The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-22

dent we must be attentive lneit "Ir
people who would like TO do riEhl j. tn.s
did not have a. take the lIounlc ~ i't-
what the right is They are Nillh- L" az
tend church hut they are not WILING 10
attend unon the Word. Ihcy say 1't'
hearts are disposed 10 Keep inc Soi'iii,'.ii ~,
mcnts but their minds are MOI on. D.li.,,s
learn them. And all their cnul 1"t-..
amounts 10 nothing more than carry lh1
bucket back and forth li' i we -, 900
without putting a drop or water li IT,
And yet length OF cay anu '"' ,,,no
life and peace are promised 20 llv'N w.
obey This does not mean lial tir mo-.
who comes nearest 20 keeping lue NV
shall stay i'm this world long 81: but li'"'
he shall have life ln greatest anui.,'
Mere wears dc not add 10 man Hlr' ~
rniscr may exist "a hundred years anu 10y
live a day. The Christian nero NH" "l,'
az thirty does not die before Ic "''
ccived the promised plcsslht OF lo.'7 a.,
while the easy-going Church member 81.
seventy begins to fear that he has hol
lived at all.
If we would live lone-that IS 10 say,
If we would have life ia surA aDnh",Ner
that If We should die tomorrow our lNeS
would he fully rounded Out-we must keep
a firm hold on mercy ana truth lH -
word. we must love our ItlpW-lHrHi "4'I
our dealings with tltm must Dee I'D ace
cOrdauce with truth iu its highest sense.
These virtues We should treasure. ana
watch over as We would n"thlt'' OF
pearls. and they should De enefaNcn dttp
ON the tablets OF cur hearts Aa -ne i,n
Commandments were tner lstd upon t.-
hics Of stone. II We VIII DO thls we fntl
ind favor and good aucHtSs ih inc sl-Al
of God and mau. We shall ENJOY iAc lH-
Nor of God and good men. though many
10 whom We show mercy may turn
AGAINST us; and we shall achieve genuine
success though our ears may never Dc
strangers 10 The cry OF hard times.
But we must not only obey Che Jaw;
We must prefer it, Trust in the Lold
oil
thine own understandings. IL ls easy 10
obey God ia those matters whlch are
agreeable TO our own way OF thlhh4AH;
but the test comes when the tNp4t-rtd
Will of God cuts across the grain. fcl-
haps We would not De so persistent IN
leaning upon our own Understanding IT
We could but realize tnal nc thal dticnuo
upon his own undiued Judgment must 90
his way alone. for IL is only when we dc-
knowledge God as our guide That we can
be sure be is directing our pains 10
be wise IN ones own eyes ls 10 smut OUT
heavenly wisdom 1t IS when We cease
TO reverence ourselves and Tear Cod
that We are kept IN the rlsht way ana
hcpt in health The muscles shdll h' %.
worn and The marrow in the bones shall
not be dried UP.
But the man who thus gives himself up
to God should manifest II by COnsecrdilhB
his property To God. As the people IN
the east honoicd their kings 10y carrying
them gifts. so we are to homer God with
all our increase. The first and best or our
gains should be given 10 him. Note that
we are 10 honor MIN in cur gifts ana not
dishOnOr him. as We sometimes dishonOr
one another by making him present
with an eye to business. There are bless
ings-fuil barns and overlooking Wine
fats--for the man who gives literally; but
there are no blessings for the man who
contributes to the cause Of God as one
would invest 4 penny in iish-bait. with
the expectation that every worm would
bring him q fish.
Nor are we TO understand from this
promise Of prosperity that the man who
Obeys the law. and wears and hOnOrs God
is 10 be free from Affections and trials in
this life. He may be straitencd by power
~ for God may prefer 10 nh his soul
rather than his barn. He may have Il
thousand hard lessons TO learn In the
school OF Jehovah. Let him take care
that he despise not the Christening, nor
grow tired OF the roproof OF his Teacher:
let him remember that love is At tile bot
tom OF 1t all.
These thinss-ohedience. mercy. truth.
faith. humility devotion. submission-are
the sum of heavenly wisdom % the
happiness Of the man that indeth Wis
dom. Tor she Is more precious than silver
or gold or rLfies or anything that the
heart OF man can desire. Life, abundant
life, is In her right hand. and in her left