The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-05
A Time Set Apart for Mortiaca-
ton and tho Exercise OF
Self Denial
Christian Privileges which Have = Uai
vsrsal Infuenoe on the Whole Life
OF the Individual.

or the time Of humiliation generally OBJ
served BY Christians before Easter. the
great festival Of our savioT's resurrection.
This fast 10 Of very ancient antiquity. Ire
naeua who lived but ninety ysars from the
death Of ~. John. incidentally tells us that
AZ II was observed In his time 30 il was In
that Of hs predecessors. bat with great va
riety as 10 the length Of il We find 10 10
have universally prevailed In all countries
where Christianity was planted. There
does not appear 10 have been any partition
lar reason why the early church should
have fixed the period Of Lent 20 be forty
days except that the number forty occurs
80 frequently under special circumstances.
no heavens wept forty days when God
drov ned the world. Forty years
the children of Israel did penance In the
wilderness. 1, was by forty stripes that
mslefactors we're 20 be corrected. Moses
I Eted 10 ~ days when receiving tho Law.
E.ias also faltel the same space Of time.
and the Ninsvites have precisely as many
days allowed for their repentance. Our
blessed lord also tasted forty days aud
70 ~ nights. Do We wonder that the
church should have fixed ss the season Of
Lent one OF those MYSTIC numbers which
beioRg 10 the secret things OF GOd.
Its design 10 that 10 should be set apart
a. q time Of modification and the exercise
of seif-denisi. To humble and eff ct our
/ selves for our sins by frequent Hastings, 10
correct the abuse OF lawful things. by abb
stinence, and by forbsarinR the lawful on
ioyment of them. 10 form and settle pur-
poses of holy obedience. To pray fire.
| quentlY to God both in private ana public,
or pa doL, and his holy spirit. 10 put Us
IN mind OF that sore trial and tempt alton
vi ioh Christ 80 our second Adam endured
/ fOi our sakea;-to keep In remembrance our
| SaVior's suferiuHa, and thereby we make q
public confession of our belief that he
died for our salvation. And consequently
/ tor hitting ourselves TO receive the tokens
Al d pledges of his love with greater JOY
ord Rladness; because with fuller
Ast urancs that God is reoonoiled to ms
through the d ath and passion of Jesus
On risL IL 10 not nv purpose TO prescribe
any rdle5 for observation, much less for
fatttng and abstinence. 1t Is plain from
Ihe gospel OF to-day that our Lord supposed
his disciples would fast When ys fast.
he says; taking 10 for granted that they
W. uld y actice. IN somo degree a. least, that
| diVinely sanctioned means of humiliation
aud notifying of ths sensual appetite. lie
does not actually prescribe She practice,
but gives rules for its observance, which in
tbei. case was more than prescribing II.
Our Lord has called Us 10 self-deniAl -
30 live by rule. not by liking; TO renouncs
pfs sent things so aa not TO be under their
| rover, placing our heart anu treasure
at owe; aud for the sake of unseen things,
being eraclhel or dead 20 what lie seen. The
world thinks 10 miserable folly TO abstain
| from | ,wful. and. as 10 says. innocent
! pleasures and delights; and such hold on us
has the oninion Of the world, that we are
often ashamed of owning that Christ
does call us TO deny ourselves even
in things lawful and innocent.
Bat Is not this being ashamed of him and
| his erOssl Because the world Gala self
denial needless and absurd, are va TO for
get ths kind OF life which CD ist and all
his true servants led on earth? Are We TO
be ashamed OF owning that We eudsavor,
| though with fesbio steps. " follow along
their way OF faith and hopper
there can be no question that the Abridq-
| ing Of our usual indulgence Is n most i'm
poitant means OF sonqusring in ourselves
| tho love OF present things. and bringing
hc me 10 our minda the reality Of what is
unseen.
Eyerysne is iadesd hound 60 DO this. IN
| obedience to the church OF which ho Is a
mcmbsr and 20 the savior who evidently
/ expected 10 OF ell his gTofesKsd servants
and on this ground ths practice would be
binding upoL Us. even II We we're sensible
| Of no immediate benefits arising from ID.
/ such benefits, however, are many. IL is ia
itself m oct OF humiliAtiun-the
act of self denial Is practical
]
OF those manifold blessings which
surround Us. Il leads TO thankfulnesl
( wien We deny ourselves comforts aud seek
| out the needy hnd visit them In their want
and penurY. IL unlooks the mpRthiss Of
the soul. which are too frequently wrapped
| az in lite own soitshness.
| And Ia proportion as the age in which We
| live IL an age OF luxury IL is the more nee
ssRry TO exercise ourselves IN enduring
| hardness, lest our hearts be- oVeroharged
with surfeiiine and the great day come upon
"a like a thief.
IL will assis, US in prayer and dispose us
| 10 the exercise OF 10. The spirit IL moro
clear and serene for the contemplation of
heavenly things, aud rises M more faith
1 fully on the wings OF faith and love.
Ihe season OF Lent would DO to US gra a.
oppo tunity of improvement IL we would
thus employ 10 "a a SEASON OF self dlsoi-
pline. u calls rs away ( ON the love Of
sense. .hs love Of monsJ, the love of hu-
mar praise, the love Of present comfort
IL sets before Us the example or our
| LOrd's fast temptation and passion.
IL bids Us turn aside and see what IL beyond
the grave-the crown OF glory-the est
which fsmainoth for the people of God
and ,hus making Us ashamed of religious
indolence, softness. and az fish luxury; u
humblss us IN penitence before God. ex-
cites us TO self-denying exertions for she
goUd oil othera and anImAtes US TO follow
1 AI0st uHu EhAlcuCo III
herit the promises.
Every true aud loyal member OF the
| church will endsavor 10 attend the public
services as opportunity odsrs. and not neg
lsct tae tTivats reading OF Gods word and
| iTiVats pfayer-and DO not forgot TO pray
| 20 God that the public services of His
chu oh NAV lead to the saving OF your souls
and tend 10 Jour spiritual growth in holi-
ness and steAdfAstness.
| More vital godliucae In the heart Of every
member OF this chuf oh would tend 90
| o cate a flame Of love To- Hia house
and love for Code truth that IL
woull be impossible 20 Keep every ono
from attending aa sunday after sunday
comes around. The time may come whea
such will not be allowed 10 come; zee. We
NAV be disabled ~ sickness, or you may
be brought here once for all.
These Christian privileges when an
bracsd have universal influence on ths
whole life Of the individual and they are
admiTabls Ia quiokeninG our Irogress In
all the Graess OF Gods holF spirit lllum-
mating our understanding with the knoNl-
| edge OF onr duty. sud storing our memory
| with ell such Arguments a. are proper 10
| exoits "a 20 the performances OF ~. The
| voice of conacience L. ATTENDED 10 and We
can never make any considerable b-esch
upon 10 without being alarmed with severe
reproaohes. oar raysrs are winged With
rsveTsncs and devotion, our miuds are hab-
ituatsd 90 spiritual objects. and they
are raised shove the psrishina thinga OF
this life. Oar bolY purposes are strength
| ened. aud aTmsd against temptations and
the faculties OF oar souls are influenced
| With eaHneat dsaireH Of obtaining and Gu
ioyinR oar ohiefsat COED.