The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1889-03-20

WORK AND WAGES.
TExT-Acts xviii: 1-3 after these things
Paul came to Corinth, and found certain Jew
named Aquilla, with his wife Priscilla. And
because he was of the same trade (revised
version) he abode with them, for by their occu
patton they were tent makers"
II. THEss. iii 8 Neither did we eat any
mans bread for nought; but wrought with labor
and travail, night and day"
cannot tell you how anxious I am to
select ust such Subjects and then to
speak on them in such plain and tamil-
lar way as no make them interesting and
useful to all who attend these services. I
have lately been calling your attention
to the great themes of repentance and
faith; to the tenderness of Christ and the
sympathy of good men in the spiritual
welfare of others.
Tonight have quite different topic
from any l have discussed this winter. [
want to speak of some of the humber
duties which religion enjoins; to make
practical sermon on the affairs of every
day life, chiefly for the benefit OF the
young and for those who have the train
ing of the young. 1t does not degrade
Christianity to make itapply to our daily
business. If we bring Christianity down
to these earthly interests it is only to
hallow them and lift them up to the
plane of Christianity.
Christ himself gained new glory by
His condescension in coming down to
earth. But while He did not degrade
Himself in taking on Him our humanity,
He exalted our humanity In bearing it
with Him in His ascension to heaven.
So Christianity is not dishonored in taxi
ing up its abode in the homes of the hum
blest and poorest, or in becoming part
ner in honest toll; but, on the contrary
gains new distinction in hallowing the
home and in blessing the toll. There ia
something very sweet and encouraging
in the thought that we do net rob relig-
ion of It's sacredness when we put secular
life under its wing while we give sacred.
ness to secular life in blending it with re.
igion.
SOLOMON s VAIL.
When Solomon in his old age said
Gall things are full of labor, we de-
tect tone Of deep sadness in the com
plant. 1t is in the moan Of weary
heart "All things are full Of labor. '
And would Solomon have it otherwieei
He did not in his better moods When
he was in more cheerful frame of mind
he said "In all labor there is profit,
"My heart rejoiced in all my labor" "The
labor of the righteous tendeth to life
1t is good thing for the world that it *
full OF labor. In Eden there was no toll
but that was before sin came into the
world. In mans state of innocence
WEAKNESS in work was unknown, for ther
food was plentiful as flowers, but whe1
the earth brought forth thorns instead o
grapes then it had to be cultivated By
the industry Of men. The law Of labol
is sometimes called curse, but the cursr
is not in the labor, but in the sin which
made 1t necessary. The labor carries
blessing in its bosom. It is like a rod il
the hand Of a wise and loving father; no
the rod Of anger but of correction; not tb
rod of despotism, but OF discipline. MAJ
is safer apd happier now in having Il
work for bic bread than be would be
it dropped down IN daily abundance a
the mama did in the wilderness 1t is
universal law. and therefore we may b
sure a benefceut law "In the sweat O
thy lace shalt thou eat bread and
some break or evade the law it is an in
jury to Themselves and an imposition Of
Others, for If one mans face is dry it
because others are sweating to exhaustion