The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-11-03
The Divine Glory as a Motive
in Christian Life.

Noble and potent are many of the in
centives to duty which arise from within
our better natures, or are excited by the
calls of need from without. Such are
deep conscientiousness, the love of the
right for its own sake, sense of the alb
solute authority of all truth, delight in
purity, sympathy in suffering, and love
for our fellowmen But no one of these
motives, nor all combined, can insure the
integrity of character, and the fulflment
of the highest mission in life. The grand
incentive is that which was the constant
and all-swaying thought of our blessed
Master, supreme love for His Father in
heaven, and devotion to His glory.
This will be found to be, in every way,
most hopeful. Especially will the light
from the divine glory guide US along the
line of duty when the path is dark, and
we are in doubt as to the most excellent
way. Our best purposes often get en-
tangled among our wisest thoughts about
the method of accomplishing them, until
at length we doubt the merit of the orr
ginal intention, and are easily tempted
to abandon it: Starting upon a journey
through the dense wilderness, my guide
who could not be with me at the time,
gave me this counsel: eff you miss the
path, remember that the place you are to
come out lies Just east; keep that direc-
ton and the path will find you. 1t must
come in there, however much it may
wind" So the divine glory is the moral
east, the end of all paths of duty. In all
doubt of the detailed steps take your d.
rection by the great end. Consecrate
yourself anew to the will of your Heaven
ly Father; be sure that you have that
unselfsh impulse to serve only him; then
go ahead as best you can. You will prob
ably soon discover the path lying at your
feet. And if the path never appears to
the satisfaction of your judgment, you
may have the better satisfaction Of know.
ing that it will end in what is Just right
and best; for this is the promise, 4" In all
thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall
direct thy paths.
But this incentive, if faithfully follow
ed, will not only guide us in the way of
duty, it will inspire us with strength to
pursue it. No other motives are sufi-
Gent to keep the moral energies persist
ent and torceful in their operations. The
staunchest conscience sometimes gets limp
under temptation, like hickory bow
when wet, SO that it fails to send the ar.
row of duty straight to the mark. So
love and sympathy, however strong at
the start, often fail to keep us up in the
way of doing good, through, perhaps,
misunderstanding between US and the
object of our kindness; or onr charity
loses tone when we find that it is not
sufficiently appreciated. These reser-
voirs of motive are not high enough to
raise the stress of action to the highest
duties. 1t will be found that for the I'M
selfish and unworldly career demanded
of the Christian, there will be need and
incentive out of self and beyond the
world. For this there must be inspired
a passion for God, a conscientiousness
which is enamored of divine holiness;
sympathy and love which are sustained
by the love of God shed abroad in our
hearts by the Holy Spirit given unto US.
When our ambition is raised from the
baubles that glitter along the earth like
perishable dew-drops, to the divine glory
which fills the heavens, as the eagle is
said to soar with his eye upon the sun,
then the promise will be verified in our
experience: But they that wait upon
the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run and not be weary; and
they shall walk and not faint. "-Ill,g-
tr0ted Christian Weekly.