Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-11-19


Really Are--By Rev. w. 81. HI. Murray.
Now, l think, if re closely observe
oursolrer, the best OF us will ind a tend
encJ IN us 10 lapse into an amiabls rou.
tine OF piou, appearances. The frank
ness and candor in confession OF sin spd
OF unsatisfactory spiritual condition.
which, if piscticed, would 60 far to pre-
vent il altogether, are very seldom seen
or heard. There is q certain pressure
in religious circles TO make evsrybody
feel that he must call himself saint or
lose caste. Even young converts, before
examining committees, labor under tAs
impression that they are TO answer
Yes to every question touching spirit
ual development, no matter sow unre~.
sonabls is the supposition upon which It
is based. have heard questions pro.
pounded to converts of four weeks stand.
ing TO which few professors of ten year
experience could ailirmative!y respond,
and yet under the pressure of this same
sentiment, promptly answered. A word
or two upon this point. Now, there are
soma experiences which come to one NJ
conversion, and others come only through
The process OF sanctihcation ;.and no pas
tor or committee hasa rig sht To put n
question which shall lorce the candidate,
in order to avoid embarrassment, TO de.
clare that grain OF mustard.sesJ, ,
which is the smallest of all seeds is =
mighty Lrse, so strong, 30 vast, 80 per-
fectly developed that the birds OF heaven
come and make it their home If there
Is one thing which We need 10 guard our
young people against. it is false stand
ard OF spiritual development, and tho ex-
agerstion Of personal sttainments .u
plsly. have no sympathy with \ lor'-
ing process IN rel crencs TO Ionu., proic5-
-ors suy more than in reference 70 you1t
horses. 1 msu may as,o', before = c,u.
mulec taat l9 tees 80 aGd -, mas sGci
and such views, which views aad Iec.
iuss CA. only come through = .on. Iap'.
OF wears in Car.s,iaa failure ana yicIoi5
ana a.! tne val.e he is eIageratrns BE-
.yu.ua, attainment There age lcellus
and experiences winch young girl I
seveutsru.cau have; and ,ueie AGo otIe
winch uoue but ne mother. .u .sra-.
~4o a..ye lived and suffered usuy wca.
years, c4u have; and tA.s should 30 rt.
understood. IL IS un>esmIy Tor tb'
rsusn ald unfinished BLOCK, ou. iusy ii.
ell from the quarry pit, TO compare iis'.
with the statue which tie patient chlse.
ing Ut many. months has dressed into per
lcoi symmetry; and We all know no"
rough The nature OF MANS at the hr.i
and how slowly it grows into tho periec
stature of Christ, under the gracious Sp
pication OF Gods grace. The age u
which we live is y marked ono in refer
ence to what il processes. What 1t nee"
is a demonstration that its virtue !. equ''
to its profession. No one has right &
be better than no is. To assume 10y ton
or looks, in prayer or exhortllion, ai
anxiety Tor souls which you do not ieeI
piety which you do not at heart have
, is worse than bearing false wIlns'
against your nsighbor; it is bearing iAIH
witness against your own soul ~
against Christ himself ! search in ysi
for words with which to lift and SWIM
the weight of my detestation, and brine
it down upon the head of cant and pIou
seeming. What we need at this time
The church is 4 broad chested, open
handed, frauk-fsccd piety, unaa'umin
honest, ready to confess its tailings an
to remedy them. And the beat rule th''
all of us, young or old, can adopt is this
IL will be as good seem. and | vii
seem TO be no better than | am" Sue
sentiment, lived up TO, would carry u
higher up the plane OF godlines' tha
one might at first think.