The Danger of Procrastination
By Jos. Clarke
PROCRASTINATION is always dangerous when moral duties are enforced. If worldly matters take the precedence of spiritual things in our minds, it is an alarming symptom of decay. Self-examination should be conducted without mercy or leniency; but the examination of the character of others should be deferred until we are sure of duty in the matter. If there were no self-denials, no crosses to bear, there would be no tests of love to God, and we could not be sure of the genuineness and purity of our motives. We should not be anxious for higher and more responsible positions, but improve the present opportunities of doing good; and thank God our lot is no harder, and that our burdens are so light. Instead of imagining our burdens heavy, and our trials unusually afflictive, we should make light of ours, and go to sympathizing with those in deeper trial than ourselves. We should consider reproofs needful and pleasant, and flattery useless, unpleasant and unprofitable. Many feel too much responsibility for others; but others feel it far too little. If we would love to work for God, we should always give God's work the preference. If we do our own work before we do God's work, we shall soon deem the work of God distasteful and unpleasant. Reprovers are usually looked upon with dislike; this is because darkness is more esteemed than light; because evil is more esteemed than good.