Evening journal., 1916-02-21


said Phillips, will not fear any dan
ger along that line" But sure enough,
they had scarcely gotten seated in that
carriage until the young woman be-
gan to pour forth arguments in sup
port of human liberty and in opposi-
tion to negro slavery. SO eloquently
and logically did she speak that at
the close of that ride he had become
convinced as TO what he ought to do.
and when he helped her alight from
the carriage he grasped the hand Of
one who afterward became his wife,
and his most able supporter, and she
grasped the hand Of one who was
henceforth to be one OF the foremost
advocates and champions of human
freedom.
You will note the difference
between these two characters, Bacon
and Phillips One came to decision
slowly, the other one quickly. but
there was this element alike in both:
in each case when the individual was
convinced what he ought to do, he did
H. No one can be true to himself and
do everything less. Emerson has well
said. do what you believe is right
today. even il il is absolutely contrary
to anything you have ever done" Con-
sistency is the Characteristic OF the
small life. Let us rather say with
Oliver Wendell Holmes:
Build thou more stately mansions,
oh. my soul.
While the swift seasons roll.
Leave thy low vaulted past.
Let each new dwelling. nobler than
the last,
Shut thee from heaven with a dome
more vast,
Until thou at length art free"
This element Of decision OF charac-
ter is always evident in a strong life.
Many that have great qualities Of in
tellect are forceless and Intellectual
on account OF the failure Of the will.
They are ever learning. and never
able to come TO the knowledge Of the
truth. With them.
THE native hue Of resolution
Is sickled DER with the pale cast Of
thought.
And enterprises of great pith and mo-
ment
With this regard their currents turn
awry
And lose the name OF action"
This apathy and indecison is no
where so disastrous in its effects as
in the domain Of the spirit. Every
soul that has been great. for God.
having seen his duty has done il.
Throughout the scripture every char
acter that flashes and flames far out
amidst the darkness like a beacon
light has been denoted by this quail
ity Abraham. when he was called to
90 unto a place that he was to re-
ceive for an inheritance. obeyed. not
knowing whittier he went Moses
called to go up in the presence OF
Egypt's absolute monarch obeyed
Elijah. commanded to go into hiding
/ by the brook Chorith. went and did
according unto the Word Of the Lord
John and Andrew and Matthew heard
the voice Of Jesus and followed Him
These we're all men of decision
'Whosoever shall do the will Of m,
Father who is in heaven. he is m,
brother and sister and mother"
Saul OF Tarsus. on the Damascu
road, saw clearly what he ought to dc
II would require him 10 be absolutel
3 contrary TO what he had been. Blu
he did just what any true life mus
do. He got down from his pride. hi
prejudice. his rebellion. and answered
Lord. what shall I do?" Il II thi
definite surrender TO Christ that her
aids the dawning of new life within
his soul
Every genuine character must b,
willing 10 submit to this great law o
progress; TO do what you know 10 b,
right today, even if it is absolutely
contrary to everything you ever hav'
done To you the risen Lord is nov
manifesting Himself. claiming you
unhesitating and unqualified allegi
ance. This is the will OF the Father
. that you believe on Him whom HI
hath sent God grant that you ma.
be able to say with Paul. 81 was no
disobedient unto the heavenly Wis
ion"
We are now led to consider wha
are the results that follow the doin
OF the will Of God. First, there cCme
! spiritual knowledge. But some viii
say "How am I TO know what God
, will for my life is?" Or, "If I kneV
certainly just what the Lord wante
, me to do, ! would say very quickt
/ whether or not would do it," Blu
you will never know what the Lor
! wants you TO do until first you yiel
= your life to do His will Il is no
2 knowledge first. and obedience after
- wards: il is obedience first, ant
/ knowledge afterwards.
A colonel of a regiment does nc
, give directions to every one in Oh
E community, but only TO the specii
E body of men who have sworn alleg
D ance to the commander, and promise
. obedience to his orders. Then he tell
g them what he wants them to do
5 Jesus says, IF any man willeth TO d
- his will. he shall know OF the teach
- ing" Here comes in the importanC
9 and necessity Of faith as a pre-
D requisite for obedience. It is not III
til a man has complete confidence
/ Christ that he is willing to abando
d his life and destiny wholly into II
r hands.
= It might be interposed that Chrii
70 Himself taught that it was the wi
n OF God, the Father, that they wei
S to do. But He went on to teach tn;
/. the will Of the Father was that the
p should believe on His Son; that
n who had seen the Son had seen Ii