The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-04-28
H. SATURDAY
~ NIGHT
! / SERMONS
BY
z,,M!| xSsuuwsulsblh
THE EXTRA MILE.

Text, "whosoever shall compel thee u
20 a mile go with him twain."-Ms;i
VA.
Not much choice about 1t. II Rom. u
officer or courier wearing rs. P. Q. /:
and imperial eagles above 1t on his
cloak said you'd have to conduct b n
over an unfamiliar mile you'd have 10
go. You might be drafted for any
service at any time at any place. -
+ redress. When the Nazarene fell
stumbling and fainting under his cr,,ss
a rough soldiers hand was laid on HE
shoulder of a stranger in Jerusale n.
Simon of Cyrene, a disinterested <
stander watching the strange procc9.
sion going up Calvary's hill on the ".
to the execution. by the authority a
the senate and the Roman people Ii
art commissioned to bear this felo,, .
cross" Ugh. Carry gibbet to "a
place of torment! Ye gods, gree
some task. But there's no chloe
Queer! BY the irony of fate this vesy
Nazarene had taught that his disciple.
should willingly go the requisitione,i
mile and then cheerfully. unasked. & !
an extra mile! Anybody. everybody.
had to go the first mile, and oft with
scowling face and muttcred 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 81
follower of the Christ!'
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 nc
more. Too many modern Christians
measure their miles 30 God.
Oh, these stingy Christians! They've
to learn that generosity reacts. "Give
and IL shall be given unto you, good
measure. pressed down, shaken to
gether and running over" Some folks
go to church just enough to keep uI
their membership. The prayer meeting
and the communion service never SEE
them. They know to dot the Sunda,
the special coal collection will be
taken-sick headache that day! It's {
mighty hard mile for those who wall
with God through sense of duty, fear
prudence or necessity. There Is NJ
virtue In compulsory obedience. NJ
wonder some religion is irksome
Christians are to be known in thei
excess of the claims of duty, custom
, or conventionality. The extra mile
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 wit
velvet gloves" True enough. Blu
we've tried the mailed fist ever sine
the days Of Christ and before.
isn't such a glowing success either
The armed camp of Europe is the an
swer. Millennium's far off as ever. TIL
millions and energy had better be spen
on our gigantic social wrongs. Tn
toiler needs that extra mile. Gu
great thinkers believe society is max
ing the criminal and underdog instea,
of helping him. Christian Unite'
, States returned unasked the loot in
demnlty money 10 heather China-th,
Iextra mile. Did it pay? You and you
workmate had words long ago. Your
a Christian: be isn't. He nodded hal
recognition the other morning. Yol
gave chilly response. Shame. 'Twa
for you to make the advance. ~
We salute your brethren only" say
Christ. and IF We love them that low,
you" only, what reward have you
Do not even the publcans the sameT
Do the weak, the wounded, the erring
make YOU impatient? You've don,
enough for them" Say. try anothe
: mile! You've done your part to max,
up with your friend? Yes, but 1t wa
cold. frigid. punctilious. Throw a lit
tie warmth. affection, enthusiasm, int
, It; 20 an extra mile and watch results
You'll break his heart and bind hin
+ to you with hoops of gold
The Extra Mile.
"Do you mean meet a person hal
way. preacher" Yes, and, more thai
: that, always be a little kinder thai
3 you need be: do a little more thai
could be reasonably looked for. Mary
week in the kitchen, Martha's upstairs
n "Say, Martha" calls Mary. "I've ,
binding headache; would you kindl.
dry the dishes II l wash them?" Ger
tainly. grille; just you go lie down; II
both wash and dry them" Next weel
Martha calls to Mary, SISTER mine
don't you have to meet Mr.. Eligible a
the 4:3O train" "Yes." "Well, you'll
never make 1t, child" II know 1t
Would you mind sewing on buttoi
for me?" Sure will. And Just lie
me finish the parlor busting for 70,
while you run and get dressed" Lis
ten, brother. Is your employer very ex
acting? Rest of the fellows do Wha