The Grenada sentinel., 1903-10-17
doers. or because Of their prosperity
Read it carefully and prayerfully. =
Gcd's Children Suffer

Read it carefully and prayerfully. =
TAKE your Bible and search through
its pages for the long list of near
sighted followers of Cod Some suf-
fered from Intermittent attacks OF the
disease, others suffered perpetually
from the distressing condition. Saul
belonged to this latter class. His per-
sistent near-sightedness kept him con-
tinually out of the pathway of Gods
Will and purpose for him. He would
not see that his course led down and
away from God. And how many are
there who are running perilously near
to the course which Saul took to his
destruction. A near-sightedness which
shut out all but the present purpose.
or plan, or DESIRE Then there are those
who suf1er from the intermittent at
tacks OF near-sightedness. There was
David. A night of debauch and pleas
ure cost him days and weeks and
months OF agony of soul, and
distress and disgrace of life. One
has only to read the fifty-first Psalm
to know what his near-sightedness cost
him. Sorrow and distress and trou-
BILE ultimately are the lot of the near
sighted Christian. He may forget that
there is an accounting day coming.
The near-sighted Christian does not
look over into the to-morrows, but sees
only the desires and attractions and
ambitions of to-day. He lives from
hand to mouth, and gulps down any
thing that comes along No wonder
there Is spiritual dyspepsia, that there
are defOrmities and monstrosities.
Near-sightedness brings in it's wake
distressing array of difficulties and
troubles
\ ND when the consequences of near
4 s1ghtedness are realized what
sense of regret there is that one has
allowed himself to fall into such error.
And a new danger is encountered here.
II realization of past near-siehtedness
Is not followed by a treating and cur
Ing of the disease, there is soon fur
tner cause to mourn continued near
s1ghtedness. If I know that I have a
certain disease, prudence and necessi-
ty demand that I take means to cure
that disease. How foolish for me to
mourn the i'll effects suffered from the
disease without taking corrective steps
to prevent further evil consequences
And yet that is exactly the way in
which so many, many Christians 20
laundering through life. Their career
IA one long-continued story of regret,
regret, regret, but corrective measures
are not taken to prevent the reason for
regret In the future. It is easy to look
backward and realize past near-sieht-
edness, but it is another matter to have
that near-sightedness cured. Whv 20
on laundering? Why not call in the
Great Physician and seek His AID IN
erecting cure? But it is one thing
to call in the Saviour and have Him
diagnose the case, and it is quite an
other thing to take His medicine
When He prescribes more faith: mora
active, positive goodness; more Da-
t1ent waiting, you must take them all
II you would be cured Near-sfghted-
ness limits the vision to the present.
out faith reaches up and on until the
certainties of God are laid hold of.
Near-sightedness prevents one from
seeing the opportunities of being good
and doing good. 1t destroys the de-
edness tends to self1shness and self
seeking. But let works, the hand
maiden of faith, have her rightful
place in the life, and another long
step is taken in effecting a cure. The
near-sighted Christian may be busy
saying, Lord, Lord" and withholding
the cup OF cold water which will win
the recognition and approval of the
Master. And with faith and works
must be mixed a liberal amount of pa
thence. The near-sighted Christian
knows not the meaning of that word
patience. He does not know how to
wait. His near-sightedness results in
impatience. He cannot see far enough
to wait for things; near-sightedness
tells him he must have at once or not
at all. But patience must be taken in
liberal doses, If that disease of near
sightedness is to be cured.
THE more alarming condition OF
L near-sightedness is suggested In
the latter part of our text: Fret not
thyself in anywise to do evil" Is tho
admoniti0n of the Psalmist needed to-
Ooy "Aot OOcS II "eau 10 DC 1rottCd
into the commission Of wrong? It
seems to me there are two directions
in which this admonition of the Psalm
list is violated very generally in this
our day. First of all, in the preva-
lence OF lowered standards, a sort of
compromising attitude toward evil:
and secondly, the laying aside the
weapons Of Righteousness and truth In
combat with evil, and resorting to the
arms and tactics of the enemy. Both
are evidences Of ncar-sightedness on
the part Of the Christian who is guilty
Of such practices. There is great dan
ger Of the Christian under the stress Of
circumstances and the Tendencies of
the times In falling into either or both
Of these errors. and perhaps without
being conaciOua Of II I am inclined "a