The herald., 1896-01-20
University Methodist Episcopa,

Rev. Clarence T. Wilson preached to a
large audience at the University Methodist
church on Sunday evening, selecting as a
text Timothy, iv, s: "But godliness is
profitable unto all things.'
1t is a teaching of the scriptures, con-
flrmed by human experience, that the true
Christian does not have to wait till death to
enter into his reward. For godliness is
profitable to the body; it pays physically
to be good. There are diseases prevalent
in our day which break down health and
destroy life that always pass over the
godly as the plague did from the children
of Israel. Most of the maladies that curse
our world take rise in such excesses as
Gods law condemns. 1t forbds a
mans living In needless indulgence, ex-
travagance or intemperance; it also pre-
vents ideness and sloth; commanding dill
gence in business; feryency in spirit serv
ing the Lord. Hence the labor of the
righteous tendeth 20 life. but the fruit of
the wicked is sin. and the wages of SIN are
death. When we recount the millions who
have died through sin, we understand what
David meant in asserting 1.-THE wicked
shall not live out half their days. -
But godliness rightly adjusts man with
God, his environment and his conscience.
The agony of remorse is unknown
to the goods godliness is, there
fore, a bar to physical disorders.
Length of days are in her right hand and
years of life shall she add unto thee. Bod
lily exercise profiteth for little, but the
fear of the Lord prclongeth days. 1t is the
fountain of life which cures the sting of
death. Exercise thyself therefore unto
godliness that the days may be long upon
the land which the Lord thy God giveth
thee.
Goodness is advantageous to the mind.
| 1t pays intellectually and increases ones
mental caliber. That which makes men
think is blessing. 1t is better, if you
think wrong ly, than never to think at all.
have seen men not far removed from the
roll of idiots converted; there seemed to
come over their mental faculties an en-
largement, a growth; and became soon
good citizens and Christians, and why moi?
If the human mind receives it's impress
sions and takes it's bent from the things it
contemplates most why should not the high
and glorious themes presented to the gotlly
expand, exalt and purify the mental
vision? The glorious visions which our
holy religion unfolds before our gaze must
enlighten soul, rectify reason and make
wise the simple. The gospel has stirred
the intellectual world. Show me a college
or university that infidelity ever erected:
but Christianity has dotted the whole world
with these intellectual lighthouses to illu-
inmate darkened race.
Godliness profits spiritually. Your moral
nature is superior to either your physical
or mental. Heads are worth more than
pocketbooks, and spirits more than minds.
Man has body and soul, but he is spir-
it, and that which benefits his highest ma
ture is profitable unto all things. Men are
sharp at bargains for self, skillful in hand
ling lucre, but fools when they might gain
soul wealth. Why remain longer blind to
those things which are higher than bread,
diamonds and gold? God proposes to
make it impossible for men moie-blind not
to see, adder-deaf not to hear the things of
eternal kingdom! He lifts up standard
of right on earth. so we must succeed in
the life that now is only on the principle
which gives success in the life which is to
come. Hence, sin brings sorrow, but god
liness is the root of happiness. The joy of
the Lord is thy strength; it fills, satisfies
and delights the soul. 1t is peace of God
which passeth understanding and joy un-
speakable and full of glory! We come to
it by degrees, the first awakening of a
sense of guilt, the oppressive fear of judg-
ment and hell, the first glimmer of hope
for the weary, the trembling consciousness
of pardon, and then the abiding peace.