The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-30

any means [ might attain unto the resur-
reotion of the dead" His converted life,
frcnl the time he saw the light on the
Damascus road until his head fell from
the block in Rome swung rs pendulum
through that arc. The Christ who spoke
| to him OF. the road completely mastered
| his being. Thenceforth the desire to be
| like Christ gave color and character to
| his every deed.
| In the apostles life there was more
| than earnest desire. There was whole-
hearted conservation, thorough concern
tration of all his efforts toward the ac-
complishing of that supreme desire. To
holy ambition he added a holy zeal The
world has known many who desire TO
excel, but comparatively few who are
willing to pay the price. The bravest
heart that beat with Christian impulses.
the strongest mind that ever grappled
with religious problems were this man
Paurs From first to last he was ask
| Ing Lord, what shall l do?' and de-
claring, II can do all things through
Christ which strengtheneth me-
On the walls of my alma mater were
dozen notices that stamped them
selves ineffaceably upon the minds of the
students and one of which has been
potential factor in my life 1t was,
Have one grand life purpose" Out of
the man. things of this complex civiliza-
ten which one might do, he should choose
some ono thing which he must do Choos-
ing that strongly is half the battle for
the purpose firm is equal to the deed.
While one life Is spent for ignoble ann
biton, two are lost for want of serious
purpose The stream with wide banks
and shallow bed may lose itself at last
in the sand; but the same water coursing
through a deeper channel furnishes the
power which moves the machinery which
runs the factories So are lives dissipated
and lost, and so may they be coneen-
trated and made effective
Adaptation of Means
One must have more than ambition and
energy. Common sense is indispensable.
Paul had it to a remarkable degree. He
knew how to adapt himself to every cir
cumstarce. The power of adaptation is
often tho mar kof education and always
the measure of success.
Forgetting those things which are
behind" My young friends, it is wise to
cultivate the art of forgetting There
airs the successes. Paul had his. In
Ephesus he had preached with such con-
vlncing power that a philosophers school
became a gospel pulpit and a heather
temple was deserted of its worshippers.
He might have spent his remaining days
gloryine in the victory at Ephesus. |
knew a young man who won the orators
medal in his sophomore year. Nature
had generously endowed him with inn
perial imagination and a marvellous voice.
He pinned the diamond medal upon the
lapel of his coat and posed for photo
graph which he had published in the col
lege magazines. He spent large part
of the summer telling his relatives and
friends of his past greatness. In his
junior year he was one of the speakers
In the state debate. Depending upon his
laurels of the previous year, he neglected
preparation for this occasion and foolish
ly supposed the judges would give him
the prize because of his natural ability.
When the decision was announced. out
OF four speakers, he tied for fourth place
and even that was not sufficient to cure
his inordinate vanity. The victory of the
sophomore year was to him a fatal de-
feat, and he has since lived a life of in
significance and worthlessness.
The past also holds its failures These,
too. must be forgotten or remembers
only for the lessons which they teacl
Paul had failed. He had gone to or
community where they cast him out an
stoned him until they thought him deat
In another place a mob assaulted tn
home where he was staying. and In tn
Holy City he was arrested and bound
While he penned this letter he was pris
oner at Rome Nevertheless he was no
despNndent. From that prison sounded
forth the deepest note of joy in Christian
experiences. "Reioice in the Lord al
wyas." Life is different in the retrospect,
| and as one looks back upon past expert
| cnces he can see that apparent failures
| were permanent victories. The things
which were against us fall out to the
furtherance of the gospel.
II hold 1t truth with him who sings,
To one clear harp In divers tones
That men may rise on stepping stones,
or their dead selves, to higher things"
large part of this mans Christian
lie had been spent in good words. He
had gone among the Gentle churches
raising money to support poor Christians
at Jerusalem
What temptation to human nature to
parade his good works. He scarcely re-
fers to them. The Joy OF the labor and
the consciousness of duty done, were all
that he remembered. The man who con-
soles himself today with a memory of
some good done on yesterday, or who
neglects present duties because of faith
funess In past trials is recreant to a
high trust and has outlved his day
Dead leaves and feathers rot, in last
years nest;
The winged brood flown thence new
dwellings plan
The serf of his own past is not man."
In the annals OF educational insti-
tutions are names once highly honored
whose lustre WAS dimmed In closing days
because they relied upon past endeavors
Alas. that old age, unconscious of its
inhrmity. should claim present position
by virtue alone Of past service
He whose life has not shared injuries
and insults has little in common with
the inspired apostle. Immediately after
his conversion he was regarded with
suspicion and refused the right hand of
fellowship by the Jerusalem church. In
open court and In defiance of law he
was struck by the High Priest. This
will suffice to illustrate how grossly I'M
Just was his treatment. Forgetting all
of this, purging his heart from all malice
and harborng no revenge. he presses
toward the highest goal and seeks the
heavenly company.
NV friends. to carry wounded feelings
is childish. To hold in your heart aught
against an enemy is the surest way of
allowing him to make you unhappy. 1t
Is beautiful to see those broad-mlnded
young men whose interests crossed and
whose personalities clashed in the strlfes
of college days. boon companions and
loyal friends In the broad fields of life.
The world has known but one man
without sin and Paul was not that man.
Stand all the sinners of the world ZIP
in one line and grade them in height
lie would be at the head of the column.
He was the tallest sinner that ever lived.
God saved him as a pattern of His power.
remembered the sin that he might praise
IL, wi foro oro