The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1910-03-24

own soul?" Wherefore lay aside
| every weight-and sin. For a man
to strip himself of sin Is not a great
task. The penalty of sin has been
paid and he needs only to repent OF
past offenses and look 20 Saviour
who is ready to forgive. and he will
be pardoned of all his iniquities.
Thus having met all the require
ments. the Christian Is prepared for
the race, in which the exertion was
so violent and yet so short as the
Greek race. This is a fitting emblem
Of the Christian life; it begins with
the Cross and ends with the Crown.
| 1t may cover a period of many years,
| but viewed in the light Of eternity
the course is very short.
In the Greek race only one OF the
| competitors could win the prize; in
| the Christian race all may receive the
crown of life. This makes the exhor-
tation OF the text still more emphatic,
so run that We may obtain
A great deal depends upon the be-
ginning. Notice the runners at the
games. The signal to start has been
given-they are of with a dash. If
there is one who has failed to make a
good start his chances to win are few.
So with the Christian. Not all, but a
great deal depends upon a good be-
ginning-a beginning with determin-
alton and decision. Keep the object
of the race before you and allow
nothing to hinder yor in the course.
We need more men to-day who,
like the Reformer of the Church,
stand firm upon their convictions.
Had he not decided with so much de-
termination that the church needed
cleansing, had he not stood so firmly
at Worms before the papal prelates
and declared, Here stand, cannot
do otherwise, God help me-" his mis-
sion might have failed and his effort
spent in vain. Set about any task lam
Suidly, half heartedly and failure is
inevitable. When General Grant de-
termined that the course he was
about to pursue was the proper one,
and said. Il shall fight it out along
these lines if it takes all summer"
his battles were half won. So is the
life of Christian. Confess Christ,
not half heartedly, not weakly, but
with determination that come what
will you will always be a faithful fol-
lower. This is essential; make a
good start, and having started, con-
centrate all effort This one thing
1 do" says Saint Paul. Il press to-
ward the mark" Concentration, like
decision, is essential to success. The
difference between the amateur and
the artist is that the one pursues his
art only occasionally and subordinate
ly. the other continuously and prima-
rily. There are too many amateurs
among Christians, 100 many who are
religious only spasmodically Make
your Christian life your highest aim.
Il does not demand that you remove
yourself to a monastery or a cloister
or wander alone in the Wilderness 1t
does not need to interfere with the
legitimate aims of life, but in them all
we may be striving for the one end
to mold our lives that we may please
Him. Concentrate your effort: it Is
very essential that you should run
with all your speed. How ridiculous
sluggard would have appeared
lounging about the ancient Stadium,
protesting to be runner, but never
progressing beyond the starting point.
Why shall he enter the race If he does
not determine to run and run hard?
The secret lies in filling our lives
with good acts that we have no room
for evil. Walk in the spirit and ye
shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh"
Ours is positive life. life of Great
ing new desires rather than the
crushing of old ones. 1t must be a
life Of progress.
IL is also ess entail that one keep to
the course. To leave it may demand
return to the starting point. The
prodigal son had travelled far from
home. but he had left the course and
had to plod wearily back to his faith
er's home step by step. 1t is not diff
cult to know the course. The first
Victor has gone before us and we
need only follow Him. The Word
enlightens the way for us. The chief
requirement is that we obey 1t.
Again. having begun the race, it Is
essential that you persevere to the
end. The competitors in the Olym-
spisn games had only short distances
to run. consequently they put all their
effort in one short squirt. Our life is
not so as viewed from the finite stand
point. We cannot put all our effort
into few moments and then, weary
and enfeebled, be forced to relinQuish h
the race. Let us run with patience
| the race and not start at such a pace
that we will be exhausted before we
have finished the course. There are
some Christians who. in their first
enthusiasm, spend all their effort and
then become disheartened. Realize
that the race of Christian requires
one continuous effort. and strive ac-
cordingly. Persevere to the end.
Then what Is the result of all this ef-
| fort?
| The reward-lt has its recompense
upon earth. "Godliness is profitable
unto all things. having promise of
the life that now is and of the life to
come" The man who lives the life
Of the Christian athlete profits physi-
| cally for II inculcates tomnaranca
self-respect. industry and cleanliness.
1t helps him mentally. All other
things being equal, the man who fol-
| lows the rulas of the Cnri rixtian .rill