Morning journal and courier., 1883-11-27
Suuxus! srIN GOurisr.
Tuesday. November a7, 1883.
Showing the Colors.
Sermon by Rev. MT. Meserve at the ID

Sermon by Rev. MT. Meserve at the DHv-
 snPOrt Church.
 Mir. Meserve on Sunday morning preached from Matthew, v:16. 'sLet your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven" Claiming the close attention of his hearers for subject of supreme impor- tancs, the preacher went on to say; "A badge shines by reaecting light, so Q man who makes religious profession may be said to shine, but such shining is not the kind re- ferred to by the Saviour here. A uniform shines, variously and considerably, marking a man as belonging to an organization as op- posed to others; so a man who is strongly attached to particular church or denomina- ton shines, but again it is not this shining that Jesus means. A lighted lamp shines be- cause it has the power of giving light and that power is put to use. It may be small be a huge lamp with bigfdams-the point is that it can ana ices shine; so man who is truly religious can and does shine. His lamp may not be large, but he puts it to use, it's desigaeS use, and so obeys the masters com mand in our text Such 8 man has a sound character, free from viceso and pos- sessed of virtues, built on the right foundation and according to spec ifications-see I. Cor. Sd chapter-well provided and conscientiously employed To produce such a character Jesus Christ came into the world, mastering the intellect with his revelations of God, stimulating the conscience with his moral principles. and arousing the affections with the outpourings of his own love. To direct the forth put tings of such character Jesus Christ be- came an example, showing what and how to do, telling us what to say and furnishing us with 8 supreme goal to aim at. with all our might. And to make the thing moro com plete and sure he has sent his holy spirit to form, train guide and sustain such charac- ter in all the stages of it's growth and useful ness.
 Character always shines. If it be bad, it shines with bal=ful and mischievous light. If it be good, it's shining is blessing to all who see it. The disciples are good and are urged to shine in the worlds moral darkness, both to banish the darkness and to counter act the evil which the false lights are work ing. They are to study this matter of shin ing, and do it to the best of their ability. There is to be no hiding in false modesty be- cause they are fishermen and not philosoph- CTS; nor in timidity, because they think themselves so poorly equipped and faced with such fearful odds. There is to be no dimness for lack of oil, since Gods grace is free; nor for lack of the need of shining, since the world is lying in darkness. What was urged upon them may be urged upon us with equal force. 'sArise and shine" rings down from heaven to our ears this day.
 This shining, thus provided for, is to be done in the shape of good works ''Doipg well" will not fill the measure of the com
 
 important, as true gentleness is always i'm portant, but at best they are only part of the believers furnishing. Abstinence from things evil and questionable, of such vast value to many minds. and certainly part of the Chris tain life, is doing well, not doing good. The same is true of those observances which have sprung up in churches and homes and are the channels of Christian feeling so general ly. None of these are good works' in the fullness of the Lords mea ming. He refers, I suppose, to such doing as that of the Samaritan in the parable, or of the fgood and faithful servants" in the other parable. This is the outgoing of love and helpfulness to those who are in need. It is altruism as opposed to selfshness. Herbert Spencer criticises Jesus for teaching it, claiming that it is not possible and would not be desirable if it were, but it is plain that more of it is desirable, and a sanctifed com mon sense may be depended upon to keep one within proper bounds. GeOrge MAC Donald says that ''doing one thing is better than merely knowing twenty things" and is not far from right.
 Jesus assigns two motives for such good works shining The first is 'that men may see your good works" The Christians proper object in his generation is to serve his fellows by bringing them acquainted with the treasures he has found for himself. They like cavern fish, blind it is his part to give them lipht Oet them into tha NvQtarS that are always light, and leave nothing undone that he can do that this may be accomplished. He is to do it as duty just as the sun and stars do their shining, being made for 1t, and yet none the less joyfully, remembering the poets fancy about the ''song of the spheres which, perhaps, is not all imagination. The other motive is that God may be glorifed. Christian shining glorifes God. When linen see your good works" they are led to ''elorify God" This is 8 prophecy and promise to gether. Shining accomplishes something ! This 'tglory of God" is not a mere senti- ment. it is accomplishment. It is 8 growing kingdom on earth. and a filling heaven above. It is men upifted and saved and swelling hallelujahs on both sides of Jordan. Roman triumphs monuments and saints days or feasts are honors; but these things I have mentioned are better honors, infinitely better! ''Let your light shine" means prepare it for shining. cause it to shine, make it shine all you can, and keep it shin ing yes, ''more and more unto the perfect day"