The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-07-25

central presbyterian church, and attracted
very large congregation.
The following is the sermon in full on
the subject, -Four Good Things in a
Church,:
'.Only let yonr conversation be as 1t becometh the
gospel Of Christ that whether come and see you,
or else be absent. may hear of your affair. that
we stand fast in one spirit. with one mind striving
together for the faith OF the gospel
Philippians ;21.
In taking leave of You, beloved brethren of the
Central Presbyterian Church, think of words
more appropriate than these upon which to base
which embody the leading thoughts Of this text and
which will enable You to carry them in your memo
ries. They
Consistency, constancy Concord and Activity Con-
sistency is set forth in the words only let your
conversation be it becometh the gospel of Christ
Consistency in the words, THAT ye stand fast Con
cord in these, ''in one mind with spirit" Ac-
tvy in these strying together for the faith of the
gospel" Happy is the Christian in whom these
four things found. Happy is the Church that
is composed of such Christians.
Let us turn our thoughts now to these four things
in order.
First, Christian Consistency. 'only let your con
versaton be it becometh the gospel of Christ -
The Importance which the Apostle Paul attached to
consistency of conduct is indicated by the word
only" III Paul could be sure of lust one thing in
regard to his beloved Philippian brethren, namely
that they living in accordance with the spirit
ana aeaehln OF me gosPe 81 carst ne would be
his Roman prison; for then he would be that
they all travelling together to the same glorious
home and that their influence in the world would be
such to lead many others to travel the good
way Brethren if only this thing can be said of
all, that you are living consistently with the aim
and spirit of the holy gospel. how strong You viii
be as a church, and what power for good in Rock
Island. Is il not the sincere and earnest desire of
every one of you that your lives should be such
are becoming the gospel am sure that such must
be your fervent desire if you Christians at all.
1t is necessary to bear in mind that the word con-
bean the same nseanng which we nnw nsua n s
tach TO the word. We understand conversation to
refer to specific what is said in social inter
course. The word as used in the New Testament
means great deal more than this 1t the
whole manner Of life. The single Greek verb, trans
lated by the phrase. ''let your conversation be-.
primarily means to act ones part citizen,
think the word Is intended to remind that we are
citizens of spiritual commonwealth; that we be-
long to a heavenly country; and that our conduct
should be sneh as BELTS those who belong to spir
tuaI and everlasting kingdom. Not only the words
which speak, but the actions which we perform
or leave undone. the spirit which We manifest, the
follow, are all included In the comprehensive word
The whole phrase ''iet your conversation be as it
becometh the gospel of Christ expresses an idea
TO which we give the name consistency. A thing is
consistent which holds together; part of which
is of the same kind quality with another. Con
sistency is one of the necessary things in genuine
work of art. The poet Horace reminds US that II
painter should exhibit a work of art a painting
that IN the upper part represented beautiful wo-
man, and in the lower part scaly fish, should
be disguised. The two parts would not hold togeth-
err This would be Inconsistency which would
be a downright monstrosity.
NOW that winch Is necessary 10 perfect work of
art is necessary to perfect Iife-it must be ali of
one piece 1t must be such that it viii hold togeth-
whose psalms breath such spirit of Devotion fall
ling into gross sins, perceive horrible inconsis-
tency; David the psamist, and David the adulter-
er and murderer do not seem to be the per-
son. When we look mt Peter. one moment saying to
his Master Though should die with thee, yet will
I not deny thee;' and the next moment cursing and
swearing. and saying concerning Jesus Il know
not the man, we see in that conduct lamentable
inconsistency. which. for the time sadly npairs our
confidence in Peters Christian character
1t would be manifesty impossible, within the
brief time allotted to one discourse, to make de-
which Christians are liable to fall. shall
dertake such a task, but shall simple offer some
suggestions which you can enlarge upon in your
meditations TO any extent.
All immortality is of course. inconsistent with
the ten commandments ii re-establishes them. The
believer in Christ is free from the law in the
tence of death through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus. But the moral law, founded in the
eternal principles of truth and righteousness is and
must forever be- the rule by WHICH his life is to be
governed Professed Christians sometimes To
great deal of religion and very meager morality.
They become very much wrought up in feeling, and
have great deal TO say about the rapture OF
munon with God; but when it comes to the practi-
cal matter of paying their debts dealing fairly
with their neighbors in business, they fall below
conform. Inconsistencies of this kind are beyond
expression miscellaneous and hurtful TO the of
religion, Shrewd men OF the world are apt to draw
conclusions exceedingly unfayorabie to Christian
ity that is manifested in that way.
A story is told of negro minister in the DAYS of
Slavery who was requested by one whose barnyard
had suffered from midnight depredations- to preach
to his people ON the sin of stealing The preacher
objected the ground that such preaching would be
likely to produce coldness in the congregation.
this simply an Illustration of the well known
fact that it is possible for people, white black.
to become very happy in religious meeting; and yet
of dishonesty, II the holding mp Of high moral
standard before men has tendency to produce
feeling of uneasness they have reason fear that
: conduct Is
such as becometh the gospel:
demned by the ordinary standards of judgment
among men may yet be inconsistent with the spirit
of the gospel We should reasonably expect that
there would he marked and visible difference be-
tween a man who lives only for this world and
man who lives for eternity. Suppose man not to
believe IN Sod, or Judgment to come, or future
state and to believe that this life is the only life he
will ever liFe and that this world is the only world
he will ever know. and that when his goes down
1t sets IN darkness to rise more for ever: such
man might reasonably be expected to act on the Ep
we die" We shouldn't be surprised to hear such
man saying to his SOUL with the rich fool of the Sa
viours parable Soul. thou hast much goods laid up
for many years; eat drink and be merry This
would commend itself to the judgment of worldly
man as containing the concentrated essence of oil
practical philosophy.
But ought man whe looks upon the world and
human life IN the light of the gospel to act in the
what is the world place for mems selfish enog
ments place for the putting forth of mems utmost
powers in the accumulation of material thingss By
no means 1t ls place for labor, theater wherein
we are to show the manhood that is in by patient
self denial for the sake of doing good. What human
ineY so far as this world is concerned it is tenn
porary and evaneseent thing 1T il even as a vapor
that appeareth for little time and then yanisheth
away" But there is part of that lives for
ever. So far this understandable part of man is
concerned there lie no death what seems SO is
transition
In the light of our Saviour's teaching what Is
mans relation to the wealth which he ACQUIRES by
toll or by inheritancey IL he the absolute master
and lord of it, TO do with it exactly as he may
choose, with no accountability to any one? Not so
He is but a steward; Jesus Christ is the absolute
proprietor To set our affections then. supremely
upon worldly things. and in the management of
Christ and the claims of his Kingdom is grevious
inconsistency with the spirit of the gospel. When
man processes to live for God, and yet manifesty
lives for the world, the two things do not hang to-
gether This is Inconsistency into which we
may easily fall because il is difficult to draw the
line which separates between proper attention to
business and worldly -mindedness; and because ex-
easily falls in with the tendencies of selfish human
nature.
My dearly beloved brethren, let MS seek such an
abundant supply of the grace which our father is
readyfo give that our conduct in respect tie
requirements of the perfect moral law, and in res
pect to this ieeting world with its vain deIusions
and delights, may be such becometh the gospel of
Christ. What beauty and power there III In a con-
sistenf Christian lfe Consistency is said to be
clear, resplendent light There was once an infidel
owner of a sawInl who run his mill on all days of
the week alike But at particular hour on the
sabbath, when certain deacon was In the habit
of passing to from church, the mill was stopped
When he was asked why he stopped his mill at that