National Republican., 1883-02-26
GODIINESS,


The Christ of Love, who did atone.
GOODNESS.
ELOQUENT SERMON BY REV. c. H. RAMsDELL
AT THE NORTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
At the North Presbyterian church, on N
street, yesterday, the pastor, Rev. G. b. Rams
dell, delivered an eloquent sermon, taking
his text from Timothy, iv, 8: "Godliness is
profitable unto all things, having promise of
the life that now is, and of that which is TO
come" The reverend speaker said: Both
natural and acquired qualities have much to
do with mans success or failure. Paul, the
writer of this epistle to Timothy had an OK
traOrdinary amount of zeal, which character
istic first displayed itself in the persecution
of the Christians and afterward in deter
mined and unrcmilting efforts TO plant the
gospel in the countries bordering the Medi-
terranean. The apostle John was naturally
of tender and aiectiOnato disposition, pos
sessing those qualities which bespeak the man
of kindly spirit and loving heart.
Peter was impulsive and bold to rashness,
characteristics, howe YER, that tempered by
divine grace rendered him eminently tit after
his conversation to strengthen his brethren.
In the eleventh chapter of the epistle to tho
Hebrews there is long list of worthless
whose dominant characteristic was faith in
God. In the late history of the church men
appear also whose qualities of mind and heart
rendered them COnspicuOusly successful. But
aside from the church we find men such as
Napoleon, whose natural qualities were
strongly marked If we should single out
ono trait in his character, as above others, it
would be ambition, which served as q spur to
throw his whole being into action This
quality in his life brought immediate success,
but final failure. Columbus was u natural
born goocraphCr, and this CHARACTERISTIC
united with wonderful perseverance resulted
In ihn HiggnyaFy oi ilp world
His great success, however, as understood
now, was not appreciated then, and the name
of another displaced his own. Thus it may
be noted that, while qualities natural and
acquired have much to do with mans sue
cess or failure, they do not altogether deter
mine the result, for man seemingly may be
such that neither the best nor the worst
qualities have opportunity for expression.
The innate superior qualities of some remain
unsealed for life time, while only re-
spectacle mediOcrity of talent in others dis
plays itself to advantage at opportuno times
and places. So one grain of corn sprouts and
flourishes with rank growth, nOurished by
rain and sun, while another equally as good
lies buried under heavy clod to die in the
ground. Our text invites us to a consideration
of that quality known as godlinosss, and it is
Of this we would speak this morning And /
remark:
/. That godlness is tho quality of loving
and serving God.
1t is said of Enoch that he walked with
God. This was the distinguishing trait of
| his life. Few men, even in the Bible days,
however many good qualities they might pos
sess, could boast of this. So now there are
many good men with many qualities that
command respect and regard, but very few
who are really eminent in picty. GOdliness
was the predominant characteristic in Christ.
! He literally walked with God. He was not
alone, for the Father was with him. To His
disciples He said, have meat to cat that ye
know not of, my meat is to do the Fathers
| will and to finish His work."
A multitude of cXcellencies might be dis
covered in His character and teachings but
this quality of godliness was pre-cminent.
| II is the loving and serving God, not only
in hallOwed moments of devotion, but by
reaching out to love aud serve ones brother
because he is made in the image of God, for it
is written, "Let him that lOveth God see
that he loveth his brother also" And again,
"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of
the least of these my brethren, ye have done
| ii unto me-" Surely a quality of this sort, as
the apostle says is gain. And l remark: /:
Q. That godliness is indeed profitable unto
all things.
Men usually admit this statement theoret-
ically. As the Apostle says, sit Is a faithful
saying and worthy OF all acceptation." Even
from the standpoint of the body piety is
profitable. True the body is in haste to see,
to hear, to taste everything, and piety calls
out to the body, saying touch not, taste not,
handle not the unclean thing. But is not
piety after all the best friend to and the con-
servator of the bodyH Does not the body
hold in check, and allowed only qualification
in proper directions, become more robust,
relish more keenly permitted good, and pre-
serve its powers longer from decay2 The
eye behOlds in this fair world of God much
that IL inviting. Through this avenue tO'the
t,io tbut ba tba n al
the mind richor than those the galleries
of the old world can afford. Scenes that
never die, panOr0mas that unwind forever
What a wonderful thing is vision, and what a
wonderful thing is memory that gives of i'm.
pressiOns after impression Of the past like the
falling sheets from tho press of the printer.
Childhoods vision, how invaluable it
treasures now that the loving face of a father
and mother are no longer here. Youthful
vision, with its scenes Of sport unietterod
mirth, aud innocent affection ManhOod's
. vision, with its treasury enriched by trave
over ocean, mountain, lake, and forest, amid
the busy haunts Of mon and in the desolatC
wilderness What wealth of pleasure la,
l God poured into your soul through the eye
Another and central factor in man is hi
will. Ii is the helm of life. Let il move in
that direction, and the life is cast upon the
rocks TO perish, Let it move in this direction
= and the soul shall make the desired haven
The absence of the quality of godliness from
the soul tells us at once that the will of tht
; man is destitute of the guiding hand of I
pilot and that the life is being swayed hther
3 ward and thitherward by every rude curren
: and treachorOus wind, On the contrary, thu
1 presence Of this quality Of godliness indicate
| that a great change has taken place in tn
= direction Of a mans life; that the outlook 1
upward that the divine will which is Law
: throughout the universe is acknowledged b,
Q tho man to be the law for his life. Wherea
f there was once uncertainty and insecurity
!, now the life guided by o divine hand
S though the winds may blow and the billow
Of the sea beat upon 1t, yet it will