The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-12-09

wiser than the children OF light.
That Is another way Of saying that
Christians are not 20 skillful in the
manipulation of spiritual affairs as
worldlings are skillful In the manage
ment Of temporalities. see all around
me people who are alert, earnest. con-
centrated and skillful in monetary
matters, who in the affairs Of the soul
are laggards. inane, inert. The great
want OF the world Is more common
sense in matters Of religion. II one
half Of the skill and forcefulness en-
ployed in financial affairs was employ
ed in disseminating the truths Of Christ
and trying to make the world better,
within ten years the last Juggernaut
would fall, the last throne Of oppres-
sion upset, the last iniQuity tumble,
and the anthem that was chanted over
Bethlehem on Christmas night would
be echoed and re-echoed from all ma
tions and kindred and people. GLORY
to God in the highest and on earth
peace, good will to men,"
Some years ago, on train going
toward the southwest, as the porter of
the sleeping car was making up the
berths at the evening tide, saw a
man kneel down to pray. Worldly
people looked on as much as to say,
What does this mean?" suppose the
most of the people in the car thought
thot tho mn n wou oifh har ipoopo or tbat
he was fanatic, but he disturbed no
one when he knelt, and he disturbed
no one when he arose. In after con-
versation with him found out that he
was a member of church in a north
ern city, that he was seafaring man
and that he was on his way to New Or
leans to take command Of vessel. l
thought then, as l think now. that ten
such men-men with such courage for
God as that man had-ten such men
would bring the whole city to Christ
1000 such men would bring this
whole land to God: 1000 such
men, in short time. would
bring the whole earth into the king
dom to Jesus. That he was success
full in worldly affairs l found out. That
he was skillful In spiritual affairs you
are we'll persuaded. II men had the
courage, the pluck, the alertness, the
acumen, the industry. the common
sense in matters Of the soul that they
have in matters Of the world, this
would be very different kind of earth
in which to live.
In the first place. my friends. We
want more common sense in the build
ing and conduct of churches. The idea
Of adaptiveness IL always paramount in
any other kind Of structure. II bank
ers meet together. and they resolve up
on putting up a bank, the bank Is es-
pecially adapted to banking purposes;
II manufacturing company puts up a
building, it is to be adapted to manu-
featuring purposes, but adaptiveness Is
not always the question In the rearing
Of churches. In many Of our churches
we want more light, more room, more
ventilation, more comfort. Vast sums
Of money are expended on ecclesiasti-
cal structures, and men sit down In
them. and you ask man how he likes
the church. He says. II like it very
well, but can't hear" AS though a
shawl factory were good for anything
but making shawls! The voice Of the
preacher dashes against the pillars.
Men sit down under the shadows Of the
Gothic arches and shiver and feel they
must be getting religion or something
else, they feel so uncomfortable.
Oh, my friends, we want more COM
mon sense in the rearing of churches.
There is no excuse for lack of light
when the heavens are full Of it, no ex-
cuse for lack of fresh air when the
world swims in II. 1t onght to be
an expression not only Of our spiritual
happiness, but Of our physical comfort
when we say: How amiable are thy
tabernacles, o Lord God Of hosts! A
day in thy courts ID better than a
thousand"
Again, i Teludl VIC want hoie Colu-
mon sense in the building up and en-
larging of our Christian character.
There are men who have for 40 years
been running the Christian race, and
they have not run q quarter Of mile.
No business man would be willing to
have his investments unaccumulative.
II you invest dollar. you expect that
dollar to come home bringing
another dollar on Its back. What
would you think OF man
who should invest $4,000 in a
monetary institution, then go off for
five years, make no inquiry in regard
to the investment. then come back,
step up to the cashier of the institution
and say, Have you kept that $4,000
safely that / lodged with you?" but
asking no question about interest or
about dividend? Why. you say. That
is not common sense" Neither Is IT,,
but that Is the way We act ip matters
Of the soul. We make far more i'm
portant investment than $4,000. We
invest our soul. Is II accumulatlve? =?
Are we growing In grace' Are We get.