The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-10-06

SERMON BY REV. D. E. FRIERSON.
Delivered at COkesbury During the
Meeting Of the South Carolina Pres.
bytery.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may
see your good works, &c" Matthew v, ~.
we" said Jesus. "arc the light of the world" Not
C~ainI'has or Alexander, but we" Peter, James and
John, hum 10 fishermen. Yc that are learners Of the
Gospel and willing to follow ME. ie that are suHt.
GENTLY Interested In the kingdom Of cavcn t, lose
time from your occupation to converse upon and
study tho great subjects. Ye that are willing to hear
the relroach of enthusiasts; that are not offended ut
the poverty and plainnrss Of Jesus. I'VE are the
light OF the world. Let your light 50 shine before
men, &c"
The lawyers and doctors Of the Sanhedr,m arc far
more learned In RHhhinlcal lore and occupy fur higher
positions Of influence and power. But their learning
Is not the Kind thnt men most need. The knowledge
which makes a grand Doctor anda consequential &C.
clesiastlc; Il man floating In the regions Of 4 %anciful
theology pnffeth up the professor without radntlng a
genial light. 1t Is knowledge, but knowledge which
does not generate love for the race: a knowledge bar.
rem of good works" The true light Of the Christian
is good works" The true reelection Of Jesus, ",he
light OF the world" Is "ghd works" 1t Is the true,
lhat flowers into coed works is living doctrine and
not dead speculation. The creed that takes IN icno-
rant child by the hand; that whispers courage to ads.
consolidate widow; that reforms an inebriate; that
coins . dollar to send tho Gospel to destitute regions,
is the light OF the word. What the world needs
more than GOok-learning is heart sympathy with Its
Ignorance md Sin. 1t needs o race Of men and wo.
men who have courage to do good works" But
while the worlds greatcst need is the light TINT ena-
nairs from pure, good, holy, we'll directed effort ~ do
good works" II does no. leed the wild fire Of en-.
tllusiasts. oil ablaze With phrtiz,n heat, II build up O
sect or denomination. nor tho light OF wandering
stars attracting uttenL: n for a short season aud then
disappearing; but the steady light Of q good judicious
and lrrsevcring Christian life.
Again, the wurlG do,s not need that kind of relig.
Ion which tiUurishes without doctrine. 1t Is said
sometimes by well meaning Christians that It Is of
little consequences what your belief Is provided your
motive and conduct nre right. That Christianity Is
just simple goodness, Informed or uniformed. That
one hath u doctrine, and another q psalm but the
innin matter is to live right But how, In all human
good sense. can a nan lse right, as It is termed,
knowing what God means by its For each hath a
doctrine and \ psalm about that. Does 1t require
knowledge to p~ractice medicine, to manage o strre.
and none, or but little to be o Christian! the great,
tho primary qualification for all .b~usinc.si Is It Of
but little moment to know what God tells US about
living here and hereafter? But IL Is snid, VIC do
not mean that We mean that good intentions and good
Christianity requires. Ali but where are You going
" get gr'd AIMS and gOud intentions, without D
kno Wedge Of the gool objects to which they are d.
ree'cd! How are , GU going to rails" q crop Of good
lukONIiOu "ltuoVI pl1UlUX u EeSu Anu WOaI
could possibly make o few ignorant good Intentions
as valuhb Q as many well informed good intentions.
Can o field Of nubbins b. rs valuable as q field Of we'll
cared cornt But OF what value can ignorant good In
tcntions aud delightful religious feelings be without
some knowledge to guide lhem2 SupIpse o man, ig-
norant Of Gods righteousness, should 80 ubout to es-
tablish his own Righteousness, which might BE- In tho
opposite direction from salvation, would 1t amount to
the same thing 10 the end, any more than II q man,
meaning t. so to Boston should mount the train 20.
ing ~ San Frnncisco2
1t is impossible to Ignore religious knowledge with.
out Ignoring oil knowledge. 1t IL impossible to DO Il
Christian without knowing the doctrines which con
sittute the Christian 18th. a man may know a little
Of ther, and BIZ sayed, but It will b. u little and weak
Christian that will be saved. II any man build on
this foundation q. G. Christ) gold, silver, wood, hay,
.tubble,-his work shall suffer loss, but he shall BE-
saved, yet 3D. as by fire.
! have said enough to show that the Christians
light Is MT knowledge, thatit 10 not good Intentions
aud good feelings. 1t is good Intentions, directed by
good knowledge, sustained by good and holy persever-
ance generated by Gods good spirit.
Now, you will notice that the Great Teacher did
not mean to Congratulate his disciples as being the
actual possessors VI this light, when lie said "ic are
the light Of the world" but that such was the position
which they began now to occupy, and such must be
the effect Of their character ol the world II they be.
came truly His followers. And tuch OF course must
be- the position and character Of every Christian. He
must be u luminary. Yes q light shining In n dirk
place. Objects and their proportions are mnde visi-
Bile by ht prcscnce. A naughty action Is rcbuked by
ITO " TIE ucIOI bLltuI n CuIIulI cullultll 10 "
rectrd by his pure conversation.
