Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-28
A GOOD CHARACTER
The Living Impress of the Almighty's
Image Upon Mankind
BY WHICH GOD REVEALS HIMSELF.
A Mental and Spiritual Quality That is
Easily Recognized.
THE CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS MISSION
Y WHICH GOD REVEALS HIMSELF.
TIE CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS MISSION
rwRrrrEN FOR THE prspArcH.1

rwRrTTEN FOR THE DIsPATcH.l
N'So God created man in His own image: In
the image of God created He him"
And so there is something divine in man.
Man, made in body in the image of the ami
mails is in mind and soul an image of the
Omniscient and 0mnipotent God. 1t is
revelation of the dignity and nobility of
man.
Here is the ground of all aspiration and
hope for man. 1t is a pledge of progress.
1t is the best encouragement of all efforts to
better the condition of men; to uplift, civil
ize, culture and Christianize men. To this
being, fashioned thus in likeness to the most
high God, what shall be impossible? Here
is one, say of him what you will-weak,
miserable, the slave of his lower nature,
far, far removed from Original righteous
ueSs," almost more of an animal than of
man-and vet, in spite of all 1--WE have Gods
word for it)-in spite of all, created in the
divine image, possessing heavenly possibili-
ties. In every man, from the saint to the
sot; in every man, though he lie mud-be-
spattered in the lowest gutter; in every man,
born anywhere from the palace to the tene-
ment, wise or unwise, good or bad, is spark
vi NuG hlAAnE habuASs SOhiShASe SSNA41NN
resides within him. Upon his heart is
stamped, however blurred and broken, the
image of God.
How plain that was to Christ! to Him
how evident the divine image of mani
Something good He saw, some possibility
of better things even in people whom the
religious world of that time despised and
abhored. He won to Himself the publicans
and the sinners by His long recognition of
possibilities in them. That is the first step
toward helping men. Seek out what is ex-
cellent in them; recognize that. Show them
that higher things are possible TO them.
Fan the spark of divine nature into flames
that Will
BURN UP THE TAREs.
Here is the ground of all aspiration and
hope for our own selves. All efforts after
selEculUure, growth, making the most of
ourselves, rest upon this truth: that we have
something in US which is worth making the
most of. 1 am made in the image of God.
God is my father. am His child. Why
not grow like Him more and more? Why
content myself with the life of an animal?
Why fill my mind quite full of thoughts of
what shall eat or drink or wear, when
higher thoughts are possible to me? I be-
long to a divine family. Why not live as be-
comes nv position? am made in the i'm
age of God. Somewhat of His nature is
within me. Why not try to live up to that.
This divine element within us we name
character, the word means a stamp or
seal, the impress of a design or image.
In one place our Lord is called the Char
acter'' of God. That is the word in the
Greek, and it is translated ''the express i'm
age" the exact likeness, as an impression
in wax is the likeness of the seal. He is the
ideal of character. He is the model by
-rl1 1oh alaa ha 1,.ad or,A
compared, because He is the clearest image
of God. He, as man, was most like God of
any man who ever lived. He is thus the
embodiment OF all that is highest in charac-
ter.
Character eludes definition. We know
what it is, until you ask us. We can no
more define it, one has said, than we can
paint the lightnign with charcoal. But we
approached a definition when we say that
character is likeness to God. Character is
the stamp of Gods image on the heart and
mind ofman. We all have character in
some degree, and we all have the possibility
of attaining character In very high degree,
because we are all made in the image of
God. To attain the highest character is to
become
MOST LIKE GOD.
Weo observe ofcharacter that it is quality,
mental and spiritual. 1t in no wise de-
pends upon greatness of stature nor stout
ness ofmuscle The image OF God is not in our
body, but in our mind and soul. In the possess
sion of the power of thought; in the longing
which we have, and which no animal has,
for growth, for higher attainments, for per-
fection, in the impulse to selEsaerifce; In
the power 70 look into the distance and to
see the invlsible-in such faculties we
discern our likeness to God. These go to
make character.
We observe further that character does
not depend upon circumstances. Like great
ness, it is not in the circumstances, but in
the man. Indeed character and greatness
are the same thing. A great man is a man
of character. He is one in whom that side
of human nature is emphasized which is
nearest heaven. That is what we mean
when we say of such an one, not that he is
great orator, or great fnancier, or a great
general, but great man. Some men have
been great generals, poets, painters, work.
ers, but not great men. They have lacked
character. God alone is great, and men are
great in proportion as they are in His image
like Him. Character, then, is greatness not
of achievement, but Of mind or soul. It is
remarked by some eminent persons in his
tory that all the doings and sayings which
are recorded of them do not equal their
fame. The men were greater than their
tion about Hercules. How did YOU know"
some one questions, "that Hercules was
god?" Because" is the answer f'I was
content the moment nv eyes fell on him.
When I beheld Thesus I desired that I
might see him offer battle, or. at least. guide
his horses in the chariot-race but Hercules
did not wait for a contest, he conquered
whether he stood, or walked, or sat or
whatever thing he did"
IT is NOT ENOUGH
to say that character is in the man, that
character is what the man is, we observe
still further that it depends upon the man.
Every man, we say, without a possible ex-
ception, is made in the image of God; has it
in him, that is, to be in a measure like God.
Now all awaits The action of the man. Shall
the likeness of God in him be blurred or
clear? That depends upon him. The highest
character, the closest human likeness to
God, lies within the attainment of every
human soul. You can be of such charac-
ter, you can be so divine man or woman,
that we will be helped only by entering
your presence; when you speak, better
thoughts shall come into our hearts, base
ness and meanness even foolishness shall
beimpossible while we are beholding you;
you will Uplitt us, bring out all that is best
in us, drive out all that is unworthy, make
rs honest and earnest just by looking at
us. When we see you or even hear your
name we will begin to think of higher
things; we will think of God. You viii be
to us, in a way, a revelation ofsGod. We
will draw closer to Him as we approach
Won. the image and likeness of Him.
God is pleased to reveal not only His will