Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-06-20
BEARING GOOD FRUIT.

BEARING GOOD FRUIT.
The truth of the Gospel e bringeth
forth fruit.-Colossians, l., 8, g.
Every tree that was designed to be
fruit bearing will accomplish its mis-
sion, but in it's wild state it will prod
uce very poor fruit. 1t may be a
beautiful, symmetrical and vigorous
tree, but the apples or pears which
load it's branches are quite useless for
domestic purposes.
The intelligent farmer recognizes the
fact that he can change the character
of his wild trees and force them to
produce something of marketable val
ne. In the course OF few years he
can so alter the complexion of affairs
that he will have profitable orchard.
He may possibly throw few bushels
of compost about the roots in order to
give them better opportunity. or, in
the language of modern psychology,
furnish them with a new environment,
but something more is necessary. The
roots are perfectly willing to do their
proper WORK, and the sap runs through
the ordained channels with freedom
and avidity, but the apples are still
poor and small and bitter.
Then he purchases at some nursery
a number of slips from famous kind
of fruit bearer, whose apples are rosy
and large and luscious. With his
knife he lops off the branches of his
wild apple tree close to the trunk and
CRAFTS thereon these purchased slips.
The roots of the wild tree do not OBJ.
ject to the change. for they send the
sap to heal the wound and seem to be
proud that the substitution has been
made. In good time the useless wild
apple tree becomes the king of the Or
chard and it's fruit repays the farmer
for all his trouble.
Human nature is also wild. Left to
itself, unchecked by restraints, unim
PEELED by lofty aspirations. it is vigor-
Gus, and in many respects admirable,
but it does not produce the best re-
suits OF which it is capable.
Man has an unmeasured, if not an
Unreasonable, capacity for self de-
velopment, and it may be true, for
he might gradually evolve into phi
losopher and saint; but it is also true
that by furnishing him with certain
ideas and hopes and motives you can
give him at once what it would require
ages to acquire. In like manner it
may be possible for the wild apple tree
to change its character and by slow
Improvement produce the kind of fruit
which the farmer forces it to bear in
three or four years by the process of
grating.
Now, religion supplies us with the
incentives which are necessary to the
best quality of manhood. 1t takes
our caprices and passions and reckless
ness and crude ambitions in hand, ap-
peals first to the brain and then to the
heart, places before US an ideal, tells
us we are quite able to accomplish
great things and of making our lives
valuable to ourselves and to the com
munity, and then commands us to fight
the good fight like a chevalier without
fear and without reproach.
The man who is not conscious of an
obligation to leave something better
IN the world at his death than was to
be found there at his birth does not
understand the highest purpose of life.
Every ones years and example and
character ought to count for some
thing. 1t may be more or it may be
less, but it should be something. A
purely selfish life, even when it is
crowned with kind of success, such
as wealth or literary achievement OF
fame in any of it's shapes, is worth less
in the way of general happiness than
the life of the humblest artisan who
has made the most of his environment
and the best of himself.
The object of religion, then, is to
draw out your finer qualities, and that
is most effectively done by giving you
ideas, moral principles and such con
victions as will represent a noble pres
emit and hopeful future, for you must
have a future in order to have a pres
ent. Say what you will, belief in
Immortality is necessary to thorough
ly developed and symmetrical soul.
Well, which of the many systems of
religion which prevail in different
quarters of the globe will serve you
best Z? Will you go to Buddhism for
this divine impulse, or to Confucius, or
to Zoroaster. or to Mohammed, or to
Christianity Remember, we have no
prejudices either for or against any of
these movements. We stand outside
of them all, determined to judge with
absolute impartiality. We look with
a critical eye. because very important
interests are involved in our decision.
We have only one rule to judge by,
and that must be applied relentlessly.
The rule is this:-Whatever system of
religious thought produces the best
results is the one for us to adopt.
We shall not wait long before reach
ing a conclusion. A Christian civiliza-
ton, with all it's faults, is the highest
yet known; Christian public opinion
is the fairest and most just; a Christian
manhood is closet to the IDEAL These
facts are indisputable.
Throw your mere creedS to the
winds, for they are snare and con
fusion. They have done more harm
than good. You have no use for them,
and they are only an impeachment. But
take the words of the Teacher, and in
corporate them into your life. Begin
with that love for your kind which
makes every sufferer your neighbour;
convince yourself that there is mean
ing in all the events of life and that a
kindly Providence would override
them for your good; look forward to a
life beyond, in which loved ones will
meet. These truths are all you need.
They will make you good father, cit
izen, patriot, friend and man. A life
based on them will be the best life that
the human mind can conceive.
Christianity rests solely on the fact
that it can do more for us and make
uore VI US Iudn ANY oGHer rollSlOn
known to man. There is no mystery
in it. 1t helps us to live honestly and
to die bravely, therefore we defend
and support it.-N. Y. Herald.
To counterfeit the desire for strong
drink take Simmons Liver Regulator,
you look sleepy. You must have
been up with the boys last night"