Now, | wanted to say to you, my brethren, and to
oil Christians, Let your light 30 shine before men,
that they inny see your gund works" 1t Is the most gen
Tie exhortation to Christian duty In the world. just
let your Christianity radinte. 1t will do SO OF itself II
you put no distractions In Its way. A beautiful nc.
ton ought not TO bc bid. A Christian sentiment will
lind utternncn If yoi d. not ~rerress i, and tho It be
but one stnall ray, still 1t Is Il ray OF light that goes to
make up the light Of the world. And do not DC
afraid. There never was Il skeptlcism or IN inidoli.
ty yot that could caluunia:e light or say VI 1t that II
was not O good thing. 1t Is Gutrs pure element that
the evil one himself cannot inaign. There never was
IN inIidel argument yet that could stand before o pure
and noble life. II you have not an argument In
words, you have Whit Is better, the ability to let the
world sea Christian o Christian IN prosperity md q
Chr slian In adversely "a Christian tempted, u Chris
tiun sighted und hated; o Christian susceptible Of
every ons of the worlds pleasures, but walking n"bly
above them. Tue very finest and best REPUTATION m
i~nfidcllty, Of universalism and Of sin Is the Christian
The Christian at prayer nwrs The powers Of darkness
Satan trcmblcs when he sees the weakest saint upon
his knees. lie trrmbles because he knows Jesus
Christ is near by.
But our text is not only o gentle exhortatton, 1t IL
a tender command. "shinc y"ur light" 1t s In the
imperat sc mood. Do not be satisfied with q mere
spontaneous m':iation. Intensity Its light; increase
its b. liiahcy. You are entru ted with q precious Gle
mcnt from heaven which you must not obtcure by
putting It under q bushcl, or hiding 1t In tho score,
chambers Of your private experience. 1t Is thu
world'e property and you are but the nlmoner Of the
u DeuVtHly DUunty. IL IS not I0T yOuTocu uluuc. IL ~
for mankind. 1t is the mos. beautiful thing that God
let down " earth, A living specimen OF the heuyen'
ly excellence. Gods witness In o sinful world. You
must not put an cytoppal upon Its testimony. Chris
sun does not destroy The stars. Nay they are shin
Ing In other parts OF Gods creation whtn that sun |:
shining In his strength upon us. And when the sur
goes dawn below the horizon, oil the modes. star
fact during the day, but his superior light cushion,
theirs; Mollesty aud zeal work hal ANONYMOUSLY togeth'
or. You u,ny b. both u jealous Z 'ristian ard a mod
cot one. But observe that tlnlidity is not modest
A Christian afrnld to refuse, when invited ~ go to
ball or to d game Of cards is a tiinld Christian. He Il
afraid to let his Christianity radinte It's light III
puts It under a bushcl just when be should put it;on
Christian, when the light Of o Christian exam rl.
would DC q beautiful obedience to the eXhUrtati0n o
the Great Teacher, Let your light so shine" But, 1
muy be said ! do not See why my Christianity may
not sninc In the ball room and at the card table.
propose to engage In no other than decent dancing
and decent card playing. Well, but decent card play
Ing is q very dim form Of Christianity. II any at all
Do you propose to submit your Christianity to an OBJ
s%cura,ion. II you begin to diminish your light, may
you not extiugni'h 1t! But Jesus exhorts
Lht It shine. And how are you going te
shine your light If you let It down into on atmos-
rhcre which first obsclrcs then cxtinguishcs 1t
The modern ball room and card table just as certainly
puts out the light Of Christianity, as tho choke damn
In u coal pit puts outa lump. Yuu cannot think o
Jesus Christ being In O ball room or seated at o card
table. II SNOChb yOuE HOIhi nuu yOu
cannot think Of any one aiming to be Ike Jesns
Christ carrying his Christianity safely into such at
mospheres. What then, 1t Ia asked are We to fOrego al
earthly pleasures and become q race OF dcmure and
miserable beings: Any one can become demure and
will become deinure " hU undertakes to be o Christian
soldier but has not courage to fight Its battles. HI
will be demure because he "cOnremncth himself III
that thing which he ~allowsth." Those are tho trnly
miserable people who are constantly Mt war with
themselves endenvOring t. reconcile their conscience
and their conduct. Christianity proposes to us q
higher order OF pleasures the pleasures of selfvictury
Of q manly courage In the mOinent OF tenn. tatlOu 0
the noble independence which rises superior to the
pleasures or animal excitement. And. 1t happens that
the pleasures Of The card table and the bull room are
Just tina. class OF pleasures which you can refuse your
self without any Injury to your moral, intellectual OF
oorporeal naturfI
"Let your light shine before men," my brethren,
whenever yon are solicited to tho horse race or drink.
Ing saloon. Show yourself O strong man, the light Of
whose Christianity is not blown out by q puff. What
rational sport can there be In witnessing q five min.
utcs struggle between horses and jockeys? THE
very life and soul Of the turf" snys the Canadian
Independent, lis betting" Take that away and
there would be n total collapse. Yet betting Is o live.
lihood. Thousands Of lazy men in this and other
countries make their bread and broadclOth by this
method OF "preying upon society" The philosophy
OF betting 10 lhat you may get something for nothing,
that you may win money without working for 1t. 1t
Is attempting to get money in some other wny than
by honest industry. The gambler and betting man
In those places where the institution OF the hurtc
race and The cock .hght have been set up reap o ,ich