Times-promoter., 1903-01-02
shut the office door, does not hush

q,Het the busy hum of the halls o1
learning and invite the cobwebs oil
ignorance to weave their disfgurino
mantle over the intellect. No, il
means better and fuller life in all
the essential activities of the world
Singleness of Purpose.-Caleb saws:
Let us go up at once" Paul en-
claims: This one thing l do" All,
brave hearts, with such spirit as
that burning in their breasts no
wonder all the strong cities of
Canaan and the mighty sons of Anak
could not make Caleb falter, or the
chains and prison walls could not
cut short the great mission of the
mighty Paul. In this day of many
ideas and multiplied activities, it is
said that the man of single idea
has little or no chance of success.
However that may be we are not
prepared to judge, but we are conf
dent in our assertion that the man
of single purpose is the man who
will succeed in planting MS banner
on the mountain top of achievement,
it any man can.
The one purpose of Paul was re-
troactive as well as progressive. Tt
dealt with the past which might
hinder and make him wish to 90
back, and it marked out clearly in
the unmeasured distances ahead the
goal to which he aspired. "Fo-get-
ting those things which are behind"
he says, "and reaching forth. unto
those things which are before, I
press toward the mark for the prize
of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus" With the face set stead
fastly towards the rising sun ane
the coming morning, he was deter"
mined to press onward and up.
ward. He was going to burn
the bridges behind him so that the
hardships in the unoccupied country
ahead might not tempt him to beat
an ignominious retreat. What do YOU
suppose it was that Paul was so anx.,
ious to forget, and the memory Of
which would so evidently prove a
in the race he was running?
Certainly it was not the bright One
he met in the way on his journey to
Damascus, when he heard the voice
Of his Lord speaking to him out of |
the Heavens; certainly IL was not his |
three years communion with his |
Lord in the Arabian desert, during
which time he was caught up to the
bird heaven and "heard unspeak-
sble words, which it is not lawful
or man to UTTER" certainly it was
lot the mighty work he had accom-
1lished on his evangelistic tours
through Asia Minor and Europe; cer-
ainly it w4 not his beloved church
1t Philippi, for he says in his open
ng salutation to them in the letter
rom which our text is taken: 81
hank my God upon every remem-
france of you;" certainly it was not
lis bonds and the Affections which
lad come to him. What was it then
hat Paul wanted to forget? The
'pening verses of the third chapter
# Philippians, believe, tell us. He
wanted to forget his splendid pedi-
'ree. his scholarly attainments, his
potless life, for they fed pride and
esteem and hindered his
aiming the Promised Land of the
Ugh calling of God. The things
hat were gain for him, he counted
oss for Christ. And here is where
'e need to begin to strip for the
ace into the Promised Land. Pride
nd self-centered esteem have
rocked more lives and blocked the
rftrance into the Promised Land of
he high calling of God than any,
hing else that touches the human
cart and life. If you want to run
18th Paul you must forget those
lings which are behind which will
ourish pride and self-esteem. Strip
ourself of these hindering weights t
nd you may with this New Year en- 9
II the Promised Land which God i.
IT'S before you. 1t was no easy task /
hich Paul set for himself. 1t will! a
: the hardest thing you ever did iE I
our life to kill that pride which is |
inding your eyes and narrowing n
our view of life, to break up that P
lf-centered esteem which has made
ourself the axis around which every "
an and purpose in life have revolved, t
reak away from these things which IL
10 so easily beset" the human heart,
that you may be able in the New a
ear to leave the valley of narrow :
lrpose and endeavor and, scaling
e mountain of vision, lock off into c
e Promised Land whicE God has :
lected for you and to wl.!ah He
III faithfully lead. Yes, "forgs+ting
ose things which are behind" 10 the
tie narrow self, 'reach forth" uIto
e larger opportunity of new and