The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-04
MIRRORS WANTED.

A recent writer says, What the world
need. is more mirrors that adequately re-
fleet the character of Christ" These words
occur at the end of talk on sancti6cation,
in which he shows that that quality is not
to be sought by striving to eradicate single
SINS one by one, nor by attempting 70 copy
the details of Christs character bit by DIT,
nor by any method. which IS mechaniccal.
The lapse of time will not bring this quality:
"There ia no salvation in time" We are
to be sanctifed by getting near to Christ,
studying His character, absorbing HIS LIE.
"Make Christ your most constant compan-
ion, and then, rejecting IN mirror His cha[r,
acter, you will be changed into His image.
This is the true idea of santilication. 1t is
the becoming Christ-like. Of course the
more like his Master one is, the more nearly
has he approached to complete sanctlhca-
ton. When we put the mat er in this way,
moreover, tits very desirable quality seems
more possible Of attainment than when we
Keep up q life of constant striving to be bet
ter? It is possible. of course, but not easy.
It calls for heroic resolution which most OF
us find very hard to maintain, especially
when the results, somehow, 40 not seeln W
be at all proportionate to the endeaYor.
Shall we then endeavor to initiate now this
element in our Lords character and now
Il will give certain good thing' but 1t WILL
not yield symmetrical character, it will not
result in homogeneous whole.
But we can put ourselves into communion
with Christ. We can make Him compan-
ion. We can get close to Him. Suppose
one seeks every morning, before beginning
the labors of fthe day, season alone with
Christ. It need not be long, and OF course
if it is pcrfunctory it will amount to moth
ing. But two or three or five minutes OF re-
tirement face to face with the Lord, the
world shut out-what new views VIII oe
given to the soul, what assurances OF
Strength, what ideas of duty, what renewed
consecration, what consciousness OF the dl-
vine friendship! No Christian can dare to
saw fiat he cannot find the few minutes that
vii bring to them these blessings that are
bevond compare. A few daily minutes OF
intercourse with Christ. if more cannot be
had, may give color to the whole day, and
the believer will grow daily more and more
like Christ his Lord.
Such piety is hearty. There IS the torce
of a real life in it. 1t IS not snlng ot LILIES
It is not cold and lifeless, but warm and ex-
uberant. 1t is rich and full, and so men
catch its enthusiasm, and some, at least,
are borne along on its strong tide who
would never be moved by q pity that was
upon the surface and took no hold upon tne
springs of life. 1t is the great heart OF
Christ beating in His followers, and it must
make its power felt. 49,.
And this piety that is derived from this
daily communion with Christ is continuous.
1t is not subject to fluctuations: 1t is not
on the mount one day and in the deep val
ley the next. Daily communion with
Christl-then daily the heart will be warmed
and cheered by His presence its fears will be
removed. its hopes will be expanded, its
faith will be confirmed, and will all the
time be exerting healthful influence.
There may come to it special seasons OF re-
freshing, but it II know few seasons Of
coldness and dcadness. It will all time pro-
claim Christ. How quickly, how surely,the
clad tidings would be spread, did only every
profcssed Christian reflect clearly from the
mirror of hiI life the bright shining of the
Sun of Righteousness. S.-.imfrtcdn ltSSrnqer.
CHILDREN BEsET WITH TEMPTATION.
Tho rights Of children are not recognized
when 10000 children in Chicago are bearing
the burdens of as many men, and are beSet
with temptations that no man ought to lace
.:Suffer little children" said our Lord, and
we suffer them to go about our streets with
beerirned faces. tattered Clothes and bare
feet besmeared with tobacco, and bearing
the stencil of the grog shop on their breatn'
-WdIter Thomas Mills.