Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-03
Self-Control
Sermon ny
lsf:S. FLOYD W. TOMkfNS.
T->,:. l. Cor. TX. .t-27.


We are hearing much In these sad
days of the control of food and coal
and other necessities. so that bad men
may not take advantage Of the circuln-
stances and make themselves rich by
raising the prices. II * also urged
that we should control tho consuinp-
ION OF many articles OF food. so tha'
there may be enough TO send TO other
nations. All these things are good for
us, curbinr our cxtravaGhnce ana tcach-
iGg us how TO hc economical. America
is rich in mineral and agricultural! SUP.
plies. but we have been too whStcini
in the past. and Il wasteful nation ~ N
danger Of coming TO poverty. w"
must learn how to control ourselves
in the use Of all things. and so TO be
strong and able TO do our part III the
worlds work
But seif-control must 20 further. II
has TO do with the mastery OF thought
and speech, with the Contro! OF Tempe
and passion, with the right US" OF 'li'.e'
and the use. and not abuse OF an .''
privileges and opportunities o. M
God has given us Intelligence SO ihat
W. can i,agc Alright and not he as
dumb creatures lie has ass gwen
rs religion that we may ask OF lil"'
wisdom and strength. Alone 80 are
sure to be slaves. not Only 10 strong,
people but to passion ana 'i'e ",''
Satan himself. With Cod AS our s"'u',
We can make all things se'Ne w. az,
20 be masters, and the more compete:
we master ourselves and tn" word 'he
,rucr children Of God ar" W.
sc,f-reycrcnce. scIf-kno"ledge. sell
control.
these ,hrcc alone lead life TO SOW
eregn power
rhc,e Is no contradiction between
..,f-r,.s,.ry and sclts:criiic" nc
latter is really the result OF the t"rnIt''
when I control myself. then am "o'e
20 serve Others.
no BI; SERVANT or All.
Is no FOLLOW CHRIST
TO H.. tho servant Of al u 10 '"'.'"
f,hrb, Who gave Himself for the ne
af i've world But cannot be a tru':
,ery,nt pron,ahle and homes, ana
f.i,hf,il. unless / have learned no" 70
master my passions my 'hooSh'S az"
my wortia. 4 man "h" "'ihNE 49,
never scrv. men well III any c"P'fI,'
\ man Who loses his temper" cannot DC
relied unon 10 hoip his ht"thc'S re
who is "A slave 10. cas-" or nouhh ~ w"
chains of any habit is not s"uEHt io'
when some responsible s"rEic" = !" Il"
rendered We fl ourselves Tor !Ne,
cndeavors by taking ourselves ~ hhh"
and bringing all things IN SnoJec''o''
by the grace oil Goo
rerhaps We hes, realize rhc ncces-
.i,v Of scIf-control hy noting those
Who do not nlastcr themselves. 0tt ar"
Tho plavthiugs ~ Circumstanc" ana
t,,npcr How miserable II mak"S W.
when we meet NAN who Ir"ws anSrF
and with rloudci face breaks "N III
unrcs;ra!ncd language, can n"ver
see or hear an angry person without
kind Of fear J, seems hN" nc be,
ginning Of madness. Of insanit!. ma
so. in fact II is. The rIind. the spirit.
does not hold the blood or III" tongue
IN check How We deapise the frrnh-
arc even while 80 try 10 help him.
IT is such It degrading thing for man
10 take into his mouth that which
he kroW.. wNl weaken bod" and mind
The frs: question an employer asks
Of one who seeks position IL. Arc
YOU n sober man"
How We shrink from a sossipin.
woman who talks constantly o. other
people and spreads all sorts OF mis"r-
able stories We hardly dare sr"ak
TO her les, she inisquote MS. and ind"ci
whether We speak not she if sure
TO micrcprcscnt US. Then thcr" Is N"
man who wastes his tin.--the id'"r
living on money he mas never eArncd.
tho bcGCsr with his pit"ous story. M.
tramp who claims tina, the world owes
him a living We have no regard for
such. Nor do We find pleasure IN the
presence OF = in2u who can never for
get his own imagined irnpo-i"n"H ana
boasts Of his wealth. his possessions
his popularity or his wisdom. And.
worse case OF AL. do we hnd tn" un-
believer who boasts OF his iu!de!itv.
scorn the Hible. laughs n churches and
denies tho laws Of morality as coming
from a righteous God. We turn away
quickly with a prayer that we may no:
be furnished by the speech OF this
enemy Of God. who is also an enemy
iof all true living.
REALIZE: Gi'U 0WS WEAKNESS
WHEN WE MEET SUCH PEOPLE
Yet wc realize cur own weakness
when we meet such people. 1t is not
in pride. nor yet in Indignation alone.
that We turn from them. hut with n
dread lest we also may lose se!f-c"n-
troll, and a prayer to God that He
would keep us by His grace. 'rher"
go 7. but for the grace of COD" cried
tho old English ChiiStian as nc saw
Z drunliard rc"ling on the street Let
no man dcspiSe thee" said Paul: and
Phillips BROOKS has sermon or tha,
y text which greatly impress"s me show
ing how n true man is startled alike
by unjust blame and fulso prais"
in the first caGc. he cries What fault