The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-05-27
Examiner and Chronicle.1
The Mans Moral Tone.


THE moral tone of that man is not
what it should be. He processes to be
a Christian, and is a member of the
church ip-, but he does and says
things which it is hard to reconcile
with high-toned moral sense. The
consequence is that few persons trust
in his word, and many say that he is
not squarely honest in his dealings
with men,
This for substance was what we
heard said not long since about one
who seems to have a comfortable
opinion Of himself, and might be
man of strong personal influence for
the right, if he had higher sense of
its worth. But the trouble with him
is that he has the habit of careless
hearing, and so loose way of stating
what he hears, that you do not feel
SIRE that he is not telling you nothing
more nor less than the truth. You
are haunted with the suspicion that
something is omitted or something
added, which if you knew would very
much modify u hat he tells you. Be-
sides this. the man has roundabout
and out-of-sight way of seeking his
ends. He lacks directness, and is far
from being transparent. You are not
quite sure that you know him, though
you have seen q good of him
tlissTgh nasr1ny na4srny years. Some persons
say that he is tricky-that he has the
habit Of seeming to say what he does
not mean, and of persuading himself
that there is something or other in
the power Of circumstances which
iustifes him in doing what is Of the
doubtfullest character.
It is great truth that every man
who is saved at all is saved by grace
through faith, and that not Of him
self, but as the gift Of God. This is
not only great truth, but it is a
truth which cannot be too highly val
ued OF too widely magnifed. It is the
Godward side Of our holy religion,
and it is not possible to over-est1mate
the Importance of it in its relations to
the present and future well-being of
any person. But Goodness has a
Manward side. It has to do with
time, as we'll as with eternity, and it
is not possible for any man to have a
rounded Christian character who is
not as earnest and faithful in culti-
waiting all that pertains to high
toned moral character. as he is in the
cultivation of his spiritual relations
to God It is precisely here that the
fruit is borne by which men are
known. It is through this fruit that
the world is to be convinced that
there is something in Christianity
that makes man better in all the
relations of life; and it is from the
lack of this practical everyday demon
stration of the power Of religion to
make men truth-telling, upright,
courteous and honorable, that the
church Of God is suffering more in
jury at this hour than from any other
cause that can be named.
1t may be said, and said truly, that
all men are necessarily imperfect, and
that therefore the perfection Of moral
character is not to be expected in this
life. But the question comes back
What is the good of religion that
does not make its possessor essentially
and conspicuously more perfect in his
morality, than as though he professed
to have no religion at all? Nobody
that knows what the New Testament
teaches can suppose it to be possible
for any man to work himself up to
heaven by the power of a well-ordered
life. Nothing but a living faith in
Jesus Christ can take him there. But
how far is it possible for man to
have such faith, and not give the
practical proof Of it in the morality
and the sense of honor by which his
daily conduct is directed? Is it toe
much to expect, of a man professing g
Christianity, that his standard o1
morality shall be in every respect
higher than that of people who make
no claim to being Christians? Ought
not the word Of him who is taught in
the school Of Christ to be as good as
his bond, and should he not think as
little of violating what is just and
honorable in his dealings with men
than he would of losing his right
hand?