Evening star., 1896-07-09


1--we II the river of life is in our hearts,
deep, strong, mighty. overfiowing current,
bearing the worlds burdens and ours to
The foot of the throne Of God.
Dr. Mason was the next one to address
the audience.
Mr.. Mnson's Address.
Mr.. Mason said:
We are exhorted by the Scriptures to set
our affections on things above and not on
things on earth; to lay up for ourselves
treasures in heaven. OF these things we
acknowledge the truth. but it is to be feared
that many go further. or at most resolve
within themselves that they will become
spirttual-minded when this world and it's
concerns are fading from their view, and
the next is opening upon them. I would de-
scribe Observation-Disclosures as consisting in
following OF Gods will instead of our own;
as a subiection of the body to the spirit, a
deliberate seeking after things eternal in
stead of things temporal, and this under all
circumstances Of our daily life. He who in
tends deepening his spiritual life will be a
man OF prayer. for prayer alone can fix his
thoughts on the world unseen. He will live
in habits of self-denial. for not otherwise
will he gain the mastery over those 1eshly
Iusts and appetites which war against the
SOUL He will cultivate spirit of awe and
reverence for holy things as knowing that
irreverence is the first step to unbelief. He
will never be unduly anxious to speak much
openly on subjects connected with religion
as knowing the danger to himself lest his
professions should outrun his performances
and danger to others, lest, from his example
they should get into careless way of
speaking of holy things. His light will
SHINE before men because they VINO watch
him will see that he is diligently discharging
the duties of that state of life to which it
mas pleased God to call him, but there will
be no ostentation or display, rather he will
live in his own thoughts and be so cautious
oil exposing them to that world which he
mas renounced that to casual observers there
VIII seem to be nothing peculiar about him.
The great mass of Christians it is to he
feared. owe what they have of religion to
accident more than any other cause. They
do certain things because it is the way of
the world to do them; they abstain from
others because the habits of society seem
10 require 1t. To the spiritual-minded man
God will be everything and the world roth
ing. The first and chiefest aid to spiritual
mindedness is that of God the Holy Ghost.
He dwelleth in us, is ever ready to assist us:
cIeanses and purifies the heart. He reneWs
US where everything has been decayed by
ihe fraud and malice of the devil or by our
own carnal will and failures How dili,ent-
~, therefore, should we listen to His voice
now carefully should We attend to it when
heard; how wakefui should we be lest by
tHouSnt or word or action we should grieve
him. or quench the fire which He has kim
died within us. The next great aid which
has been provided for those who are aiming
at deepening the spiritual life is to he found
IN the privileges which the church offers US
AS she sees Christ in all things so she Will
lead us to do the same. With her daily round
OF prayer and praise. it should prepare Us
while still on earth for the never-ending
services of heaven and the unceasing adora-
ton of our Lord. To the better accomplish
ment of this purpose let us constantly ask
the question. What lack ] yet?" How far
am l walking worthy of the Lord unto all
pleasing? In order to judge accurately of
that standard of perfection which God is
pleased to set forth as the model for our
imitation. We must refer not to the opinions
and language of the world about us but to
His own word. He has set forth His eternal
Son. the head of the church. as the example
which the members of His body are to fol-
low No lower standard: no, not that of the
purest saint or the highest angel will De
sufficient. In seeking to deepen yo,r
spiritual life you must be guided not by the
state of your religious feelings but by
strict review and unshrinking sef-examina-
ton W neither or not you can trace in your
selves steady development in the true light
of the spirit, gradual maturing and ripen-
ing of the full fruit of holiness There is no
criterion SO little to be trusted, in estimat-
ing our Christian status, than arguments
drawn from the state of our religious feel
lngs. Religion does not consist in excite
ment, but in action. No man who is in
earnest but will have some natural feryor
a fervor which must be trained not re-
pressed. But still this fervor will vary in
intensity In different constitutions And
therefore, it is conceivable that man may
his being sensible to himself Of any very
lively emotions about him. His heart and
1eel1ng may appear to himself cold, and yet
this may not arise from unbelief but from
his natural temperament of mind. We are
never to fancy that have attained to
that degree of righteousness that is suffi-
cient. To halt, to look back, or to slumber
are but so many tokens of impending ruin
Let us beware of mistaking words and pro-
fessions for Christian faith, and of con-
founding good feeling with good works. We
are Chrfst's soldiers and are fighting under
His banner. Our duty is not only not to
lose heart, but to press forward and gain
more ground continually.
Rev. P. P. Watson then spoke on the
same general topic.
Mr.. WatsOn's Address.
Mr.. Watson said:
The closing of the nineteenth century
witnesses an effort that is almost universal
in our schools and colleges looking forward
to the building up Of strong, vigorous
manhood and womanhood, laying deep the
foundations for mental, moral and spiritual
life. The life of Christ, His associa ton
with His relation to His disciples gives
emphasis to the possibility and the necessi-
ty of progress in the deepening of the
spiritual life. 1t Is plain to Us that there
are many who have received Christ, but are
not working for Christ as they should They
seem to be in possession of certain gifts
and gTaces that, If used, would tell on the
lives and ccnsciences of men, but there is
want of enthusiasm, and this demon
strates the want of a deeper consecration
and sanctifcation for the services of the
Lord. He who would enjoy the benefits of
deeper spiritual life must throw open the
windows of his soul and let the beams of
Christ, the son Of righteousness fall there
on. This being done our Will is lost in the
Will of God; our bodies are yielded I'D, and
becoming emp,ied of SELF God fills us with
His spirit. This state brings US into COM
munion with God. and communion Is one OF
the essential means for the deepening of
spiritual life. Another means for the deep
ening of the spiritual life Is the Inspired
word OF God-appropriating 1t by a spiritual
assimilation to the wants of the soul The
history CT the Christian church from the
days of the apostles to the present time is
history OF the glorious achievements of
men and women whose hearts have been
touched. whose lips have been purified.
whosa 1ntellects have been consecrated and
whose souls have been sure harged with
holy fire. This deepening of the spiritual
life works wonders in the soul 1t brings
man into closer relation with God. He
understands more thoroughly his duties to
God, and delegates more in the services Of
God
God with us and success will come: God
with us and the windows of heaven will be
opened and showers of blessings will come
down upon us; God with u.s. and we shall
leave an impression upon this city, her
business and commercial ENTERPRISES her