News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1897-11-03

ence greeted him on Sunday morn
ing and an interesting service fol-
lowed. The music was exceptionally
good, the quartette selection and duet
being very enjoyable.
The pastor read for the morning
lesson the 2nd chapter of Philippians
and later from the 18th and 18th
verses of that chapter selected his
text. Prefacing his sermon by a few
timely remarks the pastor said that
he found himself in q somewhat try
ing position, feeling that which be
found difficult to express. He wished
to be allowed to take this his tirstop-
p%Ortunity to say a word of a personal
nature, to thank one and all for the
kindly interest shown and the service
rendered during the time of his severe
trial. 1t is not easy to express in
words the feeling of the heart, but he
realized how much his cast had been
in the thought and prayer of this
people. His news from the work here
which has been carried SO courageous
ly forward dnring his absence from
his chosen place, had cheered his heart.
The work has been taken up without
faltering under very discouraging
circumstances, and it is now with
gratitude in the heart for the tender
mercies of God that | resume my
work with you.
In referring to his chosen text the
speaker laid special stress upon the
words "Work out your W saliva
ton with fear and trembling" This
he wished to make the groundwork
of his first message which'he thought
could hardly be called a sermon.
Two thoughts there are which Would
emphasize in bringing this subject.
First, work out your own salvation.
This idea of working out is of i'm
portance. What is Our idea of saliva
ton? Is it to pluck like a brand
from the burning, all SCARED and de-
faced by the contact with the eIe.
ments? True, God has power to
make perfect, but the dWaring of
mind and body by sin is not first
necessary to bring to our choice the
saving grace of God. Our lives can
grow out into the Divine life, if we
will have it so. Salvation does not
merely NEAR believing on the Lord
Jesus Christ and His sacrifice and so
evading punishment; it is not a
doubtful hope of Heaven and a nar-
row escape from hell-redemption is
not this. To be saved is to be for
given, to be restored to the favor of
God. to be refashioned into the
image Of the Master. This, the first
work, and then going ON step by
step, developing into perfection, fol
lowing ont the purposes of life that
are worthy, more and more copying
God.
To be in Heaven! Is it simply to
be in a beautiful place? Heaven is
no doubt beautiful. all the magnii-
cent beauties of Heaven tending 10
produce happiness, but this is not
the whole of it,. All the hopes that
are born within Us simply looking TO
happiness? Ga no, we are to be
saved that VT may be men and wo
men, rejecting the image of the Mas
ter and acting the part of that which
is best and highest and noblest in
manhood. Heaven Is not a place of
inactivity; God is saving you and
me that we may live a life of service,
that we may play the part of men
and women through all eternity. He
has a purpose, a part for us, life in
Heaven is a continuation of a Heav.
enly service on earth.
Then the second thought comes,
what are we to work out, feeling that
We are ready and prepared and fixed
in our belief. We have simply to be
Christians, living each day up to the
standard set for us, not putting off
till the hour of death, but accepting
the highest life now, and living tout,
living it for ourselves, but also living
it for others. The best thing you can
do for the salvation of the world, of
your neighbor, is to be a saved man
yourself. The highest, best, grandest
thing you can do is to live a Chris
tian man, every inch of you. This
Christian living, this Christian man
hood and womanhood must be
worked out, because there are so
many influences in the world that do
not help in the realization of that
purpose. Make up your mind that
it must be worked out, not worked at
for a little-it is a life work. Man is
bopn in an instant, but it is a life to
live. Let us not let some one else do
the work, hoping to get the benefit.
We must cooperate in the work with
the Master, If we could possibly be
saved without our own effort and
activity, what would we be but an
enthroned nobody? All, we want to
be a saved somebody, inspired to will
and to work, that we may be some.
body here and in the kingdom. We
are charged with our own salvation.
See to it that having accepted God
We walk with Him now and through
the eternal ages.
The above is given simply as ar
outline of the DISCOURSE, caught as i
was delivered, extemporaneously anc
hardly does it do justice, though
showing the excellent line of thought
Instead of the usual session of Thu
Sunday.school in class work, thu
noon session was held in the churcl
audience room and embraced exer
cises in the line of a general rally ant