St. Tammany farmer., 1903-04-04

l oOA Aou Aoo 81 PulANulIy uu1O1OCU LII
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 attention: 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 impatience
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 Christ; while the impatience of the
flesh is not able to disguise it's presence,
even though it finds ready excuse in
the trying circumstances which gave
it birth. Spiritual impatience arises
from lack of faith and imperfect know1-
edge of God and His promises. Impa-
tience of the flesh springs from multi
tude of irritating conditions in the hu-
man life. 1t soon becomes habit
which sounds out in the life discord-
ant strain, and spreads an unwhole-
some influence upon all about.
What is more discouragingi 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-
demns 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
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? 0, yes, every
church and every Sunday school has
its impatient Christian who is con-
stantly creating discord and trouble.
And what an irritating, exasperat ting
element in the home is the impatient
father or mother or child. He or she
is hardly out of bed in the morning be-
fore the impatient spirit takes posses
bestreaming 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
indigo, chill settles down upon every
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 coldness 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, on the 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.-But 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
better name, Spiritual Impatience.
Our text says: ''For ye have need of
patience, that after ye have done the
will of God, ye might receive the prom
ise." It is addressed to the Christian.
It boldly and plainly declares that
there is lack in the life which is de-
stroying the beautiful effect of doing
the will of God and is robbing the soul
of the fruit which would surely be
garnered in the fullness of Gods time.
aye have need of patience. All, Chris
tian warrior, you are drawn up in bat
tie array. In the distance can be seen
the ranks of the enemy.
You are eager for the conflict. Get |
on all the armor. But what is it that |
Paul cries when he has his soldier
fully equipped from the helmet of
salvation to the sandals of prepara-
tion of the Gospel of peace, and with
the shield of faith in one hand and
the sword of the Spirit in the other?
Does he impetuously urge the soldier
forward into the conflict? Listen!
"Pray increasingly, watch diligently,
and having done all. stand" Impa-
tient haste will cost you the battle,
but patient waiting will reveal to
you the real strength of your foe,
and show you just where to strike
the blow. Stand, therefore, "for