Arizona republican., 1908-09-07
Mesa Department
 VIII. HOGLE, Manager


she lead him in the ways of righteous ness, and thus moulded the character of the savior of our nation. A mother once said to me she hoped that the Lord would call her son, who was a farmer, to preach the Gospel l said, Sister had you ever thought that God needed consecrated Christian men to till the soil" She had not thought of it in that way. Some seem to think that unless they can preach. sing, or do some noted work that will continu ally bring them before the public, they cannot serve God acceptably. That is an erroneous idea. Men in business and in the professions can, and do live and work to the Glory of God. There is a great ripe field for the reception of the light of the righteous in the Sunday school, for men and women who are willing to work on and on, through good report and evil report. when the revival fires burn and when the spiritual life is low, fully believing that Gods word will not return unto Him void, and that he that goeth forth weeping. bearing previous seed shall doubtless come again bringing his sheaves with him. CPS. 126-6)
 One man was led to Christ through the faithful work of his Sunday school teacher, pays him the following tri- bute:
 l wonder if he remembers,
 That good old man in Heaven. The class in the old red school house Known as the Noisy Seven"
 wonder if he remembers
 How restless we used to be
 Or thinks We forgot the lessons Of Christ and Gethsemane.
 I wish I could tell the story
 As he used to tell it then
 I'm sure that with Heavens blessing I could reach the hearts of men I oft wish I could tell him,
 Though We caused him so much pain By our thoughtless boyish frolic His labors were in vain. I'd like to tell him how Harry The merriest one of all
 From the bloody field of Shiloh. Went home to the Masters call. I'd like to tell him how old Stephen So brimming with mirth and fun Now tells to the heather China The tale of the Crucified One. I'd like to tell him how Joseph And Philip and Jack and Ray Are honored among the churches, The foremost of the day.
 I'd like. yes, I'd like to tell him, What the lessons did for me.
 And how I'm trying to follow The Christ of Gethsemane.
 Perhaps he knows already
 For Harry has told him, maybe, That We are coming, coming,
 Through Christ to Gethsemane. How many besides I know not VIII gather at least in Heaven The fruit of that faithful sowing. But the sheaves will surely be "seveA"
 Adam Clark says this may be trans lated, Going and Illuminating unto the prepared day" He also says, This seems to refer to the progress of the rising sun while below the horizon: and the gradual increase of the light occasioned by the reflection of his rays by means of the atmosphere, till at last he is completely elevated above the horizon, and then the prepared day has fully taken place, the sun having risen at the determined time. So, the truly wise man is but in his twilight here below; but he is in a state of glorious preparation for the realms of everlasting light; till at last, emerging from the darkness and the shadows of death, he is ushered into the full blaze of endless felicity"
 The light of righteous does not cease to shine at the close of this earthly life. ''None of us liveth to himself. and no man dieth to himself" (ROm. 14-7) Those that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the Armament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever" (Dan. 12-3) The righteous life of Martin Luther is yet shining to the uttermost parts of the earth. The courageous John Knox continues to shine not only in Scotland and in the church he founded. but to all the world. The millions of people called Methodists are a cloud of wit nesses to the fact that the righteous life of John Wesley continues to shine.
 We will consider the last part of the text. 'The way of the wicked is as darkness, they know not at what they stumble" As the righteous shine more and more so the wicked drift farther and farther into darkness. The right eous progress in righteousness. They go from glory into glory. So the wick ed progress in wickedness. Men do not often land in the state prison sudden ly, but by the progress from one crime to another of greater offense.
 They know not at what they stum- ble." They do not know it, but a great many stumble at Gods mercy. They say if God is merciful. long suffering, and kind, he will not punish me. l can turn at last to this mercifuI God, and he will save me. and have lived long life of sin and come down to my death bed. God will be mercifuI to me. Would that be the manly thing to do? Will you thus presume on Gods mercy. God says Today is the day of salvation" Harden not your heart. God takes no pleasure in
 (Continued on page S)