The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1894-05-25
AT THE CHURCHES.

Last Sunday being an unpropltious
day, raining and threatening, small
congregations were in attendance.
AT THE METHODIST CHURCH
The Rev. Mr.. Sisson took for his
text, Mathew VII, 12:
Therefore all things whatsoever ye
would that men should do to you, do ye
even so unto them"
Without any introduction the speak
er took up the text as follows:
Our Savior emphasized the Importance
of this rule in many different ways and
impressed upon the minds of his disciples
the necessity of applying it to their con
duct. The old rule, an eye for an eye or
tooth for tooth, is no doubt easier to
observe than this one, nevertheless the
followers of the Master are to square
their actions by the rule, Love one
another.
The speaker called attention to
Christ as the true friend and lover
of all mankind and said:
Those who deny his divinity have no
fault to find with the principles carried
out in his life here among men.
Reference was made to the power
of influence and the fact noted that
Many see Christ only as he is reflected
in the daily life of those who profess to
be his servants, or in other words the
world judges the Christian religion to
some extent by the actions of those who
profess to be workers in the Masters
vineyard. Religion, if anything, is prac-
tical. 1t is not simply an ornament, but
is something which is of use in every day
life. Religion beauties character, but
character becomes more beautiful as the
commandment of our text is obeyed, and
the daily life is made more Christ-like.
The Christian represents Christ before
men, therefore, it is not strange that men
should note his actions, or that criticisms
should be made ON the conduct of those
who profess to be Gods servants.
Here the speaker noted the differ
ence between the active and the pass
i've Christian, briefly defined practical
Christianity and continued as follows:
If every professor of the Lord Jesus
lived according to the doctrine of our
text, what world this would be and how
the church militant would be lifted up
and how small the chance would be of
picking flaws in Christian character.
The world would be forced to acknowl-
edge the beauty of religion, as exemplified
in the daily life of those who profess it.
Practice is what the world expects of
the Christian. Professions are good in
their place but the world, acting by the
suggestion, "By their fruits We shall know
them" demand that our deeds shall cor
espond with our words. And this demand
they have right to expect, for Christ
has told us to let our ''light so shine that
others seeing our good works may glori-
fly our Father which is in heaven"
After showing the difference be-
tween profession and practice and
calling attention to the great impor-
tance of the text, the discourse was
closed as follows:
Love God and love our fellow man is
the summary of the law made by Christ.
Love is perfect jewel. Prof. Drummond
says it is the greatest thing in the world
The Apostle Paul said though he had all
gifts and could do miracles or could speak
with the tongues of men and of angels
without love he was nothing. May we
ever keep before us the commandment of
the text and improve every opportunity
to help those around us, so that when we
appear before Him we may hear "Inas-
much as We have done it unto the least of
these my brethren We have done it unto
me-"