The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-06-02
T do this?" EASY enough. All that is

Did You know You had q bank account.
Well, you have. See. please, what stands
to your credit, the gift OF another. These
assets are ours because We live in the
Angio-Saxons. AL things are yours.
Whether Paul or Apollos, or Cephas. or
the world, or things present, OF things to
come: all are yours: and We are Christ,s
and Christ is Gods That is wonder.
ful statement. i places us under tremen-
dous obligation. What an incentive to
attempt something, what an inspiration to
noble achievement. The great personalities
Of history-Paui, Cephas. Apollos. Past,
present, future. The world, God and
Christ, all yours, to make the goal and
win. Then there can be no excuse Tor
failure.
A practical question which meets us is.
::How may I utilize these many gifts of
GOD for my own advancement and better
ment?" The answer is, BY right appro-
priation." Just as the parched earth
drinks in the gentle rain drops, making the
grass to grow; just as the bee sips the
honey from the fragrant flower. so We must
learn to appropriate the good in every
thing, to our own growth and refinement.
Life everywhere is sustained by appropriate
ing the outward to itself. The great in
tellects which teach and bless the world
to-day are great and capable because of this
appropriation of knowledge. To the good
once thought that the Christians world
was exceedingly limited. The Bible,
hymnal, 4 long sermon and a drcary prayer
meeting We're all that the Christian had
any right to. Anything else would chill
his fervor and narrow his vision and
tarpish his soul. Thank God, that day is
so far behind us. To-day we know that
everything within reach and everything
within sight is ours, If we love God, to be
used in the advancement and enrichment
of our lives.
Look at it moment. Take an inventory.
Try to itemize the blessings of the good
of the centuries, it is ours, for God made
the beautiful. What store house of les
sons and inspirations and soul delights are
the art galleries OF the world! The VIM
dows in cathedrais and churches have for
ages been telling the story OF Christ. The
Nativity" by Burrc-JoHes, is the pride of
England: 'The TRANSPORTATION, by Raph-
ae!, the g.ory of Italy. These arc but sam
pies of the beautiful in art, which are ours
for the delight and culture OF the soal.
All sciences and literatures belong to us,
ior God is the Author OF all truth. Shakes
peare and Booth and De Reszke, these
ana tue QOSC Oh OCnefS like lueIu, arc Jul
to charm away our cares and rest OF mind:
The marketpiace crowded with the yield of
the field, the wealth of the mine, the prod.
uct of the factory, is ours, for God IS lmml-
nent in nature and industry and human
skill. The advance in surgery and medi-
cine, the limitless pleasures in travel-all
this is ours, available and usable assets
to make life rich and happy and good.
All this is the product OF the past, the
gift of the good Cod. It's presence should
shame badness out OF existence. How can
people be bad when they think of the
goodness Of God? What are we doing with
ife's assets? They are the raw materials
out Of which VIC may weave the soulS>ser-
aphic robe; they are the steps by which
we ascend to the home of perfect day.
They are to our spirits what air and dew
and sunlight are to the seed. Plants
grow by appropriating things alb extra to
thcif use; souls grow by doing the same
way. The business Of lie is to convert
all these forces and gifts into life and
character. The soul must drink in its
full of Gcd and rise to the perfect life in
the endless day beyond the stars.
What we need to know to-day is the
proper use of things. That means study,
studied and thought for US. The result is
hour; the electric wire, by which we talk
to a friend 1000 miles away. If wealth
is to benefit the owner of it. he must use
it and use it wisely! So. If we are to feel
the stimulus and reap the benefit of the
accumulate tions OF the ages, as Lies assets;
If these are to answer their need, IN the
making OF q man-we must study and
think and pray. In the right use Of these
is the making of a hoy character.
An hot 10, hno,, co.I Se na1saro
true. But it is rot The who.c truth. We
must 20 a step further. Man has heart
conditions and soul needs, which neither
nature, nor science, nor Scripture, can
meet. Man needs a God. God is every
where. God is in the sunlight which \
battles lis every day with its warmth and
glory. he is in the bread which we eat;
He is in the music which comes floating
through the air, making the heart TO dance
for JOY. But this God IS too vague too
vast, TOO inpersonal. Can this God be
to adapt Himself TO the limitations and
needs of His children. We do not think
of God merely as Power, or Majesty, or
Holiness. God is Love. Love is the win
ming thing. Love conouers. Love is bent
on drawing home to the Fathers heart all
His wayward and lost ones. The human
heart cries for God. Wha: kind of God?
Not the God of the atheist, not the Gcd OF
the Deist, not the God of the narrow
theo,ogian, but the Eternal God. And
Jesus Christ has revealed Hin to the
world. This Jesus Christ and this God
are ours. This completes the list. There
is nothing more that can lie added. Flow
ers, pictures, music, ships, railroads, tele
phones, philosophy. science, religion, hu-
man fel)owships, friendships, loves, Plus
God and Christ. All are yours. Don't
complain of poverty any more; never b.
afraid OF failure; ravcr again say Il can't
Goodness does not mean exemption from
the common ills OF lie. Every life has its
burdens, every heart hos its own secret
sorrow. We woald not minimize the cares
which are inevitable. They are not JOY
ouE, but scievous. Many tears are shed in
the private chamber. Many feet are tread
ing lonely paths. And blessed be God. our
heavenly Fathei. knows il all. The Christ,
the Saviour o: Men. is touched with the
feelings OF OH. intirnlities. Al the love CT
the Deity, ell the power Of the Almighty,
all the comp. .ssio1 Of the Lover Of Soa.s.
is for us. i.cok up, then. Be O. good
cheer. IT'S better iurther on. In COM
pany with &c Saviour, nothing can harm
US. The pate OF the good is as the shining
light, shining more and Lore uato the