The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-10-27
THE LIFE WORTH LIVING.

Dy Bsing Unselfish. Earnest, Thoughtful.
True and Christ-Like. All Doubts of
Lifs's Value will he Solved.
To the Christian thinker and worker
there is an abiding interest in the ,ques-
ton us Life Worth LivingrH Nor
is there any doubt as to the answer to
the question when viewed from the
Christian standpoint. The new mean
ing gwen to the life of humanity by
the Gospel; the increased dignity given
t05nlun by the incarnationA--the taking
ON by the Divine of the human form
and nature; the outworking through
human life and activity by the incom-
ing Divine power of the more beauti-
full and abiding results now seen in
Christian character as developed in So
eiety and in the individual all of these
have added so much to our conception
of what life means and is. that we un-
hesitatingly answer tho question in the
affirmative. 81.
There is life not worth living--a
life that it were infinitely better that
one had not lived it. There are glori-
Gus possibilities in every human being;
but in the realization of these possibiIi-
ties there is q chance for an in
finite loss as we'll as an infinite
gain. Light and knowledge bring i'll
creased responsibility. The peril to
tin unheeding and disobedient appears
the more terrible in the light Of the
revelation of Jesus Christ. But there
is a life worth living. Let us look at
some Of its elements. @R&A ~
One of the first Is an earnest purpose.
1t is doubtless true that there can be
no real success without this. tits an
ever present factor in secular history.
Study the history and character of such
men as Hannibal, the great Carthagin-
ian General; Alexander the Great;
Cesar; or th9 hobler Americans,
Washington and Lincoln; in all of
these and the hundreds more whose
names are retained upon the lengthen-
ing scroll OF history, you find the earn
est, positive purpose-the purpose to
do some definite thing and to do it Us
well as was possible. ' XXI -.
This thought leads naturally to an
other which we must emphasize: The
life which is worth living can not be a
selfish life. 1t must be life in which
others have part and an interest.
No man lives to himself or dies to
himself Such q life must be one
which brings good to Others. If the
possessions 0f wealth is esteemed as q
trust, if position and fame in the world
are accepted as Instruments by which
to benefit. mankind, then we may
wisely seek these things for these ends.
But 1t Is also true that II we consider
these things rs of primary importance,
life may be called successful according
to the worlds estimate and yet not be
worth the living after all. And then,
that life Is not up to the perfect stand
ard which is not power in and of it.
self, !. G., a reality. q force. an in
tluence, exerting itself to mold its sur
roundings wherever It moves. Such
life is not soon forgotten; it leaves a
lasting impress upon the world. The
work of Moses did not cease when
he was laid in that name
less grave on, NebO's lonely
mountain. His influence in molding
the legislation of the ages after d.
vine pattern and permeating it with q
Divine spirit, is going forw ard even to-
day, and has not yet reached its per-
lection. Paul still breaches the UNI
adulterated Gospel OF the Son of God
to the nineteenth century, and will to
the centuries yet to come. Edwards is
not yet forgotten. Though the theolo-
gy Of this generation may use slight.
y varied phraseology, still this clear
thinker on the, ways and woA Of God
will ever have an important place In
the history of the, development OF
Christian thought and life, despite the
pipers piping their little reeds at him.
Wesley's memory and influence are
still fresh IN the memory of the living
generation Thus, it ever is. The true
life can not die; the good influences
extend through the eternities. Even
this view of the matter-'.the name and
influence we leave behind us'--is worth
thinking of. Who would not rather
live for the reputation of Washing
ton, a Lincoln. Howard, than for that
Of Nero, Charles IN or Catherine Dc
| Needless? a IVY vi fF -
The life that is worth living is one
whose influence tends to elevate and
ennoblc, so far as it comes into contact
with them, the social customs. The bpsi.
| ness rules. the literary caslnns and the