The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-02-15
TRUE GOODNESS
An Able Discourse Preached Yesterday At
the Firut PrsSby tsrIGu Church, by Rev.
DIR. BslIeVlIle, OF Pottstuvp, Pa, on
tHiS subIsOt-FoOd for Thought.

NJ beli6Vllls, oil thia city, pleached
at the First Presbyterian church
yesterday morning to q large and atteu-
tive congregation. The subject OF his dis
course was, "The Profit OF Goodness in
the Present" his text being taken from /
Timothy iv'S, Bodily exercise profiteth
little, but godliness is profitable unto all
thingsi having promise OF the life that
now ia and Of that which is to come"
The text presents contrast between two
things that at first sight seem scarcely to
admit OF comparison-bodily exercise and
goiIiHes, To appreciate it one must re.
cognige thatthe bodily exercise" to hich
Paul refers Is evidently in the matter OF
religion. He was speaking to those who
in alter days should corrupt the tTus relig'
ion by CoElouniing it with their own mis-.
taken requirements and he applies to them
language, which by many in our day
would be thought very severe. Mere out.
ward forms, movements Of the body, are in
themselves Of little value, but true godli.
ness is prof liable. The contrast presented
brings hons at the outset the important
thought that tue piety is primarily u
matter tl the Boul, IL has not only its
origin but its essense in that true regard
for God which comes OF u belief which,
when genuine, bege,s trust in Him ana
gratitude, love and obedience to Him;
aud that sympathy with mankind and con.
slant devotion to the real gOJd OF all
around us which comes OF tho "lOye OF
God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy
Ghost" This is true godliness.
TRuE RELIGION GOOD FoR ALI TINEs.
lie seems also to have had iu view m.
other Glars Of Christians, not lew in our
day, who look upon religion too preva.
ently az a matter for the life 10 come as
a good thing for ones dying hour, wnen
the shadow OF death lads upon the home
and heart; good ior Sundays and funerals;
iorthe poor, siCG and aged tOrall who have
nothing els0, They also say that 1t Is
good to know something OF 1t early, for
there Is no knowing when the gloomy day
may come. The writer Of this diVluely
prompted letter says, this is u CariCature
Of the truth" True religion belongs as
much to liis's brightest days and busiest
scenes rs to its Sundays aud Ito funerals;
ono needs II to live by as much rs to die
by; one would need it il he were never
to die--if there were in thiS world no
such thing rs tears and signs.
GOODNESS THE BEST BASIS.
Gohliness 10 the best blsis for a truly Gle.
waited character The inst aim Of everyone
ahOuld ba tue possession OF such q char.
aCter-nOt reputation for it hut the thing
itself. Reputation, good or i'll, Is some.
thing man has that he may or may not
be entitled to. Character Is what he Is,
and every character has q basis which Is
something more than u more foundation.
This basis Is u nOurisher OF lie by which
there flows continually into the whole lie
that which gives il its direction. 1t Is well
for everyone to often inquire, what is that
which gives character 10 my character?
AndwOwiil belikely 10 discover the truean-
swer to this question by honestly answer
Ing another, viz: What Ia the question
most generally ask within me when con.
sdering whether shall or shall not do q
thing? A very prevalent question Is,
"Will It pay will II tend TO my tenn
poral advantage? The iiEst question should
Rlways be, Is 1t right? That is tho cues
ton Of gOdliueE. Character in any one
grows upward by seeking bomething
higher than itself. The man who Ia his
own high standard never grOwa except 1t
be downwa Man often fails, however,
Of ascending baCauae OF cad mistakes as to
who and what Is above him. There IL no
truly saio standard toward which 10 strive
but God, and in order 10 be successful the
heart striving must know Him-a heart
conscious Of Gods love aud giving In re-
turn the same. This is the striving for
godlineBs.
A SAFEGUARD AGAINST TnE ASSAULTS OF
VICE.
Goodness Is profitable to the life that
now 10 because 1t Is the only cure safe.
guard against the assaults Of vice. The
great question OF the hour is, what shall
stay the progress Of vice in tho individual
and in society? And the only truly sats.
factory answer which has yet been found
Ia true godliness ID the heart and lie.
We live in an age when mitch dependence
is placed In the power Of salutary law
the power ollaws enacted by the virtuous
for tho purpose oil restraining and reform.
ing the vicious and prohibiting society
against the approaches Of vice. In this
very statement We have indicated tho
weakness Of this refuge. Vice may be
more potent than virtue in enaCtinG law
and even II virtue enacts the Laws and
guards them with penalties, vice may give
tone 10 their execution. We have laws
against profanity, Sabbath breaking, in.
temperance, liGentiousness, gambling and
vice in oil it's iormg yet who does not
i know nom .,i ,Po.e ,, .uey o..en are; suGn
laws are ",se P'onsuG T I"ey ire lAitnlul.y
s saeoI.Io1 ""0 kUS'"'u. WIN auequS'e
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