Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-02
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HARVEY 3. IRWIN. &
TOPIC:
The Christian Virtues. III.
Patience.
2 Thess., 3:1-5.

~ ONGFELLOW tells us that "Ail
things come round to him who will
- but wait" There Is an element OF
patience in waiting, but patience Is much
more than simply waiting. Some are rest
ing under the delusion that they possess
the virtue of patience who are only lazliy
waiting Micawber-like "for something TO
turn up True patience is not q passive,
but an active, virtue.
It is related that when the quality most
needed in a prime minister for his great
est success was the subject of converse
ton in the presence of Mr.. Pitt, one OF
the speakers said it was eloquence, an
other said it was knowledge, q third said
NO" said Pitt, 'it is patience" And
there is no gainsaying that patience IL
a primal quality for success in any sit
uation.
Disraeli said that patience is neces-
sary ingredient of genius"
While patience is great factor in mat
ters of worldly success, it is Of patience
as Christian virtue that we are consid-
er1ng. 1t is more important to be
Christian than to be genius.
There are 80 many other Christian vtr-
tues. such as courage. generosity. per
temperance, hopefulness. humility, zeal
and gratitude, that we may not single out
one for undue emphasis, yet patience Is
a necessary part of every other virtue.
Patience is that special grace which
qualities us to endure sorrows, adversi-
ties and calamities with fortitude and
calmness Of mind and with unrepining
submission to the will Of God. Paul. in
his letter to Timothy, said, Thou hast
fully known my doctrine, manner Of life,
purpose, faith, long suffering, charity,
patience, prosecutions, ahiictions. which
came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at
Lystra; what prosecutions endured; but
out Of them all the Lord delivered me-.
And to the Romans he wrote that he
gloried in tribulations, knowing that
tribulation worketh patience. and pa
tience experience, and experience hope.
It Is also declared that all that Will
live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution" How important, therefore,
earnestly cultivated. Affections and ca
lamities will come, and 1t 10 the part Of
wisdom that we be ready to bow with
calmness and constancy Of mind to the
will Of heaven.
And further patience 10 that grace
which enables us to bear long with the
wicked and never weary or despair OF
bringing them to repentance and a saw
ing knowledge Of the truth. and prevents
us from being greatly discouraged over
the shortcomings of those for whom we
pray and-labor. OF course, our ideals OF
Christian life should b high and We
should earnestly strive to reach a high
degree Of excellence in the exercise OF
all the Christian virtues for ourselves
and for Others. Yet the grace that makes
nesses and failures Of humanity will bring
us both strength and comfort in all our
labors.
The lack Of this grace causes many
Misunderstanding and contentious In the
church. To be patient toward inherent
infirmities or shortcomings of humanity
is essential to harmony and progress
Many picture too high an ideal for others
to reach. and because they in any partic-
ular fall short patience is forgotten and
ungenerous criticism made.
This ought not so to be. We should re-
member that there are none perfect and
least of all those who are finding fault.
We sometimes set up standard Tor our
teacher, or our pastor, and II they fail In
any point we grumble and complain. The
trouble in such cases Is that we are eX-
pecting and looking for the impossible. A
homely but, think, pointed illustration is
In the story told of a certain gentleman
who came to a horse dealer and said:
II want a young horse with spirit and
speed in him-something I'd like to drive
myself for my wife and daughters. He
must be entirely without bleMsh and
work in single or double harness. He
must be a perfect carriage horse, and
also good under the saddle, with several
gaits. And he must be absolutely afraid
Of nothing
"Ah, 1 see-I see" replied the dealer.
You want boss without q speck on
him: mettlesome but gentle: young, but
easily governed guaranteed not to shy at
anything; perfect any way you want to
use him. in single or double harness, or
as a saddle boss, with all the gaits.'
Eyes, yes" interrupted the gentleman,
chats what / want exactly"
'My friend" answered the dealer.
''there amt no SIGH hoss."