The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-12-30

'ue in his turning pnurer. Those illustra.
tions only serve to indicate what 7 mean
by saving that pan may bp A. orthodox
~ calvin and as wicked as he knows how.
The principle we have been discussing
also explains whv it is that so many pcop,e
who show good deal Of Christian zest at
he start so soon get tired of being Chris
tans. 10 have earnest views of Christ and
to be intensely interested in them and con.
trolled by them cannot unfortunately, be
aiken as certain sign Of the continuance
)f that interest. The falling off. the cool,
ing down of Christian enthusiasm is com.
non experience. Even the disciples. at
Jesus temporary withdrawal from them
At crucixion. threw up the whole matter
resumed their old life and went back to
their fishing. Interest is not self.sustain.
ing. Enthusiasm, like a Burning candle
consumes itself in its own heat The sun
90 astronomers tell us. would burn itself
out and our systems fall back into original
darkness were not special provision made
for keeping up the suns temperature.
AT the same time there are lines Of ef.
iort and employment where interest on
the contrary, never does seem to flag.
where heat is not only maintained. but
with mercury that is rather steadily un
;he rise. Setting aside the familiar and
:ather shop worn instance of the money
yetter, who, the more he gets. the intenser.
is rule, becomes his ambition to get.
where the like enhancement of interest.
mounting m in many cases to the height
,f steadily growing passion. is seen to
avince itself. Examples of this are, |
should say especially frequent among
scholars devoted to the scientific invest.
tation. OF nature aTd natures beauties and
marveis. But in the instances of such ad.
vancing and steadily intensifying interest
the particular fact would beg YOU to no.
tee is that what keeps the investigators
heart glowing with warmer and warmer
fervor is not the array of facts that have
been brought distinctly within the range
OF his knowledge, that he has been abe
definitely to tabulate, and of which in
Some time past he has issued a complete
and finished catalogue 1t is the constant
stepping forward on to new ground that
keeps his thoughts alert and his heart
ag.ow. Whatever it be, the Old is alwavs
tiresome only the new is interesting. To
the naturalist the world retains its fascina.
ton. although an old word because of the
deeper entrance he day by dav gains into
that world and the ever fresh disclosures
of newly discovered wonderfulness and
beauty that she thereby makes over to
him. In the same way there are certain
books that we read and re-read. In Il way
they are Old books, but it is not their old.
ness that fascinates us but certain ever.
listing newness that lay beyond the reach
OF our previous perusals, as eyes that look
quietly and intensely into the night-sky see
stars that are sunk 90 deep in the firma.
ment to be caught by n first and easy
glance. And that suggests the Old hoy
book, the Bible, which is always now and
which the church always loves, because
there is that IN 1t always which our Las;
reading was y on the edge OF discover
ing. Ii the O. arch should ever come to the
Some people have thrown it away al.
ready: some who seem to themS- .es to b.
Christian nave thrown it a, -, it seems
to them they have come to the end of it.
To them there is nothing new in it ary
more, so of course. by the princip,e we are
illustrating they can do nothing hut throw
it away. The OK knows enough to teel
when it is dark. but never sees sunset.
All OF this leads up easily to an eXplana'
ton OF the fact stated moment ago that
SO many who have begun to be Christians
get tired OF being Christians after a while;
it has ceased to offer them anything new
to which interest can attach and by which
therefore enjoyment can be kept alive.
They reached a little convection as to the
real import of Christ. entered into Ger.
tain amount of relation with Him. had a
degre OF experience of Him. learned iitt'o
of what He could do to strengthen in weak.
ness, brighten in darkness. comfort in sor.
row and disanpontp> t, and then every,
thing stopped; lns, d of going on to
know the Lord" drawing closer and closer
to Him, and pressing forward into the
deeper and deeper meanings involved IN
His Spirit, presence and compauionship,
they drew up all that part of the matter,
ruminated only upon such little prospect
as had opened to them, till they became
weary of it. drank the Old cup OF conso.a.
ton till its waters became sta,e, munched
the drying crumbs of light, strength and
comfort till they were mo,dy, strained
themselves to keep warm by fire that
had gone out, and ended, OF course, by con,
Guiding that whatever might be the theo.
retical value of personal religion it was
nothing il not uninteresting, and people
will not, If they can help it, permanently
commit themselves to course OF drudgery,
even il that drudgery be baptized by so
honorable name as Christianity
Closing this morning with the prayer
that we may all of us feel ourselves moved
by reverent and hoy ambition to break
free from the burden and ENHANCEMENT OF
all the petty aud now withered experiences
garnered long ago, entering into ever new
prospects, into larger discernments, into an
ever wider world OF knowledge, comfort
and anticipation. To this. end may we
have with us in our Closets and in oui
sanctuary gatherings the abounding SpIr,
OF God the Father and OF His Son Jesus
Christ, to whom with the Blessed Spirit be
gwen our obedience, alteration and love
foreve. and ever. Amen.