaust
ing and disfiguring illness, the inner
life may continue to grow in strength
and beauty st. Paul gives US this as
surance: Though our outward man is
deeaying, vet our inward man is re-
newed day by day" That is. if we
arc living as we may live in relation
to Christ. our real life will only he
cone more radiant and beautiful as the
external life grows more infirm and
feeble.
Yet too often this possibility is not
realized Not all Christian people bear
loss, sorrow and sickness in this victo-
| rious way Too often we do see men
yielding to trouble, not growing more
beautiful in soul but losing their spir-
itual beauty in life's trials. This is not
the way it should be, however. Our
character should ripen in life's wealth
er, whatever the weather may be.
"Tribulation worketh PATIENCE The
object of life is to learn to live. We
are at school here. and shall always
be at school until we are dismissed
from eurth's classes to be promoted
into heaven. 1t is a pity if we do not
learn our lessons. 1t is pity if we
grow no gentler, no kindlier, no more
thoughtful, no more uuselfsh, no more
unworldly, as the years pass over us.
| There are some fruits which remain
acrid and bitter until the frosts come
| There are lives which never become
mellow in loves tenderness until sor-
rows frosts have touched them. There
! are those who come out of every new
| experience of su fering or pain with
n new blessing IN their life. cleansed
of some earthliness. and made little
more like God. 1t is Gods design fG
/ us that this should always be the out
come of affection. that the points Of
/ the spirit ia us should be a little ripper
and mellower; and we fail and dis
| appoint God when it is not so.
| We have much TO do with this ripen-
! ing of our own characters. God gives
us his grace, but we must receive it,
| and we may reject it, 1t Is only when
we abide in Christ that our lives grow
| III ChristiiSeness. The same sun brings
out the beauty of the living branch,
| and withers the branch that is torn
| from the tree. Sorrow and pain blight
the life that is not hid with Christ in
! God and make more beautiful and
more fruitful the life that is truly IN
| Christ. II we live thus continually
rs44s;.ap Tho fya,4s-,, ~ .4e 7t-,r,. eer.., 90,