The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-06-22
BACCALAUREATE SERMON.
DELIVERED BY THE REV. GEO. II.
WILSON, SUNDAY EVENING, JUNE II.
Rom. IL: Z and g. none Of as ireth
10 himsey". zoe lice unto the
LORD. .''sce are The lords"

Rom. IL: and S--"Fer none Of as dreth
10 himseH". zoe lice unto the
LORD, zoe are the Lord's'.
1: is not Paul's aim 10 teach isolate it,
dividuality AS nm impossibility He stltes
the great active principle that underlies
the intelligent christian life, n voluntary
service rendered Christ as master The
ground of that service In us the conf.
dence Of love. the nature of that service of
the most binding type. From this it fol-
lows that as one man Is not master of An.
others servant, and may not sit in judy
ment on him relative To matters personal
between man and his master. so one
christian may not sic IN Judgment on the
acts OF another when those acts are perso-
nal between the soul and Christ. 1t also
follows that rs the servant Is to execute
his masters will regardless OF what others
think, or say-so the christian Is TO .recog.
nze Christ us the sole and supreme dirce
tor Of his life and be not swerved from
loyalty in that service however others may
desire il. And MS well that loyalty Is 10 be
maintained against self opinion. against
any view that transient and temporary,
or small depression will do no permanent
harm and may invoke present good. We
have then three elements here interviewer
in the underlying nature Of christian
life. surrender, service, freedom. Look
ing ut them as constantly intcrtwincd and
acting on each other toward single end,
shall speak generally of-The discipline
OF discipleship to Christ, its nature and
results.
Christian liz, Is ever associated with
cross bearing In service which the world
calls weakness the christian heart finds the
means Of growth, and strength That
service which discipleshlp implies is self
sacrifical in its nature. The word self
dcnial--stands before minds ,unacquainted
with its hidden potency-the symbol of all
that Is TO be dreaded and Stunned. 1t
would no doubt be true that even in very
early life self thought and analysis would
reveal the fac; that the best. most precious
products of action, were those which re-
suited from the memorable demands of
love self denying in its nature. Yet while
such u truth might be revealed as the re
suit Of such spirit, the difficulty of using
the principle for future application or to a
religious life would lie in the almos, in.
ability, 10 show the act rs self denial.
When from love to another Child fore.
goes desired pleasure, and receives well
done, so pronounced as to produce Joy, if
to such we say, you are rcapiug the fruits
l wanted to do that because love the one
for whom did it,"
There are in the world men and women
who have given themselves over to do
many acts that find no approval in their
conscience. Buried in indifference, for.
getful of God. they move out INTO the
deep fasthess of sin to have woven about
them cords they can perhaps never fully
snap They may come to time in life
when the full force of their wickedness
settles as dark cloud abou; them. Mem
Dry lifts from other days acts they would
Danish but cannot. There may be in
every thought the faint of a past wicked
ness made present bv great remorse.
Such people, led into deep conviction of
sin sigh for rest, for the assurance of u
divine pardon, for hope from the dread
effects now felt in them. A look at the
christian life from that standpoint must be
one that they alone can sense who have
felt it, 1t Is right easy to see how when
such form determination to live life of
discipleship to Jesus it implies an unre-
hitting struggle against disorganized
self. Such life must be one of intense
self crucifixion following self surrender,
and accompanied by cross bearing.
OF necessity how wide the contrast in
view and desire between SUCH and one
who stands in childhood, or trembling
hopeing-on the border land between child
hood and young manhood or womanhood
To these the idea Of perpetual self de
NAL seems a hard. harsh. severe requir
ment. Its need is not felt. Disorganiza
ton has not resulted yet. Reorganization
of life marks their stage Of development
They are capable (as self judges to do thi
work by the ordinary means of life with
out entering the more specific list of duties
they have been taught as a part of chris
tian cndeavor and life. They feel tina
certain ambitions can better be realized
by drifting along the tide Of conventions
morality, than by systematic endeavor {,
regulate life by the stern discipline O
discipleship to the Lord. As 1t seems {,
such. personal freedom is interfered with
To humanity that is repayment AS tn
picture realm of childhood is left, thes
products of vivid imagination whic
once enwrapt the mind and fired the hear