The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-06-22

chance TO the back attic or storeroom.
Why all this display? What has been
added to the strength and worth of socie-
ty, with these facts facing oncs How
much better of are you reallyg No. no.
we will not measure thus specifically.
II is not so much what have you mastered
of knowledge to carry forth into the
world; q but in gaining that knowledge
what principles have mastered you. Not
what facts have you laid on the mind. but
what principles have entered into and as
simulated the mind TO themselves, so that
you are TO be henceforth consciously or
unconsciously, or both. the opponents Of
them in the great whirl Of life. In short.
what has been the actual and abiding re-
suit of the course of study now ending,
We say the freedom it has impaired.
Freedom to use the mind a. you will.
Freedom to think consecutively; freedom
to diligently attend where application Of
brain and not Drawn is needed; freedom
to read intelligently that demanding
thought; freedom to lift yourself by the
power Of disciplined mind above your
hindrances: freedom 10 subordinate to
you own use, forces and principles you
have learned TO combine. What now
Why just as oil forms of nature as we
know them, are but variable adaptations
OF invariable principles. so all OF life. di
versined though it he in outward form,
finds itself compelled to do homage to
that gained once. but forever part of
yourself. So far as faithfulness has ruled
you in your school life, that has been the
best result. That result abides. You can
never be the same with the Discipline
passed through, that you would have been
without 1t. l do not say you will be bet
ter, you may be worse. You are more
capable, and the force thus generated is
. part Ut your character forever. You
gained it by servitude. and the intensity
Of that servitude, to-day measures the de-
gree of freedom from the weakness Of
ignorance.
'Tis the same in the christian life. The
organization Of the moral nature so
that it may rise above the vassalage of sin I;
so that when good is present we may do
1t, this is liberty. When man can find
how 10 do the good he would, and avoid
the evil he would not. he is free man.
That is developed character That is
moral perfcctness. AS in life we do
avoid that vassalage to SIM we have the
liberty. The formation of such charac-
ter Is life work. A visit to the anxious
seat, u testimony in the prayer meeting,
the circulation of a missionary subscrip-
| ton paper, the purchase of a flexible bible,
vice in all directions that is needed. I'm
selfishness in action whatever the seeming
result is. The exercise of the devotional
| spirit as well as the mental activities.
There are some phases Of duty that carry
with them appeals for their execution in
certain seen, temporal. incidental effects
they produce. II we can sit down with
| these before us and make selections to
suit ourselves, we could DO them, so we
think. No one would make such selec.
ton II conscious that the object of chris.
tian living which was the highest, was
the eternal effect OF service wrought into
character He would ask higher than
himself, the Master to do that for him.
President Garfield said character is the
chief element; for it is both result and
use,-a result of influences and cause
of results" Another has said 1.-THE for
nation of habits by acts Of the will against
inclination is indeed the working of the
law by which the mind is prepared for a
higher state, in which feeling, and incli
nation ITSELF moves it to good"
That in the christian life, which ever
holds the admiration of the mind, its prom
ised outcome as seen here on earth, is the
best picture of that endless freedom to
which the energies of man aspire. Tha,
assimilation of human character with di
vine character which lifts service into
friendship, and gives the freedom Of son
ship 10 those whose discipleship to Christ
is real and protracted, is the better par,
which cannot be taken from us. To
have that, to have attained unto 1t so tina,
it works in us, and we by it, through 0
force of fxedness, by the power of per
fected habit, is the highest. freest form Of
life. Religious discipline, demanding the
exercise of the spirit, when it may be hard
when it may seem profitless. against per
sonal and selfish views and hopes. look.
toward that end. and though the act may
be forgotten, though its outward effec
may be transitory, fleeting. the act, an.
act Of duty or devotion done. helps t.
that desired goal. The act never abide
on the spot whefe it is performed. tire
turns in us, to effect for veal or woe, thu
character that impelled 1t forth. 1
| W.. Lo,. a. c,,.It ,,,b, An .o ,.o,,o. Il.