Thomas County cat., 1886-11-04
THE LIFE WORTH LIVING.

Ey Being Unselfish, Earnest, Thoughtful,
True and Christ-i.ikc, All Doubts OF
LIES Value VIII BE Solved.
To the Christian thinker and worker
there is an abiding interest in the ques-
ton is Life Worth Living?" 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
to man by the incarna.ion-the taking
on by the Divine of the human form
anu nature; the working through
human lie and activity .bv the incom-
ing Divine power of the more beauti-
1ul and abiding results now seen in
Christian character as developed in So
ciety ana in the individual Of these
have added 50 much to our conception
OF what lite means and is. that we I'M
hcsitatln@iy answer the question in the
affirmative
There is q 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 possibili-
ties there is chance for an in
finite loss as well as an infinite
gain. Light and knowledge bring i'll
creased responsibility. The peril to
the unheeding and disobedient appears
the more terrible in the light of the
revelation of Jesus Christ. But there
is q life worth living. Let us look at
some Of its elements.
One of the first is an earnest purpose.
1t Is doubtless true that there can be
no real success without this. 1t is an
ever present factor in secular history
Study the history and character of such
:nen rs Hannibal. the great Carthagin
ian General: Alexander the Great
Cesar; or the nobler 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 as
We'll rs was possible.
This thought leads naturally to an
other which we must emphasizes: 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 a life must be one
which brings good to others. If the
possession of wealth is esteemed as a
trust, if position and fame in the world
are accepted as instruments by which
1o benefit mankind. then we NAV
wisely seek these things for these ends.
But it is also true that if we consider
these things as of primary importance,
life may be called successful according
10 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 a power in and of it.
self. i. e.. reality, force, an in
tiuence, 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 Di-
vine pattern and permeating it with a
Divine spirit. is going forw ard even to-
day. and has not yet reached its per-
fection. Paul still breaches the un-
adulteratcd Gospel of the Son of God
to the nineteenth century. and will to
the centuries vet to come Edwards is
not We. forgotten. Though the theole-
gy of tkis generation may use q slight
1y varied phraseolOgy, still this clear
thinker on the ways and word of God
will ever have an important place in
1he history of the development of
Christian thought and life, despite the
pipers piping their little reeds at him.
Nesiey's memory and influence are
still! fresh IN the memory of the living
generation. Thus it ever lis The true
life can not die; the good influences
extend through the eteruities. 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
ion. a Lincoln, Il Howard, than for that
of Nero. Charles X or Catherine De
Medicis?
The life that is worth living is one
whose influence tends to elevate and
SO far as it com es into contact
with them, the social customs, the busi-
ness rules, the literary canCns and the
political principles and mo>ements of
the times. This demands thoughtful,