CREATURE COMFORT

     "Creatures no more divide my choice,

     I bid them all depart;

     His name, His love

     His gracious voice,

     Have fixed my roving heart."

     The more we find consolation in earthly things the less we will feel the need of seeking it from above. The sooner we get weaned from human joys, the sooner we will find the joy that has no reaction.

     Just to the extent that we let creature comfort satisfy, to that extent will the Creator add bitter to the sweet.

That Wonderful Baby

     Yes, it is the sweetest, prettiest, smartest and most promising specimen of humanity in town. This is generally the case, especially with the first-born. And this God-given affection is not to be despised, for without it the little darling would be neglected, suffer and die. Be it known then that we are not advocating stoicism, or the crushing out of natural affection, but we want to notice a few ways in which these little flowers may become hindrances, especially to young preachers.

     1. IN PRAYER. -- It is so easy upon waking to fondle and love the little one until the time and desire for communion with God have gone. Oh, the valuable article that should have been written, or the glorious revelation of some Scripture that was missed, for a few prolonged caresses.

     God is jealous for our first and freshest love, and the more we permit something else to usurp its place, the more He will be compelled to mix bitterness and disappointment with our substitute. The more consolation we seek from above, the less will we need from below. Should earthly joys and blessings be ours then God has a double claim upon us, and our adoration and self-sacrifice must likewise increase, lest these very things become curses.

     2. IN PASTORAL VISITING. -- There is no better way to make one more sympathetic and forget his own little troubles; there is no better way to break down prejudice and build up a congregation; there is no better way to get new, practical matter for a sermon, than by pastoral visiting. Satan knows all this and is pleased if he can get a man (or woman) to be so taken up with the cares or pleasures of the home that the work of God will have second, rather than first, place. Doubtless more than one circuit has suffered or, to say the least, has not grown as it should, simply because excuses were made to stay at home when, with a little effort, soul-refreshing calls could have been made.

     3. IN STUDY. -- Conference has convened, the report has been read, with more or less excuses interspersed for lack of success. The next question: "Have all the conference studies been brought up?" Then there follows a prolonged effort to explain: "My eyes," "my nerves," "sickness in the home " "had to work for a support," etc., etc. True, sometimes some of these things are great impediments, but where there is a will there will be a way, or we will make one.

     If there were only a little more system, or where system is broken into by the irregularities of baby life, there could be progress made if more tact and determination were employed. For instance, look ahead and devour a page or a chapter while baby is asleep or being held by a visiting neighbor. Or, have the good wife or some good reader read aloud while the resolute man keeps time with the washing machine or something else. To this, Brother Failure is ready to smile or criticize, but let us remark that if the early pioneer preachers and some since their day have succeeded against great odds, why cannot others do so who have as good or better advantages? Adam Clarke when a schoolboy was known as "the blockhead," but he persevered until something cracked loose in his head and then he left everyone out of sight. He mastered Greek and wrote most of his noted commentaries while traveling circuits, on horseback. "Nothing succeeds like success."