RELIGIOUS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1260, 23 April 1896, Page 42

RELIGIOUS.

t; : < \ ,;V s; , n ' ;; o-rnnv i<-;. O J ‘ i -i j'l 5 it ft <J * i : iIS» THE FIELD A ITI> ' ! ' AX. •• Lift up y i.ir eyes, and " ’ a Uio Said a Timr-j i; -icicns an 1 i A'uct-ivo <>*- seiiiol-ane > by / .on» wheat 1A 1 * d a man. Tho field c i i : noli u ;in toy a •oil loss#n to which wo :ti i.r profit ibly g.v xoo'J. Ifirst, the soil is full of durnnuk yo.tsi; bilit ics. Under ngnt c )u tition d • 'HI ’* icv* an abundant crop, but the cm-. :i >r» are imperative, an l wo must accord withy, em, or the crop will never iu tfu.’/pe. J-t you allow the field to do as it wiij, u nos’ it» disciplined and cultivate 1, mil vs ».* thing is given to it and s uncti ng'.uv 2 away from it, it will bo valueless to idle end of time. Left simply to Itself, yoi vill lind if in the autumn just what it w»- r tie spring - . 'l ids is strictly true of a nun ah : * too, i., full of possibilities, and they ro al d amaut. Give him the right environmo"' f, iji.i '.hi j him a noble impulse and a m-i in.-viration, give him the training *»nwilt suppress certain tendencies and. suit* sfiiuito others, the education which will enable him to seo his lost self, the vary eight of which will render him ambirtous to n aeh it, and you will pro hme a manhood which will render him little lower than tho nngels. On tho other hand, i it him lie fallow, or let him follow the 1 ■•cl of hi 3 ioi;.n! ;cs and capricc.3, his appetites and ( i . .. i ..•••, and in middle life you v.uli have a i .i in, wasted years and no achievement- j v. ini:-' tho notice "of either earth or a. - .. j i i: perfectly natural for Ji-> field to | grow -..cods. It would seem i t prefers i; to grain, and, though this fact is j • every tiller of tho soil must face L. , -cds require less nourishment than | ram. and they need no care and ideation. . < g. , .. t tho field alone and tho weeds will ■ L. aa i m abundantly. i. ;; equally curious that ovil habits u J ->d no r, . i-.-ation. They appear to come by ! id, . if .• puntaneous generation, it t, man I i t s himself alone, to go where the v t impulse may load him, lie very : basilic road to heaven, but, on hand, is apt to sink even in his ~., catiun. Idoral weeds flourish with v. .y :b. : n sunshine and multiply thotn- .. A. - .vj; ii surprising rajiidity. . , second place, the field must be 1.1 . d, harrowed and sowed with seed. ‘i. vo forces —very productive forces —- v i Urn.sod which can find their way to j i • ci ihco only after tiie plough lias torn lie . , .•.-piece-;. I b seems a ruthless kind ... [o do, to run that ploughshare b . ; * 1 j > into the soil, ami while it is b. - ■.• d> no the soil may groan With pain ,e A a ior why such implacable intrusion : b a li : thought neces.stiy. Hut we, who A.-. . i.iiit; information on the subject, ....- •.imt Hie plough isllrjnr.'il’s bestfriend : a 11 as the best lYmud of tho farmer. >. most valuable and the ricln-st elements . A a -oil are down where only the plougli- . ; can reach them. ! t does roae-ii them, a", 'it .suite of the apparent roughness, it . ring a blessing to the field, for “ Xo A s h, no erojif' is the motto of oj. Is ■•!' cliaraelcrii.ro decjxl-.wu iu the :,'-y can never 1> ■ brotiglif to (lie so : ire and can new r obtain vnliv.l of 11. , mag' : life to:! il (bid's plough is driven j a-- ;i i tins share will go. v.A'n tiie j A, a : have been hr tight up v.’horc the j soil and d■:vv can reach them, tf.o J <;., - : , ei i'-n.-e ii ail he be*-:-mr-.s nsi.-" of In.-: m ill,; a <iesliny a ml ■ ■!' i'.c- a* -1 v-.-ne-n' v A. il aiv possible, 1 lien Ireal . ..isit u:i! j lie pi - bed lip Ml older tit;* i h<- . < '• '• USi; ', fi.l'i:: .- .neti.iil;,; Worthy • i oißi - ii, ! van | pre 1 v ill the U'.,ivan.. mi : 'l As if wo j Lev is not to be d-an' .1 : tr.c ; 1.1 or Loo man any more than in tue case i Of tho field. G ■... *; p’i tiigh hasa clo*'.: re.h; tiou f-a’pint- j u;d e;.:celience. Tho neblvst a .'.Us tirit l walk tho earth have suii'ered. Gigg.tness j caiiioi bn attain.'d without trial and! usi":"Y, any more ti.aii vvneat will , (.iw; in an uuplougUcd field, 'i’hcro is! more n /.Vi.r for good iu a 1 iA- of hard work | t in :> life of luxury, and tlicro is more j of i; i'.c j :gher kind or happiuc:*.! in tho years ' vsii'h ." . rudely tossed us about 1 h it wc are ; i..:ni!>.died to cry to heaven for lu/tp than j in if:.’ years when we had all we desired , : As ' itLlied with the earth. a Am carefully tilled soil l hat is i . 1 , ;th rich grain, and it is the tli. - ;- .i ./;..ml that produces a true uiuniiood w, ariliood. Tiie inexorable law is ? 1 . .. cr own way siml! prove itself tho | ..v.y, and that G ;..Vs way, which is ! , a... . ; a.; plentifully aminkled with dw-

appointments, is after all and in the long ' run the best way. j True religion, therefore, consists in

j recognising these facts and in seeing the purpose which God has in forcing upon you ! a varied experience. Tho Christ spirit is a i spirit of resignation and cheerful submission jto the higher and the wiser will. It is a i hard lesson to learn, but heaven is ahead of us, and when we get there we shall be glad to havo learned it.