Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-08

! He read my yearnings unexpressed-
And said them nay
Now. I would stay. God bids me go;
Now. I would rest. God bids me work,
He breaks my heart tossed to and fro
My soul is filled with doubts that lurk
And vex IL So"
To give effective service our wills must
be in accord with the Divine will, ether
wise all our efforts are but the idle, in
effectual beating of wings against Euroc-
lyidon's Overwhelming onset. Thou
canst not kick against the pricks." is as
true OF 10th century Christians asst was
of Saul OF Tasus. It has been said that
when We yield our wills to that Of God,
we are but noble slaves; but when our
wills are in accord with that of God, we
are free-born children.
II is often through affiiction that we
come to realize our mission, or see clear
ly the work there is for us to do.
David could never have sung those jubil-
ant songs from the hilltops of peace had
he not first wandered in the deep valley
OF persecution-had he not been baptized
in the Jordan Of doubt and sorrow.
The world would probably never have
heard OF John Bunyan had he not been
lincarcerated in Bedford jail for a number
of years. just when his whole soul yearn-
led for activity in the Masters work
but the Pilgrims Progress" that price
less treasure of religious literature, was
the outcome of those seemingly wasted
years. Milton's vision of the Heavenly
city was greatly intensified when his
eyes became blind to the beautiful things
of earth.
Beethoven caught and chained the
notes OF celestial music when his ears
forever closed TO the harmonies and dis
cord Of earthly instruments.
Until recently there lived in New York
a little woman who for 80 years had never
left the room she called home-or the
bed upon which her afflicted body found
rest. OF endured its measure of pain. And
yet from out that little room flowed a
constant stream Of sunshine, good cheer,
and material help for her more unfor-
ltunate brothers ard sisters. Who dares to
Isay: There is nothing I can dor'
And so. all history. sacred and profanc,
is teeming with the names of people
whose cosecrated lives sprang up, Phoe-
, nix-like. from the ashes of blighted hopes
and ambitions.
|, Listen. and I will tell you a story OF
the Saviour while He was on earth:
: In company with His faithful disciples
Jesus is on His way from Bethany to
Jerusalem, and He seems in haste Blind
. Bartimeus sits by the wayside and cries.
Jesus. thou son of David, have mercy
on met The Lord halts a moment as
IL about to go TO his aid. but signs and
passes on. saying: st cannot help you
now. Bartimeus. A council Of the Sand
hedrin meets in Jerusalem this morning,
and 1 fear shall be late. If can convert
even one OF those representative men it
will mean so much to Jerusalem Then
must try TO seek and save PLATE. for, as
governor of a great nation, his influence
IS Unreasonable and so IL is very import
ant that he should be saved. I am sorry
for you. Bartimeus. Perhaps some other
time can attend to you" A little further
on three lepers lift their ieshless hands
to heaven and cry for mercy. But bid
ding them clear the way lest he be late
the Saviour hastens on to Jerusalem.
Did you ever hear of a Christ like
that? And yet that is exactly what
some OF us. who claim to be His follow
ers are doing every day.
Let me illustrate. You want to be a
soul-winner. You remember the prom
Use: They that win many to righteous
ever" You remember that rich mer-
chant up town who has never given his
heart to God and you resolve to speak to
him and pray for him. You remember
DR.. and say: What a glorious
thing IL could win him for the Saviour
his influence is so great" You remember
that Maynard son of wealthy parents
/
", and you say: II must help to reclaim
that boy. He Is breaking the hearts Of
his parents. and his money would do SO
much good IL used in ale right way"
| There is a young man in a store UP
town who has not been out to church in a
long time. You say: IT must go and
invite him to join the Barracks. He is a
fine young man and would be such an ad-
. dition to our church"
You dress 10 go up town but at the
gate you learn from a chance passer-by
that Mrs. Jonesberg. the widowed dress
/ maker. is down with fever. with no one
to wait on her. nor attend to the wants
of the four small children. God, through
yodr conscience, says: Go to Mrs. Jones'
berg. prepare a meal for those hungry.
unwashed children; give them bath and
see that the mother is made tidy and
comfortable" But you resent the sug-
gestion prouuIy. Am I a servant that
I should cook, nurse children and make
beds for Mrs. Jonesberg? That is outside
I my line of business. Besides. she has
neighbors nearer than 1, surely they will
| not let her suffer" So, telling yourself
that you will send her some soup tomor-
row and carry her some Of your pretty
roses when convenient, you go on your
way.
You find the young man and talk to
him beautifully of the Saviour's love for
his soul. but there is no impression made
and you return home wondering why God
does not hear your prayers nor bless your
efforts for doing good while all the time
still. small voice keeps saying. Il was
sick and We visited me not. 1 was hungry
and We gave me no meat"
J You've lost your chance to win Mrs
Jonesberg into the kingdom, and through
her probably the children. And wher
she comes 10 the prayer meeting and
hears you pray so eloquently and tel
the people you are
Ready for service, lowly or great"
is It any wonder that the deepest i'm
preston made on her mind can be ex-
pressed in one word-hypocrite?
1t is an unvarying fact that you may
} preach the gospel all day to one whom
, you have refused help in time of need anC
to him your words are but hollow
meaningless sounds
ANNIE DURHAM METHVIN.