Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-10-08

no sympathy with you in your work. |
do not mean those who are maliciously
classifying, but those who honestly,
trutbfully and positively do not like
your way Of doing things. Now, my
brother, the best way for you to over
come such criticism is not by going out
and trying to destroy your neighbours
influence for good, but simply by being
patient; by simply saying nothing
against your honest though antag-
onistic ncghbors, but by going ahead
and doing your own work in your own
way and proving beyond all peradven-
ture that God has blessed you and will
continue to bless you in what you are
doing in his name.
Let me suggest one other overmas-
arinS consideration which ought t.
control all your Impotence with 9th
crs: How much does God bear with
from Youi When he who is so wise
and pure looks upon you and sees you
more clearly with all your faults than
you can see yourself, Is it not surpris-
ing that he does not give you up? Yet
he bears with you and loves you still.
Cannot YOU who owe so much TO Cod
forbearance bear with the faults Of
your fellow men!
The Harbor of Safety.
Ninetcnths of all the criticisms made
against us would soon die if we our
selves did not 90 forth to fight those
criticisms and thus make matters
worse. Hugh Clifford, the old jungle
traveller, once wildly described a
startling experience he had when trav-
cling In the Malay peninsula. He and
his men were attacked by huge swarm
of angry, revengeful bees. Immediate
ly the party swung their blankets
around their heads and tried to fight
them off, but 1t was useless. They
were stung on head, arms and legs;
they were stung everywhere. "Take
to the water" clifford cried to his men
The Malays ran for their lives. The
bees not only drove them into the wa
ter, but continued singing them there
The furious insects threatened to kill
them while they We're in the river it
self. with hands like boxing gloves
the awful singing" wrote Clifford
my suffering party then lmped away
to the next village. Half an hour later
one Of my men came into the village
uninjured. He had seen the bees com
ing and had sat down and awaited the
assault They covered him from head
to foot, but as he offered no opposition
1nx st bf f-
Of the Malay bees is true also Of the
human bees With buzz and threat
enings in great SWarms they may light
upon you. They may crawl all over you
and aggravatingly tickle your face and
hands and heart, but if you will not
fight them, but simply 20 on doing the
work that God has given you to do.
your ussailants win become harmless,
and after awhile they will leave you
In peace and in ease.
Thus, my friends. the whole teach
Ing of this text is this: Drop your bat
tlcax and as a Christian farmer 30
to gospel seed planting. Drop your
war clubs and 70 TO driving an ambu-
lance. Do not boast Of how many enc
mics you have killed. but speak rather
of how many friendsyou have been able
TO win through gospel love. This text
has in it the language of pardon, not
the hiss of hate. 1t is flower garden
whose most fragrant blossoms grow
best upon the grave hillocks under
which are buried the hideous corpses
Of bitter strife. 1t is lighthouse to
worn yOv1pprS or' the d0DrprOllS rocks