Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-09

your heart and reason say? Why moi. like 8
man, enter the service of the strongest!
Sift all the motives which push on the
purposes of men, examine all the desiree
which lead men this way and that--folloW
the best motive; desire what is most desir-
able. Can any man or woman do thing
more reasonable? You must serve. You
must choose. Choose wisely-now. Where
will you find hero to set by the side OF the
Christian hero? Where will you discover
any other who can, from any point OF gen.
uine excellence, approach Christi Where
will you find any purpose which will MAKE
Christian motive? Any ideal higher or more
helpful than the Christian ideal?
MISTAKES IN THE MESSAGES.
like to remember how patient the King
was in the parable when the invited guests
refused to come. He sent the servants
straight back to give the invitation over
again and give 1t better. He took it quite
for granted that the messengers had made
some mistake in their delivery of the mes
sage. Again and again, in the bearing Of
Gods messages, such mistakes are made
The servant who brings the message makes.
himself so dissgreeable, that nobody feels
like accepting such an ungraoious invita-
tiOn, or else he gets the message twisted,
and what he says is not what the Master
meant him to say at al, and 90 the invited
guests say mo-"
So much depends upon the way in which
religious truth is stated. And religious
truth, 1t most be confessed, is many times
presented in a fashion which turns sensible
and thoughtful folk against it. know few
things more likely to turn men, especially
against religion, than that statement of It
N Nvin nof nd rvh I
call it 'pious." To be 'pious" means all
that is weak. irrational, Irritating, morbid,
foolish and unmanly and unwomanly in re-
ligion. It means kind Of religion which
has great deal of emotion in it and no
sense. I am afraid that some men are kept
out Of the Christian church by "pious"
talk. To be religious means to be reason
able, Olear-sighted, straightforward, unat-
fected, sensible, having hold of the highest
and most valuable truth in this world, and
wanting to make others sharers In it.
ONLY A MATTER OF CHOICE.
Now, good many strong men and some
good women turn from church membership
just because this matter of Christian allie
glance has been presented to them from the
side of weak "piousness." But let me tell
you clearly that church membership is Just
this which have said: 1t is O choice of
service. It is plain opportunity for a
man to do the manifest thing which q man
can do-to choOse the w0rthiest Master in
the world, and to confess his discrimination
to follow Him.
When shall this choice be made7 To-
day. There may not be another day. How
do you know there will be? Here at least is
other7 Not the wisest know. And ''our
opportunities become our judges" Between
this day and Gods next decisive call for
volunteers what Q multitude of unexpected
things may hsppenl And in the battle be-
tween good and bad, why delay even day
to put your name upon the Masters roll of
right. In the leaving Of a lower ideal
to follow q higher, why not2 Every
day you tarry is but another day OF short
life in which you might be making the very
most Of yourself. and offering the very best
of yourself to the best Master, and are hold
ing back. What Il you have all along been
serving some lower master, and have Just
now discovered a worthier service. Why
should you hesitate to declare your new
conviction? What matters it to you what
people say--to you who want to do your
duty, to you who have made the great dis
covery9 Or, suppose that you have all
along been misc0nceiving Christ's religion.
You have imagined it to be mistaken, where
now you find it true; you have thought it to
be weak, where now you put your hand on
solid rock shall this long opposition hinder
you from standing by the truth which now
you know? Shall you remember the words
you said in the past, and hesitate to go so
sharply in the face Of them3 Shall you
wait 9 year or two to make the change2
NO REASON TO WAIT.
My brother, you have all along been fol-
lowing the best religious light which you
possessed, everybody who knows you knows
that-keep straight on in that path. Do
not stop in that endeavor. You see clearer
light to-day. Follow where it leads you.
Wherever truth leads, follow. Whenever
God calls, and you hearH is voice, then 20
straight on, as if you were in the service of
your country and heard the call Of your
commander. You would not wait an instant
after that call.
Some of you will remember the quaint
old legend of the DEVILS parliament; how
the prince of evil gathered his Satanic
cabinet of counselors to consult about the
best way Of running mans soul. Everybody
had a scheme. One said: "I will 90 and
tell the children of men that there is no
God.''
''Some may believe that" said the arch
fend, "but not many"
"Well, I will CO." answered another,
"and tell them that the Bible is lie."
"Yes," said Satan, '.that might do very
vel, but here is better plan than any.
Go you all, and whisper in the hearts of
men, There is no hurryP" -a--