Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-02-04
EXEMPLARY PIETY.
An AimODition to Let Your Light So
Shine Before Men,.

An AGmODitiOn to "Let Your Light So
Shine Before Men,.
True religion, like light is manifest
ed SO as to be seen. AS i. 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 its
manifestation more decisive as cri-
terion of its commences. To lei his
are ready to meet. The displeasure of
the worldly may be incurred, and per-
sonal interests may be endangered.
Friends may become foes, and prosper
ity may be changed to adversely. Real
fidelity is unWeicome, and those in
whom this characteristic is prominent
may expect to be disliked and opposed
on this account. They will inevitably
come in conflicting contacs 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
to resentment and injury.
1t is possible to maintain moral
life. and sustain kind of religious
reputation, without meeting with much
if any hostility occasioned 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 and 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 is prop
erly called Christian, the hatred of the
light is quite sure to be expressed.
The light must shine. in order to ac-
complish the object for which it has
been said: "Let there be light.
While being a Christian is in some
respects a private matter, it is essen
TALLY and emphatically public mat
ter TO all who would be acknowl-
edged as Christians, inspired words are
addressed with reference to the ungod-
~, saying: among whom We 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 as light under bush
el which is 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
is according to the analogy of light,
one of the most distinguishing proper
ties of which is that it does not exist
for itself, and that its mission is most
1y, if not wholly, benevolent. Light
exists for all created beings and things,
and exertS its influence for the good of
all existence, while it irradiates all
worlds and pours forth its etiiulgence
everywhere.
So the partakers of Divine grace can
say: None of us liveth to himself +,
and to them the injunction is given:
Ito do good and to communicate. for
get not. Seliishness is not supreme
with them, it being in subsection to the
spirit of Him who event aboHt doing
good, and who gave Himself for the
salvation of others. even sinners perish
ING in sin. The soul Illuminated in
conversion becomes an illumination so
as to aid i'm delivering other souls from
darkness. Thus those who are blessed
become blessing. The amount of
light which those protesting Goodness
shed around them is fair criterion as
to the amount of genuine piety they
possess. If the light is in them, its
shining will be seen; and they best ex-
emplify their piety rs their light is the
clearest and farthest seen.
Thus the light of picty should all
shine and always shine. The greater
the darkness the more need of light.
Surely light is more needed at midnight
than at midday. 1t may be hard to
maintain exemplary piety in the midst
of prevailing impiety, and not easy to
be known as Christian where a relig-
ion is slightly esteemed, if not held in
utter contempt; but it is there. of all
other places. where it is important to
be an active and consistent Christian.
All would certainly pity the folly of
him wiO carried about a light by day,
and extinguished it by night. because
of the extreme darkness! Not less in
consistent. however. is that professed
piety which is manifested only among
the pious, and which is never distin-
guished from that with which il is sur
rounded WaicLnan.