The Washington herald., 1917-09-30
The Herald's Special Sermon

OCTI1lOu
metic of life that is very much
neglected. Make the rounds of
your neighbors and listen to their
talk. One will discuss financial
worries. another physical ills, a
third magnify the servant problem
till it looks as big as the war sit
uation. In entertaining you, each
one will find something or some
body to complain about. Very few
waste much breath in gratitude.
Blind to blessings. they see only
difficulties and perplexities. Look
ing up at the worlds wealth and
power. they are filled with envy.
Rather let them look down at the
millions worse off than themselves
and their lips will be vocal with
praise. The Psalmist says, BLESS
the Lord. o My Soul" and in order
that we may have inspiration to do
this heartily-he adds. Forget. not
all His benefits" Be thinkful and
you will be thankful.
Keep Busy
is the next stepping-stone. Both
mischief and melancholy are the re-
suits of idleness. When Elijah lay
complaining under the Juniper tree
and asking God to let him die, the
answer was first arise and eat.
and after that "arise and CO." Work
is the medicine to counteract the
back venom of dependency and re-
vive the dropping spirit. If you are
down in the depths. immerse your
self in the tasks and problems OF
some congenial employment and in ad-
dition make I. your business TO light
en- the burdens of those about you,
and your gloom will soon dissolve
into gladness.
At a Sunday School rally In Omaha.
a large canvass was hung back of the
superintendent desk, on one side of
which was pictured a jack rabbit
sitting quietly in the grass while on
the other 1t was represented as
leaping over the prairie. Between
was printed: Don't sit still and sit,
but get up and git" Exercise in the
open will give you oxygen. and
oxygen will expel the blues"
"Keep Prayed Up"
A little girl in encouraging one Of
her despondent companions said,
when 1 become downhearted I find
it is because l haven't kept myself
prayed up" More things are wrought
by prayer than this world dreams OF.
1t opens the windows of the soul. eX-
pels the nauseous vapors Of pessi-
mism and let's in the light and glad
ness of the heights. You can pray
the ache out of your heart, the
perplexity out Of your task, the dis
agreeable out of your environment
and the clouds out of your sky. Go
into thy closet and shut the door.
and there in the conscious pressure
OF the Eternal, you will find re-
newal of strength, a fullness of joy
and a peace that passeth all under
standing. Prayer lifts one from the
depths and sets his feet upon a rock.
Cultivate the Forward Look.
is our final word. Cherish continu
ally the thought that life will be bet
ter further on. 1t is said of the he
roes of the Old Testament. These
all died in the faith" At the very
closing of their eyes in death they
saw something better ahead. 1t was
this forward look that enriched their
lives. strengthened them for task and
temptation, and gave them a joy and
a satisfaction the blind world could not
understand. Is was faith that sustained
Moses, for he endured as seeing Him
who is invisible" 1t was this grasp
of precious realities far ahead that
strengthened Paul for his sacrifices,
and enabled him to fight the good
fight and finish his course. 1t was
faith that held Peter on the water
and not until it failed did he sink
and If the Christian has faith enough,
he, likewise, can walk on the surface
OF the slough of despond.
why art thou cast down, o, my
soul?' The remedy is. Hope thou
in God" Grasp the hand that is
reached down. and you can swing
clear from side to side Remember
the divine word-all things shall work
together for good to them that love
God. Upheld by this promise, you are
out of reach of the miasma of this
ctsmal swamp. Yea, faith is not only
one OF several steps. but 1t is strip
OF solid ground from margin to mar
gin of this miry bog. If our feet are
placed on this. we can skip along
with the lightheartedness of children.
free from the specters and delusions
of despotic dependency, and can
sing with the poet as we go:
L know not what the future hath
OF marvel or surprise.
Assured alone that life and death
His mercy underlies.'
know not where his islands lift
Their proud palms in air:
only know ! cannot drift
Beyond His love and care"