SERIOUS THOUGHTS.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 241, 29 January 1898, Page 6 (Supplement)

SERIOUS THOUGHTS.

ONE ADEQUATE SUPPORT. For the calamities of mortal life Exists—one only ; an assured belief That the procession of our fate, howe’er Sad or disturbed, is ordered by a Being Of infinite benevolence and jiower; Whose everlasting purposes embrace All accidents, converting them to good. The darts of anguish fix not where the seat Of suffering hath been thoroughly fortified By aequiesccuce iu tho Will supreme For time and for eternity ; by faith, Faith absolute iu God, including hope Aud the defence that lies in boundless love Of His perfections ; with habitual dread Of aught unworthily conceived, endured Impatiently, ill-done or left uu-done To the dishonour of His holy name. Soul of our souls and safeguard of the world ! Sustain, Thou only const the sick at heart; Restore their languid spirits and recall Their lost affections into Thee aud Thine. Wordsworth (F). A SOLID FOUNDATION A good tree, a strong tree, strikes its roofs deep down. Tho temple in Jerusalem was built upon a rock, aud it is said that the foundation was a* deep as the build* ing itself was high. It must be so with us if we would be established. We must work, but we must also pray, and the more work we have to do the more prayer wo must make. Wc roust think of this world, but wc must also think of the ne*xt. We must do what is right by men, but wo most also do what is right by God, When wo “ get on ” in this world, get riches, get more mercies, get more comforts, then we must get a deeper, deeper trust and hold on Jesus Christ. If we don’t do that, if wo don’t get in deeper with Jesus as wc get on more in the world, one day we shall be found adrift, for we have too shallow a grip, we have not been stablishod. Be stablishcd, settled on Jesus, for life and for death, once and for ever.—J. Reid Ho watt. EARS ON THE BIAS. Take heed . . how ye hear.—St. Luke 8. IS. A neighbour of mine took a leaky oil cau to the grocer’s for a family supply of oil. On the return home the quart of oil had become a pint, and the pint was fast oozing out as though it felt ashamed to stay in such a can. My brethren, some of you are leaking oil cans. You listen to the sermon, you enjoy the service, you leave the house of God full of “ high resolves and holy,” of “ purpose firm and true,” and you are going to live so nobly whatever else you do. Put the (ffcct is transient, and ere you reach home its influence has orzed out/* You are leaking cane. Do not blame the grocer for an empty oil can. Do not find fault with the preacher for a profitless sermon. Take heed how ye hear j In the great tragedy of Faust the roses flung by angel hands became hissing coals of fire as they touched the heads of the demons. The words cf life, sweet blooms from Sharon’s Rose, are shed upon you in vain if yon have not grace to hear. The sermon is much as you take it and much as you make it. Its words shall he as roses or coals, blessiug or cursing, as you heed or reject, as you hear aright or amiss. Take heed how ye hear. The sow'er who went forth to sow scattered his golden wealth on four kinds of soil, but only one proved profitable. The rocky soil, the thorny ground, and the wayside, arc in every congregation, but here goes another and still another handful of tho seed, and may the Lord of the harvest field help you to receive it, to cherish it and to bring forth fruit therefrom. Hear, I pray yon, and heed and analyse what you hear. The ore from the mines is smelted that the shg may be cast aside and the metal retained. Some of you make poor refiners, for you have learned in analysing your preacher’s sermons to eschew the good and to choo e the evil. You have a keen appreciation for the refuse and none for the metal. When you winnow, you do it to secure the chaff and then neglect the wheat. Mend your ways, I pray you. Poor hearing will make poor preaching, Take heed how ye Ik ar ! When the preacher preaches, take heed, lake heed, For 10, as you hear will depend indeed Tho effect of Ins labour pious. For in vain the preacher his best may preach, And in vain Iris efforts your heart to reach, When your ears are set on the bias. —Rev. Peter PecuPar.