WHEELBARROW CHRISTIANS.
By Religious Telescope
DURING an experience of twenty years I have found Christians not a few who resemble a wheelbarrow in their characteristics. I will name a few points of similarity:— 1. A wheelbarrow is so constructed that it has to be pushed if it renders any service whatever. If pulled, it goes backward, and that does not seem to be in accord with the fitness of things. So some people go only when they are pushed. The moment hands are off, they stop, and there they stand until the process is again applied. This is rather a clumsy, unnatural way of handling them; but I suppose it is better to push them along than5not have them go at all. 2. A wheelbarrow always empties itself when it turns over. Likewise, some people can not stumble and fall without losing all their religion. One step out of the way means for them to give up everything. The work must all be done over again. They have to be refilled. 3. When a wheelbarrow upsets, it lies perfectly helpless until somebody sets it up in position to be filled again. It is powerless in itself. So with some persons. They are not only easily upset, but they make no effort to get up when once down. They are too helpless to give a respectable kick. The church must get under them and lift them to their feet, or they will never get there. 4. A wheelbarrow, to be used, must have a clear track, otherwise it is ugly to manage. Yet if there are no obstructions in the way, and it is carefully balanced and vigorously pushed, it is rather a useful article after all. A good deal of valuable service may be gotten out of it. So it is with the class of Christians of which I speak. If the track is kept clear, and they are constantly pushed, they do first-rate. They can be used quite advantageously. Like the wheelbarrow, they have both capacity and strength when right side up. The main trouble is in holding them level and keeping them going.—Religious Telescope.