The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-04

sire and duty become one. In the per-
feet life they are identical. This is not
so with the Goddess man. His desires
are always at war with his duty, and
this conflict robs his heart of the peace
which IS one of the Christians dearest
treasurers.
"A poor excuse is better than none"
runs the saying, but its opposite is
really true, that no excuse is better
than any.
Our duty Is never completely hidden
from US God will always give US light
enough to see our next duty. This is
q great truth and the understanding of
II brings much peace. For the serious
problems of life are generally the de-
cidlng OF what Is our duty. Now any
one who Is honest with God, and will
ing to walk in the path of duty when
It is indicated. may know clearly and
beyond a peradventure what is his
duty. 1t is possible for each of us to
be certain whether or not he is at pres
ent at the post of duty. By his provi-
dences, by his word, by his Spirit. and
by the reasoning faculties with which
ne has endowed u.s. God will plainly
show the. way Of duty to any earnest
soul.
Excuses are rare on the lips of the
Excuses rob the heart of courage
and the hand of power. It is a weak
way Of escaping from duty. Excuses
are not badge of the brave and the
noble. great man said, Il never ex-
plain It takes a great man to say
that Small and cowardly souls are
run Of explanations and excuses for
their conduct, because they have not
the pluck to stand a misjudgment.
y
Duty IS a big word. It is king
among words. It is a word that begins
to walk with US in the earliest conscious
years of childhood and never departs
from us until we enter the greater life
where duty is never difficult to discern
and where 1t is always synonymous
with love Moreover, duty is an expand
ing word. At first it represents to our
mirds restrictions ana lin.ita tons.
Duty" and don't" are very much akin
in the understanding Of a child But as
we advance IN years and wisdom, duty
broadens into privilege. All the bigness
ana beauty Of life crowd into 1t. TIE
word once dreaded becomes a word we'll
beloved.
Duty done is never unrewarded.
\
When God asks of US a deed. is 1t not
foolish as well as faithless o offer him
instead only an excuse? Excuses are no
cuSes in the world car fill the place Of a
duty well done. When we present our
self before the Lord it should be with
arms full of sheaves of labor, not of
sheaves Of excuses.
Excuses are never steps to progress,
usually they are barriers.
Excuses are easy It does not take
any great amount of ability to devise
an excuse. In fact, the persons who are
most adept at giving excuses are usual
" the shirkers. the towards and the in
efficient. Short of that great day when
they shall stand speechless. the unfaith-
full persons never lack for excuses. We
suspect that Satan does a thriving bust
ness in supplying earth with excuses.
There cannot be good excuse for not
becoming a disciple of Christ. All such
excuses are inventions of the evil one
No calls come to the unfaithful.
Duties enlarge in the doing BY way
Of small duties we rise to the greater;
this is the natural law Of progress. Only
they who are faithful in the least arc
appointed to have charge over the most.
By doing little duties well we become
equipped for great duties.
The phrase love and duty has be-
come a proverb. In truth, though, the
two are not widely separated from each
other. Duty is really only the ex-
preston of love. When we do our duty
we are showing our love A husband
best manifests his love for his wife by
living a life of loyalty to duty. II he
failed to provide for her needs. al the
words Of love IN the world could not
atone for his neglect
X
We are true to God when we are
true to duty.
\
The great soul=and without this
there is no greatness-is the one which
fears not to follow duty anywhere.
SEVEN SENTENCE SERMONS.