The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-29

q c pus1hess, when he buys certain goods has
nrot,f Tha .ney viii bring reasonable
amounts to patriotism which Carrier t h;ss
sorward In the face of danger n T. u sha
same principle exactly that 6oias go s.e
man relation to God. Religion II sac -
10. sentiment. 1t should be the STRONG,
~ ~ reality Of our being. A Conviction IF
mora, av;, as True can be applied to every
rld OF certain bad habits. Won m ,nan ~ g.
snow MN the evil CONSEQUENCE IF he
; ;ns: eie degradation of wrong doing and
inspire nm with the desire to do r;gbt
oe r @s apply that principle 10 the mission
H :, wnrst. Christ Is the ideal head of the
,na1l. ah race. lie stands as the embodi-
every human being become. In order
70 ATTAIN the sonship Christ reveals
we must nave real person al con v;ct;o,, -
tne truth and the Righteousness of u;s
character. This is the Christian faith not
an assent TO formulas of doctrine. not
r roc da csrry OF reason, but deep
OF the personal Christ. We believe in =
person, not IN creed. The creed is only
tne expression of what we believe aho,;,
the person. Hence the fullness of tbe
simple declaration Of belief as contained in
the Apostles creed -
statasn eii, comprehensive scriptural
confessional and formulas of the various
sects. Inc faith that enables one to re-
celve God's gift OF son is faith in the ner-
son OF Jesus. 1t is to know and 10 accent
1hrist; 10 be convinced that the principles
that actuated His life are the source az ali
atue INC ior the individual, the family, the
cnufcn ana the state. Such faith can
never fail. Christ once known can never
oe lost False notions of Christ may pass
away, but Christ truly received Is Christ
eternally possessed. No stretch of time.
no assaults OF Satan, no spasms of doubt
can ever, destroy this soul convic-
o,on. only those who have thor
can be to man can understand the full
meaning OF His coming into the world.
/. How paitry this warning over forms of
doctrine. How p0werlcss for harm the
hypocrisy and faithlessness of those whose
hidden lives give the lie to the faith they
formally profess. The soul that has laid
mold on Christ can rise above the shallow
ness OF mere outward discipieship. can
soar triumphant above the trials and sor-
rows OF life and ind even through the
gloom OF the grave joy, a hope, comfort.
In the assurance that they who believe in
Christ shall not be condemned.
we come now to the object of Christ's
nlission-eternal life. The promise is that
those who believe shall have eternal life
ms phrase, and the corresponding term,
eternal death, as used in the New Testa-
iment, do not necessarily refer to time. 1t
Is a material Interpretation of truth
spiritual to understand these words as de-
noting the measure of time. Many of the
best authorities agree in granting spir-
itual meaning to these words. No other
view can satisfy. What nood of light
pours IN upon the pages of Gods Word if
we only read these terms by the aid of
the spirit. Eternal life relates primarily
to quality, not quantity. Eternal life is
the life that Christ reveals--life in God
life holy, pure, good; life in the kingdom
of the spirit, or opposed to the kingdom of
earth. This is life eternal, (mark the
word), to know Thee. knowledge of
Christ, or that soul conviction we call
faith that is life eternal.
This life may be attained now on earth
when Christ is taken as your ideal, nay, as
lived out in every word and deed, then you
are already living life eternal.
Death itself loses its power over one who
has entered the kingdom of the spirit.
You cannot die if you have Christ. He is
Immortality to the soul that believes, He
is now here on earth our sesurection and
our life. Ii you have come to personal
conviction of the Christ-life and the Christ
power you are already living eternally.
Love, faith and lifel The motive, the
condition, the object of the coming of
Jesus; of Gods will that all shall be saved.
Are there any to whom this blessed mes
sage will fail to bring comfort? Not the
sinful, for to the furthest from the kingdom
it speaks of love. Not the soul that Is
troubled with doubt, for it carries to every
heart conviction that is easy to accept, for
tits only the opening of the soul to receive
the life of One whom all the world calls
perfect-only faith in the personal Christ.
Not the sad and distressed, for here we
have the promise of life that has COM
pensation for every earthly sorrow, a life
of reunion with all we knew and loved on
earth.
There is comfort then for ALL Make il
yours. Let it strengthen you in every
trial, and nerve you for every duty.
Christians, as you bear the name of Christ,
receive Christ into your life. Danish
every thought that is alien to His spirit.
Receive Him now, this blessed Christmas.
Come md begin now the life eternal,