ENERGY OF SOUL

^[p. 517] ENERGY OF SOUL

It is not a question whether we can see that we are useful, but whether we omit nothing which we ought to do, and also that we are doing it in the very best manner. The sense of being right gives us courage - it is the breastplate of righteousness. Service ought not to be rendered unwittingly, yet it ought to be done as service and not as mere self-gratification.

I hope you are applying yourself with vigour to your duties; remember the king struck only three times instead of six or seven because he lacked energy. I do not desire to see you distinguished so much as to see in you a vigorous prosecution of every course proper for you to adopt. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might!” (Ecclesiastes 9: 10). If you encourage indolence it will be seen in everything, but if you accustom yourself to vigorous persevering action it will be evident in everything. The garden of the sluggard revealed his moral condition.

I have only one text to give you; you hear plenty of sermons. The text is, “Give attendance to reading” (1 Timothy 4: 13). I believe the reading of Scripture comforts, strengthens, enlightens and guides the soul. Now you have the text and the heads; you must make out the sermon for yourself.

The Lord bless you and keep you from evil!