The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1959-05-28

visions. They do not stop to
realize that more strife, jealousy
and sin rage i'll society SO called,
than anywhere else. We might
compare this world to a rock at
sea, on which eager to escape
the jaws of death, more drowin-
ing men seek standing room than
it offers; and when they whose
gain has been others loss, when
the few that have risen on the
shoulders of the many that sink,
have possessed themselves in
wealth, or power, or pleasure, of
the objects of their ambition,
they have only reached a bare,
black, unsheltered rock, on which
at some future day, giant wave
rises roaring to sweep them from
their slippery footing. Let no
man be deceived, even this world
is not to be gotten without fight
ing; and compared with the good
fight of faith, though its reward
be golden crown, presents a
scene of no more real dignity
than nursery quarrel--children
fighting for some guided toy ---
streets where a few ragged boys
roll over each other for few
copper coins. | admit that it has
pleasures, but its sweet enjoy
ments perish in the using. I
admit that it has roses; but oh,
the countless thousand of thorns
that are found there, and the
hand that plucks these roses
must bleed. Nor are any of these
to be obtained without a struggle.
The few prizes which this world
offers are not be won without
much toll and hard labor. To
have your picture on the front
page of the Who's Who REQUIRES
sacrifice. This worlds pearls are
not to be picked up among the
pebbles of the shore: he who
would possess, must seek them
in a sea whore sharks are swim
ming and storms rage. Indeed
7 dare say that, so far as the
followers of the world beino
exempt from toll and hardship.
ii would not take a man half the
care, and time, and trouble. to
get to heaven, which it takes
any man to get rich and MANY
a man TO get to hell. The quest
ing therefore, is not whether we
shall FIGHT. for a battle is before
lis no matter which side we take:
but the question foremost in orr
mind. on what side shall | fipht9
On the side of Jesus. whose
award is life. or on that of sin.
whose wages is death?
Now realizing that the Chris
tian life is a fight let us trv
and enumerate few of the
enemies. and there are many.
which every Christian has to
fipht against.
He has to FIGHT against the
world. Jesus tells us, "Tt hated
me. before it hated vou" It had
no crown for Him but crown
of thorns; it found no wav to
ev7lt HIM but on q bloody cross.
When He came to earth to dwell
with us and the angels announced
His comnp with shouts of .Tny.
It refused Him NIGHTS LODGING.
THE foxes have holes. and the
BIRDS of the air have their nests.
hnt the Son Of Mon hath No
where to Law His head " "The
Servant is no better than his
MASTER | feel friends that il
we are going to be true to Cod
and reject the world we will &c
along less smoothly along the
path of life Jesus said, "woe
unto you when All men shall
speak we'll of YOU" 1t is nice tc
be called a GOOD fellow. a goof
SPORT, but the nay in the enc
IS poor. Not less true, thar
Shrewd, was the remark of ;
Scotch woman, respecting on,
who had inst settled in the min
iStrv, and had been horne 10 hi,
oulpit amid the plaudS Of All tht
neople,-"if he is faithful ser
| want Of the lord ,Tesus Christ
he will have all the black Guard,
in the parish on his head before
a month IS gone"
/ am not saying that thu
world is alwavs wrong in it,
| iudgment or that it is alwav,
| right TO 20 AGAINST its customs
! Alas! the children Of this worlt
are sometimes wiser in their gen
Grafton than the children O
| lirht" But as d living fish il
often found cleaving its wa,
against the stream. and that fish
is certainly dead that floats OF
the top, is always moving will
it, so we MIGHT make compar
ison to the Christian by savint
he is no living Christian whom
. YOU ever find walking ACCORDING
to the course of this world. The,
who wear Il crown in HEAVIER
must don the Christian uniform
| shoulder the cross of Christ
carry always the sword of tn,
, spirit for a defense and FIGHT tn,
good fight of faith without film
ching every day of their lives
. Paul saws, BE no conformed II
this world; but be we Transformed
hv the renewing of your mind.
) This is not an easy job. We neet
but look about us to see tn,
, multitude of Christians followinI
with the great procession to d'
evil; yielding to the customs o
the world, fearful of bein'
/ laughed at and called an ok
fogy; then would rather fail il
their duties as good soldier o
the cross than to offend som,
, friend. My good people, if you
friends laugh you to scorn be
cause YOU have become a follow
/ or of Christ theN arn not nunrthN