Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-05-24
Iopi@ For the Week Beginning May 20.
Comment by Rev. 5. III. Doyle.


Iopi~ For the Week Beginning May 20.
Comment by Rev. $. II. Doyle.
ToPIc--Bble ideal Of character. Prov. XXI.
eO-Sl; II Tim. Il. Is.
The Bible is not only book of faith,
but also of practice; not only book Of
doctrines, but also Of morals and Of
principles. It illustrates ideal eharse-
tiers. 1t also describes them. In our
topical references we have two such de-
fcriptions. The first is the description
0f an ideal wife, in which an ideal char
Ecter is portrayed. The second is con-
tanned in Pauls advice to Timothy.
Study to show myself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to he
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth" I'll Tim. ii, 15).
!. The true foundation of character.
by the Bible ideal, is in God. This truth
is contained in both the descriptions be-
fore us. The ideal wife is described as
one who feared the Lord" and Paul
exhorts Timothy to study to show him.
self approved unto God. The highest
and noblest ideal of character can never
be reached without firm faith in God
and desire to bel like God. Mans high
est duty is to serve God, and character
can only be high as we fulfill our high
est duties. More than this, if duty to
God is faithfully fulfilled, our other
duties, those to our fellow men, in all re-
lations will also be filed. No man can
be true to God without being true TO all
men Fear of the Lord" therefore,
may well be called the true foundation
of hunian character.
2. The essential qualification OF char
acter by the Bible ideal is the faithful
performance of duty in the various rela-
tons of life. This is also illustrated in
the examples before us. The ideal wesa-
an was faithful to her God, faithful to
her husband, faithful to her children,
faithful to the needy and helpless about
her, faithful to her home duties and to
the duties of all business relations. Paul
exhorts Timothy to be faithful to God
and to His ministerial work. Faithful
performance of all the duties we owe Ia
God and man cannot but develop true
character. Such faithfulness will re-
quire love, charity, humility, justice,
honesty. industry, strength and honor
and fear of God.
g. The results of such a character by
the Bible are praise and just reward
OF the woman it is said: Her children
arise and call her blessed; her husband
also, and he praiseth her. ""A woman that
feareth the Lord shall be praised" Give
her of the fruit of her hands and let her
own works praise her in the gates
Thus we have praise, honor and reward
set forth as the results of such beauti-
full character. So it is today. The world
adnlires nothing more than true char
acter 1t is reader to praise and honor
nothing more. Let us therefore initiate
the Bible ideal of character, especially
as exemplifed in the only perfect model
man ever had-the character of the Lord
Jesus Christ.
Bible References-Gen. vi, 9; Deut vii,
8; / Kings 8, 6; Ps. XIV, 2; cxix, 1; Prov.xvi.
8; xviii, 1; lisa. liv, ID; wi, Is; Math V.
3-12; Luke ii, %; John i, AZ; Acts, xviii,
2; xxi, 12; Rom. xvi, 10; Col. ii, 8; II Cor.
i, 70; vi, 8; / Pet. v, 8; | John iii, 3; Rev.
II, 4.