Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-05-01

tie CnltuIen III tue hinueIS dEteu vi ioNS-
We do not always wish to be spiritual
babies learning the negative side OF the
gospel. which tells US Don't to this
and Don't do that" and Don't do the
other thing" We should grow In grace
and grow in spiritual power and learn
70 utter some other prayer than the
little petition
Now ! lay me down TO sleep
1 pray the Lord my soul to keep
which we learned years ago at our
mothers knees. And so the next great
step In the way of love Is. Never give
pain. physical or mental TO another"
The second Is like unto the first only n
little higher in spiritual life. When
we love our neighbors we must rejoice
With them in their days of prosperity.
As their sorrows should be our sor-
rows. so their temporal and spiritual
triumphs should he our temporal and
spiritual triumphs. Their lives as trees
are grated upon us. Then we. as the
old orange trunk supporting them.
should rejoice mt the gathering OF their
fruits just us much as though the au-
tumnal nuggets of gold were taken
from our own branches. Do you grasp
the farreaching significance OF my
texti And the greatest OF these Is
love-" The more others prosper the
more we should rejoice.
Jealous of Others Success.
But. strange 10 say. some evil minded
cynics look upon the success and the
prosperity Of other people as an insult
TO themselves. They feel that IL they
cannot have all the honors and all the
praises of success they do not want
any one else TO have those honors And
not only that. but by sneers they will
do all in their power to undermine an
| others work. Here, for instance. Is q
college president For years and years
he is the official head OF the institution.
For years and years be molds the
| characters Of the boys and the girls
| under him. He has the devoted fol.
| lowing Of the officers and teachers, but
when his work is done he sometimes
| seems to be angry because those same
| officers and teachers give the same
| loyalty TO his successor as they accord
ed to him and because the college Is
| making n greater success after he
| leaves the institution. Why should not
that old college president he happy at
the success of his successor? WHY
should not the minister be happy when
he hears that the man who follows him
In his pulpit Is more beloved and Is
doing greater work than he was
privileged TO 10?
But you cannot rajoice with a man
In his days OF prosperity unless at the
hamc time you are willing to sympa-
thize with him In the days OF his sor-
row. And You cannot truly sympathIze
with friend in his time OF trial unless
| at the same time you are willing TO do
| everything In your power TO overcome
his mental, moral aud spiritual weak
nesSes and help him TO rectify the mis-
takes he has made. Have you been
willing 10 10 that? Have you such
an overwhelming love OF mankind In
your heart that YOU Will do everything
and anything to help your brother out
OF his present difficulties?
| Friend, could there be n better mes
sage for us to dwell upon this morning
than this OF love? oh" said. "If I
can only set my people TO feel aud
practice this divine love all VIII be
We'll" VIII you let this divine grace
1 NA"NiN"NS "si hsttC stuu DitlcTHcSS from
your hcartI VIII you 20 today TO the
man against whom you have gi.dge
and take him by the hand and say.
Let us quit our enmities for Christ's
sake" Indeed. II Is not SO hard fos
some or us to say that. for Christ,
whom we love and whose example we
nrc 10 follow. has taught us 10 pray,
Forgive us our trespasscs as we for
give those who have trespassed against
us" oh. for a baptism or divine love!
And the greatest OF these is love-"
There is a star that beams on earth
| With tender lovely ray
That lights the path or generous worth
And speaks a brighter day.
II Is friendship.
There Is Il tie. n golden chain
| That binds with stronger hand
Than iron shackles or the cell
| Or all the arts OF man.
| II is love.
| There Is gem. a pearl OF worth
AS lasting as the skies.
More dazzling than the gems OF earth:
Its splendor never dies.
| II is truth.
| Three angel spirits-evermore
| They guard our thorny way
And those who follow where they lead
Can never SO astray.
For God hath given them alike
| To childhood and TO youth
And age is mellowed by the touch
or friendship love and truth.
copyright. 1908. by Louis Kiopsch.l