The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1911-04-07
A,SATURDAY
sA% NIGHT
/ SERMONS
BY
j MVSAMUELW.PURNSll
THE EXTRA MILE.

THE EXTRA MILE.
Text, whatsoever shall compel thee to
go a mile go with him twain. Matt.
| Y, Al.
Not much choice about it. If Roman
officer or courier wearing rs. p Q. R."
and imperial eagles above it on his
cloak said you'd have to conduct him
over an unfamiliar mile you'd have to
go. You might be drafted for any
service at any time at any place. No
redress. When the Nazarene fell
stumbling and fainting under his cross
a rough soldiers hand was laid on the
shoulder of a stranger in Jerusalem,
Simon of Cyrene, a disinterested by
stander watching the strange process
sion going up Calvary's hill on the way
to the execution. by the authority of
the senate and the Roman people thou
art commissioned to bear this felon's
cross" Ugh! Carry a gibbet to the
place Of torment! Ye gods, a grew
some task! But there's no choice.
Queer! By the irony of fate this very
Nazarene had taught that his disciples
should willingly go the requisitioned
mile and then cheerfully, unasked, go
an extra mile! Anybody, everybody.
had to go the first mile. and oft with
scowling face and muttered curse did
they do it. The first mile. therefore.
showed nothing of Christian character,
but the second free, joyous mile took
away the bitterness of the first from
the drafted recruit and left the courier
with amazed eyes, "He surely was a
follower of the Christi
Why Should We?
Except your righteousness exceed
the righteousness of the scribes and
Pharisees," said Jesus. The Pharisee's
mile was measured with exactness.
He did what he had to, no more. He
tithed all his garden herbs and said
the required number of prayers. but no
more. Too many modern Christians
measure their miles to God.
Oh, these stingy Christians! They've
to learn that generosity reacts. "Give |
and it shall be given unto you, good |
measure, pressed down, shaken to- |
gether and running over" Some folks |
go to church just enough to keep up |
their membership. The prayer meeting |
and the communion service never see |
them. They know to dot the Sunday |
the special coal collection will be |
taken-sick headache that day! It's
mighty hard mile for those who walk |
with God through sense of duty, fear,
prudence or necessity. There is no
virtue in compulsory obedience No
wonder some religion is irksome.
Christians are to be known in their
excess of the claims of duty, custom
or conventionality. The extra miles
are the marks Of Christian.
Sublime Concession.
But that extra mile isn't practi.
cable; 1t isn't good working hypothesis.
The world isn't ruled by men with
velvet gloves" True enough But
we've tried the mailed fist ever since
the days of Christ and before. 1t
isn't such a glowing success either.
The armed camp of Europe is the an
swer. Millennium's far off as ever. The
millions and energy had better be spent
on our gigantic social wrongs. The
toiler needs that extra mile. Our
great thinkers believe society Is max
ing the criminal and underdog instead
Of helping him. Christian United :
States returned unasked the loot in
1emnity money to heather China-the
extra mile. Did it pay? You and your
had words long ago. You're ,
l Christian; he isn't. He nodded half
the other morning. You
gave chilly response. Shame. Twas
FOR you to make the advance. eff
re salute your brethren only says
Christ. and IF ye love them that love
you only, what reward have you?
Do not even the publicans the samer'
Do the weak, the wounded, the erring, {
make you impatient? You've done
enough for them" Say, try another I
nile! You've done your part to make t
Up" with your friend? Yes. but it was |
old. frigid. punctilious. Throw a lit :
lie warmth. affection, enthusiasm, into
t; go an extra mile and watch results.
You'll break his heart and bind him
o you with hoops of gold.
The Extra Mile.
do you mean meet a person half
way, preacher Yes, and, more than
hat, always be a little kinder than
'ou need be; do a little more than
ould be reasonably looked for. Mary's
week in the kitchen, Marthas upstairs.
Say, Martha" calls Mary, 1--WE a
binding headache; would you kindly