Blighted Soul Blossoms

As there are numberless hidden sources in our bodies which greatly assist in the perpetuation of the natural life, so there are in the spiritual life. There are many inward laws and conditions which must have a special care and attention if we would retain spiritual life and be fruitful.

It is said of fruit trees, that of all the thousands of blossoms which decorate their boughs in springtime, there are only about one-third that abide and bear fruit; the others are blighted by the various changes of the weather and fall to the ground. Where this is true in the natural world, it is also equally true in the spiritual world.

Now we who are Christians are quite familiar with the mild, soft, gentle, prompting of the Spirit, deep down in the soul. I do not mean that rude, griping, shocking of conscience that we feel when disobedient. Neither do I mean that strong, resist-less impression which we sometimes feel calling us to certain lines of duty. But I mean that mild, faint, soft conviction that we feel over certain things and on certain lines, and at certain times even when we are greatly blessed. That, which fills the soul with a sense of carefulness, keenness, watchfulness, soberness, etc. These touches and checks of the Spirit are often so faint that they do not leave behind them any condemnation or special conviction. However, we feel them and readily recognize them to be from the Spirit of God.

Now for our special edification I have given these mild checks and faint impressions, the name "Soul Blossoms;" hence to stifle, blight, quench, or check them means that we become unfruitful. There are hundreds of pigmy Christians in the land to-day who would, no doubt, be giants for God if they would refrain from blighting these "Soul Blossoms" and begin to implicitly obey the Holy Spirit.

I now offer a few suggestions on how to preserve the life of the "Soul Blossoms."

First, be careful to avoid quenching and smothering that mild, gentle call and inward drawing to deeper reverence for God and holy things. It is appalling to see the lack of reverence, awe, and respect manifested among many of God's children these days. It is sometimes done in the light and flippant way they sing religious songs. It is also seen in the loose, careless way they use the name of the Deity; again it is manifested in their light, careless behavior in the house of worship. But if these careless and thoughtless Christians would acknowledge the whole truth, they would say that they felt a soft, mild, tender, check within while engaged in this sacrilegious conduct.

A second way of preserving the "Soul Blossoms" is to carefully guard against quenching and stifling that high-class conviction and inward yearning for deeper piety, more advanced light, and the whole image of God. If the hearts of all Christians were visible to our gaze, we no doubt would see hundreds in our own community who have the same convictions and holy aspirations that heaved in the breast of Saint Paul, John Wesley, and the sainted John Fletcher. But as there is no one to draw them out and urge them on to Beulah's heights, they choke out these holy blossoms and high-class appetites and settle down to the ordinary plane of Christian living.

A third way to preserve the "Soul Blossoms" is to give strict attention to the soft, gentle call to deeper devotion. It is remarkable how faithful the blessed Holy Spirit is in reminding us of the secret prayer hour, the special day of prayer and fasting, and the "new light" shown upon us from day to day. Besides, He at the same time kindles an all-consuming desire in our souls for closer and deeper communion with God. Hence, if these faint drawings are yielded to, the soul will be led on to greater heights and depths in God; but if they are smothered and choked out, the soul will gradually dry up and become sickly and unfruitful.

A fourth way of preserving these tender "Soul Blossoms" is to carefully avoid ignoring and quenching that faint inward drawing to a greater respect for the Lord's day, i. e., the Sabbath. It is a lamentable fact, and a very true one, that the Sabbath in our country has lost its sacredness, and men and women have lost their respect for it. Even people professing to be Christians profane the day of the Lord by railroad traveling, buying, selling, bathing, shaving, writing letters, sending telegrams, and many other things that are not right in the sight of God. Notwithstanding this being a fact, if these very people would acknowledge the whole truth, they would confess that they had received an inward inkling that these things were wrong.

A fifth way of preserving these "Soul Blossoms" is to avoid drowning that soft, faint check that makes one feel unpleasant, uneasy and peculiar when talking too much or spending too much time in company with sinners and non-spiritual church members.

The next way of preserving these tender "Soul Blossoms" is to quickly yield to that soft inward voice which constantly reminds us to gauge and temper our words, so that we never speak harshly, or ever exaggerate, or utter an unkind word. I admit Christian people do sometimes speak short and quick; notwithstanding that being a fact, they always have to ignore and silence that inward check to do so.

A seventh way of preserving these "Soul Blossoms" is to quickly heed the soft check and faint voice reminding you to not "speak evil of a living soul upon earth;" but "say nothing but good of the dead nor the absent."

The next way to preserve these blossoms is to heed promptly that faint inward dictation and reproof regarding what you are to wear as a child of God and an heir of heaven. You may sometimes rush heedlessly by these checks and put on jewelry or some needless adornment, but if you would give ear to that faint, inward soul cry, you would lay them aside and be a plain pilgrim all the way to the judgment. 

Now remember, I am not trying to compel you to do this, or do that. I am simply reminding you of something which the Holy Spirit has told you about long ago. Wesley says, "All of these things God writes upon truly awakened hearts."

The next and last way to preserve the "Soul Blossoms," that I take time and space to mention here, is, be careful to heed the faint, inward prompter to punctuality and truthfulness. It gives one inward pain to see how slack and slothful some professed Christians are in keeping their word, paying bills, and meeting their engagements, etc. Even some evangelists will make an appointment to be at a certain convention, revival or camp-meeting, and with the most trivial excuse will fail to come, and thus disappoint hundreds of people. I am sure if these dear ones would carefully and strictly obey the soft, faint prompter within, they would never do such a thing unless it be in a case of extreme necessity.

O, brother! sister! let us give special attention to nourishing and cultivating the "Soul Blossoms," that we may bring forth "much fruit" to the glory of God. Amen.