Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-02-19
: It. Is A. good thing to turn again and


been grievous it is not necessary. that we
should go in mourning all the day long,
for, Just as mother forgives the weakness
of her child and forgets the many short.
comings, so God has promised! again and
again in His Word to blot out all our trans
gressions and to remember them no more
against us forever.
Tt is not therefore question as to
whether we can keep from SHINING our
selves-we know that we can not, but it is
altogether question as to whether Christ
can keep us il we will but give Him the
right to do SO. hnvA ~ question hut
that one could walk from one corner of the
street to the other with Christ so con.
stantly before him that. in his own judg.
ment at least, he would be overcoming
sin. I am perfectly clear that he could
increase his journey by many miles and
still be more thar, conqueror. | am a, ab $50.
whole day with Christ so wildly before
him that it would be peace and joy. And
what could he accomplished in one day
could be made the rule of a mans entire
life.
After the return of Christ for His church
there is to be great dav of awards, when
those who have been faithful shall receive
recognition at the hands of the Lord Him.
self, in the presence of the. assembled
hosts in the skies. We can tell just what
this reward is to be, and yet this needs.
word Of explanation. We can not give the
exact description of the crowns we shall
wear, nor can we estimate in human lam
guage their value in the opinion of men.
But we know, after studying the New
Testament, that it is to be according to
our faith and in proportion. to our faithful,
ness. 1t is in this way that every child
of God may confidently say: 81 know what
:. l. L. r., &,
self. It is vcrv true that one may stand
before God and receive from Him only
measure of reward, and it is likewise true
that he might have q greater blessing from
the hands of his Master. John speaks
about "a full reward" as if there might he
n reward that is not complete. Alas. this
Is only too true! But the opposite is also
true. that one may have at that treat day
Mt the hands of God Himself a full reward.
And the purpose of this book is to induce
us to lay hold of the promises of God; so
that our lives may be so shared according
to His will that when that dav comes we
shall stand before Him with rejoicing and
not with sorrow.
A crown is always symbol of reward.
Expressions containing the word are many
times used in the New Testament. It Is
sometimes a Grown Of life again a
"crown that is incorruptible," a Grown OF
felOIclnP, crown OF righteousness
and "a crown of glory" But these names
are given not simply for the sake Of en-
phasis. as the change of a name might be
emphatic. but because each crown means
certain kind of reward. So far as l have
been able to see there are but five crowns
in the New Testament Scriptures. Every
Christian NAV have one, but oh: the 10Y
of it! every Christian may have five. But
the message is still sweeter, for if we
i Tho hands nf oIOri-
fed Lord the crowns there would still be
something in reserve.
Naturally the crown that should come
first in order would be the ono mentioned
in James i: l2-"Blessed is the man that
endureth temptation: for when he is tried
he shall receive the crown OF life. which
the Lord hath promised TO them that love
Him" This crown is also mentioned IN
Revelation ii. lo--"Be thou faithful unto
death, and l will give thee crown OF
life"
1t was to be given to the Church of
Smyrna that suffered the most. ! used to
read the texr-"Be thou faithful until
death" and I supposed it meant simply
that we needed to be faithful during life
and that when death came our RESPONSE
hility was at en- end. but the word Is
"unto." and means not simply that one
should be faithful and willing to suffer for
the Master. but to suffer and to die. :.
This leads me to say that the crown OF
life is undoubtedly the one to be given to
the martvr-not str,oly the one who has
died at the stake. or tho woman who has
been thrown to the wild beasts that they
might devour her. but the one who has sui.
fered in body and mind unknown to fame,
but suffered nevertheless, and suffered for
the glory of God.
1t is likewise the crown that is to be
given to the one who is able to do only
little things for Chr st So many seem to
think that they can do but little for Christ
md therefore leave that little undone. This
is a most serious error, "Inasmuch az we
have done it unto the least of these We
have done it unto Me-" said Christ. A cup
of cold water given in His name, word of
cheer spoken for His glory, warm hand
clasp that He may he exalted in the opin-
ion of men-these little things win the
eternal reward.
So many people are asking: what can |
do to help or the cause OF Christ 70 assist
my minister, or to help the church? II l
were to suggest one thing that would be
most helpful it would be the offering of
nnceasing PRAYER for the spread OF Christ $
kingdom, and for the outpouring of the
Holy Ghost upon the man who breaches
Christ at the sacred desk. | remember
very we'll when | first became pastor OF
the church to which ] now minister. AT.
ter | had preached my first sermon and
the people had presented themselves TO
say words Of cheer an old man came walk.
ing down the aisle leaning upon his staff
because of has age, and he said to me: =.
II am afraid you will make it a failure"
| did not consider that much of a WORD
Of cheer, and heartily wished he could
have given it to NE at another time.
Then, looking about the church, he
added: eve have always had a man o.
large experience, and the church is large,
Then he came nearer and said: But |
have made up my mind 10 help YOU |
wondered in my own mind what he could
do. lie added: 81 have determined to
pray for you every dav that YOU are pas.
tor of this church, and have covenanted
with two other men to pray for YOU.
At this my heart was filled with Joy,
md thanked God and took courage, feel
ing confident from the beginning that He
had given me the victory. The three men
soon grew to ten and the ten to fifty, and
the fifty to 900 until in these days from
so to 800 consecrated men bow their
heads in prayer with me every Sunday
morning at 9,45, praying Gods blessing
upon me as preach, and upon the people
IN all the world to preach in is a church
where the atmosphere is permeated with
the petitions of faithful Christians for
Gods blessing upon His ministers. And
these are they who. upon the great day of
awards, shall receive the crown of life.
They do little things well, to the glory OF
God.
San Eroncisco is credited with having one