Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-12-15

fee or store is to the man his cnief
thought. He works for 1t by day; he
dreams of it by night. If he goes off
on a summer vacation his mind and
heart are still anchored to that work
shop, even as ship out in harbor tugs
at its chains, though IL is unable to
break away from Its mornings. But
night and day for his professional
or mercantile purpose in life do you
for an Instant suppose he is able to see
the infinite spiritual results that may
come from that LIES work? Do you
suppose that physician has any con-
ccption of the amount of misery and
family trouble he saved when he per-
suaded that young wife and mother to
60 to Il warmer climate and saved her
physical life. predisposed to consump
tion-saved 1t for her husband and her
children? DO you suppose that lawyer
when he drew up the will and last
testament. had any conception Of the
amount of family trouble he averted
by making that last testament so
strong and true that 1t could not be
broken in the courts? DO you suppose
that n minister has any true concep-
ton of the vast amount of good a
simple sermon may do when he arises
to preach? OF course some people
after n single sermon may praise It to
his ears, as some parishoners are al
most sure to do, but the greater work
of n sermon. as with an authors pen, is
never seen or heard by the preacher or
writer. Like Peter with his shadow,
most Of the spiritual results of ser
mon appear when a minister has gone
back TO his home. his bed or his study
The direct results of Christians
professional work can never be fully
estimated by the agent of gospel
miracle. Let me illustrate my thought
from my own experience. I remember
some years ago when preaching in
Pittsburg there came up one Sunday
a terrific storm. The wind blew and
shrleked through those city streets.
The snowfiakes were piling themselves
up so that traffic was impeded. came
out from my study that afternoon and
does seem absurd to preach tonight
No one will be there. If do preach,
have half q mind to save that sermon
have been so busily writing for the
past six days 1t does seem q shame
for me to practically throw 1t away"
mo" answered my wife; you had
better preach it. You have always
II, 70 wi, ha
best you had. If any one comes out
tonight he deserves your best. Be
sides that, God has always most bless
ed your work on stormy nights"
said: Yes. that is true. I will give
them the best l have. ! will preach
the sermon" That night the audience
was very small But while the few
people were gathering saw one wo-
man enter the church and come down
the aisle to the left of the pulpit She
seemed to be intensely interested in
the sermon. When 1t was finished and
the benediction pronounced she came
to the pulpit and said. II will send you
letter soon" Then she passed quiet
ly out.
l
was wasted. But some time afterward
! heard of the result Of that sermon.
That woman that night was deciding
whether or no she should desert her
home. Her temper even then was by
her side, urging her TO life OF sin.
That one sermon on that stormy night,
under the power of the Holy Spirit,
turned the tide. She wrote to thank
me for what had said That letter
was one of the most impressive lessons
I ever had, for 1t taught me that no
Christian mans work is unimportant,
even under the most unsatisfactory
and discouraging conditions. Our I'M
suspected and unreported influences
are SO great for good that only Gods
recording angel has ledger big enough
to keep the records. Never o minis
ter, lawyer, physician, neglect your
work because of its seeming irsignifl-
canoe AS with Peters shadow, it
may, all unknown to you, reach some
whose sin sick soul may be healed by
the Holy Spirits power working
through It,
Unconscious influence.
The public man has his shadow. The
private man has his unconscious in
fuence also. The Christian lawyer,
doctor, merchant, minister, have their
direct influence when they are doing
their public work. They also have
their unconscious influence when they
are walking through the streets, and
sitting in the elevated trains, and eat
ing in their home dining room or In
public restaurants, when they think no
strangers eye Is watching them and
no strangers ear is overhearing what
they say. They have their unconscious
influence when, unknown to them
people are weighing them in the bal
ances as they ere standing before a
jury or prescribing IN the sick room or
preaching in the pulpit. They have
their unconscious influence even when
they are "out Of harness" and think
they can do ms they please and that
no one will ever know what they do.
Some OF you may have read the
book called "A Man Without Shad-
ow.' That caption may be very star
Ting, but 1t is impossible of realiza-
ton. No time in life comes when a
man Is shadOWleSS Even I'm the dark