The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1926-08-13
SERMONETTE
BY r. Ashley Cake
THE SECRET OF A HAPPY

ll5.
Would you like to know the
sweetness
OF the secret OF our Lord?
Go and rest beneath His shadow
This shall then be your reward.
And whene'er you leave the pres
enee
OF this quiet meeting place,
You will surely bear the image
OF the Master in your face.
Hence
ITO the soul that is full of hope,
And whose beautiful trust ney-
er faileth,
The grass is green and the flow
ers are bright,
Tho the winter storm prevail
eth"
The new birth was fully consld-
cred in our first discourse as the
first step that leads to the Happy
life. It places us where we enjoy
new eompanionship. We live in
new heaven and a new earth,
where the mountains and hills
break forth into singing, the BEAU
tiful risings and settings of the
sun. the mountains standing in
their majesty, the hills and val
legs in their romantic beauty, the
ocean in it's grandeur, it IS when
born of God we see new beauties
and greater glories in them all.
We are now in the midst of the
beautiful summer. Soon we VIII
be viewing Autumnal glories, the
hills will be covered with the glo-
ry of falling leaves made beauti-
full in colors of crimson and gold.
These beauties of heaven and
earth. crowned with such glories,
are placed within the reach of all;
but alas how few see them, be-
cause they fail to take the second
step intimated by the poets, step
that is full of hope and trust
that never fails, the basis OF
which is development, enlarge
ment of the souls powers, growth
in the grace and knowledge OF our
Lord, vivifying and importation
of spiritual senses whereby chris
tianity becomes a factor of power
within us, and it's beauty and at
Effectiveness as seen in the image
of our Master, becomes through
it's radiancy, absolutely compell-
ing.
The presence OF sorrow in the
world is appalling to our sympa-
thetic natures. Jesus told us in
his philosophy of life that in the
world We should have sorrow. Sc
rious events in life are happening
somewhere every day, but because
of his having overcome the world
we should also be victors and
therefore we are to be of good
cheer
Why we must suffer in these
different ways | cannot tell, but |
do know one of the great secrets
of Happy Life is found in the
philosophy of doing all we can
and not worry about what we can
not do. Many a child of God who
fails in his efforts to do a good
work, will receive as great re-
ward as many who make a sue
cess; for Gods method of measur-
ing and rewarding is verify differ
ent from the worlds. The world
would give peace after the battle
and victory is gained, but the
Master gives us peace, encourage
ment and help, while the battle is
on and while we may be standing
where the fire and smoke are
thickest. Likewise He rewards
and measures us not by our sue
cess alone, but by our efforts to do
what we would love to do, though
in those efforts We fail.
THE purest joy
Most near to heaven, far from
earth's alloy,
Is bidding cloud give way to sun
and shine:
If on that day of days the Angels
tell
We did our best for one of thine"
Thus the events of life are so
arranged that they serve as STEP
ping stones to the higher life;
and life itself becomes both beau
tiful and holy. Being in the midst
of glorious summer We see the
impenetrable mysteries are ripen-
ing, blossoms have changed into
fruit, and ere long the ruddy Au-
tumn with it's Autumnal glOries,
orchards, vineyards, and ripened
harvests will all have been gath
cred. The work of the year will
have reached it's contamination,
and all of this, in face of stormy
winds that would blast and de-
stroy; likewise in face of all our
signs, tears, disappointments, loss
es, griefs, and heavy burdens we
weep with hope, for our sorrows
at the setting of the sun means
better and brighter future. God
has never sent a cloud but what
has it's silver lining, and not a
single event can occur which has
not attached to it an abundant
measure of hope that never fails
and cheer that is more than a
match for all the storms of life
that may assail us. We are not
ignoring the fact that these
storms of life assail us, but If we
maintain our communion with
God, without whose notice no