Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-30
PRACTICING DECEPTION.

PRACTICING DECEPTION.
Be not deceived God is not Knocked. Gal.
vi, Z.
Self-deception is one of the most COM
mon errors of mankink; "to think Of our
Selves more highly than we ought to
Think; to measure other people by the
standard we imagine ourselves to have
attained and glory in our own fancied
superiority, is fault almost as universal
as humanity, Many persons are deceived
in regard to their mental ability and
fancy, because they have done some wor-
thy work, or gained Some little renown
in ithe world of letters, that all wisdom
will die with them. Others, and they
comprise the majority of mankind, claim
for themselves the respect of their as
sociates ON account of superior goodness.
They are so conscious of the rectitude
and purity of their intentions, that they
improve every opportunity to impress
upon others their superior attainments
in holiness; they lead in the weekly
prayer meeting, are very active in exhor
ting and admonishing others, allow no
secular newspapers or magazines to IN
wade their homes on Sunday and are reg
ular attendants at the sanctuary; they
are so we'll grounded in their faith, so
persuaded that they alone understand
the true Interpretation of the scriptures,
that they think it sin to sit at the sacra-
mental table spread by the Master, for
those who remember him, with any one
who does not accept their creed. To any
such, the apostles words: Be not de-
ceived, God is not Knocked; must convey
solemn warning.
1t is not what we think of ourselves,
nor what others think of us, that will
avail at the great reckoning.
The sanctimonious face and
manner, the wordy harangue, or the
long prayer, avail nought to hide our
souls from God. Just as we are he sees
us and this knowledge must give the hyp-
ocrite "a fearful looking for of judy
ment." To know that all his pretentions
to holiness are vain, that all his efforts
to maintain his position as devout be-
lever, all his great gifts to asylums md
hospitals are rightly valued by Him who
said "though thou givest all thy goods
to feed the poor and hast not charity it
profteth thee nothing
The text teaches protesting Christians
that professions do not deceive God, that
prayers, and hymns and sermons are
wasted breath unless they are inspired by
pure hearts that giving to the poor
is worth little unless the
hands are clean; that one day in the week
is not enough to serve God; that Monday
Is no better day to commit mean act
than Sunday; that lie is lie whenever
told, and that Christianity is matter of
every day living. 1t is to do right be-
cause it is right-not because it will be
known to ones credit; it is to withhold
the hand from taking its dues of poor
debtor, because all men are brothers; it
is to bear adverse fortune patiently, even
heroically, and through all "to keep ones
self unspotted from the world
To the man who prides himself on his
morality, and thinks, with great content,
l am as good as church members, these
words have deep meaning Not for what
his neighbor has done. or has neglected
to do; not because he is better than
others will he escape judgment. "Be
not deceived; God is not Knocked; for
whatsoever man soweth that shall he
also reap"