Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-02
d7 CHRISTIAN enoeabor 'Nour
Up 4arbep -. 3rmttr ! I

But what do you mean to do?"
Peg away, sir; peg away; keep peg
cling away"
And we all know that 1t was ''pegging
away that did 1t.
Though homely one 1t is a very COM
plete definition of perseverance. To
succeed s,ne din IN anything we must keep peg
1t is as true in the spiritual as in the
temporal life.
There is no achievement no progress in
the Christian life without perseverance.
We are not to be carried to the skies
on fiowery beds of ease" We must fight
to win the prize and "sail through bloody
seas" There are foes to face and this
world Is not friend to grace to help US
on to God. The Christian life Is a war
fare, and there can be no success In war
without perseverance. There must be a
constant. never-ceasing "pegging away"
to gain the victory.
Arm these, Thy soldiers, mighty Lord
With shield Of faith and Spirits sword;
Forth to the battle may they go
And boldly fight agaist the foe
The Christian life is also race, and
no race was ever won without the ut
most perseverance to the very end.
Wherefore, seeing We are also COM
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight
and the sin which doth SO easily beset Us
and let us run with patience the race that
Is set before u.s.
1buu IH6 race With pdIieHce, TOT p6uGnCe
Is the essential quality in effective per-
severance.
"A cloud OF witnesses around
Hold thee in full survey;
Forget the steps already trOd
And onward surge they way"
The hour of trial and affiiction presents
the severest and highest test of perse-
verance. 1t is not at all difficult to walk
in path that Is smooth and inviting,
but when a rugged ascent is reached,
where toll and danger are found In every
step, there Is need of resolution and
courage to advance. In LIES pathway OF
duty many fall in the time of adversely
and trial; yet it Is only under such con-
ditions of hardship and danger that per-
severance finds its merit and its re-
ward.
The great thing about constancy and
persistence in well doing is that they
bring not only good to ourselves, but to
others. The great law Of life Is that we
shall love one another and bear one an
others burdens. This Is the Christ law
There is no reward for perseverance that
is exercised for purely selfish ends
Striving for the welfare Of our fellow
beings is what makes our achievements
rebound In greatest blessing to ourselves.
When our perseverance benefits no one
but ourselves 1t Is barren Of satisfaction
and reward.
10 man, forget not thou, earth's honored priest.
Its tongue its soul, its life. Its pulse, its heart.
In earth's great chorus to sustain thy part!
Chiefest Of guests at loves ungrudging feast.
Play not the niggard; spurn thy native clod,
Live I,s' to 'e thy neishbor: live unto thy God;
Not to thy self alone"
In the illustration given Of Cyrus Field
the glory of his perseverance Is in the
fact that 1t brought blessing to the world
In general, and in that Is found the meas
ure of his triumph. So it is also in the
achievements of the ideal Christian by
his perseverance in welldoing. It brings
blessings both to himself and to others.
Great rewards are promised to those
who overcome evil, and as that cannot be
done without exercising perseverance, Il
is therefore an essential virtue in the
Christian life.
Those who persevere in all good works
are the ones whom God calls the wise,
that shall shine as the brig Illness of rhe
armament. and they that turn many to
Righteousness as the stars forever and
ever"
Christ in His message to the church al
Sardis said: He that overcometh the
same shall be clothed in white raimcnt.
and I will not blot out his name out of
the book of life, but l. will confess his
name before my Father and before His
angels"
With such q prospect In view we should
be stimulated to persevere and earnestly
contend for the mastery over every evil
that obstructs our way. and DC ablr to
come of conquerors and more than con-
querors through Him who IS ii all things
the worlds Conqueror.
Where our Captain bids u 60
IT'S not TO murmur no.
He that gives the sword and shield
Chooses, too, the battlefield
On which we are TO fight the foe"