Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-10-25

and the other that he wished to 50
home and bid his family farewell. u
10th cases 1t was a circumstances ID
life that forbade the acceptance Of the
invitation. As circumstance often leads
to disaster It Is suggested that there
IL some element In the circumstance
itself, or In some personality back Of
the circumstances, that makes It Al
enemy Of the person. In both Of these
cases the circumstances were against
the best interests Of tina persons n.
volved, and suggest malevolence which
Is always demons Characteristic. IN
contrast with this malevolence we note
the gracious and loving manner Of tho
Master towards the recipient Of His
invitation.
Satan probably used the best weapon
at hand. Az we not only have these
two cases, but also the excuses offered
in Luke IA, we may with fairness come
to the conclusion that Satan uses cir.
cumstances very frequently and with
great success to prevent the accept
ance Of the gospel invitation
The difficulty Of most persons when
considering the gospel invitation -
their failure to properly value the bet
ter things. One Of the reasons why
such invitations are not accepted -
that the blessings connected with them
are of the future. and are moral and
spiritual rather than material. II -
not difficult to show reasonable people
that the blessings of the Christian re-
ligion are of infinitely more value than
the blessings promised by indulgence In
sin. But with the people Of the world
"a bird in the hand Is worth two In the
! bush."
The matter of circumstance dom
mates most persons. When asked the
reason why one fails In the perform
| ance of anything, the answer ID often
preventing circumstance: Il was
handicapped because my parents did
not give me good education" Il was
not properly supported; Those with
whom was working were incompetent
and Indifferent"
That the chief end OF man Ii the
pursuit of happiness. Is to be COM
mended, but the commentator Il quail
fled by q consideration of the source
Of happiness. To have good health, to
have convenient and luxurious h0mes
to have money to satisfy every demand
for travel, dress or amusement, to be
popular with all classes Of people
/ means happiness to most men. The de.
mon. circumstance, or the devil. who Il
behind the circumstances, succeeds II
making this Interpretation Of happiness
almost universal. but though successful
In keeping his victim under his control
he cannot produce the merry heart
cover the face with smiles or give the
satisfaction and peace that belong Il
the inner being. The brightness ant
sunshine Of life come from within, mol
from the things that are without. Thu
merriest heart belongs oftentimes t.
the person who seems to lack all the
favorable circumstances Of life.
The saddest thing about circum
stance is that It has power to keer
! men and women from accepting thu
gospel invitation The pleas In favol
Of accepting Jesus Christ as Savior
are often fully acknowledged. the hear
Il looking in the right direction. bu'
when the act Of rising to follow Jesu,
Christ Is proposed the circumstance d
family duties, or social obligations. o.
4 dozen other circumstances. prevent
the acceptance Of the invitation.