The Baptist headlight., 1894-01-25

the qulckenlng streams along
In human nature the same prin
ciple stands foremost. Sells
and unseIfsh men alike toucI
their hats to heroes and hero
ines. And who are they bu
men and women, who surrende
themselves 10 the high law anc
passion of selt-giving, the one
thing which unlocks the myster
les of lite, which would otherwise
remain more impenetrable thar
the mysteries of death. Let true
maiden follow her true heart tc
the altar, despite the voice of the
dollar, and her descendants call il
"romance;" and talk of it with
pride around the Yule Log, and
and beneath the mistletoe. Ideas
turn groups into families.
A mother may not love her Grip
pie boy more than the sturdier
one, but her love has more points
of contact with the suffering child;
and in both cases mother means
self-giving."
1t is wonderful how orthodox
human nature is up this point, The
people will crown no man "poet, !"
whose heart is false to loves un-
sulhsh creed.
When we come to the nature OF
Chr7st, we find that we have reach
ed the elimination of the dec
trine of giving and selt-givlng.
Here is its source as we'll as its
sequel.
Jesus never paused to lay up a
dollar in his life, He was too
busy to make money" He gave
ceaselessly. He gives to-day.
Of course, making and saving
have place in the world, and if the
end in view be noble, that end
sends halo back upon the pro-
cess which made the end possible.
But from self-enrichment for self
enrichments sake Christ was ut
-erly free. With him it was more
blessed to give than to receive"
1t was the expression OF His ma
:ure, from cradle to throne. His
ife and character enable us to un-
1erStand the better the character
IF the Father, who SO loved the
world that He gave His only be-
gotten Son, that Whosoever be
ieveth in Him should not perish |
'ut have everlasting life" Verify, |
speak it reverently, the one self
necessity of Gods ma
ure seems to be giving.
think we are prepared to af-
rm, in regard to missionary &C
lvity, that the natural and Scrip
ural analogles are overwhclm-
ngly on the side Of giving rather
han getting. 1t is: Give, or be
n-Christlike. 1t is: give or die!
Walking on the seashore, | ask
d a native: What is the tide?"
lie knew little about lunar infu-
nee; but he was a poet, and poets
re concrete philosophers, The
tanned face frightened
5 the shoreman answered: |
ont know, sir; unless it's the
cean breathing"
IN truth, old ocean breathes by
living, and SO does the soul.
Missions, Home and Foreign,
re the lungs of Christianity.
10Th lobes are kept in vigorous
ealth by breathing. Yesterdays
reathing will not suffice for to-
ay, and to-day's will not suffice
or tomorrow.
True, are the words of Spur !
con: Instead Of asking, what t
ill become Of the heathen If we i
Ill TO send the Gospel to them,
e might better ask what will be
ome Of us, if we refuse to send !
lem the Gospel?" But. for me. !
lere is more electricity in the t
ords of Paul, who, standing on {
le verge Of great moral preoi- 5
ce, exclaimed: For my breth- \
n, | could wish myself accurs- t
II! All, Paul had learned c
hrist's secret. IF any man will il
sc his life, he shall find it. That .
the consummation Of the wis ;
om of life. a
Calculation has its merits. but o
hen flag. or a lite IS in danger, a
lf-forgetfulness brings the power d
vision, and lamb-like men. led r
true clairvovance Of the soul,
y l.l-- l:- IL 60 "a I-l -