The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1903-03-07


days of patient waiting, at last the full
glow of the glorious sunlight is al
lowed to stream into the room. So 1t
is with the unfolding Of the Scriptures.
How patiently through the centuries
did the Holy Spirit brood over the Di-
vine secret, and paint in each color un-
til the manger at Bethlehem, the cross
on Calvary, and the rock-hewn tomb,
from which streamed the triumphant
light of the risen Saviour, stood out in
clear, bold relief upon the canvas of
Gods infinite love and mercy. Well
indeed may we let our thoughts dwell
upon the patience of the Scriptures
as we begin the consideration of our
theme, the sin of impotence. All, II
God had not SO patiently unfolded in
the Scriptures the awfulness of sin and
the complete salvation there is In
Christ Jesus, man would have been con-
sumed with the brightness of His COM
ing, just as the unrepentant who are
now binding their eyes to the truth
will be some day.
There are two phases of this sin of
impatience to which we wish to direct
your attentions: First, the one of i'm
patience in Christian service, against
which our text is especially directed;
and second, the one of impatience
in the secular things of the daily
life. We might designate them as
spiritual impatience and impotence
Of the flesh. They both spring
from the same root. They are
both sinful. They both carry their
weight of sorrowful consequences.
But spiritual impatience too often
passes for commendable zeal in the
Lords work and appears as virtue to
those who see not with the clear vision
of Christi; while the impatience of the
flesh is not able to disguise itspresence,
even though it finds ready excuse in
the trying circumstances which gave
it birth. Spiritual impatience arises
from lack of faith and Imperfect knowl-
edge of God and His promises. Impa-
thence of the flesh springs from a multi
tude of irritating conditions in the hui
man life. 1t soon becomes a habit
which sounds out in the life discord-
ant strain, and spreads an unwhole-
some influence upon all about.
What is more dIscouraging in church
or Sunday school than the impatient
Christian who frets because plans do
not work out just as it was expected
or purposed they should; who con-
dennis associates because they are not
as faithful and enthusiastic in the
work as is he; who becomes weary in
well-doing and grows careless and
indifferent when souls are not won
for Christ as was prayed for and
as there was reason to suppose
they would be; who loses faith in Gods
promises when the blessing fails to
come on the time set and in the way
planned; who in sanctimonious pride
and self-appointed zeal seeks to make
Gods programme for Him, and then is
offended if the all-wise God fails to
carry it out in full detail? o, yes, every
| church and every Sunday school has
| it's impatient Christian who is con-
stantly creating discord and trouble.
And what an irritating, exasperatirg
element in the home is the impatient
|
is hardly out of bed in the morning be.
fore the impatient spirit takes posses.
| sion of the heart. The sunshine may
| be streaming in at the window, and ma
ture all atune with melody, but let the
| impatient spirit begin to strike its dis.
| cordant notes, and the atmosphere OF
| that home takes on hue as blue as
In oh
heart that stiles every good thought
and intention, and from that time on
the devil has pretty much his own way.
He makes the coffee appear rank and
muddy; he gives the rich brown crisp
bacon burnt and unpalatable taste;
he turns the nice light pancakes into
heavy, soggy things that are not fit to
eat; in fact he holds high carnival in
that home and is kept busy sowing
tares that are sure of an abundant and
early harvest. The impatient word or
look, the impatient action, are potent
for evil, and can change the sunshine
of the home into ugly darkness, the
melody of tuneful hearts into distract
| ing discord, and the warmth of loving
souls into the frigid GOODNESS of wicked
hate. o, the impatient member in the
| home is worse than famine or pesti-
lence, because he not only starves the
goodness all out, but he breeds great
swarms of ugly progeny that poison
and kill the pure, wholesome life that
should thrive there.
And the impatient person is found
everywhere, on the street, in the Office,
at the public assembly, onthe train, in
the street car, yes, everywhere. Watch
for him. Perhaps you will have to take
looking glass to see him sometimes
And wherever the impatient soul
breathes and speaks and acts he
strikes sparks that set new fires and
/ spread the evil influence. The sin OF
impatience! Oh. who can measure it ?
Spiritual Impatience.-Bu let us
consider this sin more in detail, and
| first of all we will talk about, what we
have been forced to call for want of a
better name, Spiritual Impatience.
Our text says: For We have need OF
patience, that after we have done the
will of God, We might receive the prom.
ise." It is addressed to the Christian
1t boldly and plainly declares that
there is lack in the life which is de.
stroying the beautiful effect of doing
| ~. ill - n,l url l. r,Hl~.r.~ Al 4. -.