The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-02-17
International Sunday-SchOOl Lessons.
A Vital Question.

How TO retain the spirit of serious
piety in the busy activities of life is
a question vital to Christian charac-
ter. The practical divorce of religion
and piety in our daily affairs is fraught
with peril. Too many regard religion
as out of place in the thoroughfares of
trade; as fabric of too fine texture,
or as an exotic transplanted from a
tropical to polar cline. The easy quiet
-ude of the sanctuary or closet BELTS it:
Holiness to the Lord may be put on
the Bible, but not on the ledger; on the
miter of priest, but not on the bells of
horses. This severance of religion
and business comes of a misapprehen-
sion of the nature of real piety. Piety
stands related to life as consciousness
to the mind, underlying all its activi-
ties.
Let us consider the question, How
can religion and business be properly
blendedP
1. By having all actions constrained
by holy motives. We do not, indeed,
have God as a distinct object before
us every moment, but we do the work
which He has appointed US in our
special sphere as a service to Him.
.sNot slothful in business, fervent in
spirit, serving the Lord The blood
circulates silently in our veins and so
| religion is silent but vital force in our
| hearts.
2. We are to remember that religion
is being good and doing good. II is
not quietism or asceticism, but q
dominant principle that guides our
thought and speech and action. 1t is a
reflection of Christ's life in the flesh.
1t shows itself in minutest details-the
soft step, the gentle voice, the courte-
Gus demeanor, in honest speech, in
nobility of dealing and truthfulness of
disposition. True religion, some one
says, puts no sand in sugar. alum in
! bread. water into milk, or otter into
butter; it keeps the wife from ill-temper
when her husbands dirty boots soil the
floor, and keeps him from having dirty
boots; it prevents him from fretting at
late dinner and keeps her from having
late dinners. Religion rebukes deceit
and insincerity of all kinds, and
teaches us to keep our promises one
with another. Ofcourse, contingencies
sometimes interrupt us in meeting ap
pointments, but it is noticeable thatir
the same busy scenes some are
alOaus, and others are nearly never
victims of contingencies.
8. Religion is doing secular acts from
sacred motives oftener than it Is doing
merely sacred acts, so called. WheT
piety stamps our life. all our acts art
religious. 1t is wrong to separate toi
and worship and to forget that motive
! gives character to deeds. A automator
, may do many of our acts but it has NJ
! moral character. The heart makes tht
! work of the workman holy. ''An anvi
, may be consecrated and a pulpi
!, desecrated." Robes and vespers ant
ceremonials, the cowl of monk and hoot
of nun, cannot make service holy. l
is not beautiful words but beautiful
lives we need. This will soonest silenc
the cavils of skeptics. A religion tina
is not fitted to weekday work neve
/, had Sabbath-day origin. We wan
1 Mary's heart and Martha's hand; tn
1 splendid force of celestial presence t.
inspire and sanctify all our deeds, tina
on thought and act shall be writer
: s.Holiness to the Lord" in lines G
living light. Thus will our spirit b
9 tuned to the harmony of a celestia
world and our whole life here below
;, grand and sacred song. Church Union