The Tupelo journal., 1903-10-09

| lTultS OF the spirit.
| l. ENTHUSIASM Of Beginnings is
IL easy to make the start Enthus-
iasm marks the beginning. 1t is COM
paratively an easy undertaking to
arouse enthusiasm; It is not hard to
| take the outer defenses of the enemy
by the sudden assault but it is quite an
| other matter to hold the forces together
and maintain the slow siege until the
| stronghold is captured and victory's
banner is unfurled. Moses quickly
| aroused the enthusiasm of the children
of Israel over the proposed colonization
| of the promised land, but it was the
trying task of years to lead them
through the wilderness and bring them
/ to the plains of Moab, opposite to Jeri-
| cho, the place of entering. Joshua had
no difficulty in rallying all the people
to the daily march around Jericho, but
it was constant struggle after the peo-
| pie were fairly settled in the land to
stir them to the further conquest Of
the heather nations still remaining.
| When the Midianit3s threatened the
land and the oppressed people found a
leader In Gideon, their enthusiasm
brought together an army of $4,000
men, but only 800 were left when the
| battle cry of "The sword of the Lord
and OF Gideon" was raised. Many enter
the race, but few finish the course. 1t is
easy to begin. but it tests muscles, and
lungs, and will power to cover the speed
way, and score at the end. Enthusiasm
| thrills the many, and brings them to-
gether at the beginning of a movement
or enterprise, but endurance measures
the quality of that enthusiasm, and de-
termines the kind and degree of fruit
age. Enthusiasm is the spark which
eXplodes the gunpowder, but endurance
is the force which determines whether
the cannon ball will hit the mark or fall
ineffectively and harmlessly short of
the point aimed for. Enthusiasm
sparks and glows, but unless endurance
fans and feeds the fire, it soon becomes
a cold. dead ember. without influence
or power.
M ELL Doing. Endurance in wei,
Wv doing. Well doing implies a right
start and steadfast course. Well do
ing Is progressive. The farmer sows
his field to-day. that is we'll doing. II
is the right start. But tomorrow it is
not the seeder again which he should
run through the field, but the cultivator.
The seed has been sown, now must fol-
low the cultivation, the watching. the
protecting. the patient waiting. The
farmer cannot sow good seed in his field
to-day, let the weeds grow there to-
morrow and the next day reap the
golden grain. And yet that is exactly
what many Christian is trying to do.
Good seed is sown in the life TO-DAY. but
tomorrow the weeds of carelessness. OF
indifference. of sinful indulgence are al
lowed to grow. and in the time when
harvest should be filed with the ioy of
reaping there is sad disappointment, and
failure. Instead of wheat there is q
harvest of tares. This is not we'll doing.
Well doing does not find it's full ex-
preston in beginnings. Each day well
doing brings its new responsibilities ard
duties. You may not settle back and
take your ease to-day, because yesterday
the we'll done was written over the day.
Some people try to crowd all their well
doing In on Sunday, and expect theother
days of the week are to go in the strength
OF that one day of service. Some Chris
tians are jealous in the we'll doing in
church and prayer meeting, and Sunday
school, but utterly forget obligation in
well doing in the home and in business
and on the street. Let us not be weary
In well doing, for WEAKNESS marks the
departure from right to wrong paths.
Eyes! He knows the way is dreary.
Knows the weakness of our frame
Knows the hand and heart are weary:
He, in all points felt the same.
He is near to help and bless;
Be not weary, onward press
LOOK to Him. Who once was willing
All His glory to resign,
That, for thee the law fulfilling
All His merit might be thine.
Strive to follow day by Gay
Where His footsteps mark the Way
Look to Him, the Lord of Glory,
Tasting death to win thy life
Canst thou falter in the strife?
Is it not new life to know
That the Lord hath loved thee sof
Look to Him Who ever liveth.
Interceding for His own:
Seek, yea, claim the grace He giveth
Freely from His priestly throne
Will He not thy strength renew
With His Spirits quickening dew?
Look to Him and faith shall brighten.
Hope shall soar, and love shall burn.
Peace once more thy heart shall tighten:
Rise! He calleth thee, return!
Be not weary on thy way,
Jesus is thy strength ana stay"
THE Due Season OF Reaping.-It is
/ the fullness of Gods time. Did you
ever realize what this meant? Over and
over again is this expression used in
Gods Word as referring to the operation
of the Divine will and purpose. Man
blunders, but God never. Man spoils by
too early or too late reaping, but God
always thrusts in the sickle at the right
time. The due season of reaping is re-
allied when there is patient waiting upon
God. In the fullness of time God sent
His Son into the world. In the fullness
of time Christ was offered upon the cross
as a sacrifice for sin. In the fullness of
time He rose from the grave and ascend
ed into Heaven; and in the fullness of
time the Holy Spirit descended and filed
the waiting disciples. God always acts
with precision. This ought to cheer and
encourage the heart Of the Christian
whose well doing is doing the will of
God. No anxiety and worry because