The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-04-21

not do Christs work by farming out
their charities or by turning over the
neglected classes to organized machin-
cry. The only way to bring suffering
and shining human nature to God is
by personal effort, and personal effort
must be born Of personal sympathy.
Ii. The other test of sincere piety
is to keep unspotted from the world.
This does not mean monasticism; nor
does it mean the hateful phariseeism
that says "Stand aside, for | am holi-
er than thou True godliness is no
more to be taken out of business, out
of social life, and out of politics than
the leaven is to be taken away from
the meal or the salt is to barreled up
by itself. Christ puts his followers
right into this wicked world, and
commands them to let their light so
shine that men may see their good
works and be led to honor God. The
Christian who is afraid to mix with
his fellow-men, lest his godliness be
rubbed of, has really but little godli-
ness to lose.
: What the apostle enioins is that
Christians keep themselves clean and
uncontaminated by the sinful spirit
and the sinful customs Of those who
have no fear Of God before their eyes.
Ye are not Of the world, said Christ
to his disciples. He knew that the
world has its reigning spirit, its usa-
ges, its laws, and it's pleasures, which
do not recognize any Christ, or any
holiness, or any Heaven. With all
this his blood-bought Church must
have no more communion than light
with darkness. 'The world that spots
and stains u.s." says Robertson, of
Brighton, lis the spirit of evil around
u.s." This spirit rejects Christ and
his humbling, self-denying religion.
1t does not persecute Christians in
these days, but takes the life out Of
their spirituality. This world draws
up to a Christian with its cozening
invitations, as Judas did to his Master,
when he said: "Whomsoever | kiss,
take him and hold hin, fast" It is
the sinful worlds treacherous kiss
that smirches follower of the holy
Jesus. One reason why some Chris
tians make no more headway in the
spiritual life is that the world holds
them fast.
We pastors detect this demoralizing
influence of worldly conformity upon
young converts. AS long as they
keep true to their covenant and find
their richest satisfactions in serving
their Master they grow in grace; but
as soon as they attempt to serve Christ
and Mammon also the compromise
fails, and Mammon gets the whole.
As soon as they begin to fulfill the
lusts Of the fesh' they cease to walk
in the Spirit" Self-indulgence grows
Pride grows. Their piety begins to
feel the unhealthy atmosphere, as the
lungs feel foul air. New tastes and
appetites are formed. The dancing
party crowds out the prayer-meeting.
Luxurious living begins to monopo-
lie time and thought and purse, so
that God is robbed outright Gradu-
ally the white garment Of the disciple
of Christ begins to show ugly spots.
until it is hard to discover in it any
beauty Of holiness. The dividing line
disappears, and the sworn follower of
Christ becomes the partner and actu-
ally the slave of the world which cru
cifes his Lord. The secret of the
weakness of the Church in these days
is that it is losing it's faith in Gods
Word and it's steadfast loyalty to
Christ's commandments. How can it
draw an evil world up out of the pit,
when it is losing it's foothold and al
| LOWING the world TO draw It imp
There are two safeguards. One is
to seek such pure, sweet satisfaction
in doing good and in serving Jesus
that we shall not banker after the
worlds poisonous delights. The
Kings banquet makes the husks OF
sinful earth seem tasteless. The 9th
er is communion with God. The
Apostle James describes undefiled re.
ligion as "6Jore God our Father.
We are to live in his eye. As tht
heliotrope turns its face to the sun
we are alacays to behold the face o.
our Father in Heaven. Brethren
when we see most of the beauty O
Christ and the glories Of our inherit
ance, we shall care the least for th
l. baubles and bribes of this feetin!
earth. When we feel the powers o
the world to come, we shall not clin!
to a world that spots the soul and de
faces the bright image Of Christ ou
6 Lord,
5 If you are bilious you will find pos
:. itive relief by using sellers Live
J, Pills" Sold by all druggists.