Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-10-07
Good Sermons

Listening TO the excellent sermon
preached by Rev. o. w. Winter last
Sunday morning, / could not help
but think how much the several
hundred non-churchgoing people of
Bedding are missing of the things
and girls high ideals of life, and would
help them to become stronger in
character and stronger to resist tempt
alton, for temptation in some form
will come, TO all; missing, too, the
lessons which teach us To be more
helpful TO others and thus smooth not
only our own pathway, but that of
many poor, discouraged mortal.
All, the thoughts and beautiful
word pictures missed by the many
would, in years time, make quite
a book-a book which can never be
bought, but just that much has been
left out of your lives. Think of it,
friends, and resolve to gain in the
year to come just that much more
than you gained in the past.
Attend some church, not just one
Sunday, because on that especial day
you might hear sermon that did
not appeal strongly to you, but go
often, for on some succeeding day
you might hear the sermon that would
make you stronger and better man
or woman all your life. 1t takes but
a little to change the current of a
mighty river, and word or sentence
has often changed whole life history.
So much practical advice you lose,
too, along with other things.
Another thing, of perhaps more
Importance to you, you lose, and that
is-your opportunity to cheer and en-
courage those who are working for
the upbuilding of mankind. Did you
ever stop to think what it means TO
you TO live in a Christian nation, or
even in a city, where the gospel is
preached? Compare our own Chris
tian nation with some of the heather
countries, or even the little city of
Bedding with some of the frontier
towns of the far west, mining town,
perhaps, and then thank God, if you
have never done SO before, that you
live among Christian people, even if
you not are Christian yourself
Most of the people of the civilized
world read the newspapers. So read
just little of what you might have
heard at church last Sunday morning
on the subject ''Helping and Cheer
ing" from Isiah Al, 8: ''They helped
everyone his neighbor, and everyone
said to his bro ther BE of good couI
age"
Beginning with Cyrus the Great
and showing how the heather nations
were greatly terrified by his western
campaign, the speaker told how they,
as nations, encouraged one another
and finally how everyone helped and
encouraged both neighbor and brother
A fine picture of brotherly helpful.
ness was drawn and we were shown
what a magical change would take
place if everyone, the whole world
over, would begin TO practice the
words of the text at once.
Two ways of service were shown
By sending material assistance and
by words of cheer. Many are poor
sick and unfortunate, suffering, toll
ing and struggling. In fact, 'Tht
poor We have always with ye," anC
such need as much our words of gooC
cheer as they do food and clothing.
1t is no disgrace to be sick, if no
caused by sin; no disgrace to be poor
if one has done all one can to driv,
the wolf from the door. Very many
noted men have been poor. Jesus wa
poor, 'He had not where TO lay hi
head" Columbus, DR.. Livingstone
J Daniel Webster, and many others.
Honorable poverty calls for gener
Gus help. Sad the day for any person
when they are unkind, or in any way
make burdens of the poor heavier
Sad the day for any church wheI
it is known only as an aristocrati
church. The motto of every churcl
should be "A helping church, an,
every member should strive to liv
up to that motto.
We should help one another in bust
ness by patronizing by our trade ou
home grocer, merchant, dressmaker
artisans, laboring men, etc. We shoul,
ado good to all, especially the house
hold Of faith" thereby fulfilling tn
new commandment, '.That we low
one another"
Christ said, "lnasmuch as We hav
done il unto one of the least of thes
my brethren, We have done it unit,
me-" Did you ever think that tina
means the unkind word as well as tn,
kind one. To one listener, at least
il came as shock. Never had i