The Washington herald., 1907-12-29
A SUNDAY TALK.

Wherefore seeing we also are compaSsed about
with great cloud of witnesses, let us Jay aside
veight and the sin which doth so easily beset
MS and let rs with patience the race that Is set
before us-Hehrews. Kill
The APOSTLE Paul was in Italy when he
wrote that famous epistle TO the Hebrews.
which is the greatest clarion call 10 faith
in God that is to be found in all literature,
and there is peculiar fitness and nicely
in reading and bordering the whole epis-
tie at this time Of the changing OF the
year. And more particularly may we
take heed OF the verse quoted above with
which 81. Paul opens the eleventh chap
ter Of his letter
For now is the time OF year when. TAX
ing stock Of that portion OF the race Of life
which we have already run. and looking
forward to the road Of life whose bounds
we cannot know. but which We have to
travel for longer or a shorter period,
we have to come-if we are 10 set about
the business Of living wisely-to an un-
derstanding with ourselves and at least
resolve IN our hearts in what manner Of
way We shall choose TO travel toward the
goal IL Is a hard and a bitter race. the
race that has been set before Us as St
Paul says; and try as we RAY with AZ
our best cndeavOr. we are sure 10 STUN
bic by the way. And as we run the race
we find ourselves constantly adding TO
the weight we carry There is the weight
Of newborn desires. the weight OF our
transgressions In the year just closing
the weight Of temptations and Of yield
ings, the weight, perhaps, OF money in
the requirement Of which we have per-
haps been careless host OF weights
which. II we stop q think al this season
Of the year, we shall find are bearing
US down heavily 70 the earth and making
every step of the forward way more DIM
cult
And the best Of Us are 50 "cOmpassed
about" with things that are unnecessary
that this end-t time OF the year is above all
others good time for the taking of
stock, Of clearing the attic chambers Of
/ our heart and soul Of much useless lum-
/ Der and waste II Is well for us 10 stop a
moment in this pause between the years
and realize that Life j. real. life is ear
| nest" and that II the grave is not its
goal IL is. AT least. the definite stopping
place Of our activities. the place 10 which
We are all hUrrying. some with laggard,
some with eager feet. according 10 our
/ desires or our faith
/ IL is a good time 20 recognize that life
is opportunity and that II we wish happi-
I ness either in This world or in the world
/ 90 come we can Oily attain il by doing
we'll the work that Is put before us. That
/ is something definite upon which we can
! lay hold. We do not have 10 be in the
ministry to serve God in our Iabors. God
] may be as truly ,UqrSl {reT with "a shovel
as with Bible; il is the man who is do
! Ing the best that is IN him. striving hon.
estly 20 express himself. and the Cod
spirit within him that IS within a meas
urablC distance from the beatitudes.
And the New Years coming on" and
before we step boldly into II let US resolve
I 20 open the pack upon our shoulders and
| in absolute honesty with ourselves dis
/ card some Of the dead weight we are
I carrying Let US throw aside some OF
those things which we thought so neces-
sary. but which made for selhshness and
which held us back; let US make room for
more lOving-kindness. generosity. charity
/ OF spirit. reverence, and the humber wiz
tues which We need every day In contact
with our fellows ard which go so far to-
ward sweetening and clarifying life And
/ above all let us possess ourselves OF what
the Apostle adyises-patience, He would
have US run the race and he urges us
10 haste-for the time for work is ap-
pointed. and II is an TOO short But Jet
us possess our souls In patience, nor be
Gismayed Il We cannot spring ar one
bound 20 heights Of goodness. Patiently
% run the race. patiently 20 work. pa
tiently % wait In faith and love for the
I end-this n is 20 live sanely and 70 make
the world the better for our living,