Page:A semi-centenary discourse.djvu/14

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keen eye, attentive ear, comprehensive intellect, and sound judgment, attests the fact that in order to accomplish any purpose or attain any end, the individual man must go forward to insure success and grasp his desire. No aim in life can be successful without it. If in quest of wealth or position, science, literature, or anything else, earnest perseverance as well as strong, resolution, activity and energy, are necessary forces, and must be brought out for the struggle. Is the aim intellectual greatness, the command Go forward holds good; attention, assiduity, application, are elements necessary to crown the effort. In the life of each man the command is good; to him it is as essential as any law of his being. Old habits, if they are injurious in their tendency by corrupting the heart in any way, must be broken off, and a sound morality, virtuous and upright deportment, must mark the general character.

Particularly is this command good in the Christian man's life. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. Every professing Christian must grow in grace and in knowledge—knowledge of himself, of his God, of his obligations to the world around him, and as to matters of faith grow therein. Paul says—"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Viewing the principle plainly taught in this text as it bears upon the individual man, we must admit its importance and necessity, as it enters into every arrangement introduced for his government by Jehovah himself. He writes it in fairest lines drawn upon every effort to benefit the moral or the Christian world—progress,