The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-03-19
SHINING AND Sinking.

Promote the GLORY o. G0d ana MS
Cause In the World.
Look at the end for which the Chris
aan's light ought to shine: "That men
may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which Is in Heaven" In
these words we have it most unmistak-
ably intimated that It lies in the
Christians power to promote the glory
Of God and His cause in the world.
Through His influence and example
men may be constrained to admit the
power and beauty Of Christian life,
and so be led to glorify their Father
which is in Heaven. In ell this there
is implied heavy responsibility on the
part Of the Christian, for in his hands,
20 to speak, is placed the credit Of relig-
ion; and that credit is maintained just
in so far as he is able to make his prac-
tice and profession correspond. The
world will form its estimate Of
religion from him who processes It.
In this the world may be act
ing unjustly, for nothing can be mere
unjust than to lay at the door Of re-
ligion the faults and failings Of the
Christian. If these exist, 1t is not be-
cause of religion, but in spite Of 1T;
hence the injustice Of making religion
answer for them. Still there is ever
tendency to identify cause with him
who supports it, and through his short
comings the cause must suffer. When,
from some high profession Of religion,
man returns to the world, only to give
way to bitterness and wrath and clamor
and evil-speaking, only to manifest
feelings Of selfishness and uncharitable-
ness-to say nothing Of the many other
and perhaps more fragrant sins, which
the Christian may sometimes have to
mourn-is he not giving handle to
the world which it we'll knows
how to use in opposition to God and to
truth? In presence Of all this, how SOL
emn does the Divine charge appear:
'"Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father which is in
Heavenr'
And let no one imagine that it de-
tracts in any way from the glorious Sun
of Righteousness that his own feebler
light should shine with all possible
brilliance. There are some who would
altogether shade their own light az be.
ing unworthy to shine in the company
with His who Himself is the eight Of
the world" But is 1t not the case that
there Is far more self-consciousnes in q
false humility than in frank apprecia'
ton and acknowledgment Of whatever
virtue or power for good we may be
possessed Of? In the Apostle Paul we
find nothing Of that sickly self-deprecia.
Ittion which is any thing but true humili-
lily. If he had light , hi m, he was will
Ling that it should shine, and that the
world should benefit IT. Brethren
he says, '"be followers together with mo,
and mark them which walk so IS ye
have US for an ensample." Yet NO one
would dream Of accusing Of vanity the
apostle who, could at the same time say
Brethren, I count not myself to have
sppfehended." 1t does not detract from
the glory of the sun that the moon
should shine with all possible brill
lance; so far from this, does chi
not add to 1t in Q sense? for, reflect
ing ias she does the greater light
she is standing witness to q
ylOry brighter than her own. And .,
with the Christian. Bright IS his ligh,
n Jay shine, he, too, is but bearing testi
m oay tOA yet'more glorious light; and
th hnishter his own light shines, tAs
no b2er lis his witness. Never was 4
big her place assigned to disciples, 10
their true calling more clearly set forth
than, by the Master Himself when HI
said: aye are the light Of the world
And what saith the apostlee Eye are I
chosen generation, royal priesthood
an hol ' nation, a peculiar people; tina
ye sho,yM show forth the praises Of Hin
who hath called You out Of darkness
into His DArvelOus lirht."-Ouiver.