Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-10-10

pAcpsuuttOn tnot Is necessary TO fit US
Alright for gospel work.
But more than mere equipment is
necessary. Great opportunities are
willing TO bless those only who are
ready TO sacrifice and, II need be. TO
die for the cause those opportunities
represent. There is wide difference
between being mentally. physically aud
spiritually equipped 10 meet a great
opportunity and being willing 10 make
the sacrifice that is essential for the
success OF that cause after the oppor-
tunity has arrived. PLATE was mentally
and spiritually able 10 realize the ma
ture OF the opportunity of his position.
He knew that Jesus was guiltless. He
saw clearly and distinctly what he
ought to do, but PLATE was not ready
to sacrifice for Christ his political ca
reer as governor or Jud@a. Therefore
Plate, who saw his opportunity, en-
braced 1t not, but shrank from IL.
Thomas Cranmer. when the days OF
persecution came, saw what his oppor-
tunity was for true service for Christ.
but in order to escape the fires OF mar
tyrdom he testified falsely concerning
his belief I'm his Lord and Master. and
when he was finally led TO the stake.
in spite of his recantntion. he gave this
as his valedictory to the world: "Now
l come to the great thing that trou-
bleth my conscience more than any
other thing that ever said or did, and
that is the setting abroad of writings
contrary TO the truth that l thought
in my heart, and. forasmuch as my
hand offended in writing contrary to
my heart, therefore my hand shall first
be punished. If l may come 10 the
fire. it shall first be burned" And his
tory declares that when the fires of
martyrdom were kiuded about Thomas
Cranmer, in atOnement for his past
sins and his failure to live up to his
opportunity, the dying prelate thrust
his right hand into the leaping flames
and saw 1T wither away. So there are
many men who are mentally equipped
for great opportunities of Christian
service who might also be spiritually
equipped for those same opportunities
were they not unwilling to make the
sacrifice which true conservation de-
mands- They are unwilling to do for
Christ that which they know they
ought to do.
Make the Sacrifice.
Christ's disciples today often shrink
from making the same kind of sacrifice
for Christian service which Richard
Fuller made when young man. At
that time he was the most promising
Junior member Of the South Carolina
bar. He was the pride OF the city and
the future hope of the state. But, be-
ing converted. he Immediately turned
his back on political preferment, re-
nounced public life and declared that
he would consecrate his life thence
forth to the gospel ministry. His
friends tried TO dissuade him. Hon.
William Il. Preston. Mr.. Calhoun's col
league in the United States senate,
went to his home to plead with him.
Then young Fuller turned and said:
Preston, was living n selfish life.
eager only TO win success and have q
great name among men. Religion new
er entered my thoughts. and was neg
ligent of all duty to God. Suddenly
my eyes were opened. | discovered
Gods great love 10 me. saw that
Jesus Christ had left heaven and come
to earth and died TO win my love. This
act has so impressed me that. as n man
OF honor. | can do nothing else but love
him in return and give my whole life
to his service. Preston. does II seem
to you that I am acting irrationallyY'
mo. Fuller" exclaimed Senator Pres
fOn- RI ierlt
tional man. and we are the irrational.
because most OF us do not live up to
our Christian opportunities. We do
not do for Christ what we well know
we ought TO do" The grandest oppor-
tunities OF Christian service demand
the complete and voluntary surrender
OF our whole lives to Jesus Christ.
They demand the same Kind OF volun-
tary sacrifice which GaribaIdi made
In the cause OF Italian freedom. They
demand the same kind of sacrifice Co
lumbus made when he went from court
10 court begging money to buy a few
ships that lie might prove his theory
that the world was round. They need
The same kind Of voluntary sacrifice
that Luther made. that Savonarola
made, that John Knox made, that Lat
mer made and Ridley made, all of
whom were ready to lay down their
ives for the cause of Christ.
Great opportunities often come I'm
places at unexpected times
% those whom they wish to honor.
General U. 5. Grant began his Mem
hrs or the Civil War" with these SOL
INN words: Man proposes, but God
lisposes." Man plans. but the Infinite
S continually changing the plans OF
he Unite Man hopes, but God often
Guilds an entirely different superstruc-
ure upon the foundations OF those de-
Tres than that which we architecture |
lily designed. Samuel L. b. Morse.
he inventor OF telegraphic communi- |
alton. started life as an artist. He |
pent many years abroad In the study |
the old masters. He was the found |
ana the first president OF New York's |
RATIONAL Academy of Design. But in |
October, 1892. when he was forty-one |
ears OF age and returning from his az
site studies in Europe. he entered in
conversation one day with a fellow
assenger on board the packet ship
uily. This conversation, which was /
bout the properties OF the electro mag
ct led Samuel +. Is. Morse then and
acre to consecrate the rest of his life
the establishment OF electric COM
between the distant parts
the world. So the opportunities for
hristian usefulness may come In I'M
Ipected why's and at unexpected
mes.
Unexpected Opportunities.
Great opportunities for Christian use
illness may come to you in an unex-
ected way, as they came to q Chris
an lady who was one day riding
ong the streets Of Richmond. There
the gutter lay young man stupidity
runk. She stopped her carriage and
ide her coachman lift him I'm. She
'ok that young man to her home. She
lred for him and started him ont
gain in life. By her Christian exam
e or love she started him forth i'm his
'eat career.s until William Wirt's
anne became that of ono OF ,ho g.. |