The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-02-07

A recent writer says, ''What the world
need is more mirrors that adequately re-
fleet the character Of Christ These words
occur at the end of talk on sanctiiicauon,
in which lie shows that that quality is not
to be sought by striving 20 eradicate single
SINS one Dy one nor by attempting TO copy
the Diet ills of Christ's character bit by bit,
nor bv any method which is mechanical
The lapse of time Will not bring this quality;
There j. no salvation in time. W are
to be sanctified by getting near TO Christ,
STUDYING His character, absorbing His life.
Make Christ your most constant compan-
ion. and then rejecting IN q mirror His char
acter. YOU will be changed into His image.
This Is the true idea of santlticauon. IL IS
the becoming Christ-like. Of course the
more like his Master one IS, the more nearly
has he approached to complete sanctihca-
ton. When we put the mat CT in this way,
moreover tits very desirable quality seems
more possible of attainment than when we
regard ii from some other points OF view.
Keen up 4 life Of constant striving to be bet
tor II is possible of course, but not easy.
II calls for heroic resolution which most OF
US find very hard to maintain, especially
when the results, somehow, do not see.l TO
he at all proportiOnate to the endeayoE
Shall we then cndeavOr 70 initiate now TINS
element in our Lords character ana now
tbat2 But that Is fragmentary IN its results;
il will give certain good things, but It Will
not yield symmetrical character, It VIII not
result in homogeneous whole
T;1t we can put ourselves into communion
with Christ. We can make Him cJmpan-
len. We can get close 70 Him Suppose
one seeks every morning, before beginning
the labors Of the day, Il season alone with
Christ. Ii need not be long, and OF course
if is perfunctory it will amount TO moth
ing Iiut two or three or five minutes OF re-
tircmeut face to face with the Lord, the
world shut tut-what new views VIII De
given to the soul, what assurances OF
strength, what ideas of duty, what renewed
conservation. what a consciousness of the d.
vine friendship. No Christian can dare TO
saw TIA ii he cannot find the few minutes that
VII bring to them these blessings that are
beyond compare. \ few daily minutes OF
intercourse with Christ, if more cannot be
had. may give color to the whole day, and
the believer viii grow 9aily more and more
like Christ his Lord.
Such piety is hearty. There IS the force
of a real life in it. 1t is not thing of times
and seasons, nor of forms and ceremonies.
II is not cold and lifeless, but warm and ex-
uberant 1t is rich and full, and so men
catch its enthusiasm, and some, at least,
are borne along on its strong tide who
would never be moved by pity that was
upon the surface and took no hold upon the
springs of life 1t is the great heart of
Christ beating in His followers, and 1t must
make its power felt.
And this piety that is derived from this
daily communion with Christ is continuous.
1t is not subject to fluctuations. II Is not
on the mount one day and in the deep val
ley the next Daily communion with
Christi-then daily the heart will be warmed
and cheered by His presence, its fears will be
removed. its hopes will be expanded, its
faith will be confirmed. and will all the
time be exerting a healthful influence.
There may come to it special seasons of re
freshing but it VIII know few seasons Of
GOODNESS and deafness. 1t Will all time pro
claim Christ How quickly. how surely, the
glad tidings would lie spread, did only every
professed Christian reflect clearly from the
mirror of hi, life the bright shining of the
Sun of Righteousnessi-Ameri Messenger.