The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-06-06

ness and peace were given unto lsIea!
that work might be accomplished; tnat
the great house might be built to the
glory of Jehovah. and because our
fathers were diligent and faithful IN
time of their afaiction, and prepared
many things :or US, for the very reason
We must now arise and prepare our
selves for a greater work: We need to
arise and shake ourselves ana glrd up
our loins for the toll and labor or the
day. We need to arise to get a
higher and broader view OF lie ana
things. We have been looking at things
for too long time from the same and
too low standpoint. We need to real
ize that greater things than we now
realize are possible to rs. Arise and
see. \ part OF the preparation for our
life:s work. is for US to see what others
have done. and to see that there are
others in circumstances similar to our
own, who are doing a greater work
than we are doing. We have been
resting too long, let US arise to meet
this opportunity.
,. BE Doing" 1t is well for US to re-
member that there are some people
who devote all OF their time to making
preparation to begin work, and they
never find time to work. 1t is true that
::setting ready" is very important, and
frequently takes much time. But what
does getting ready amount to if the
work is not done? David says to Solo,
mon: ''Arise, be doing" You remem-
Der how it was with the tribes OF Reu-
ben, Cad, Dan and Asher, when Israel
was about to 60 to meet SiSera IN bat
tie. The urgent call was sent to all the
tribes to come to the help of the ma
ton. But while the people of Zebulum
and Naphtali and the rest leoparded
their lives. Reuben and Cad remained
in the meadows with their sheap. and
Dan and Asher remained with their
boats at the seashore. 1t is said OF them:
! ''Bv the water courses of Reuben there
were great resolves of heart, and there
were great searchings of heart. "
While they ought to have been doing
thev were still resolving and searching
their hearts, weighing the matter, ana
resolving again, each time coming to
the same conclusion as to their duty,
and vet going back, all over the mat
ter, seaching again, and again resolV-
ing. So they did nothing, and were
cursed for their indifference ana lnh-
deity.
':Arise, be doing" We are reminded,
both by the expression and the energy
of the words of the preacher, wv hat
soever thy hand fndeth to DO, 40 1t
with thy might" There are three lm-
portant ideas presented by these woros:
l. Our duty, the work within our
reach.
;. The sense of individual response
bility. .sWhatsoever thy hand. The
duty of each one is the work that his
or her hand can reach. This IS the
obvious import Of the words. TO re,
ceive in earnest the work nearest Will
appear the most urgent, and there Will
be no difficulty about finding work
within hands reach.
3. ''Thy hand" 1t is your own work
that YOU are to do. You cannot decide
what your neighbours duty is, nor can
YOU devolve your duty upon your
neiehbor. And oh! the power and I'M
portance of this thought. Your duty
ought to be done well, regardless OF
how or what your neighbor IS DONG.
ITO every man his work. IS Goo,s
great labor law. AS some one has SAID:
'.If others be urfaithful be not thou
unfaithful."
Gould this idea be fixed in the minds
and practiced inlthei olives o.. our people
how wonderful would be our life. Let
each one say will do my part and use
the GOOD acquired. But no, some one
saws. s:there is no use in my working
and ] won't work, for this one and that
one does not do this or that. There
were many drones doubtless IN Israel,
but David says to Solomon, "AHsee, be
doing" You at least, in this kingdom,
must be diligent and faithful and zeal
Gus. :.
;. "The Lord be with Thee" This IS
the most important idea in the text,
viz: A recognition OF the limited value
of human eXertion. We should estl-
mate human eXertion but at Its true
value. 1t has value, we do not deny
this. We emphasize this value when
we properly limit it, and we make lt|
more useful when we rightly estimate
it. The question is not what men may
think of human power and eXertlon,
but what is it worth in the sight OF
God: in other words, what is it really
worth in eternity? There are some
things that we can do of ourselves and
ought to do for self: some things that
YOU must do, for no one else can 40
them for you. There are some other
things that it is useless for man to
trv to do unaided. These things re-
ouire the infinite power Of God to solye
them. and to begin them, and to bring
them to perfection.
Mar is prone to forget this. He likes
TO feel independent. This is folly. AL
nature and experience testlhes to the
utter folly of independence.
We are dependent creatures: Inc
only question is upon whom shall l
depend, God or man?
Except the Lord build the house,
they labor in vain that build 1t. Ex-
cept the Lord keep the city: the
watchmau waketh but in vain."
The notion of a self-made man" is an
absurdity. God has made us, and not
we ourselves. Some men receive more
help than others, and some do more
work than others, but all are helped
wonderfully helped. and in the making
of a man there are many agencies at
work.
Let me call your attention to false
notion that has arisen because certain
artificial and arbitrary distinction
which was made merely for conven-
ience. Irefer to the distinction between
things secular and sacred. The refer
ence in this text is religious work,
but the words apply to all. Strictly
speaking, there is no distinction be-
tween those things which we are pleas
ed to term secular and religious. In all
things are we to glorify God, and
whatsoever we do we are to do all to
His glory.
The blacksmith may be as truly a
servant of God as the minister, and he
may be as truly doing Gods work
while at his forge as the minister
while preaching. Therefore, let US all,
no matter what our calling or work,
offer our service to God, aod learn to
depend on him. and not on man or
+loJ JI~oot5ny, nf