Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-08-23
3eli0inms department.
"THE LIGHTS ALONG THE
SHORE"

The poet was happy in his concep-
ton of Christian character. Christ
said, eye are the light of the world"
Christians are lights in the world.
They are the lights by which the
world sees, to great extent. The
world interprets Christianity as it Is
developed in the disciples of Christ.
The church is the worlds Bible, and
it reads the church more critically
than the Word of God. This fact
intensifes the obligation of Christians
to develop Christianity as 1t is in
truth. No disciple of the Lord Jesus
can think of this without realizing
the necessity of living a true life, a
life consecrated and conformed to
the highest principles of Christianity.
The true worth and value of Chris
tianity are more positively felt by the
world in it's practical unfoldings in
human experience, and in its power
and conservative influence on human
character. It is the chief duty of
Christians to build up charact ers, to
establish monuments that shall re-
veal the power and granduer or
Christianity. The true power of
Christ does not consist in what He
said, so much as in what He was,
and what He did. 1t is our distlnc-
tive personality standing out so
grandly, so lovely in human history,
that calls forth the unqualified admi-
ration of the world. He is growing
upon the affections and sympathies
every day.
The same is true of Christians.
There is more in what they are, than
in what they say. They may be ever
so Jealous, ever so sound in doctrine,
ever so liberal in supporting the
ministry, if they have not produced
a character that shall command the
respect and admiration, and win the
confidence of men, they have failed
to give a correct Interpretation of
Christianity, and are hindrances to
it's progress. We may express in
actions what we cannot express in
words. So in religion, men may
make eloquent professions, and speak
logically and forcibly on the facts
and doctrines of Christianity, but
they cannot make men feel the force
of their logic in words. Actions eff
fectually emphasize logic.
We do not need so much of that
religion which consists only in facts
and principles, but we need that re-
ligion which is a joyful experience of
the heart that brings the soul into
communion with God, and creates a
conscious happiness that thrills every
fibre of our moral nature. What an
experience is that of the Christian ;
every day growing in interest, every
day making new developments and
disclosures. 1t is a positive expert
ence; light whose radiance extends
itself far and wide; light that is
growing brighter and clearer as the
years roll on; an experience that
forms the grandest themes for our
thought and song. Oh, may we, dear
readers, "grow in grace, and in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that our light may grow brighter
that others may find in us the true
Interpretation of the "glorious Cos
pei of the blessed Cod" that they
NAV read it IN our words and actions
Religion is life, and the decay Of
religious life is attended with the de-
cay of religious belief. Let US bt
therefore, the candles of the Lord tt
light the dark world of mankind tt
Christ and glory. Let us strive to b'
polished mirrors to reflect the imag'
of God. Let us try to live so tina
when the world looks upon US it will
say 'sThere, that is it; that is wha
want to be. Then we will glorif.
our Father in heaven then our Faith
er in heaven will glorify US with ;
glory whose effulgence will irradiat'
our eternity with its supefnal lowell
ness.-ReV. j. l.. HUI.