Beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit; perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Cor. 7: I. The glory of our life below Comes not from what we do, or what we know, But dwells forevermore in what we are. -Rev. Henry J. Van Dyke. We are of far too infinite an essence To rest contented with the lies of time. -James Russell Lowell. HE noblest manhood is formed in godliness; godliness is God likeness. It is unlikeness to God which banishes us from God's presence. Religion is the binding of the soul to God; irreligion is irrational. Religion is the highest possible reason. Ungodliness is also unmanliness. Many people have the idea that to be manly is to be ungodly, that to be religious is to be effeminate. Never was there a greater mistake. As we become like Jesus Christ we become noble in manhood, purified in heart, and exalted in character. Jesus Christ was the perfect man of the human race, and the race becomes ennobled as it grows like Jesus Christ. All that is beautiful in womanhood and noble in manhood was in Jesus Christ. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto. I will set no base thing before mine eyes. Amen. Ps. 101: 2, 3. 6-17 CHRISTIAN LIVING-NATURE'S TEACHERS 169 Seek Him that maketh the Pleiades and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night; (Jehovah is His name.) Amos 5: 8. Men look to God for some mysterious sign, Come watch with me the shaft of fire that glows The fading Alps, the archipelagoes, The great cloud continents of sunset seas. -Thomas Bailey Aldrich. LL God's revelations are intended to lead up to spiritual apprehensions of himself. All forms of inanimate creation proclaim God. All over the universe he has written himself in the glory of his power, in the greatness of his wisdom, and in the infiniteness of his love. This truth the Apostle Paul reminds us even thoughtful heathen could understand and appreciate. The undevout student of Nature is an inaccurate student of Nature. The genuine naturalist is he who studies natural law and phenomena in the light of revealed truth and Christian interpretation. The man who puts himself outside of the light of God in the face of Jesus Christ is undeserving the title rationalist. He is irrational in his thinking and must inevitably be illogical in his conclusions. All Thy works shall give thanks unto Thee, O Jehovah, and Thy saints shall bless Thee. They shall speak of the glory of Thy kingdom, and talk of Thy power. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and Thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. Amen. Ps. 145: 10, 11, 13. See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all. 1 Thes. 5: 15. Love thyself last, cherish those hearts that hate thee, Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace To silence envious tongues. Be just and fear not. -William Shakespeare. W E are to bring our religion into our business, glorifying God in the performance of daily duty. He is a contemptible coward who claims to be a Christian and runs away from the world in the selfish task of saving his own soul. The Apostle Paul teaches us that if a man will not work he ought to starve. We ought not to speak as if business, when honestly conducted, is opposed to religion. In their place, the desk and the counter may be as sacred as the pulpit and the communion table. We must exalt the standard of business honesty to the highest level. Dishonesty in business must be unsparingly condemned. Then it will be seen that it is possible to be earnest in spirit and, at the same time, continue serving God. Thus it will be seen that God is honored in our daily employments, while they are ennobled, exalted, and divinized by God's presence. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea the work of our hands establish Thou it. Ps. 90: 17. Let my prayer be set forth as incense before Thee; the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Amen. Ps. 141: 2. New York, February 15, 1909. Mr. Carnegie says he will be delighted to have you make any use you choose of an extract from his works. Davis & Eickemeyer. Copyright, 1905 ANDREW Ctruly yours, "IF you will read the list of the Immortal who are not l die' you will find that most of them been 1 precious heritage of poverty:eteam duces the virtues which enable our race to reach civilization. It is because I know how sweet and P Secretary. the home of poverty is, free from perplexing care. envies and emulations, that I sympathize with the res and congratulate the poor man's boy. self-reliant men have always sprung. "It is from the ranks of the poor so many str no line of business in which success is not attainable fastidious; take what the gods offer."-From College Le See that none render unto any one evil for evil, but always 1% after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all. I Thes. 5: 15. A S If last, cherish those here to bring our religion into our business, glorifyd in the performance of daily duty. He is a ward who claims to be a Christian and runs world in the selfish task of saving his own Paul teaches us that if a man will not tervere gught not to speak as if busiIs conducted, is opposed to religion. In fliw ed over sinones and the counter may be as sacred as afrow Aid mort Joer communion table. We must exalt the barest to the highest level. Dishonst be unsparingly condemned. Then it nossible to be earnest in spirit and, 1920. Continue serving God. Thus it will be pred amsby vishayed in our daily employments, while xilted, and divinized by God's presence. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea the work of our hands establish Thou it. be set forth as incense before hands as the evening sacrifice. Ps. 90: 17. Let my prayer Thee; the lifting up of my Amen. Ps. 141: 2. |