Keep Your Vessel Under the Fountain.
By E. S. Willard
HERE lies the secret. Keep the vessel under the fountain. If you want it run over full all the time, keep it under the fountain—pray without ceasing. Go set your bowl or pitcher under the trickling spout and go your way, and when you come round again there it is all running over full of pure water! Be thus wise in spiritual things. Keep the vessel under the fountain if you wish always to abound in the work of the Lord. Keep your vessel under the fountain if you wish to be ready for every good work. Keep your vessel under the fountain if you would be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. Keep your vessel under the fountain if you would comfort yourselves together, and edify one another. Keep your vessel under the fountain if you would know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Keep your vessel under the fountain if you would be at peace among yourselves. Keep your vessel under the fountain if you would be able to warn the unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, and be patient toward all men. Keep your vessel under the fountain if you would not render evil for evil, but ever follow that which is good both among yourselves and toward all men. Keep your vessel under the fountain if you would rejoice ever more, and in every thing give thanks. Keep your vessel under the fountain if you would abstain from every appearance of evil, and be sanctified wholly, soul, body, and spirit, to the coming of our Lord.—E. S. Willard.