PURSUIT OF PLEASURE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4329, 12 October 1921, Page 2

PURSUIT OF PLEASURE.

A VAIN QUEST.

HOME TRUTHS ON HAPPINESS.

PAEROA PULPIT DISCOURSE!.

A certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the King of Israel.

Taking the above as his text, the Rev. F. McDonald delivered a powerful and eloquent discourse in the Paeroa Presbyterian Church on Sunday evening. The meaning pf the text is that we oft-times secure greater prizes than w.e aim at, provided that our cause is a just and noble one.

Happiness, honour, “ life,’’ .the Minister said, did nqt come to those who directly and selfishly sought these things; but they came in all their plenitude, power, and splendour to those who gave true wprk and service to their fellow men. These principles applied not only to spiritual things, but to all things in life. The man who depended on “pulling the strings ” for promotion was generally disappointed. Ihe employer promoted the man who gave honest and loyal service, and value fpr money received. If a man resorted to “ pulling Jhe strings ” instead of giving of his best, then promotion would not come his way, Likewise, pleasure seldom came to the mere pleasure-rseeker; it was a tragic mistake to make pleasure the “be all” and “end all” of existence. A life of usefulness and service was the only sure guarantee of happiness and serenity pf mind.

A WILL-O’-THE-WISP. The picture of “Pleasure,” pursued by her devotees, afforded a good illustration : the devotees, chased her unceasingly, but never caught her. The most bored and miserable people on earth were those who were always seeking, pleasure; the wormwood, the canker, and the grief were theirs. The seeking of happiness! ended in boredom. The sage .of Chelsea, {Carlyle, in his “Sartor Resartus” [The Tailor Mended], said: "Love np.t happiness. Love God.” The souls of men and women who lived for themselves alone shrivelled and died; their inward vision failed. The measure of life was by l.oss —not by gain. "Love Christ I” was the exhortation of the Gospel. If one told the drunkard to live soberly, or the profligate to be chaste, it would be a waste of advice. But get such an one to love a holy life, and the indirect result would be that the old sins would become repugnant, and profligacy would give place to saintliness. Men and women who followed the Light had their trials and troubles, their sorrows and misfortunes, but they kept steadily onwsird, guided by that Christian beacon, and, despite toil and travail, happiness was theirs.