The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-09-17
International Sunday. School Lessons
Be Cheerful.

"'s 'uo Pecutlar privilege of the
Christian to be always cheerful. There
is reproducing power in the religion
OF Christ not found in any other sys.
tenn OF religion or philosophy. Christ
came to I'LL the earth with joy BY
delivering men from sin, witch il the
chief cause Of trouble and sadness.
His Gospel is glad tidings of salvation
rom SIN. 1t brings present deliverance
from the bondage, the guilt and the
condemnation Of sin, and gives the joy.
full assurance Of the favor and love of
God by the direct ministration of the
Holy Ghost, who fills the soul with
Joy and peace in believing. More
than that. it gives the present title to
and foretaste of Heaven: 1.-THE Spirit
itself witnesseth. with our spirits that
we are tho children of God, and il chill
dren, then heis-heirs Of God and
joint heirs with Christ" The conscious
presence and inefable consultations of
the Spirit, "the peace of God which
passeth all understanding" belong to
the Christian experience, and IRE sutli-
Gent to make him cheerful, and even
joyful. And so he who has this expe-
rience is said to have received 1.-THE
oil OF Joy for mourning, and the ear.
ment OF praise for the spirit of heav.
mess" Surely, if any man ON earth
mas reason to be cheerful, it il the
Christian.
But how about the Affections of lief
Christians are not exempt from trouble
and suffering. Can they be always
cheerful who are troubled on eyery
SIDE" who have to endure sickness.
sorrow. bereavements and death? The
Scriptures teach that they can, and
give examples. St. Paul Yves ono. The
catalogue he gives Of his suiferines
shows that no man ever had more to
endure than he. Yet he says: 1--WE
glory in tribulations," and II take
pleasure In infrmities, In necessities.
in reproaches, in prosecutions, in dis.
tresses. for Christs sake;'' and as
sorrowful yet always rejoicing" This
Is more than cheerfulness; it is Christian
triumph in the midst Of most adverse
circumstances. Nor does the apostle
consider his abiding joyfulness an ex.
ceptfonal experience. He regards it a.
the privilege aud duty Of all believers
tor he writes the Thessaloniaul: IRE.
t0ice evermore."
Christianity does not propose to ex.
empt It's followers from the sorrow 4
incident to our earthly lot, but It fur.
nishes them with such consultations and
support as give them cause for con.
slant rejoicing. I'm the world We shall
have tribulation," said the Savior; ..but
in me ye shall have peace" It is,
therefore. . mistake to suppose that o
certain degree Of worldly comfort and
exemption from trial is necessary to
Christian cheerfulness. The most
shining examples of Christian serenity
and JOY have been among the most
destitute and afflicted: III is the glory
OF the religion Of Christ that it min
listers comfort to those in distress. and
does not require the aid Of wealth. or
even health. to make its ministrations
effectual." Is
Be cheerful. then. A sad.hesrted.
sad.browed religion does not commend
itself to observers. 1t is no part of the
religion Of Christ, but = gross misrepre-
sentation Of it. It is our duty. not
only to be religious. but to be Chris
tians, and seek by manner. swell ~
BY word and deed, to commend Chris
tianity to all men: '.Let your light 90
shine before men. that they may SEQ
your good works and gtority your
Father which isin Heaven. 80 sthodiss.