The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-01
rfyTBLENESS or THE RELIGIOUS
LIFE.
by REV. RuRDErr MART. D D.

=
r1niuc, of life. Our Christ is revealed
Christ. He is q Christ Of the world
and for the world. lie is not clois
tered Christ he does not keep himself
in the clouds. nor 10 the dazzling light
NJ heaven. His work, his great re-
Jeoming work for US, was done IN the
..ht Of men. on the conspicuous places
Of The world. lie did not atone for US
in the Gar heavens. But he made our
common walks illustrious by his
fosteps on them, and our COM
mon places luminous and glow
ing by his endurance in them.
Bethlehem was town OF no
Great distinction till his birth in it lift
eiitto glorious renown. Nazareth
$3.50. despis village until his life in II
rayeita wider fame than any royal city
of tine Caesars. Gethsemane and Calvary
have Inspired the poetry of the people
bv their voices Of pathOs aud agony be-
,ond any other great eudurances OF
heroes and martyrs, because the memo
~ Of his voluntary and priceless suffer
irrs reverberates and thrills in their en-
during aud uuforgotten names. He
was m the world; he was seen among
MS. The tones Of Heaven were in his
human voice. The light Of Heaven was
I'M ms plying eyes. Tie help of Heaven
was i'm his hand. We bebeld his glory,
the glory as Of the only begotten Of the
Father
Since he went away. mis- followers, by
omen confession and conduct, have re
pr duced his life in lowly and I'M
worthy ways it may be. but in methods
and experiences which he has gracious
ly accepted and blessed. and on which
he has pronounced his well done.
IL is not enough 10 experience relig-
,on I'M the closet. IL is not enough 70
come alone to God in repent9nce and
faith. and to make loyal vows in pr
vate. They who follow the Master will
follow him openly, before kings and
populace. ia country and in city. in the
temu.e aud by the well side. He would
have no disciple ashamed Of him. He
would nave all who love him confess
hm before men.
ST. Pluls life was a life Of declara
hon. Tie said: Il stand unto tbs day
hsyi1g Obtained the help that Is from
God. iestiiying both TO small and
GREAT lie was an open coniessor'
ne. wanted TO know Christ and the fel-
owsh.p of bis suferings. He would
have gone into another Gethsemane
and borne q cross up another Golgotha'
Ee said. II fll up oil my part that
which i. lacking of the affections OF
Christ for the Church. lie knee"
what was meant when he wrote: II
bear ia my body the marks of the Lord
Jesus" Gal. 6I7l
We. too, if we are Christ's' must
er,>. something of this. Our Chris
nan life must be lived out before the
world. As, IN olden time, men sa"
linn ON their streets and in their homes
and in their assemblies aud knew lha'
the Christ was visible, so must they see
u. i'm places of business and study. III
ali places where men are, and must
know that the Christ, in the person OF
one who loves and serves him and rep
rsents him to them, is verify present.
they must see him in Us. We must
pea. MS language Such words as
Oh csc .9at reached the intellect OF Moo
. ,.,,.o,. 4 the conscience Of the woman
of tmaris. as revealed the young ruler
toh.mse.f an j made Plate far, as fell
on thc sad hear IS Of the nult.tudes, VINO
ia .hcir hun Ger and thirst hung on his
l.ps. as led Ro, IAN officers awed by his
language. to ,,ay: Never man 50
.mke. must be , .ur words to our asso-
caie. and to stranl ers. We must speak
tae language of IA saveu amidst the
iolgu,s Of the world. Christial' songs
have ollon awakened I, eponsive tC.ueS
in ou', souls. aad Christi.'n testimony
has convinced gainsayers o. the ,'ality
VI PERSONAL faith in Christ.
We must also interpret the meaning
OF aiscpleship by the visible fruits of
osnpieship. From Us men aust learn
lnal d means Christ reproduced in his
rowing spirit. ia his tender symp, thy,
in DDS attractive grace. They mus see
'u"' religion is not mere profession, but
Oa' IL carries a large, generous. win
mig practice. Light must 30 go out
'',m us into darkness and wretched
''u'' that duty shall DO made clear
30 them; that they shall see the
peru OF sin and the way Of deliver
1Dee' The attractions Of the cross
"la Of heaven. There was profou nd
~eaning IN the words Of him, who was
'ne Lignt OF the world. TO his .discipl "a
"Nen he told them, "Ye are the light Of
The world
",'eover, we must make il clear tina
Wi religion is one of he!pfulness. Hell,
vas la'd on one who was mighty to
ave when our salvation was laid Oh
0u''''' aud the pitiful cry Of the heavy
& .-usn u him was, Lord, help US. Men
'sa u now. Involved in sin, tangled