The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-21
SERMON BY DR.. KELLOGG
"CHRIsTIANs GETTING TIRED" THE
TOPIC OF HIS TALK.
At the CentraI-Avenue Methodist
Episcopal Church He Considers an
Interesting Question.


is needed at all times in the year." he said.
but it is especially apt when we are in
cined to consult our indolent inclinations
and relax our work We are so much in
clined TO do this that we need constant
encouragement. Good people get tired as
well as bad, but strange TO say they be-
come weary in doing good things That
people should become tired with doing
triiing things, things that debase and ruin
is not TO be wondered at. but to cease from
noble and joy-creating labor is remark
able The hottest and bravest have had
their times OF temptation 70 quit. The load
seemed too heavy, the way too hard. Did
not Paul feel this and is not this feeling
disclosed in the very eXhortation, Let us
not be weary?
THE reason for this tendency may be
found partly in the conditions under which
this work is accomplished. The constant
resistance met with in the superstitions OF
ignorance and the hatred of sin. The very
work offered for the betterment or the
world has always met with opposltlon Dy
those for whom 1t was intended. What
story can be told Of this unfair contilct!
All the way from fight against the poor
harmless umbrella, which does not prevent
the Operat tons OF providence as was arSueu,
to the severest conflict in the political and
religious worlds where men have been
stoned imprisoned and killed by those for
whom they were laboring. To work under
such conditions does not tend to keep
man al the job. No sympathy, but fault
finding and criticism and abuses are not
the material out OF which courage Is Dullt'
METHOD OF SOWING.
But the more subtle reasons for this in
clination are found in the method of SOW
ing and harvest which is so wisely used
in the text. As here the laborer works
against appearances. This whole perform
ance of sowing and reaping is one in which
good sense is outraged. Just think of 1t;
a man has taken good grain from MS
storehouse. and after hard work in prepar-
ing his fields is at the ridiculous task OF
throwing il away Ii falls into the ground
and is lost TO sight. If you take the pains
to look after 1t you will find it rotting.
What a loss of precious treasure as Wen
as labor If ii were not that we nave De-
come familiar with the laws of the seasons,
this little act would be the most foolish
a man could perform. But his hlgner
knowledge redeems 1t from disgrace ana
gives the approval of wisdom. The COM
ing harvest justifies the act and brings
encoura cement to man. The other discour-
agement arises from the element or time
which is involved There is long waiting.
If the harvester could follow the sower
and gather the grain, there would be put
little occasion for misgiving and doubt.
But alas, the time is long, and in the un,
drought and pestilence. Both OF these
factors are presented in the work OF MIN
who is doing service for the world s good.
THE good man must ever work against
appearances. Throwing away ones self
seems wasteful. This giving for the un-
approaching your talent and education ana
the wealth of sympathy which has often
cost much does not tend TO inspire or
sustain effort. This is the real reason for
much of the letting up or quitting alto
gether.
These. then, are to be overcome How
is il to be done? BY an appeal to the laws
of life. The farmer cOnquers appearances
by reliance on the invariableness of the
laws under which he is working; this the
Christian must do. Laws that never fail.
He must become familiar with the laws
which have been tested again and again
Except a corn of wheat fall into the
ground and die, it abide alone, but If it die
II bring forth fruit He that loseth his life
shall find il and he that seeketh to save his
life shall lose it Jesus, in the presence of
the inquring Greeks, the representa- tives of
the philosophy. disclosed the secret of the
law on which He was relying. If we could
comprehend the plan of God in this work
as we do in the harvest we would be as
steady as He was
VITAL LAWS.
Cannot we, too. learn the strength and
unfailing certainty of the laws governing
this transaction? These laws are vital, not
mechanical. Good deeds. like seed. are to be
planted for a harvest. They work by the
law of life They cannot fail. Life is
reality. We do not get so near to reality
anywhere in life. Indeed, we are coming
to regard reality and life as synonymous
terms. The deepest search for reality is a
search for life. We speak of living issues
and living problems. We read that true
knowledge of God is eternal life Ii is be-
cause by such knowledge we come to pos
SesS the original eternal reality, things
more enduring than mountains seas or
stars. Our work. then, is to be wrought by
laws Of reality. What can be sure? Not
according to chance or arbitrary arrange
ments are the results TO follow good works
but the guarantee of harvest is the pledge
OF reality. or, better, the pledge of God.
What is so awfuly positive and command
ing as life? In its tiniest of forms ii seems
to be sovereign. With our most delicate
instruments we break into its secret worlds
ana nnd IL at work In such miniature forms
that it seems insignificant; so small. in
deed, that a city of their dwelling 200 600
in number might be placed on a common
dime and a third OF the territory left for
parks and bOulevards; yet every one of
the inhabitants is a master workman a
sovereign In a mighty world I stand i'm
awe OF life. The delicate seed that breath
might drive away when planted will com
mand the elements and they hasten 10 serve
II. The tide-swept sea is vast, the noun
tainS imposing, rivers sweep the valleys
with unchecked fury, natures forces are
terrific, but to the smallest cell where life
is breaking all these hasten with their
treasures and pour them out in gifts And
the little life receives all Ii breathes the
heat of the sun, il drinks from the floods
Ii feeds on the mountains and is trained nv
the winds and forces of gravitation What
is there in all the world that life does NOT
need and use? over what does il not rule9
If life is so omnipotent here is il less in
higher realms? Yet II is by the law of life
that we are to reap If we faint not What
assurance ii should bring TO the weary
worker; what courage il should inspiret
In due season we shall reap IL we faint
not.
- For right is right since God is God.
And right the day must win
SECOND DIFFICULTY.
THE second difficulty, or the time eIe
ment must be conquered by patience. In
due season we shall reap The husband
man waiteth patiently for his harvest So
we must learn TO wait Real patience is
the expression of the mightiest powers of
the soul 1t requires reason. faith. hone
and love for its support 1t does not ex-
clude activity but implies II. We count
them happy that endure Let us take
courage glance at the past will inspire
US. Examples not wanting of those
who have given their lives TO what seemed
fruitless toll. Not in their own time. but
afterward. came the harvest. but IL never
failed TO come some time Few of the
great heroes were able 10 see the fruit OF
their labor. but the generations that fol-
lowed were made rich by IT, 1t is still true
that we labor against appearances, but not
without assurance OF returns.
" i shot an arrow into the air.
II Tell 10 the earth, / knew not where.