ves us ample time to do our work, and it is a sin to leave any of
it undone. God expects a man to choose some calling, and He also expects
that man to master that calling, and He expects him to do his utmost to
excel in that calling. No clergyman can spend four days out of a week in
some foreign work, and in the two remaining days thoroughly prepare
himself for the Sabbath work. For two reasons: One is, he disregards the
law of concentration, divides his mind and thoughts; hence, loses force
and influence. The other, that God does not approve of other than our
best effort.

This preacher will occupy one hour in preaching a twenty-five minute
discourse, and then complain because people are not interested in his
sermons. We do not justify Sabbath-breaking, nor a lack of religious
interest, but the preacher who is unwilling to take any responsibility
upon himself for such a state of things is lacking somewhere. We speak
of the clergyman simply as illustrative of our idea in this matter. The
same rule applies to the lawyer, physician, or merchant--the mechanic,
artist or laborer. If I was a day laborer building a stone wall I'd
study my work and push it so vigorously that I would soon be, if not the
best, at least one of the best workmen anywhere to be found. Strive to
be an authority. Wasted opportunity; there is the root of thousands of
failures.

A recent paper states that nine-tenths of our young lawyers fail from
lack of study. Here is a thought for the clergyman who thinks he should
have a better place. Of course there are circumstances to be considered,
but the man of determination bends circumstances to his will. A man
imagines himself capable of filling a higher place than he does. He
imagines himself a Webster, a Lincoln, a Garfield, a Spurgeon--'but
vainly waits for circumstances to favor his deserved promotion. Look at
Spurgeon; was he picked up bodily and placed in the pulpit he now
stands upon? No, but he was full of the Holy Ghost, and without thought
of what he deserved began preaching in the street. Was Talmage placed in
the Tabernacle because he was of real inferiority to other preachers.
No; but he was original, he borrowed from no one, he did his best, he
fits the notch in which he is placed. Did people get down on their knees
to Beecher, begging him to occupy Plymouth church? They recognized the
necessity of concentration; and, although you see them in other fields,
at times, still it was not until the