The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-09-27

our SUBJECT tonight u inIiuitteiy CouhoSeeu
with our mornings Sunday School lesson. "The
Two Reports of the Spies" And also with our
mornings sermon. After receiving the law OF
Mount Sinai the Israelites marched northward to
Kadesh- Barnea, then they rested, Canaan was be-
fore them, protected by no Jordan and from the
tableland where they are encamped they could
easily descend upon its beautiful plains and val
leys. Like David, their Heavenly Father has
drought them forth intoa large place he de-
livered them because he delighted in them y
The tabernacle was in advance and they were
evidently about to go up and possess the land as
God had commanded But earthly wisdom is OF
more value they think, than Gods command
ments. A committee is requested to examine the
land and to report on its advantages and means
of defense Moses grants this request as Samuel
did afterwards when the Israelites desired king.
The committee IS selected, visits Canaan and in.
spects the land from Beer-sheba to Dan, and after
forty days examination make their reports. The
facts are admitted but ten report the obstacles
greater than they can overcome while a minority
OF two urge that with Gods help they are able to
conquer. Here we have the
IT CAM AND 81 CAN'T"
The people accept the report of the majority
and being rebuked by God disorderly mob
without their commander and in opposition to
his orders, advanced on the enemy only to be
driven back in defeat and confusion.
They try to make up for not having advanced
when they are told to do so, by advancing when
they are told not to so, being eartul to fight yet
bold in dangerous mutiny." On the threshold
of q glorious future, because of "giants in the
way" they turned back from golden fields and
luscious fruits to wander hungry and weary to
iguominious graves.
How like the Church of the present day when it
substitutes the vagaries of man for the command
ments of God
81 CAN" AND 81 CAN'T.
seeming contradiction and yet profound
truth! One familiar in life, though like the
Apostles command "Bear ye one anothers
burdens to be followed Immediately afterwards
with the text, .For every man shall bear his own
burden, it suggests opposing principles.
Yet the recognition of both these truthA is the
basis ofall success. The immense business built
up by the aggressive Il can" is kept on its feet in
spite of an appalling expense account. by the
quick recognition of its limitations. the inexorable
81 can't that says "Hitherto shall thou come
but no further and here shall thy proud waves be
stayed?"
It contains all the wisdom of the Greek motto,
aKnow Thyself' and is the central truth of the
Occident and the Orient, the aggressveness of the
one, the introspection and contemplation of the
other. Paul, the Anglo-Saxon mind of the new
Testament speaks, 81 can do all things" Paul,
the aged Orientalist, adds II have learned in
whatever state am Herewith to be content" If
we do not say 81 can" we will never begin. if we
do not know when to say II can't' we will not
know when to stop. The engine that never
moves. pulls no train, the engine that disregards
the signal kills the passengers, these are the cen.
tripetal and centrifugal forces that hold the
farthest fixed star in its orbit and yet control
the fall of leaf "Canst thou loose the bands
of Orion?' Canst thou guide Areturus and his
sons?" These questions remain unanswered from
the days of job until now.
1t is so in business in science, in art and in re-
ligion, in individual and national life, in peace
and in war. Napoean proved the first motto on
the battle field of Austerlitz, he illustrated the
last on the plains OF Waterloo. 1t is so in every
age and every period of life Steele contends that
a healthy old fellow, who is not fool is the
happiest fellow living.
cage is opportunity, no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress.
And as the evening twilight fades away
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day."
The ability to recognize our power and our
limitations is a necessary prerequisite to per-
manent success and happiness; one star differs
from another star in glory. The Socialist wishes
for all wealth to be equally divided he can only
accomplish this by previous equal distribution
of brains
DR.. Gulick says. "To get place at the front
and to keep it takes all the energy man can mus
ter. 1t takes more than energy, it takes the wis
est possible investment of that energy. A man
must know when to spend himself and when to
spare himself Success lies as much in knowing
the time to quit in the ability to keep plugging
on in the face of everything" There are three
kinds of fatigue. physical. mental and moral; we
are familiar with the first two but the last is
equally important. Tired men go on sprees, this
is the result of overwork. Just fatigue lessons
our ability to understand diseases which attack
the physical man; 80 it lessons our ability to
understand temptations which attack the moral
man.
''I can" stands for opportunity-hence duty.
ST can't stands for submisson-hence faith,
"I can" is mans sphere.
at can't is Gods sphere.
To recognize these aphorisms is one thing, to
apply them another, and yet their clear appre.
citation is the first and necessary prerequisite step
to their application How shall we apply this
work to our individual and church life? May 1
modestly suggest few points?
Ist-B Before we say II cam" let us take an &C
count of stock. "For what King" says Jesus,
"going to make war against another king. sitteth
not down first and consulteth whether he be able
with ten thousand to meet him that cOmeth
against him with twenty thousand"
0ud-Refore we saw al cam let us carefully
consider the difficulties to be overcome. Re-
member Christs words. "This man began to
build and was not able to finish"