Evening star., 1912-07-20
hf7 CHRISTIAN enorabor 9our !
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length and they were always broken
up with plenty of singing. Long services
are a mistake. You want prayers. short
and to the point. with straightforward
addresses from the heart of the speas ser
to the hearts of the listeners In short.
| the great need of the church here. as
| elsewhere, is sanctifed common sense
That Is equally a great need in all or
our Christian Endeavor meetings. Sane
| titled common sense gives us glorii1ed
Christianity 1t is the common things or
life rightly used that are of greatest
value. The world is not saved by bril-
liant and uncommon methods, but by
''the foolishness of preaching. as 1t so
appears to the world. For the preach
ing of the cross is TO them that perish
foolishness; but unto us who are saved
it is the power Of God.
A rich nobleman was once showing
friend a great collection of precious
stones whose value was almos. beyond
counting. There We're diamonds and
pearls and rubies and gems from almost
every country on the globe, which had
been gathered by their rossessor by the
greatest labor and expense. And yet,
ne remarked. they yield me no income
His friend replied that he had two
stones which cost him but five pounds
each. yet they yielded him a very con-
siderable annual income. II should like
to see them, said the nobleman. And
he led him down to the mill and pointed
to the two toiling gray millstones.
The things that are for use and profit
are better than the things that are mere
ly for display.
Common sense is more profitable than
genius Pope said that Fine sense and
common sense. There are forty men of
wit for one man Of sense. And he that
will carry nothing about him but gold
| will be every day at a loss for reader
change
1t will be asked how can common sense
be gained and how increased? / have
already noted that the right kind OF read
| ing and right kind OF company by which
| practical and useful information are
| gained is important, and also that we
and others. and to heed the admonition
Of example. To this l add that we are
| to listen when God speaks. He is the
! source OF all wisdom.
| Of God, that giveth to all men literally
and unbraideth not. and it shall be
| given
Christian ought not to lack COM
mon sense, for all he has to do is to ask
'in faith. nothing wavering' and it shall
{ be given him. There is where all the
trouble lies. There is SO little true faith
and real prayer. Wisdom must be be-
lieved In and earnestly sought for Until
We believe that there Is such thing as
wisdom or common sense We are certain
never to possess it. Without sincere faith
! In the wisdom of God, and earnest prayer
and supplication for 1t. 1t cannot enter
into the heart and life of man. 1t is the
gift Of God alone. and can be obtained
from no other source. Those who have 1t
cannot impart 1t to Others
The boy. Zerah Coleburn. was a prodigy
in mathematics. He could readily make
the most marvellous calculations in fig
ures and never miss the correct answer.
but he was totally unable to explain the
processes by which he effected his calcu-
lations. One day an inQuisitive person
piled him with questions as to how he
reached his conclusions. The boy said.
God put it into my head. but l cannot
put it into yours.
My young readers. I am giving you
such thoughts as have. and such illus
trations as I find about Christian COM
nonsense, but I cannot put 1t into your
heads, God only can do that The extent
of my power is comprised in the advice
l give to seek wisdom from above.
The wisdom OF this world is very mar
row and confined. the wisdom Of God is
boundless.
There is fable related by Rev J. Gill
mour. illustrating this thought:
"A blind tortoise lived in a we'll An
other tortoise. a native of the ocean. in
its inland travels happened to tumble into
this well. The blind one asked of his
the sea- was the reply. Then the tortoise
Of the we'll swan round little circle, and
asked, is the water Of the ocean as
large as this?" Larger replied he Of
round two-thirds of the well. and asked
If the sea was as big as that? Much
larger than that" said the sea tortoise.
well, them asked the blind tortoise.
lis the sea as large as this whole weli?"
Larger" said the sea tortoise
IF that is so.' said the other. "how big
then is the sea?''
The sea tortoise replied. You never
having known any other water than that
of your we'll, your capability of UNDER
standing is small. AS TO the ocean
though You spent many years In it, you
would never be able to explore the half of
it, nor to reach the limit and it is utterly
impossible to compare it with this well of
yours
The blind tortoise replied: 1T is impos-
sible that there can be a larger water
than this well: you are simply praising
up your native place in vain Words
In our blindness and the limitations of
our powers We. are prone to think that
what We hear of the limitless wisdom Of
God are but vain words
Let us not forget that we are blind.
and pray that our sight be restored: that
our limitations are narrow and pray that
our opportunities be enlarged.
The basis of common sense is that prll-
dence and discretion. which enables US
to see what should be done, considering
all the circumstances of time. place. per-
sons and manners, and the result or end
Of the doing. Solomon tells us that
wisdom dwells with prudence and that
discretion shall preserve U.S.
Happy is the man who ffndeth wisdom,
and the man that gettith understanding
For the merchandise of it is better than
the merchandise of silver, and the gain
thereof than fine gold. She is more
precious than rubies; and all the things
thou canst desire are not to be compared
unto her. Length of days is in her right
hand and in her left hand riches and
honor Her ways are ways of pleasant
ness and all her paths are peace. She
Is tree of life to them that lay hold
taineth her.