him out. At last we were compelled to engage him in a short, sharp battle that resulted in victory for us. In the meantime we paid no attention to the mites and lice that infested the henhouse. May it not be that this will illustrate what sometimes happens in men's lives. We would shudder at the thought of harboring any great repulsive sin, when we neglect the swarm of little things that destroys in our lives that which is fragrant and pure and sweet and clean. Now we do not call attention to these unpleasant things merely for the sake of calling attention to them, but in the hope that we may be able to get rid of them. The first step in the right direction is to recognize that we have faults, not merely in general terms, but specific flies that spoil our lives. It may be helpful in locating some of these to remember that public opinion is quite apt to be right in its conclusions about us. It is, of course, liable to mistake and may misjudge us, but if we find out that people have an idea that we have a flat spot somewhere it is certainly worth while to see if it is so. It will not make the matter any better for us to refuse to look ourselves over. If these thoughts only call attention to the faults of others then our time this morning has been far worse than wasted. "Let each one of us not think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but think soberly, according as God has given to each the measure of faith." As Sabbath-keeping disciples of Jesus Christ we make for ourselves a high ideal, so that little inconsistencies (?) of Sabbath-keeping, little "mole-hills" of selfishness, become mountains in the eyes of others and to us stepping-stones away from a spiritual life. And you who condemn the Sabbath-breaker and the selfish oneyou look out for your "flat spot." "If thy right hand cause thee to stumble, pluck it off; if thy right eye cause thee to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from thee." These are not idle words. They mean cut off and pluck out and cast from thee. Shall I finish the sentence, "for it is better to enter into life maimed than having two eyes or two hands to be cast into hell." Many of these hateful flies that poison our lives are intrenched in habit. Practically the only way to break up some habits is by the formation of other ones. Good resolutions are all right but good habits are better. Good habits. make the doing of good easy. Bad habits can not be frightened away as you would a skylark; but they stay by like little English sparrows. We will find that the little things that come in to spoil the fragrance of our Christian lives. will require heroic treatment. You will not easily forget the text. Do not apply it to any but yourselves. Let us not grieve the Saviour by the little progress we make toward him. Let us also remember that we must not try in our own strength to sweeten the fragrance of our lives. The Saviour wants us all to be pure and sweet and clean as well as strong and brave and noble, and he has promised to help us in our efforts. |