Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-02-26


cure ia the way of business or tnan.
cial standing when, in iact, they are
but day dreaming, as II were, aud
are liable. at any tune to be startled
from their Ialse sense Of security by the
bspp ppening of adverse contingencies
they neither think uf nor suspect. As
q general thing the healthy and pros.
perou shope 10 continue 30 until the
end. Tney are 50 accustomed 70 this
condition that they cannot bear the
thou ht Of ~ ichange for the worse,
however slignt. People spend their
money freely, keep open house, are
:xpensiye in their habits and extfava-
gaut in their dress, because their busi.
uess pay., aud seems TO warrant such
n course of living; they consider their
fortunes to DO built upon so solid,
lasting bas's; their annual balance
sheet shows, perhaps, u satisfactory
margin In their favor, and yet, 1t is by
no means all uncommon occurrence in
these days, Tor even the largest estate
10 be lost aud whole families ruined by
some unsupported financial disaster,
the result OF rotlenness long concealed.
Only when tCo late do the unfortu-
mates discover TO their dismay that
they have been living all the time in
kind OF fools paradise" And may
We not say thatsin matters spiritual il
is somewhat the same? Are we not
ali inclined 10 look with approving
eye on the promising outward appear
ance instead OF gong into the true in
wardness Of what we admire and as-
certaiDing for ourselves whether all is
rs sound anu substantial as il seems
We get 80 Used to Holy things and
words, 50 accustomed to living life OF
Christian peacefulness that we take 1t
for granted that come what may, We.
at least. are secure.
Brethren, when lu lied by such a
feeling, we are not strong at all, weak,
unseemly weak. There is q laments.
BILE defect somewhere, which unless
remedied may in the long run cause
serious trouble. We know quite
well that this is 80, and that because OF
1t deep understanding and strict self
examination is very necessary. We
know that by reason of the fra.lty OF
our mortal nature, that name 10 which
We are all 80 prone to trust. Constant
watching is an indispensable duty at
all times, and besides a rigid self ex-
animation is needed at regular inter.
walls lest, perchance, some unseen
danger may steal in upon us unawsres
and make US castaways. Therefore, !.
1t that the church has appointed thes,
forty fasting days which come in be
fore the great feast of Easter as 8
season Of special and more penetrating
self scrItiny. Lent comes too, as oul
messenger, warning US of our liability
to deceive ourselves and say Eve hav,
no sin, no defect" Alas we all very
sorely need that warning. The too
prevalent unwlllingness TO keep Lent,
the tendency TO treat the Lenten
message as an unwelcome one; the :e.
luctauce TO proceed with ones religi.
Gus duties beyond conventional worldly
limits these aud other feelings OF q
similar nature are manifestations OF
spiritual unsoundness; of the existence
in US OF an imperfection which unless
corrected, and that right powerfully
and effectually, will become worse and
worse as time progresses and at last
work out to our ruin and destruction
Ought We not, then, TO listen to the
Lenten warning aud turning aside
from the ordinary routine OF life''
journey, go into retirement. and il
the seclusion and quiet of these 81,
weeks of Lent, endeavor by prayer
and abstalnence and self-denial to fine
out the besetting sin and culling tha
away from US, endeavor by God
grace to repair the damage done:
LET US search and try our ways.
Says the prophet here in this chapter
that lie: Examine yourself whethe
ye be in the faith, prove your owl
selves" and endeavor by Gods help L
amend whatever isamiss in you.'
. Ought we not to hail with gladnes
the opportunity to do this now, whil'
there is time and before IL Is too late
, The Lenten cali Is, to look into ou
secret hearts aud exercise ourselye
that We may have always conscienc
void OF ofiense toward God and tOwar'
man. And this We are to do person
ally, as individuals, also each family
, in It's quiet home. aud besides, collect
. ively, as congregation, we are desir'
ed to seek mercy and help from Coo
by very solemn services in church
! so to-day we have gathered here 'c
worhip Him in His own appointed way
and with plain and chant aud Holy
. Litanywe have offered up our mum
BILE praises and petitions in the name
OF Jesus Christ His only Son oui
LORD and we have faith that He viii