New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-25
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE,

PRESIDENT BEACH AT WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
IyRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
MIpDLETowN, Conn, June 24.-The Rev. DR..
John W. Beach, president OF Wesleyan University
preached his baecaaureate this morning in the
Methodist Episcopal Church. taking his text Romans
xiii IA: Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ"
In tie thought OF many he said Christian life Is
much at variance with the constitution of this world
in agreement with that OF the world which is to come
this conception is to be found the reason why Chris
tian is often urged upon with very little success
Christian life such contrvance 1t is TO be thought
or not as system which ignores the opportunities Of
the present world as only system which enables
man place nd keep himself ia perfect harmony with
the constitution OF the world around him. The truth is
there normal development apart from Christian
life To who seeks 10 lay hold OF all the resources
Of this world Christian life is basal being itself
In many respects that Is really dead to this world
whose life does not appetences and directions
under the bias of the teachings OF Christ To him the
world becomes, in great measure an outlying terri
tory His loTdshp II and Inheritance in 1t shrink
away from the worlds richness and fulness and give 10
him bat of pOtage instead of his birthrght just
as here and there element IN nature without any
change its substance becomes vastly differ
ent in It's qualities it feels the alchemy Of this that
proyocaton; by law Of operation this world is
beginning as the coal the collier chars while by another
1t is as choice and elegant the diamond The exhoi
T. ton OF the text application. We
q
priest and cleric and frar and nan. IL Is not parCu-
larry addressed and women Of singular and ex-
travagant devotion III discrimination must be made
the text Il rather regimen for that whose aec-
lions turn this world: whose hand il stretched out
after its wealth and culture aud honors To such man
the instruction OF this passage Is nothing less than
lesson his eager study without which all others may
be OF very little very unhappy consequence IL Is also
direct ineligible and thoroughly practical counsel
upon which To construct Christian life "How may
know that l am the manner Of man which God would
have be ," has besn the call or feeling of millions
What answers have been made 10 this demsndi Think
OF some, of almost all of them Truthful they may have
BEEN sound heologicay they may have BEEN but not
whit the better 10 solve the tremendous problem Say
you will Of truth there great holpfuness IN it
a VIXEN lie hears il in unknown tongue. How
often men are taught the way OF Christian life IN terms
that sages might study long and understand.
Does God intend that the way OF life should stand
lated 10 mans knowledge and apprehension Never.
He means that this way should be plain the sun
~Pnt Se on the Lord Jesus Christ" If these words
mean nything, they mean this that the essence OF be-
coming aud being Christian, Is In becoming and beng
IKE Christ We are to test ourselves by our resemblance
70 Christ We are 10 take mp tue ways and methods OF
do not mistake the true sight canoe OF the text The
Apostle does not give the same counsel which the
disciple, let him follow me-" Is Paula hsretici Then
the arch heretlc Is Christ After the fashion that
tuen call beresy We need not he afraid God
many respects Christ cannot be literally Initiated He
resembes 10 anSSet a.y snGh common ana vulgar
act states iie occupied His lie, IN almost all those
bhiu 1919 winch many man has thought put on in
ordert DO much h1e Christ was not exemplary but
Slcailoas Christ was with substtutiOnally His
suDsutulons Tor us began began 10 due bat
when lie began to live His life has very little
~ u or nan p'esaSs to Initiate It's in respect OF hs
character that he Is the great example Our duty and
study 70 lake up HIS character, and different
circ1ts ances colle ourselves H. IN putting on
Christ 70 think, being what He Was n Ills
place. but OF beng what Tie would DC in ours
Men often think they put Christ when they rather
have put themselves ON Him. They lead and compel
Him 10 follow. That was the order oil procedure al The
crucxion, and Christ generally served now rs then
when that order s restored Here Is greatest lab-
lily OF ms,aketO make Christ like ourselves The at
Dosphere OF self dense Almost everything is within
is scope and the Sun of righteousness may take our
shadows ana live in OAR sky under that eclipse. We
prone 70 project ourselves everything; and, Az in
Greek story the gods are moving about under the dis
guises OF common oar Great Example may con-
eealed under The rotten robe OF righteousness
That We live in times when mastering all tie
resources OF cunning scholarship the contest con-
corning Christ, IA lot an unmxed evil. Great battle