The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-20

that the original idea of telling beads as the
Roman Catholic votary does it, was for the pur-
pose of recalling as by method of mnemonics,
incidents in the life of Jesus; each bead, as it
passes through the fingers, standing for some
fact or word. The ignorant, no doubt. may miss
the meaning But the idea was not without its
force and beauty. A constant catalogue of the
Divine Mans deeds and words should make-it
ought to make-an impression that should fash
ion the votary's heart But what forms do
without the sprite Now Gods purpose is to
make, through him, the quickenng spirit
Christly men and women in His church. The
church should prove itself to be made of those
who will do what Christ, under like circumstan-
ces would do. You are to ask yourselves seri-
ously the question, What would Jesus Christ do
in my placel You may be perplexed, sometimes,
with difficulties, because circumstances are
never twice precisely alike. But the guiding
Of Christ, lying back of action,
can and will make the conduct always Christly.
And the law of Christ's life comes to every one
of you, just as if you alone were to be the Christ
ly man or woman. On a desert island or in q
crowded city the claim to be and to do the best,
under the circumstances, is just the same. Your
own self-respect, your instinct of right should
keep you in any place from any baseness. You
should honor your own soul and body too much
to be untrue to yourself even if you were alone
in the world. But with the presence of others
new claims come. No one can crowd upon an
others rights without hurting two parties him
self and the other-and which the most it is not
easy to say. But clearly it is better to suffer
wrong than to intlict wrong.
1t is this carefulness towards others rights
which. most sgnally of all things in common
life, interprets the Christian. When Saul, the
first appointed King of Israel, had the eyes of
the people turned on him, as he stood unpreten-
tiously among them. it was seen that he was
head and shoulders above them all, and the peO-
pie spontaneously raised shout, GOD save the
King"
Frederick of Prussia, father of Frederick the
Great, laid the foundation for the rare military
| career of his famous son. He gath
cred together and trained army
of athletes Wherever in the kingdom he
heard of aman of unusual size and strength he got
him if lie could into his royal guard where none
less than men Of six feet high were taken. Now
Christians should stand SIX feet high, if this be
the full stature of a man; and whatever more
may answer to the measure of the stature of the
fulness Of Christ. Set men in a row moral
plane and you should be able to pick out the fol-
lowers of Jesus Christ at glance They should
stand head and shoulders above all who have had
no such birth and training as the household of
faith is supposed to give. You pick out
every time those that have honored their birth
and training. And you will find that often
where is least pretension there is most Of the
Christly stature. Ifyou run your eye along the
line of historic men you will find that those who
were least eager to exalt themselves and most
regardful of others stand easily the highest.
You lind 1t so always. Lately the diary OF that
unique HldI OeUeTdl 0OruOn OIL hDarLOQm, mas
been published and it exalts the to
their view who had set him highest. A brief
| review says Nowhere does he pose for effect
In the least degree, or seem to care how what he
says may impress others concerning himself,
although he foresaw that his writings might be
published. But everywhere his words
reveal distinctly the real and noble char
acter which he possessed. No one can
read them without feeling himself in the pres
ence of a Christian and hero. General
Gordon's directness, illustrated in both speech
and action, has made him famous. In spite of
some eccentrcites and faults Gordon is likely
to 60 down in history the most knightly
character of the age, and it is because ne lit
orally cared for nothing else in comparison with
the doing of his full duty to God and man." Yes.
| think that is it which makes the measure of
the stature of the fulness of Christ For, as
Jesus Christ stands in His confessed greatness
before men, hear what He says Il came not
to do mine own WILL but the will of Him that
sent me-" Il must work the works of Him that
SenJme while it is day the night cometh wherein
man can work" This blending of love and
duty will fulfil the ideal. You need not trouble
yourself about what men say if you keep a
science void Of offense before God and man. You
may trust your good name to Him who knows
how to keep it. 1t may give you pain if some
times motives are mlsconstrued and friendships
alenated. While we see through glass darky
and not with open vision, eye to eye and
heart to heart-we are subject to misconcep-
tons. 1t has been so all through the history of
the church. Pau! and Barnabas stood apart for
time. Paul and the church of Galatia.
But let us think less of what is due to us and
more of what is due to others and to Christ.
Sef-fOrgetfulneSS is a charming virtue. Let
rs have more of it. Even Christ" cries Paul,
pleased not Himself, but made Himself of no
| reputation: He humbled Himself and became obe-
dent unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore mark the force Of that coniunction
wherefore God hath highly exalted Him and
given Him name which is above every name"
Did not Christ say, He that exalteth himself
shall be abased, but he that humbleth himself
Shall be exaitedE" Look, then, at the ideal:
Turn not your eyes from Jesus Christ. Behold
the man! Initiate Him, This is the final aim
OF church and ministry have tried thus to
| teach. l have wished to present every man per-
feet before God. Noone can be more conscious
than myself of my limitations and shortcomings
But have carried this church on my heart
and its spiritual good has been to me higher than
all temporlzlng or temporary good And now,
as close think of that measure and undertone
as If of the eternal music in the earlier words of
the text, ''Iill we all come in the unity of the
faith and Of the knowledge of the Son of God"
Home, sweet home' sounds in the words
Till we come, all come'-not in diversity of
feeling but In unity; not in imperfect under
| standing, but in the knowledge of the Son of
God. Is not this the sort OF music to which to
march! Is not this an inspiring joy set before us!
| ooh what sweet company
We there shall hear and see,
In Zion where His name is sung"
| What hopes will be fulfilled when YOU shall
| both behold and help to constitute that great
company who have reached the measure of the
| stature of the fulness of Christ! Think Of it and
take courage Think of it mothers of house
holds, who perhaps despondingly say, II have
| no sphere of service to make me full-statured."
| Yes. surely you have And some of you stand
head and shoulders above many brethren. Some
| OF you have trained and are training children into
| these proportions some of them you nave already
given over TO glory. No work can be grander than
| that. Think of your high -callins-. young men
and maidens; what clear, high aim to be mus
tered as if into the body guard of Jesus Christ
If true and faithful you shall follow Him whose
| name is faithful and true in that
| great cavalcade which John pictures in
heaven Some of you here are business
| men, and you to do business
| on such heavenly principles that your bank