The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-08-18
Solid Gold.


mand than now. The question els he
smart?" is beginning to give place to the
more pertinent question, els he honest?"
Even the ministry do not escape this cru
chile; for it is felt to be of increasing mo-
ment that the man who presents Christ
on the Sabbath should also represent
Christ during the week by pure
walk and godly conversation. There
was a great deal of pith in the young
ladys remark about her newly elected
pastor, 81 don't care whether he is elo-
quent or not-is he pious?" The crying
need of the hour is not more brains, but
more conscience the richest revival
would be that which should give society
more genuinely good men and good wo-
men.
A great security was given to trade by
the resumption of specie payments The
meaning of resumption is, that paper
promises have become equally valuable
with solid gold The highest and health
lest state of the church is that in which
all the solemn promises made by profess
sors of religion are redeemed in the solid
gold of godly conduct Christ never in
tended anything less than this when he
said, "By their fruits we shall know
them; do men gather figs from thistles2"
He knew that his religion must stand or
fail by this test If a Christian faith
does not make its possessors better hus-
band, father or citizen; if it does not
make womanhood more pure, unselfsh
and loving; if it does not sweeten home
and purify trade and cheer life's dark
hours with light from heaven and bring
a higher and holier style of living into
this wicked world-then it is confessed
imposture. And if heart-faith in Jesus
Christ does produce these rare and pre-
cious fruits, then all the skeptics of the
day, from Renan clear down to the RI
bald Ingersoll, cannot even jar it's divine
origin and authority
We ministers must not be seduced into
the mistake of undertaking good aUorks.
They do not save US but neither can we
be saved without them And after we
have preached by faith are We saved. >"
let us not fail to follow it up with the
other inspired declaration, "Faith with
out works is dead" Of what value is
the cherry tree in my yard if its promis-
sory-notes in the shape of white blossoms
are not redeemed in juicy cherries sixty
days hence? The Bible never ignores or
undertakes good works 1t proclaims
that the tree is known by its fruits. 1t
solemnly enjoins, BE ye doors of the
Word and not hearers only. at the last
day men are to be Judged according to
their works A Christian spirituaI life
does not indeed spring from his noble or
beautiful acts, but these acts all spring
from his spiritual life. If Christ be with
IN him, Christ will come out of him in
speech seasoned with salt, and in actions
tnat speak even louder than words. The
highest glory of the true Christian is
choraster, for that is the visible reAec-
tlon before men of the indwellinp Jesus
Here lies the purpose of so MANY pro
vidences that to our eyes seem so r1Jste-
rlous or even SO cruel. We see one Chris
tan reduced to poverty, and another
Yenomously assailed, and still another
overwhelmed with bereavement. at is
cruel In loving God to do this" saws
nasty unbellef. But faith opens it's guide
book, and reads the seventh verse Of the
hrst chapter of Peters epistle-how the
TRIAL OF what is more precious than cold
IS to be trial by fire, and the outcome Of
the furnace will be "unto praise and
4onor and glory at the appearing of
Jesus, Christ. " Cody character is pro
Guced as gold is got out of quartz rock in
Colorado. The unsightly ore is dug out
ana thrown into the crushing-mill. This
lulPlles submission. Then the separated
gold particles go into the flaming furnace
sui farther submission to HIGHER will
we perceive. Then the gold run ;nto
bars must 60 to the mint be re.rneltoJ G
and be stamped with the Government'8
stars and eagle on its bright face. A fter
Vnis 1t becomes the current coin of tbe
country, and is the standard of value
This is the way that God makes GLris
[lans by Just such processes of pride
humglblii,ng, and purifying and submission
70 Gods holy will and word is Cbrisfion
character produced Christians are God's
current coin. They represent bv fbeiT
stamp the Divine Government thai Issues
Them; A community is rich or a church
Is i rich, which has plentiful supnlv Of
solld gold and silver which bears H. I'M
age, Of the Master. This currencv -, of
200 mint never depreciates Nav, +
glten commands premium, as in these
Jays when honest, truthful, od-fear ,y1y