The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-10-09
EPWoRTH LEAGUE.
Topic Fog tho week Beginninx Oct.
III, @Put First Things First
Text, Matt. vi. 24-BA

"But seek yo first His kingdom and
His Righteousness and all these things
shall be added unto you"
What one would best DO when the
house is on fire depends on circum-
stances. 1t Is all right to try TO save
the goods If there Is time. Considera-
Bile risk of pain and injury may well be
run II there Is a reasonable chance to
save valuables But many have lost
their lives tn trying to save things
Deeds and diamonds have value, but
not to the dead One Is unwise to try
to save an empty jewel case and leave
untouched gems Of great value. In the
excitement of the time many have done
such things Better let the clothes burn
rather than the body 1t Is not I'M
common to see notice of fire In hotel
and the statement that the guests were
Obliged to escape in their night cloth
ing, losing all else In the fire,
We feel pity for their loss and at the
same time congratulate them on their
escape Scarcely month passes with
out news of some marine disaster In
which passengers and crew escape
from sinking vessels In scant clothing
and are CHAD to get or so well.
The matter Of first Importance is life,
after that goods and then comfort.
No ones life consists In the abundance
OF things be possesses 1t Is more than
health; 1t is higher than reputation and
honors.
The life itself is more than breathing
and acting through body: 1t may be
tn a body, but 1t is, more than all.
physical powers and experiences. The
value Of life Hes almost wholly in
the unseen inner things Of spirit A
wounded spirit is worse than broken
arm. Heartache is the hardest pain
to bear A joyous heart will make
person unmlndful Of cuts or bruises
on the body. A resoiute spirit often
makes a weak body live for years be
yond its natural limit What a lesson
to the world of worrying mortals
was the life OF Pope Leo Kill! In
dOmitabIe will and concentrated pur-
pose compelled frail bodily frame TO
bear for long years beyond the ord
nary limit Of physical endurance tasks
under which stronger one might bend
or break If not sustained by such pow
ers Of spirit
The comforts and iuxurfes of the
world, the pleasures Of bodily exist
ence. are valuable Just In so far, and
SO far only, as they help the timer
spirit 10 come to its best attachments.
Purity, righteousness, peace, have no
equivalents. II not obtained no other
gain VIII make up for the lack If lost
no other thing saved can fill their
place. Fire and food may strip US OF
every other thing and leave rs desti-
tute Of any lands or goods, may even
take friends and health, but If through
all we eth keep a soul united in faith
and love to God we have saved that of
most value and shall find all the rest
In due tina.
This lesson means far more than this,
however
Young people must learn to make
their way In this world, become skilled
TO gain a living and do the worlds
work What tasks must be mastered.
what tire and effort are required to
learn the lessons and train the powers
to do tbs work. How shall time and
strength be found for anything else?
II we arr faithful In this, can we not
gain the whole that Is TO be had7 Not
by that road. Serve Mammon and gain
his gain you may, but no coin of heav-
ems mintage pays the wage OF his
workpen
II You think character and heaven of
any value then seek them first. and
God, who made and owns and rules
all worlds, will pay His workmen their
wage IN coin of righteousness here and
hereafter. now and ever.