THE ART OF STOPPING by T. E. Bowen

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 17, 1900

THE ART OF STOPPING.

By T. E. Bowen

T. E. BOWEN.

To know just where and when to stop is a very fine point in Christian living. Sometimes it takes more grace to stop than it did to begin. A good sermon is started, but spoiled in the stopping process. A good article for publication is started, but the writer did n’t know when to stop.

The exhaust puff in the steam pipe is but the spent force of that power that drove the cylinder of the engine to the other end; and before the puff is heard, the sweep in power has sent it on its way back again. It stopped in just the right place to get power for the return. But the power is not in the exhaust puff. Exhausting subjects is usually very hard work for the exhauster, and is liable to exhaust the hearers’ forbearance; while the force of power has been misapplied, and so largely lost.

To know what to say, to say it, and then stop, is an art few learn; but those who do learn it, have power.

The Lord came to a point where his work for chosen Israel was done, and he could not be induced to utter another word. He knew where to stop.