Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-10-08
THE CALLING OF LIFE"
A Brilliant Sunday Sermon By Rev. DR..
S. Parks Cadman.
Our Souls Pace Is Liable to BE SET 10
Perishable Strains, Where Noble Means
Are Used for Little Ends.

first time Sunday morning since his vaca-
ton and his return from Europe. "A large
congregation had assembled. The sermon
was upon The Calling of Life, and the
text from the First Epistle to the CORN
thians i:2, Called to be saints" Dr. Cad,
man said in the course of strong sermon:
To-day we enter upon the fifteenth year
of our church's existence and work. be
hind us lies the honorable past, comforting
obligation more than feeding pride, holy
prophecy in living deeds and strong root
of confidence that God, even the God OF
our fathers, who has reared this pillar 10
His name and glory, will not break 1T IN
the midst. So this year OF jubilee Is upon
us, and these considerations make 1t
priceless possession which our stewardship
must guard and increase.
These divisions of time are arbitrary, put
influential. January ] is but moment
space from December 81, and yet the birth
of new year has witnessed in numberless
instances spiritual and moral revolutions.
A few hours separate Good Friday from
Easter Day, but if near in time, how dis
tant are they in meaning. these dlstinc-
tions of the calendar arrest us. They
break the crust of our convcntonality,
they recall us to our original work and
purposes and they inspire lis with the re-
alities of vision and of hope.
Let us beware of blaming our surround
ings for our weakness, our failure to IN
strumentally convert men and control the
present world in the interec's of the kind
dom. The scant supply of living waters is
too often caused by the choked pipe and
its paucity prevents many from seeking IT:
Pastors, teachers and workers OF all
churches should remember that the mighty
tide of Gods life and blessing finds its
way to human hearts through their an-
pointed agencies. And the greatest church
among us is only like port on the oceans
shore, dependent on it for increase and tor
strength.
Dredge deep the bar and cleanse away
the silt of daily cares; Then, when the
text is thus understood and obeyed, COM
merce with the unseen world shall bring
lis weather. freights, and life, which now
seems far away. and inland shall be lifted
uDon this rcsistless affiuence OF blessing
and brought back to God.
But sainthood is no passive movement,
dcpendent on our inacton, hesltating when
we are alert and shy of any effort we can
make to secure its franchise. 1t absorbs
into one flame Of devotion altar and sacrl-
flee. 1t insists upon the full employment
of every capacity and new and better ODE
diences, it bids YOU rise from the low
grounds OF despair and cease to say:
"What might | not have made of Thy fair
world had | but lived Thy highest Gods
love and health are yours, willing to meet
your readjustmcnt of energy and of aim.
Lord Salishury's favorite advice to those
who pestered him about his world-com
polling diplomacy babe them study larger
maps" And the sweep of Gods plan in
your life and mine is wide unto the inf
mite, tender and wise and capable beyond
our utmost imagination. When the apostle
wrote these words he was conscious of
their high supremacy, and yet they are but
a faint reflection of the weight of glory
God has chosen to give perfected char
actcr after the pattern of the Master.
II we see the cXcelency of this calling 1T
should mean for us the objective point
where the finest energies of the soul are
we are busy overmuch i'll trivial and lmma-
tera things and struggle in the meshes of
the commonplace.
Our souls pace is liable to be set to
perishable strains. where noble means are
used for little ends Strenuous life is wise
when its aims are coTesrondingly high,
hut it wa, said OF noble Roman "Domi-
tan is always busy catching flies
10 be born man and die-not a saint,
defeats the central thought OF our loving
Creator Manhood sacrificed to anything
less than the Makers purpose is manhood
lost. We may pursue the petty round un-
til high achievement and its possibility are
paralyzed.
You naturally ask, What is sainthood?
1t is spiritual health and moral thoughtiul-
ness. at is. to quote a significant utter
ance of DR.. Arnold, OF Rugby, the inquir.:
ing love OF truth sustained by the devoted
love OF goodness. ~ Is wholesome, pc
cause it is holy, set about and adorned by
the abiding beauty OF Holiness, rightly I'M
derstood. 1t Is practice, not theory; con.
secration, not perfection: a condition. OF
character and not theological definition.
1t Is the klnshlp IN Wiling and feeling OF
your SPIRIT TO the spirit OF CHRIST. VINO was
the very will and heart OF God IN human
flesh
Because it flows cut OF the tulness oil
God and Is accepted by our belief, 1t Is Il
catholic blessing. and there has. been no
has limited it TO 4 sect within the church.
Being Gods gift. its only condition of ex-
1stencc IN YOU Is your hearty trust and ac-
ceptance OF the same, followed by constant
EFFORT to walk IN CHRIST way. Alike Tor
all who profess and call themselves Chris
tlans, Tor brilliant but blameWorthy CORN
thons, for generous but tickle Ga latlans,
tor Ephesus IN her dearth OF first love, as
for Sardls and I.aodlcea. with little more
than mere name to live; let none draw
back from this divine election or declare
Many shrink from this term saint be.
cause it has been detained by the charlatan
and soled by all ignoblc use. Pharisaical
sanctimoniouSneas and bigoted exclusive
ness and false standards of the real meas.
IRE and quality OF santhood have hndered
its Tree range.
But. rightly known, it is the spirit OF the
heavens within The wheels OF earthly inter
course.
Cardinal Newman reflected upon the
church OF his birth that she failed to pro.
u-ce sajnthood and the Roman commun-
ion, he declared was first and singular in
this respect. How rudely he challenged
Anglican comphccncy some of us know.
Capable OF much, it wa, wanting here.
Bishops, thrologans, exegists. ecclesiastical
statesmen it could and did afford. but
saints, no. Bishop Kew, John Keble and
Richard William Church are sufficient evil
dence to the contrary. And 1 only quote
he cardinal IN show how SEGREGATED lupalS