The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-01-19

our existence here; to "live to get" is
perversion which is attended with evil
consequences to our present we'll being
as well as our future prospects. In an
artificial, complicate society it is indeed
difficult to draw the line with sufficient
distinctness between the two classes By
an easy stride men pass from the first
into the second class before they are them
selves conscious of the fact. The spirit
of emulation is want to beguile humanity
Few like to be outdistanced in the race for
wealth or pleasure or fame, and in these
facts lie the peril with which Christian
profession is fraught Thus it is that
more and more does the problem of the
right use of the world press itself upon
Christian attention To flee the world is
impossible. Christ recognised this in his
prayer, II pray not that they may be
taken out of the world, but that they may
be kept from the evil" Isolation, even
in the sense of the Jewish people shut up
among their mountains, and kept pecu-
liar people for the conservation OF the
truth, cannot be. The whole of human
development compels reciprocity and con-
tact of religion with worldliness. The
monastic cell as a convenient harbor OF
refuge, is but choice of spot in which
temptation may assault more fercely.
Christ found the Devil in the wilderness,
not in the streets of Jerusalem. 1t is ne
cessary to the manly development Of
Christian character to mingle with the
world. Like the oak, it is strengthened
by the fierce winds which test its stabil-
ity. Christianity therefore, always con-
templates the tares and the wheat"
growing together, and commands us "to
deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and
live soberly, righteously, and godly in
this present world" Christianity de-
mands of uo that we shall see to it that
the swift deluge of care, perplexity, pros
perity, or adversely shall not carry us off
our feet-that the strife for gain shall not
blight our generous sensibilities, and that
under the highest pressure of lite, we shall
daily, and In every place exercise our
selves unto godliness. VIVA. G. Crowell
was one who proved the possibility of
this, and the existence of class which |
pray God may greatly increase among us,
who maintain in the midst of business a
Christian character in its highest beauty
end integrity. He was ain the world,
and made his mark as thorough bust
ness man, but was mot of it," for by his
singleness of purpose, purity of motive,
and lofty methods of dealing with men,
they were convinced that he had realised
higher destiny and that he bore the
unmistakable impress of Christian char
acter. This is the sort of evangelism we
need in our day-a Christianity that
reaches farther than from the pulpit to
the pew-a Christianity that will accom-
pany us from the house Of God clear to
the factory the Office, the counting room,
and which will SO admix itself with all
the conduct of our worldly matters that
our rules of trade are higher than the
average, and bare a close resemblance to
the law of God. Oh, that on the street,
and In the mill, and among the money
changers, the cry were heard, "They that
turn the world upside down are come
hither alSoI"
Such an example of manly industry,
Christian business habits, illustrates also
that the
Trues Reverence of Men is Evoked
Still by Essential Character.
No funeral of late years has drawn to-
gether such throng of sympathisers from
every rank of life. Yet not one came
with empty Difference to the rank of the
deceased man. Great wealth he had not.
A generosity which amounted to a pas
sion forbade the accumulation of any
great hoard. Patronage he had not, and
not mourner came with the thought.
Behold how the mighty is fallen! The
reverence was all ohown to the man. The
sorrow was for the personal loss which
each felt in the death of good and true
man. Still do we depend for the impress
sion we make on others upon our essen
tlal character. A mans life consisteth
not in the abundance Of the things which
he possesseth. What we are, not what
we appear to be-what we do, not what
we say-what we gjve, not what we hoard
these are the true tests Of life.
1--WE live in deeds, not breaths-
In actions, not in figures on the dial
We must count time by heart throbs He most
lives
Who thinks most, feels the noblest acts the
best"
1t is bending over the coffin, and looking
down into the grave that we learn best
to estimate at their proper value those
three potent motives of human endeavor
wealth, pleasure, fame. 1t is not money
which we should call wealth-characte
is wealth-the highest type of character
IS that which is richest toward God II