The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-12-23

Dulluulg up tnelf- religious cndTdcIeT, anu
fitting themselves for the great test at
the Judgment Bar. 1t is quite natural
for the poor weak mortal who is attempt
ing to make some advancement in the
Christian journey, to feel that there
should be more concessions by Divine
Power, and less earnest effort on the part
of human weakness. God is all-power
full, we are so weak Why, therefore,
should we agonize, and labor, and strive,
on and on, in trying to come up to the re-
quirements of Divine Law, when by a
simple word of power the Law could be
so modified as to make our way easy, as
viewed from an earthly standpoint?
This idea must be gotten rid of before
the soul can fairly start upon the Chris
tian journey. We know it is quite COM
mon for some of the Evangelists of the
modern school to exclaim: ASK God for
just what you want. and you'll get it
SURELY" A greater mistake was never
made by man. God does not run his
Kingdom upon the principle of charity
soup-house, that we may step in, careless
ly, and secure a dose of Divine Grace suf-
ficient for our present satisfaction, then
go our way, leaving the responsibility
Laws. There is no especial favor shown
to any one, and no mitigation of punish
ment to those that violate the Law.
There is in this world entirely too much
expected of the Divine Ruler, and too lit
tie expected ofs the subject. We must
come up to the measure of success in the
Christian experience just as we attain
success in anything else, by earnest, un-
firing effort.
Lazarus was a poor, miserable, scabby
vagabond, in the eyes of the rich man.
What" thought this dainty rich man,
"cOuld they want with such miserable
| specimen as that in Heaven?" Why, he
was SO filthy that the dog scavengers of
| the streets considered him as their prop
erty. By what method of reasoning could
the human mind picture this poor wretch
| in Paradise-the same Paradise which
the rich man was to enjoy by virtue of
his great merit? If the rich man, with
all his material wealth and worth, was
not to inherit that great reward, what
was the use of attaining degree of world
| ly excellence in this world. Yet, no mat
ter how surprising to finite minds, when
both died, the poor wretch reposed in
Abraham's bosom, and the rich man lift
ed up his eyes in hell, being in torment.
| There was the great lesson learned when
| too late to be of value-but what comes
out of the lesson? The rich man still
failed to recognize Christian duty and
Christian responsibility. He might read
lily see the neglect of his own earthly
life, but still comprehended only like ne
glect in others. His brethren would
| doubtless live just as he had lived, care
lessly relying upon earthly merit and ex-
cellence for spiritual success, and there
| by follow him into torment. 1t was in
view of this dangerous fact that the rich
man of earth-now made excessively poor
| -besought Abraham to send a warning
messenger and comforter to his breth-
ren, to teach them the great danger of the
| torment their brother was now enduring,
or rather undergoing. Here comes in the
great lesson which the human family
should hasten to learn carefully. "They
have Moses and the Prophets" The law
and evidence was before them all Proph-
ecy was before them; what more could
| they ask as an incentive to right mode
of living? Alb, but they would not be-
| lieve! There was the trouble. Unless
one went to them from the dead, they
would consider the lesson as of no cOnse-
quence or Importance. But if one like
Lazarus was recalled from the dead, they
might be led to believe the words of wis
dom, to live on the side of pure, meek
| Christianity, and thus be saved. But the
| answer is, if we will not believe the eyi-
dence that we have, it will be useless ev-
| en- to send back one from the dead, be-
cause there is abundant testimony already
| of the glory Of living according to the
precepts of the word.
We have the evidences Of Christianity
| all about us, or more particularly speak
ing, the evidences of the provision made
by the All-wise Creator for the safety and
progress of his children. We should i'm
press upon our minds with! great force
the danger of pleading a.lack of under
standing as our excuse for neglect. Ev-
cry mortal may grow in grace and knowl-
edge of the truth from day to day during
temporal life. But the progress will de-
pend largely upon ourselves, after all.
There are fixed conditions by and through
which we may advance in Christian grace
and character. Beyond these provisions,
the responsibility is with US. We cannot
expect any special revelation or dispen-
sation in our behalf. But plain, straight
forward practical duty, if we would sue
ceed.
There is just as much difference be-
tween the gushing Evangelist" who
prates about asking and receiving" and
the sober, plodding, honest heart that
asks for what it deeds" rather than what
it wants, as there is between the begging
tramp and the industrious workman.
There is no promise that we can plead as
our excuse for lying idle in the Christian
field and asking the angels Of the Lord to
bring blessings unto US. How would it
sound, when Christ says Behold, l stand
at the door and knock" to say, frankly,
that we were too lazy to open the door,
and that if the good Master could not
come in by some other way, he must re-
main on the outside? Is it at all proba-
BILE that there are any such Christians in
the great beyond, dwelling among the
Saints in glory?
Christian life is not a spasmodic, tiighty,
emotional experience, affecting the con-
venience and thought for a short time, it
may be, then to be thrown aside. A
thorough Christian will live a Christian
life just as he does piece of work, thor
oughly, conscientiously, and with deter
mination to make the most of all the
means at his command. There is no more
f., bo crocooO1iO nniCU 1ittln