SERIOUS THOUGHTS.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 318, 23 July 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

SERIOUS THOUGHTS.

SUCCESS IN FAILURE. It is reported that Napoleon said the English wore beaten, several times over, at Waterloo, but they would not allow it and so eventually wou the victory. It is a chiiraoteriotio of an Englishman not to know when he is beaten. Should it not be the same with those who call themselves Christians —soldiers of Christ. In the battle of life surely we have as much need of pluck, endurencc, determined oourago and persistence-in-not-being beaten, as at Waterloo. Here is a grand description of " One who never turned his back, but marched breastward, Never doubted clouds would break, Never dreamed, though right were worsted, wrong would triumph, Held we fall to rise, are baffled to light better, Sleep to wake !" It is not only in fighting against temptations aud against our besetting sinst'aut w(3 need courage, every oae who knows how again and again we must " resist the devil," struggle and right for victory against the evil in ourselves and around us. But just now let us think of the resolution needed to face failure in our endeavours to do good. " It may be hard to gain and still To keep a lowly, stedfast heart, Yet he who loses has to fill. A. harder and a truer part. Glorious it is to wear the crown Of a deserved and pure success; He who knows how to fail has won A crown whose lustre is not less." How apt we are t) say " Well, I've done my best and nothing has come of it?'? Who are you to judge of results. " Duties an) ours, results are God's.' 1 "For while the tired waves, vainly breaking) Seem here no painful inch to gain, For back, through creeks and inlets making. Comes silent,—floating in,—the Main." We have only to " hope for the best, in the charge of a stronger Hand "—of course this is very humbling to our self-love, and there fore very wholesome. Look at our Greit Example ! At tho time, to casual ob«ervcr3 what life seemed more of a failure, than that of Jesu«, the Son of God ? Despised, rejected, mocked and crucified leaviuir behind him twelve deciples, of whom one betrayed Him, tho rest forsook Him and fled." We should think that loving invitation " Gome unto me" from thoss gracious Lips would have been irririistible." But how few came ! If then our Lord's aud Master's life was at the time such an apparent failure, how can wo expect greater visible success ? Let ns remember, to our comfort, that we are judged by our aims, not by their results. "Not failure, but low aim, is crime " and with high resolves, lofty aspirations for helping our fellow-men doing good in our generation, oven if we are misunderstood, make mistakes and see no visible result, lot us go on, bravely "trusting though we cannot see" — When wo get to " the other side " wo may find that where we thought there was no harvest, the angels have gathered many sheaves for the store house of Hea - ven." "GOD LIKE 'TIS. ' To fail upon the incy-ledge and fallWhere other footsteps dare not!''