The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1903-10-17
Copyright. 1898. BY ]. n. Edison.
doers. or because OF their prosperity,
Read 1t carefully and praysrfully.

doors. or because OF their prosperity
Read 1t carefully and praysrfully.
K 49,
TAKE your Bfbis and search through
/ its pages for the long list OF near
sighted followers OF God. Some SUI
fered from Intermittent attacks Of thu
disease. others suffered perpetually
from the distressing condition. Sau
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 suffer from the intermittent at
tacks Of near-sightedness. There was
I 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 its wake
a distressing array of difficulties and
troubles.
A ND when the consequences OF near
"A sightedness are realized what
sense of regret there is that one has
allowed himself to fall into such error.
And new danger is encountered here.
II realization of past near-sightedness
is not followed by treating and cur
ing of the disease. there is soon fur
Their cause to mourn continued near
sightedness. II 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
tc nt1xr
which so many. many Christians go
laundering through life. Their career
is one long-continued story OF regret.
regret. regret. but corrective measures
are not taken 10 prevent the reason for
regret In the future. 1t is easy to look
backward and realize past near sight
edness. but II is another matter to have
that near-sightedness cured. Why 20
on laundering? Why not call in the
Great Physician and seek His aid in
effecting cure? But II is one thing
to call in the Saviour and have Him
diagnose the case. and Il is quite an
other thing to take His medicine.
When He prescribes more faith; more
active. positive goodness; more pa
tient waiting. you must take them all
IL you would be cured. Near-sighted-
ness limits the vision to the present.
but 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. It destroys the de-
sire to do good. Spiritual near-sight-
edness tends to selfshness 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 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 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, IL that disease of near
sightedness Is to be cured.
THE more alarming condition OF
Il near-sightedness is suggested I'm
the latter part of cur text: Fret not
myself in anywise to do evil" Is the
admonition of the Psalmist needed to-
day? What does 1t mean to be fretted
into the commission of wrong? II
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 IL
combat with evil. and resorting to the
arms and tactics of the enemy. Both
are evidences Of nesr-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 CT both
Of these errors. and perhaps without
Il