The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-01-01

absolute and everlasting sulhciency OF M
present pocket eotta.nnrcs nay easily ~
sIe IN tls turning paurr. Those iuustra-
tons fi.y serve 70 indicate what meai
by saying that nan pay be ss ,oKthqdot
ar CALVIN and as wicked as he knJwk b6wi
The prndple We have been discussing
also explains why II j. that SO many people
who show a good deal OF Christian zest at
the start SO soon get tired OF being Chris
tlans. 1o have earnest views OF Christ and
20 be intensely interested IN them and con-
'rol6d by them cannot. unfortunately, be
taken a. a certain sign of the continuance
OF that interest. The falling of, the COO,
ing down Of Christian enthusiasm ~ com
mon experience. Even the disciples. at
Jesus temporary withdrawal from them
at cTucihNon. threw up the whole matter.
resumed their o.d life and ~vnt back &c
their fishing. Interest is not selisus,ain-
ng. Enthusiasm, ike a burning candle.
consumes itself IN ITS own heat. The sun.
50 astronomers tell US. would burn itself
out and our systems fall back into original
darkne were not special provision made
Tor keeping mp the suns temperature.
At the same time there are lines OF e.
fort and employment where interest, on
the contrary, never does seem TO flag,
where heat - not only maintained, but
with mercury that - rather steadily ON
the rise. Setting aside the familiar and
rather shop worn instance OF the money
getttr, who, the more be gets. the Intenser,
as rule, becomes his ambition 10 get
that IS only one al the many pursuits
where the like enhancement Of interest,
mounting ~ IN many cases TO the height
OF a steadily growing passion, Is seen To
evlnCe itself. Examples of thls are, i
should cay, especially frequent among
scholars devoted 10 the scientific inNesti-
CATION Of nature and natures beauties aud
marveis But m The instances of such al
Napcing end steadily intensltyIng interest
the particular fact | woulu ueg you 10 no.
tCe ~ that what keeps the Investigators
heart glowing with a warmer and warmer
icrvor - not the array OF facts that have
been brought distinctly within the range
OF ms knowledge, that he has been abe
definitely TO tabulate, and of which in
some time past he has issued a complete
and finished catalogue. Ii is the constant
stepping forward o. 20 new ground that
keeps his thoughts alert and his neart
aglow Whatever % be, the old is always
uresome only the new is interesting. 10
the naturalist the word retains It's fascina-
ton although an old world, because Of the
deeper entrance he day by day gains into
that world 1nd the eve. fresh disclosures
OF newly discovered wonderfulness and
beauty that she thereby makes over to
HIM In the same way there are certain
books that we read and re-read In a way
they are Old books but II Is not their old
81
LISTING uewness that lay beyond the rcacn
OF our previous peIusas, as eyes that look
quietly and intensely into the night sky see
stars that are sunk too deep in the tirma.
ment 70 be caught by a first and easy
glance. And that suggests the old holy
book, the Bible, which IS always new and
which the church always loves, because
there is that IN At always which our last
reading was only on the edge OF discover
ing. II the church should ever come to the
end Of the Bible It would throw II away.
Some people have thrown it away al
ready, some who seem TO themselves to be
Christians have thrown II away: II seems
TO them they have come to the end Of 1t.
10 them there II nothing new IN IT any
more, so, of course, by the principle we are
illustrating they can do nothing but throw
1t away. he oX knows enough TO teol
when 1t IS darh, bus never sees a sunset.
All OF this leads up easily to an explana-
ton OF the TACT stated a moment ago that
so many who have begun to be Christians
get tired OF beng Christians after a while
1t has ceased 10 offer them anything new
to which interest can attach and by which
therefore enjoyment can be kept alive
They reached a httic coavIction as to the
real import OF Christ entered into a GER
tam amount Of relation with Him, had a
degre OF experience of Him, learned a little
OF what He could do to strengthen IN weak
row and dIsappolutment, and then every.
thing stOpUCd Instead Of going on to
know the Lord" drawing closer and closer
to Him, and pressing forward into the
deeper and deeper meanings involved IN
HIS Spirit, presence and Companionship,
they drew up all that part of the matter,
rumlnated only upon sdch little prospect
as had opened to them, TIL they became
weary OF It, drank the Old cup of consoia-
ton TIL It's waters became stale munched
the drying crumbs OF light strength and
comfort tail they were moldy, strained
themselves 10 keep warm by fire that
had gone out, and ended, Of course, by con-
cudlng that whatever might be the theo-
retlcai value Of personal religion it was
nothing If not uu,nteresting, and people
wll not, If they can help IT, permanently
commit themselves 10 a course Of drudgery,
even II that drudgery be baptized by 80
a name as Christianity.
Closing tins morning with the prayer
hat we may ali of ms feel ourselves moved
by revereut and holy ambition to break
Tree from the burden and ENHANCEMENT Of
all the petty and now wlthered experiences
yarnered long ago, entering into ever new
prospects, into larger discernments, into an
ever wider word OF knowledge comfort
and anticipation. To this end may we
have with ne IN our closets and IN our
sanctuary gatherings the aboundng Spirit
II God The Father and of HIS Son Jesus
Christ, 90 whom with the Blessed Spirit be
gwen our obedience, alteration and love
.oreyeT and ever. Amen