The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1895-07-18
Cheerful Religion.

J..
lie IF god cheer: I have overcome the
world John, xvi -
What II difference lptween the
religious outlook of today and that
of Two or three generations agol Il
it bt cause the world is Gteeneratipg
or because it has II deeper love and
reverence for the truth?
1t used to he said that the best
sermon WAS one that made the hear
er crouch in the pew as though
Satan were after linn. In these
times no such sermons are preached,
Or, If they are, it is in some obscure
corner where the lichen fiourishes
and the moss on the rocks is wet
with everlasting and malarial
humidity. Have we turned our
backs on holy things, or do we see
with clea er eyes?
1t * an age of blessed optimism,
Tor which We cannot lee too thankful
We love forms and ceremonies less
than formerly, but we tOve truth
mere. The standpoint from which
We view religious suttlsc's has
changed, and we look upon creeds
with an almost T, ckitss Indifference;
but the fundamental facts of the
| religious life are more dominant
than ever, and spiritual vetities are
more profoundly apprecia- ed and
more vigorously defended We have
a grander ideal for the present and :;
more encouraging prosr. q .
| future. A wave of che. J.. :, .. .
hOpefulness is Sveel o,Ai ~.
| world with n tidal fioe tnAt = il,c-
| -lc.fi ~ Il . -
| planet to live on, VII it. Il sen i,,~
| come so near that w Gas lea. IN"
rustic of angel roIses I'd cute. IL
echo of our loved ofas.- =, -
1t is great pri, - 10 te ni.'r
| today, because Va hsV.. II krauer
sense OF the fatherh0oi oil G u aud
the brotherhood of man. Fear rs
an element of the religious IL" has
been eliminated, and love, which is
to the soul what sunshine j. IL the
field of wheat, has taken IL I,lace.
| The heart r'joices, tut does not
dread; and even in he direst peru,
wien wind and wave seem cruelty
omnipOtent, we feel secure in the
conscious ness that the Pilot at the
helm has never lost n ship. There
are no lee rocks in the Providence oil
God, nor any currents that can
carry us out of our course. The
Lord has charge OF our safety, and
he nett her slumbcrs nor sleeps.
That is the religion of our age
bright. CHEEKY, buoynntl No grim
capriciOns Theological tyrnnt rules
your destiny, and Tor His goo,
pleasure dooms yOu to either TEN
porary or eternal misery; TO angry
Deity tO!erates your presence OF
visits you with the evidences of Hi,
wrath; you are not wandering hope
lessly through a vale OF tears, :
child of iniquity, with the brand @
Cain on your brow. You are a way
ward ana sometimes a wanton crea-
ture, selfwilled and obstinate, whom
the Father is trying to lead in paths
of Righteousness, and yOu need moth
ing except the Christ spirit to Sc
everything right an make your lif
n corner of paradise.
Your fault is that you trust your
self too much and Him too little
You are not enough of child in thi
matter, for when it is dan and grew
some the child clings closer to tn
mothers side; but when you ar
+ smitten by misfortune yOu let sill
your grasp on Him and bitterl
accuse Him of ne. Letting your inter
, ests. At the very moment when yo
, need help most you separate your
self irota the source of succOr an
, become enfeebled by your distrust c
His goodness. Such is the pcrver
, sity of human nature.
| Won find tho for GaIl
work very irksome, perhaps, an
operous. Why, you ask, should 20
be doomed to constant toll for dali
bread? That question is not easil
answered, and the hardship of th
common lot, for it is the commo
lot, cannot be denied. 1t is, however
,, futile to wonder why-we shall hay
leisure to solve the problem by an
by. In the meantime, how shall W
make the best of our environment
and extract from it all the honey
conceals? BY worriment and Gym
cal criticism? By grumbling bt
cause the universe is not made as W
would have made it?
Christ's life was one of toll an
suffering, and yet He found a divin
satisfaction in obeying the law col
tanned in the statement, "My Fatht
worketh hitherto, and | work.
Why should we be better OFF tina
> | He was?
6 Your aim should be to do wha
you can with what you have. Whe
things go i'll with you it is better t
go to God than 70 go away frol
Him. He is not your enemy, bI
your friend; He is not indifferen
= but soicitous, and as your fat
increases so will your strength
enlarged. That is the law, an,
J; although it is hard to understand
n blessing always follows obedienc
: Religion is well enough when II
:. sky is cloudIess, but it is absolute
necessary in time of trouble. 1t
= not a broken reed, but a stror
= staff. The more you have OF it ii
lighter your burden becomes. Th'
fact belongs to the necromancy
life The harder your trial, Il
= deeper your faith-that is the ru
to follow. Even when death despoi
you of your treasure, say vii
trembling lips, at is we'll and Il
heart will glow and brighten like Il
blazing log on "A winter hearthston
n And when you lie down to die you
q self stretch out your hands
o heaven and angels will come troo
L 4 l.,