The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-17

Workshop has become palace oil nooh-
ity. The character OF the motive deter
mined the character OF the action, and as
the motive was noble 10 was the action.
What fearful thing it is for man
TO commit euicide-to terminate
his own life voluntarily J Yet
even here tho motive determines
the character OF the action. The |olun-
tary act OF a man IN taking his own i'ie
reaches the heights OF grandeur when
the motive is good.
lie told Of the two men IN the nine
who were trying 10 escape with Their
lives. One had gotten IN the little
bucket that would haul him to the
month OF the shaft. 4 fcll0w-miner
came along running. The man who
was in the bucket jumped out and told
his fellow.mau h. get in. saying /
am better prepared to die than you
are. - That man TOOK ms own lfo when
he could have saved II. The character
or the motive IS the character OF the ac-
ton.
The fifth commandment. the COM
mandment with a promise, requires
every person to honor his father and
mother. II the child or adult honor5
and obeys his parents from love and re-
lieion. then his motive cnnOblcs the ac-
ton: but if the son hOnors and obeys
his father only with the hope OF get
ting larger share Of his father prop
erty. then the motive, being base one,
dobases the action.
There are many wicked motives and
powerful vices which determine the
character Of men. These wicked mo-
tives and powerful vices seem to be as
beautiful az virtue. yet they are sins
against Heaven. The motive here de-
termines the character Of the action.
The love Of gain, for instlnce, Is a
crime-a sin against God. 1t Is idolatry.
This love of gain has the power OF
creating many things which look like
virtues. and really believed to be viz
tues by tie people possessing them.
Such a man. we will say, will not drink.
he viii not uselessly spend money; he
will not gamble: he will be punctu3l
in all he does, because he knows II VIII
paw him so To do: he will be obiiging,
because he knows if he il not he will
lose customers; ne will be quarresome
al home. but affable in business trans
actions. What was the cause Of ali
thistle temperance, punctuaiity. con-
troll Of temper? Simply 10 make money.
1t rises from no higher source.
There are many people whose pre-
dominant desire Is 80 have good time.
They are gentle in manner, because
they get along better by it. They don I
like to be bothered, and hence are easy
natured. They have good temper,
because they don't want TO be worried
with strong passions. They really be-
lieve that they are fit for the kingdom
of heaven. What would they think
when their motives were examined
into closely and il was seen that their
actions were prompted by love OF
ease?
Popularity and love Of social success
is another motive That gives character
TO the action. The Professor referred
to the advice the Earl Of Chesterfield
gave his son az to what should con-
stitnte good manueis-tO control the
tongue, 10 speak nothing unkInd be-
hind peoples backs; to be consider
ate of every persons feelings
not to notice little things in the manner
and conversation Of people; 10 help
others along in company who do not
know how, aud to be careful III man
ner and speech. But hers Lord Ches-
terfield's motive ended-simpy 10 be
agreeable and pleasant. The motive
sprung from no highcrcause than 10 get
at the top Of the social ladder. and IN
this. as in all things, the character of
the motive was the character Of tine
action.
Many people think that their nature
is an angelic one. when really IL is SIM
ply pride-a sin which they think
places them nearer TO heaven and
clothes them in robes of angel white
ness. This is the sin which caused an
gels to fall from heaven. Your pride
does not allow you TO profess little
sins; you are always IN your pew m
church; your pride causes you to be
upright i'll department and gives you
| the power of self-cOntrOl: and yet you
are no better than heather. The
proud mans religion is love OF
self God does net enter INTO
it, Are you priding yourself on
your self-righteousnessY Beware Of 1t.
IL is a sin which will take you uua-
wares. and your action will be simply
Of the character Of your motive.
There Ia a corporate pride. They may
call themselves Masons. Sons of Tenn
perancc, Old Guard. or Army of North
ern Virginia. There is q passion for
pride in these organizations That was
the pride of the Pharisees. the pride of
, ali organizations They compasscd land
aud sea 10 make one prosclyto. TO day
there is corporate pride Of similar
kind. Instead Of Jesus. they pride in
the church; in place of prayer. they put
the sacraments, IN place OF God, they
put the minister.
Except your Righteousness shall ex-
coed tbs righteousness Of the ScrlOes
and PhaTisoes. ye shall in 10 case ell
ter into the kingdom of Heaven.
Our courtesy may exceed that Of
Lord Chesterfield cur manners and
motives perfect, il Will avail Us nothing
# it does not exceed that of the Scribes
and Pharisees our righteousness must
come from Heaven. We must be
as little child. Our motive must be
to obtain God 3 appreciation. We must
have a yearning for his love. Then our
Righteousness will not be worldly. not
prudence in disguise, but whether Lres-
emf or absent let each motive be guided,
not by the world. but by "a heavenly
direction, faith that worketh
Dy love. We must be born
again-not the fruits of earthly pru.
dence, but of the Spirit Of God-and
then we will be gathered into the
heavenly garner.
lie closed by asking every one to join
him in the words of the hymn: My
God, accept my heart this day.
big COMMITTEE MEETING.