National Republican., 1883-02-26


abode OF piety. Wealth may go far toward
making home comfortable, and kindlincss and
hospitality may fill the place with an atmos-
phcrc Of cheer and good will, but the ideal
home, where the heart is rested and the life
made tender, yet strong, must have in 1t much
Of godlness Blessed is that home where the
parents have learned to daily acknowledge
the Father in heaven as their Father, who
have taught their children so TO come to him,
where piety is not name, but fact, entering
into and coloring all thought, feeling, and ac-
tion. There are still some such homes on earth,
not somher sepulchers with the whitcned
bones of q deCaying piety, but places so peace
ful and pure and bright that men love to
linger there rather than breast the rude blasts
Of outside life again. These homes are not to
bo found among those with whom piety Is o
matter TO be carried on rs il IL were a branch
Of earthly business, with all its push, its roar,
its turmoil, but among those who, when they
have toiled their appointed day without, seek
their home as place of rest, where they may
meet again those they love, chiefe5t among
| whom is the blessed Christ himself waiting at
the portal to welcome the tired hand and
heart Godliness is profitable to ones kim
dred as well as TO o man himself, because it
| renders n mans home more hallowed place,
wherein may be found obedience TO, love for,
and confidence in God and one another.
Godliness again is profitable to the world.
Adventurers, spectators in morals and neo-
phytes in science, scout piety as hindrance
to man, but tho more thoughtful of men upon
whom the responsibility of government and
the administration of justice rests recognize
in piety the most potent ally In the conserva-
tiOn of all that is valuable in the social life of
the world. GOdliness docs not demand police
nor prisons, 1t builds schools, endows univer-
stiles, creates libraries, promotes order, cares
for the suffering, cultivates peace, and teaches
frugality and industry. Looking over the
whole field therefore we are prepared to say
that godliness is profitable unto all things,
unto the man himself unto his kindred, and
the world, indeed with the apostle we would
further remark that Godliness has the prom
ise of the life that now is.
1t is customary for some to whine great
deal concerning the Affections of the righteous,
but If the truth were known these troubles
generally arise from the want of godliness
rather than the presence of it. In the pres
ent day it generally happens that man who
possesses this quality of godliness gains far
more of earthly blessings oven than he loses
by il.
This quality Of Godliness will not atone for
the want of brains, skill, and native energy.
Given two men of somewhere equal abilities
and opportunities, and godliness shall weave a
richer crown of wealth and honor for the one
than impiety can furnish for the other
True thore have been martyrs and there are
some at the present time who are called upon
to sacrifice earthly good ut the bidding OF
piety.
Godliness helps us to gather up the glory
and the beauty Of carth but however rich
there things may be we cannot preserve them
any more than we can the fragile flowers of
the field. 1t was not designed that we should.
Existence is largely remembrance and u
hope. Tho present is only moment. We
greet it and 1t is gone. The moments are few
also, only the dawning of an endless day.
Hence we remark again that godllness has
the promise not only of the present life, but
of the life to cOrne-all the days of mans
existence here or hereafter.
When this quality OF godliness has calmed
the spirit in thatitrying ordeal Of its separa-
tion from its earthly home, when the weary
body has fallen asleep, what doth gOdliness
profit the soul in its new and untried estate
We need not speculate concerning IL. We
know very little about the future What we
do knew is learned from Gods word. Shall
we have need OF godlness thenl surely, ii
anything shall be desirable it shall be that.
Any man will admit this, even those who
imagine this quality Of godliness q clog upon
life here would esteem it n blessing to possess
ii there But whether men admit IL or not
one thing is certain, according to the word
that at death the souls of the gsdly go to be
| with Jesus Christ. Have the eyes seen beau.
tiful sights here on earth have the cars heard
ravishing sounds2 Know ye that eye hath
not yet seen nor ear heard, neither hath
it entered into tho heart of man 30 conceive
the things that God hath prepared for them
| that love him.
This quality of godliness is not allowed full
expression here on earth. 1t is itself ro.
pressed by evil and evil Deeds but there the
| pure in heart shall see God. This is one OF
the rewards of piets aud holiness without
which no man shall see His face. Many man
| looks upon the face of nature, and says SEQ nC
| God here. lie looks oil into the distant
heavens and beyond the myriads Of suns, and
| still he says find no God. No telescope mar
ever made to peer into tho distant nebul@, NJ
spectroscOpe that yields the glowing tints o
| the distant planets can find out God. Only
unto those whose eyes have become enamored
OF the beauty of holiness shall at longth bt
revealed the glorious presence of Him before
| whom tho angels veil their faces, crying holy
holy, Lord God Almighty.
| The passports to the courts Of earthly princes
are Oftentimes wealth and renOwn, but tn,
| cOuntersign of the heavenly city, whOst
| builder aud maker is God, where Jesus dwoll
| at tho right hand of the Father, is piety.
Doubtless there are many here who aspire
unto place in the mansions which Jesus ha!
prepared for those who love Him. If so, 10
them remember this: That it is godlines
] alone that is profitable unto all thugs thu
| it is gOdliness alone that has promise of th'
present life; that it is godliness alone tina
has the promise of the life to come, and le
them begin this day to possess it.