Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-03-23
STRENGTH TO WIN.

STRENGTH TO WIN.
BY Rev. G. G. Wright.
And the scribe said unto him, OF
truth, Master, thou hast well said
And when Jesus saw that he answered
discreetly he said unto him, Thou art
not far from the Kingdom Of God. =
Mark II: 1924.
How quick is the Great Teacher to
commend this lawyer, who had shown
such religious discretion. And this ac-
ton may be taken as passing exam
pie of His distinctly benevolent atti-
tude toward mankind, which causes
Him to see the best and brightest in
men and to applaud it promptly. He
ever speaks in the utmost praise and
cheer that the truth permits; He says
the kindest things that are true-the
best and most that He can, and pro-
claims them on the spot.
The insight of divine compassion
discovers new values in us and rich
possessions for us, ana reveals The
wealth and dignity of humanity in
such brOthcrly sympathy as to lift up
the Good Master to the position of the
healer and helper of the world. What
profound encouragement there is in
the revelation of the Fathers love, in
the good conscience that is born of the
pardon of sins and the lifting Of the
load of guilt in the assurance Il am
with you always"
In the worlds surging sea every dis
spirited toiler finds Him standing on
the near shore at dawn. calling solici-
tous inquiries and Offering helping
hand. In beatitude, in parable of
prodigal restored and Of stray sheep
rescued; in exceeding great and pre-
cious promises, in glad doctrine by
the smile of His cOuntenance and the
glory of His presence-by every man
ner of incitement and comforting in
ducement and onleading, the glorious
Redeemer strives increasingly to ere
ate a new heart and to renew a right
spirit in every seeker after God and
His kingdom. On His lips are con-
stantly such words as BE of good
cheer" Thy sins are forgiven y
Come"
Instantly he commends Mary and
ennobles her with universal and
everlasting memorial. To the dying
believer beside Him on the cross He
made the astonishing declaration;
This day shalt thou be with Me in
Paradise" And when Peter confess
ed His divinity He promptly exclaim-
ed, Blessed art thou, Simon"
| suppose that His plan is to make
men desire the kingdom of heaven and
willing to try to get it by revealing
! God in new and attractive form-as
Father Of the people and sole sover-
eign of every honest man; to move the
noble to attempt the upward way by
the beauty of His own character, and
to make the journey possible and in
viting by the red tracks of His own
| feet. Hence, He calls: Follow Me
the Son of Man came not to destroy
mems lives, but to save them; and
He lays down the dual principle Of di-
vine and human love as the Magma
Charta of His kingdom, and finds the
text for His great teaching in the
Hosean scripture, Il will have mercy
and not sacrifice"
This tenderly affectioned Lord
stands as a high challenge to all the
brave and sincere, and His teaching
makes it self-evident that we car
know what we ought to know, we car
do what we ought to do, and we car
be what we ought to be; and if we
can we will-this is the heroic voice
He has set Himself to arouse in us.
His graciOusness involves the co
operation of His friends, and in moth
ing can His disciple be more usefu
and Chrlstlike than in cultivating the
attitude Of habitua approval ant
prompt commentator of the people
we know-of sincere praise, Of burden
lifting and the giving of ready "Wel
done among the weary and heavy
laden Of this world. Yes, higher still
He challenges with the second of the
greatest of the commandments, Love
thy nelghbor as thyself." J."
In the garden of life He stands witt
hands outstretched toward the child
figure of humanity tottering timidly
to its feet or in its initial precariou,
steps, smiling approval and calling
tenderly, Come unto Me-Tll catcl
you If you fall
THE PTOuS pPODTGAT