The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-03-07
CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE.
The Legitimate Sphere Of Christian Think
ing-Love Vaunteth Not Itself.
GRACE CHURCH.

Phil. Nv, 8. Here is direct command to
use the intellectual faculty in q certain
way. There are relations In life, mostly
prescribed by men for each other, or by
common consent, in which we are sup
posed to do no thinking, but TO act on
the result of another's thoaghts. The
commanding officer 10 to plan the cam
paign and the loyal rank and file win
carry the result OF his thought to sue
cessful issue by unquestioned obedience
to his word OF command. Yet no gem
eral desires his army simply o brainless
machine. Even in the heat OF battle the
common soldier who keeps his mind well
balanced and does the clearest thinking
in the direct line of his generals COM
mand, will be safest himself and do most
to secure the victory. So, too, in fight
ing the good fight Of faith the loyal
Christian, by baptism the sworn soldier
OF Jesus Christ, will seek to know in
telligently and obey unquestioningly the
word OF the captain of our salvation.
Christianity does not forbid or check our
right to think and act upon the results
of our thought. Our Lord seems to put
the whole subject OF our religion to this
test when he says, "What think ye OF
Christ? Whose son is he?" There are
indeed certain verities the simple facts,
on which the army Of the son OF God is
organized, and by which only it can be
held together, as narrated in the Apos-
ties Creed which are placed beyond
dispute, but to-think upon and act in
line with them is the only course which
has an assured pledge Of triumph over
sin and death. Our Lord might have
settled, as He has these by scripture and
the united voice OF His church. all other
questions. had that been the right plan
OF campaign; but there is vast deal, o.
q. Rom. XIV, with regard to eating and
drinking and the observance OF certain
days, etc, with reference to which His
word is, "Let every man be fully per-
suaded in his own mind" Every sect OF
Christiandom was born OF one mother,
self will lthe determination to rule or
ruin, the unwillingness to be satisfied
with the broad lines which Christ eotab-
lished, the desire to narrow the bounds
OF the kingdom of God and the attempt
TO foist upon fellow freemen in Christ
the apersuasions" Of few thinkers; for
getting that, inside the bounds of simple
faith "once for all delivered to the
saints it is not to them, but "to his own
Master he standeth or falleth, and that
"we shall all stand before the judgment
seat OF Christ" The words which pre-
ceed our text do not enslave but set free
the Christian thinker from the bondage
OF corruption into the glorious liberty OF
the children of God. They define the
bounds within which safe, clean, whole
some thinking may and ought to be
done. Some minds have to be held up
above the error and filth OF their natural
level even to attend to the ordinary du-
ties Of life. This restraint relaxed, they
sink back at once under the bondage Of
corruption, and their conversation shows
among what class of6ubjects their minds
are most at home, while ssit Is shame
even to speak Of the things which are
done OF them in secret" Christian
thinking does not dwell in dreamland,
but, when freed from the restraints Of
earthly Care and business, scars aloft to
dwell among the things which are hea-
venly and eternal, and in the end it
comes to know somewhat OF the peace
Of God which passeth understanding.
"Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty
wherewith Christ has made you free" "
for, sswhere the spirit OF the Lord is there
is liberty" and by the law OF liberty ye
shall be judged"
BAPTIST CHURCH.
First Corinthians 1873, 5. "Love
vaunteth not itself; is not puffed up.
Doth not behave itself unseemly."
Having previously considered patience,
kindness and generosity as elements en-
tering into the composition OF love, we
now come to consider three more OF it's
ingredients, i.e.:
| /. Modesty: ssLove .vaunteth not it.
SELF Desires not TO make display OF 1T
self, especially in the presence OF the OBJ
iect OF its affection. Is courageous al
ways; bold, but never too bold Having
performed it's endeavor draws back and
hides within itself.
| II And this on account of the pres
ence OF the fifth ingredient, i. 9. humil-
ity. "Love is not pulled up" No
amount OF achievement makes true love
other than humble le-unostentatious. II
abiures self display. "Does nothing
through vainglory, or strife, but in low.
illness OF mind esteems others better than
itself, looks not upon its own things but
on the things Of Others"
III. And this brings us TO discover