The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1883-06-20
Paups idea Of Christian Living.


No one can read Paul writings with
out seeing the frequent occurrence of
the words abound, dbOunding. There
is nothing meager in Paul, everything
is large and abOunding. His heart is
too large to eXhOrt men to love each
other-they must abound to it. Every,
grace, every appeal to life full of hO-
illness is filled full and overliows.
He applies the thought of aboundiDg-
ness to giving LAS We abound in
everything see that We abound in this
grace also Here is no niggard giving,
no bestOwing what we can not use, but
large and generous giving. 1t is not
simply giving, but abounding in it.
The blessedness of giving has been
learned. The spirit that seeks Oppor-
tunities of doing good dwells here. No
deficiencies in the treasures of the
Lords cause would occur if the
churches would get this by heart.
He applies this word to love for each
other. 'Ye yourselves are taught Of
God to love one another; we exhort
YOU, brethren. that We abound more and
mOreN He eXhOrts to larger hearts.
This abOunding love will sweep away
all feuds, schisms, enmities, divisions
Little-mindedness and selfishness can
not live in this new atmosphere. He
praises them for their present tender
ness of heart and helpfulness-but he
urges them to a larger life and the get
ting of bigger hearts. He applies the
word to Christian activity. "They
abound with every good work" Here
lies the thought that moved Dorcas and
Paul and every one whose life has been
one of usefulness. The spirit of Jesus
Christ widens into life-filling it with
larger plans and making the hand one
of usefulness. The life may not be
conspicuous, but it will enrich theworld
in its own vicinity. Such life will not
need urging from outside, it will have
the motive of aboundingness in it.
Every Christian must abound in hope,
Rom. 1918. He builds no Doubling
Castles, makes no Sloughs of Despond
for the believer. He does fill the heart
to overlooking with hope that will put
the soul in the Land of Beulah. Is there
a good hope in the soul? If the answer
comes: Yes, Paul answers: Do not rest
in this; abound in it.
Every child of God must abound in
holiness, 1 Thess. Al. 1--WE exhort you
that as We have received of us how ye
ought to walk and please God, even as
We do walk, that We abound more and
more Here is the secret of the real
higher life. No one should depreciate
a higher life. There is no saint who
might not be saintlier no good man
who might not be better. A man who
has realized his ideal of the Christian
life must have exceedingly small plans.
To the mind of Paul the life in Christ
stretched out in every direction. Do
YOU please God? If YOU do, rest not in
this, Paul says but abound in it. Form
for yourselves larger conceptions of it
live more devotedly in it.
AS Paul looks up to God he sees here
abounding love and plans for us. ''He
hath abounded toward us" Eph. /: g.
Gods love to us is no stinted thing
And this begets in us a like nature
toward God and all duties.
The Pauline conception of the Chris
tian life is that of abounding. TC
abound is to be full and running over
The Christian is incomplete; he mus
grow The Christian is a saint, he mus
be more sanity. Duties must be don,
in a larger way. The ever-growing
life will present a widening horizon o
a larger life yet to be lived. There ar,
better things to be thought, to be done
better lives to be lived than any Chris
tian man has yet attained tO.-M ]
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