Norwich bulletin., 1917-02-24
Sunday Morning Talk
THE DUTY OF BEING STRONG.

When Charles Kingsley was asked: Wat is your favorite motto or proverb?' he replied Be Strong," That he well exemp1ified the motto was indicated when Dean Stanley preached his funeral sermon in West minister Abbey from the text, Watch ye. stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong" The lessons of the great Englishman's character and career were strikingly summed up in his own watchword.
 Thousands of mortals seem to think they have right to be wobblers and quitters in the game of life. It is no disgrace, they assume, to finch under difficulty or temptation Human nature they say, is feeble, and tickle, and full of inherited weakness. Man is as prone and his mistakes should surprise no one. How much of such lazy philos- .ophy is abroadi
 l recently visited man who, for years, has been something of an in- valid. '1 enjoy very poor health, you know" he walled, feebly. It almost seemed that he actually did enjoy it. to it. Yet the physician had said that in his case, there was no organic trou ble. What he needed was little res olution, exercise, and fresh air.
 George D. Percy is the Hercules of Harvard Although 20 pounds lighter than the college strong men of recent years, this student has won out against the whole college is the gym nasium tests. The young man attrf- butes his success to a fixed deternf7ia- tion to be strong; and to persistent training. When he entered high school eight years ago, he was both small and fragile youth He began with mild gymnastic exercises that in creased in vigor till. at last, by day break each morning. he was tackling cords of wood with bucksaw. Now, the once frail lad was a wonderfully symmetrical development and his muscles stand out like whip cords.
 Everyone ought to be strong-just as strong, that is, as unaIterab1e de- fciencies of physique will allow. Peo- pie who show disposition to "enjoy" chronic invalidism should be made to see that they fail in a great human duty.
 The moral invalidism in which thousands slouch through life is the most shameful kind of all. Their name is legion who are too feeble in spirit to offer any real resistance to easily besetting sins. too fragile of purpose to endure defeats, too 1anguid of will. to overcome obstacles. They are bent double under burdens that might be carried with shoulder erect through a dash of resolution.
 Few duties are more frequently urged in the Bible than that of being strong "Be strong. and show myself a man." is King Solomon's final in Junction to his son, David 'tBe strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus," writes the aged Paul to youthful Tim othy- In our vernacu1ar. the advice becomes: Brace upi" Grow a back bone!" Don't be a mollycoddle!"
 In Scripture, the matter is not left as vague exhortation- Duty is always coupled with opportunity. Faith is held up as the sovereign source Of energy. Jehovah gives power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength Men are to be conQuerors, and more than coAquerors, through the heavenly gifts of grace.
 Because strength in all the vfcissi- tudes of our lives is possible. it is laid upon us as a duty. Human nature, full Of weakness and inf1rmity as it is. is yet environed with power. The power is available for those who will take 1t. One has no right after all, to remain feeble. Here is a strenuous who need it.
 Be strong.
 to drift. We have hard work to do and loads to
 lift. Shun not the struggle-face it; 'tis
 Gods gift.
 Be strong! It matters not how deep intrenched
 the wrong, How hard the battle goes, the day how
 long. Faint not-ight on, Tomorrow comes
 the song.
 THE PARSON.