TRUST IN GOD, AND LABOR IN HIS CAUSE.
By A. S. Nason
The father cares for his children. He does not leave them upon life's stormy ocean to buffet with the waves alone, oh no! In the fiercest storm, when it seems that no helping hand is near, his eye is still over them for good. The worldling, who has no faith in the providence of God, may well tremble in the hour of trial and danger. He cannot look upward full of confidence and ask for divine aid. He has never learned the precious lesson of trust in Him whose power is omnipotent. We often hear it remarked by the gay devotee of the world, “I have but one life to live, and I mean to enjoy myself.” Deluded soul! God pity those who make the fatal mistake that in following the natural inclinations of the heart there is anything of true joy to be found. All around us are the sad wrecks of humanity, who, but for the love of pleasure, and selfish gratification, might have been useful members of society, loved and respected. But does that one deserve our pity who has rejected the path that leads up to immortal glory, and has chosen the way of the sinner? The man upon whom you look with such loathing, feeling that you must “pass by on the other side” for fear of contamination, was once, perhaps, as good and pure as yourself. In his innocent childhood, a loving mother watched him tenderly, and prayed that God would shield her boy from temptation. But death, perchance, called the mother away, and the poor boy was thrown upon the world when too young to resist the tide of evil, and so he fell. Oh, for more of that love which inspired the Son of God in his ministrations to the wretched and the afflicted! Even the man who lived among the tombs, a maniac through the power of Satan, was mercifully released from his terrible bondage, and restored to his right mind. No wonder that he wanted to be with Jesus after he had shown him such great mercy. Eighteen hundred years have rolled by since the loving Saviour dwelt among men, but his power is just the same, and his promises are sure unto them that believe. More love, more trust, is needed to warm the hearts of professed Christians, and lead them to go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in. Those who are most successful in reaching hearts, are those who have the most love and compassion for them. The man who has power to charm the ear with his wonderful oratory, but who has no heart to weep over sinners, will not convert souls. There is many a lone wanderer, hopeless and friendless, that you and I, perhaps, might cheer and comfort if we were only seeking to do the work of the Master. Shall we leave them to die, while we consider our own selfish ease? God forbid! but let us labor with our might, to rescue the perishing while we have opportunity. There is work for all, and none are so weak that they cannot do something in the vineyard of the Lord. “Ho! reapers of life's harvest,
Why stand with rusted blade,
Until the night draws round thee,
And day begins to fade?
Why stand ye idle, waiting
For reapers more to come?
The golden morn is passing,
Why sit ye idle, dumb?
Mount up the heights of wisdom
And lay each error low;
Keep back no words of knowledge
That human hearts should know.
Be faithful to thy mission
In service of thy Lord,
And then a golden chaplet
Shall be thy just reward.”