The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-05-05
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN INTERESTING DISCOURSE BY THE
REV. ROBERT MACKENZIE.
Subject: "The Trials antl Triumph ofLife'
The Outside and the Inside Sources ot
Strength-The Weakness of THIS Pres
entD Day-Life scene of Conpensations

The Outside and the INSIDE soureeSo'
Sfrength-The Weakness of THIS Pres
ent Day-Life a scene Of Compensations
BROOKLYN, n. E.-Dr. Robert Mac
kenzie. pastor OF the Rutgers Presbyterian
Church. Manhattan. preached SUNDAY on
@.The Trials and Triumph OF Lie" Ills
text was found in Acts NN: Ana
now. behold / go bound in the spirit INTO
Jerusalem, not knowing the things 1n3t
shall befall me there. Save that the hoiy
Ghost witnesseth in every city, saving
that bonds and Affections abide me. But
none of these things move me, neither
count nv life dear unto myself. so that L
might finish my course with JOY, and the
ministry which | have received OF the
Lord Jesus. to testify the gospel or the
grace of God" DR. Mackenzie sald:
Paul feels himself set to n definite pur,,
pose in life, something appointed OF God
and worthy OF himself. He Is determined
to finish his course successfully. Each OF
rs is called of God to live some definite
purpose. TO add by our lives to the sum OF
the good in this world. to do something and
TO be something for God. To accomplish
this purpose Paul saw that he had to pass
through many trials, temptations. dithcui'
ties. He is looking back upon those
through which ne has already come and
forward to those ne saw he must yet meet.
He knew that bonds and Affections await
ed him If he pursued his present purpose
further. He saw his life as very stormy
one. His friends sought to persuade hlm
TO change his course, to compromise little
with his purpose, to adapt himself more
prudently to the ways OF the world IN
which he found himself, to be less straight.
forward, and so escape those bonds ana
Affections that threatened. He was not
indifferent either to the dangers OF the way
or to the kindly Interest OF his friends;
but he answers: What mean yc to weep
and to break mine heart! For 1 am ready
not to be bound only, but also TO d'e Tor
calm conclusion of our text: None OF
these things move le." 1t is difficult to
get up TO the level of Paul he is the most
determined, uncompromising straight,on
man in this book or great characters. Yet
there are ordinary human steps leading
to this level; all who will can rise.
'SThese things" of our text have not
passed away with Paul. Trials are behind,
bonds and Affections are before every man
that viii make worthy course across this
life. When you build a -aip for the North
Atlantic you must take storms and Ice
bergs into account and build accordingly.
When you would build a boy for business,
for honor, for goodness, for Christian ser
"these things" into account. Last years
icebergs have melted in summer seas, but
new ones have formed and will meet the
sailor OF this year. The North Atlantic Is
ever the same-a scene OF storm and ice.
The particular trials that overlook Paul
may not fall on any OF us, but others Will
come, bearing other names, equally disturb
ing to our souls. This world is ever the
same-a scene of many trials. Only lew
are exempt, only few are permitted TO
stand with their hands at their back and
their backs to the fire looking out upon the
storm. There are such people. We are
glad when old people can do this. but the
young people who can do 1t, or do do II,
are not to be envied but pitied. Most men
must go out and meet the storm or these
things Opposition, competitions, dlsap-
pointments, ternptations-meet them and
make their way through them, as best they
can, and become men, and ali the better
men for meeting them.
'These things" move some men nightly;
they seek to edge their way out OF the
storm, they change their course, compro-
mise with their original purpose, choose
some less strenuous way through ife
Some young men form purpose TO so TO
college, when the bonds of mathematics
and Affections of Cicero's orations come be-
tween them and their purpose these
things" move them out OF their course.
They compromise with their purpose and
look for an easier way. Some men go fur
ther, they finish their preparation, face
their profession, meet the difficulties Incl
dent to any such beginning, complain,
finch, fall out discouraged, despairlng,
scarcely living, driftwood on the streets.
Some men, like Paul, are unduly moved
by these things. These are not spared
the storm nor docs the storm beat less
hard upon them; yet they keep their faces
to it, keep to their purpose firmly. often
bent like trees but like trees well rooted.
recover themselves; often like William Tell
going through pass of his native Alps on
a narrow path cut in the face OF the precl-
pice. the mountain wind blowing gale
against him; unable to make progress
against it, unable to stand against it, he
lay down IN the path, but he lay with his
face to his goal and crawled to it.. Men
knowing their full share OF the trials OF
life are yet able to say, each in his own
measure. None of these things moved
me-" Most OF you here belong 10 that
number. Your life in youth was not cast
Ill easy places; your present life Is not
spent IN sheltered places. Most OF you
were cast as young men into this. OF some
similar stormy community to make Your
own way. You have been met repeatedly
by the storm OF these things IN business,
in home and in your Christian lie; yet you
are here to-day with your faces to your
purpose, your purpose well in hand, able TO
say after as well as before the storm,
None OF these things move ME"
How is this explained? Take the lie OF
such men as JOB. and Joseph and Daniel
and Paul-men who have set before Us ex-
= -smples OF how much the human heart can
bear and not break, what bonds and af-
fietions it can endure and not be unduy
moved. Take the men and women of your
own acquaintance and observation on
whom these things have broken with full
force and yet they are cheerful, sunny,
sympathetic people, reaching middle lie
of high honor and an cid age of charity
and faith and hope-peopie whom it is
good to know, people who show into what
rich coinage the rough ore OF human nature
can be minted. How is their triumph ac-
counted for? By the fact that if lie has
its scenes of trial, life has also it sources
of strength in which to endure and triumph
over the trials.
After all, ii You will think about it. this
lie is a scene OF compensations On the
whole, these things" are balanced by
other things. On the whole, life is not so
bad as We were taught to expect il: the
fears Of pessim!sm are not realized by
healthy men: our VOunp fears warc laroer