Newport weekly independent., 1903-01-16
MEDITATION.
lA Just as Necessary to Spiritual well-BeinS as Is Resf
 to the Body.


 life, both of which are absolutely nec- essary to healthy existence. These are exercise and rest. They are life's balances. So much rest jn one scale means possible so much york in the other. The harmonizing oI balancing of these two principles makes life normal and gives promise to possibih- ties. Nature illustrates the necessity of these two principles 1T physical life by apportioning time to each. She gives man day for work; she provides night for the generation of new vigor. During the day man eXpends energy that he may regain new supply in rest full sleep. By night he stores up new strength to put it forth again during his working hours. Thus these two portions of life are complementary; one exists for the other; one is inn possible without the other. If a man neglects rest he forfeits energy, says Christian Work, and his work suffers. God has so provided for our physical nature.
 But His laws are no less binding upon the spiritual life. Man must work in order to preserve his spiritual well-being. And he must withdraw at times from the output of spiritual activity to replenish and reenergize the powers of the soul. Christ was teaching one side of this truth when He drew the parable of the talents. He who buried his talentlost capacity from non-use. They who used gained. And again, when He said to His dis ciples: "Come ye apart and rest awhile," He emphasizes the other side; for He knew that expenditure demanded refilling.
 The active side of Christian life has been emphasized again and again. And it should be; for it's place and impor- tance in spiritual progress and vigor is unquestionable. Spiritual exercise gives fiber and character to religious life. But outward activity is only the manifestation of tie spiritual life within. And because that life is a real ity we should treat it with at least the same respect we pay to our phy- sical being. Both are governed by laws that make for health when obeyed. Either will grow debilitated, devitalized, when the laws are dis obeyed. If our spiritual life demands rest for recuperation, no less does our higher life demand that which cor responds to physical rest, in order that the spiritual demand may take on new strength for wider activity. The time of prayer and meditation is that time when the soul draws near est to God and is most conscious of His real presence. Most beautifully has Paul H. Hayne expressed the de- sire of the soul for prayer and medi- tation in one of his sonnets:
 Happy the heart-that keeps it's twilight
 hour,
 And in the depths of heavenly peace re- clined
 Longs to commune with thoughts of tender
 power,
 Thoughts that ascend like angels beau- tiful,
 A shining Jacob s-ladder of the mind
 But this quiet hour in the spiritual life is by no means time for mere passivity. Meditation is not stagna- tion. It is frequentlya time of earnest struggle. The deeps of the soul are often broken up. But the spirit of God moves upon the face of the wa ters, calling into being new energies and new influences. Within these quiet hours of pregnant striving are born the forces that expand and deepen life and mold it into solid character. Prom these silent hours go out lines 8fof light and strength that bless others EEas well as ourselves in word and deed. El preparation for the positive activ- ities of Christian living, prayer and Emeditation correspond to that time Enature sets apart for replenishing nat urai forces.
 M Is there not need for the Christian Elorld to more practically learn this Nsson? The age in which we live is Mot meditative one. The mass of hNen never stop to think; they do it Mn the run. The unremitting commer- Wal spirit seems to have penetrated Every domain of life. The world of &fush and competition has affected the Mpheres of home, society and religion. kRurs is an age of unrest, nervous, en- kFgetic, brilliant. Eternal vigilance lnd ceaseless activity are the price of Ehccess in business. The student is Hurried through a curriculum stretch Eng over dozen years. His diplomas Abear witness that he has gulped down ESQ much Latin, Greek and mathemat. MS. His after life, too, often declares
 m ole more among large class of
 ental dyspeptics. The ministry has
 n swept into the rushing current. \ message of God to His people is
 M!ished sermon. written under tre-