The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-01-20
EXEMPLARY PIETv.
An AdmOnitiOn to Let Your Light So
nd Shine Before Mem. ff sos.

.ld Shine Before Mem. M s.
True religion, like light, is manifest
ed so as to be seen. As il is practical,
it is observable. Its possessor will be
known by what he possesses He will
be recognized by his essential ,charac-
teristics. The difficulties to be over
come in the proper exhibition of the
light of Goodness serve to render it's
manifestation mere decisive as q chi
terion of its genuineness. To let his
light shine may involve more than all
are ready to meet. The displeasure Of
the worldly may be incurred. andrper-
sonal interests may be endangered.
Friends may become foes, and prosper
ity may be changed to adversely, Real
fidelity is unwelcOme. and those in
whom this characteristic is prominent
may expect to be disliked and opposed
on this account. They will inevitably
come in conflicting contact with much
which they can not approve. but must
Enthusiastically disapprove, and bring
ing the light of truthfulness to honest
convictions as to what Is right and
obligatory to- bear directly upon that
which Is wrong. they-will be likely to
provoke ill-will and expose themselves
10 resentment and injury. f
It IL possible TO- maintain = moral
life. and sustain q kind Of religious
reputation, without meeting with much
II any hostility accustomed thereby, be-
cause of the absence of positive quail.
ties resembling light and because
there is nothing obviously antagonistic
therein whereby the realm of darkness
is invaded. The Christian name may
be assumed end retained without ex-
posure to odium or harm Of any sort,
because Of the indistinctness> of Chris
tan character. but when there Is q
Legitimate development of what's prop
erly called Christian, the hatred of the
light is quite sure to be expressed.
Tie light must shine, in order to &C.
complish the object for which it has
been said: o"Let there be light. q9d
While being q Christian is in some
respects d private matter, it is essen
tiafly and emphaticaliy public mat
ter. To all who would be acknOwl-
edged as Christians, inspired words are
addressed with reference to the ungod-
ly, saying: ."Among whom ye shine as
lights in the world. Their light is for
others as well as. for themselves. Kept
to themselves, it is Of comparatively lit
tie value, being rs light under BUSH
81 whichis exceedingly worthless. The
great Teacher plainly requires of His
disciples q display of their light by
those bearing His name, for the good
Of others and the glory of God. This
il according to the analogy of light,
one of the most distinguishing proper
ties of which is that it does not exis,
for itself, and that its mission Is most.
ly, il not wholly. benevolent. Light
exists for all created beings and things
and exerts its influence for the good o.
all existence, while it irradiates al
worlds and pours forth its effulgenct
everywhere. M t"UH'i
So the partakers of Divine grace car
say: .'None of us liveth to himself
and to them the injunction is given
ITO do good and to communicate, for
get not. Selfishness is not supreme
with them, it being in subsection to thu
spirit of Him who event about doing
good, and who gave Himself for thu
salvation Of others, even sinners perish
ing in sin. The soul illuminated il
conversion becomes an illumination 81
as to aid in delivering other souls from
darkness. Thus those who are blesset
become q blessing. The amount O
high: which those processing Godilnes
shed around them is fair criterion a!
to the amount of genuine piety the.
possess. If the light is in them, it
shining will be seen; and they best ex
emplify their piety as their light is tn
clearest and farthest seen.
Thus the light of piety should al
shine and always shine. The greater
the darkness the more need Of light
Surely light is more needed at midnigh
than at midday. 1t may be hard h
maintain exemplary piety in the mids
of prevailing impiety, and not easy t
be known as a Christian where relig
ion is slightly esteemed, il not held il
utter contempt; but it is there, of al
other places, where it is important t
be an active and consistent Christian
All would certainly pity the folly Q
him who carried about light by day
and extinguished it by night, becaus
of the extreme darkness! Not less in
consistent, however, is that professe
piety which is manifested only anon
the pious, and which is never distin
guished from that with which it is sui