Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-08-29

IhH
they can never look into the unfatn-
omed sea of affection which God has
rolled into the deep blue OF childs
eye, because they are always living In
the dark cavecns. the reptile Inhabited
dungeons which their own evil imagi-
nations have created
In order TO overcome this sin OF wor-
rying l want you 70 try an experiment.
Every hour OF every day try to think
of the blessings God has given to you
instead of trying to remember all your
troubles. If you have poor memory,
l want you to take long sheet of pa
per and write those blessings down as
you think Of them. and then every lit
tie while take up this paper and read
over the list. You will need very
long sheet of paper when you once be
gin the list. You are going TO be sur
prised. overwhelmingly surprised, ut
the great number of blessings you can
put down.
well remember. many years ago,
children together about his chair and
gave to each one OF us Il long sheet OF
paper and told MS 10 write down our
blessings. At first could not think OF
a thing TO write. but after awhile the
blessings. the many blessings, which
had began TO crowd into my brain.
wrote and wrote until after awhile
had to get another sheet CT paper.
Then | wrote and wrote until after
awhile those blessings seemed to pile
themselves MP into a great mountain.
And then. do you know. after l had
been catalogulng my many blessings
was ashamed to think about any of my
troublesl They seemed to be so small
and insignificant In comparison with
the mercies With which God had sur
rounded me. My brother as you begin
today to think OF all your blessings
tell you bluntly and plainly It is a
shame. a sinful shame. for you to have
postponed SO long learning a prayer of
thanksgiving. 1t is a shame, a sinful
shame. that you have postponed SO
long the day when you are willing to
get down upon your knees and thank
God for what he has done for you and
for the blessings that have enriched
your life.
A Hymn That Helps.
There are many different hymns
sung In church. in prayer meeting and
ut the family altar, but there is nc
hymn that breathes in it a sweeter
gospel. no hymn which helps more to
make trucr, happier, purer and holier
Christian life than that hymn with the
chorus;
Count your blessings; name them one by
one:
Count your blessings; see what God has
done.
This is a hymn that ought 10 be sung
every day from the heart. 1t is a
hymn which should aid in transform
ing a life of sinful worrying into one
Of trust and gratitude and holy JOY.
Troubles cannot be rightly antici-
pated because we cannot rightly antic-
ipate the grace God win give to his
believing children, by means OF which
we shall be able to overcome our trou-
bles when they arrive. For proof of
the abundant grace and strength that
are given when most needed Les ma
point you to the many wonderful. gio-
rious and triumphant Christian death
bed scenes that have been recorded.
When DIR. Dome was dying, he said,
in answer TO question:: II am as hap
by on earth as i can be and as sure of
glory as If l were in IL. have moth
ing TO do but step out of this bed into
heaven" When Senator Foote OF Yer
mont was dying, he looked, at the last,
and cried: Il see II! 1 see H.. The
gates are wide open! Beautiful Beau
tiful!' AS DR.. Sewall of Washington
city lay dying he c.ied ont: "Oh, Il /
had a voice that would reach from
pole to pole, would proclaim IL 10 all
the world! Yictoryi Victory, Through
the blood OF the LambI" But when we
hear of such wonderful deathbed
scenes we are apt 10 say TO ourselves:
Il do not see how any Christian could
be happy when lie is leaving behind
wife, children, work and loved ones.
do not see how anybody could be hap
by because he is going away, while
those who are near and dear to him
are clinging to his side"
But, friend, the reason you cannot
understand the glorious triumph of the
dying Christian is because you cannot
understand the infinite amount of di.
vine reinforcement which is given tc
Gods children ut the time the death
angel comes. You cannot understand
how that divine reinforcement is able
to let them look straight through the
dark clouds of mystery into the face
or Jesus, whose parting lips tell them
that all is we'll When your future
troubles come, and they must come
Gods grace. If you are a believing
child, will be sufficient for you. Gods
grace, the Infinite amount OF which
you cannot now estimate, will go with
you down into the depths OF sorrow
though the waters thereof roar anC
be troubled, though the mountains
shake with the swelling thereof"
Influences of Christian Faith.
Anticipating trouble is n sin, becaus,
1t exhibits lack OF gospel faith to tn,
unbelievers around you, who might
otherwise be willing TO believe In tn.
atoning, saving, inspiring and recreat
Ing power of the blood OF the Lamb
Talk as we may. we cannot get ava,
from the overwhelming fact that ever,
processing Christian is as q city set up
on a hill for all unbelievers to look a
and to be guided by. II has been sal,
that no cook or chambermaid or butler
or other employee ever entered tn,
house of Phillips Brooks but he or sh,
became Christian, If not already one
through the influence of that great an,
good gospel minister of Boston. S,
our Christian lights cannot be bidder
under bpshel. If they are false lights
the world will see that they are falls,
and will despise them; II they are tru,
lights. the world will follow thos,
lights. What we say and do will In
fuence others In reference TO wha
they say and do for or against Christ
But no man can safely let the futur,
take care of itself unless lie deal.
rightly with the present, and no maj
can deal rightly with the present un
less he deals rightly with God, or, ra tn
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