The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-08
THE VOICE OF THE PULPIT
a MERRY HEART Is A BLESSING, AND
"BETTER THAN MEDICINE.'
A Short Sermon by Rev. II. II. Eaton,
Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky.

A merry heart doeth good like medicine.
PROV. xviii %.
will be glad In the Lord.-Psalms civ, "a
How marked oftentimes, is the improve
ment which follows the giving Of medicine.
Poisons are neutralized, the nerves quieted.
fever is aIiayed, the progress of disease ar
rested. and the recuperauve forces given
opportunity to perfect the work of recov-
cry. So also in many a long course of treat
ment are the direct results of medication
clearly apparent Surely the smile is a
happy and striking one: "A merry heart
doeth good like medicine"
Again. at certain stages or in other forms
of sickness. the physician says that change
Of scene and bright surroundings can do
more for his patient than pills or potions:
that cheerfulness a happy frame of mind.
light heart and hopeful spirits viii be
better than medicine"
To those in health, to the sick, is the
merry heart a blessing. A sunny counte-
nance drives away clouds from other hearts.
Its cheer is contagious. How natural it is
to love gladness To meet cheerful people
is a genuine pleasure. How cordially they
are welcomed everywhere, and how natu-
rally we turn our sunniest side toward
theml Here is one of the chief charms of
a c-iild: it is so thoroughly glad, and it so
heartily enjoys everything.
All this we admit. Why, then, is there
not more real gladness in the world? Why
are we not all glad, and always glad? IN
most lives, it is true, there is much cause
for sadness. Pain mars gladness, yet we
have known great sufferers who were
happy, their faces bright, and their CHEEKY
words an inspiration. Afiiction depresses
gladness and yet many sorely afflicted can
look up through their tears, trustfully, to
him who doeth all things WELL" Care and
worry, doubt and fear guilt and shame
these are the foes of gladness Even our
delights are often clouded by doubts or
fears or remembrance of past disappoint-
ments.
However much of trouble we may have.
are there not still greater reasons for glad
ness? There is really no place in the world
for gloominess if we but look at it Alright.
Gladness is both privilege and duty
And the secret of gladness. come what
may-the way to look at it aright'-is
found in our second text: II will be glad
in the Lord" The psalmist gives the
key; there is but one thing in which we
can be truly glad, as there is but one hope
that maketh not ashamed. 1t is little use
attempting to be glad in anything which is
out of harmony with the divine will, upon
which Gods approval cannot rest. Look
where you will, If you do not recognize
God, you see only darkness. Even in that
which is darkest, look steadily and you
will see His guiding hand and His loving
face.
There is nothing else in which we can be
glad without fear God has removed all
reason for fears and anxieties from His
people. He has declared that all things
work together for their good; that even our
Affections work for us far more exceed
ing and eternal weight of glory;" that He
cares for US, even to numbering the hairs
of our head, and the Master assures us
that if God clothed the grass and eelilies
more gorgeously than Solomon He will In
fniteIy more care for His children. lie
has left no word unspoken that can remove
whatever might depress the gladness of His
people. Prosecutions and Affections cannot
destroy gladness, but fret and worry and
wrong doing can. And these we can get
rid of by finding our gladness in God. The
anxious disciples were told by Jesus, Let
not your heart be troubled; We believe in
God, believe also in me-" Faith is the REM
edy for care firm trust in God the best spe~
cihc for all grief.
What q man enjoys is a true test OF his
character His conduct may be affected by
various influences, but he does not really
enjoy anything which is contrary to his in
nermost nature, which is his character. IL
YOU wish to know what you are, consider
in what you delight. In what are you gladP
True gladness is not the fools laughter
nor the reveIer's mirth, the hippancy OF
senseless chatter and JEST nor low indulg-
ence of the appetites. Even though inno-
cent distinctly worldly joys are transient
and Swallowed by doubts and fears. Pleas
aalf a. n
strength and temporary success-what real
permanent gladness can they bring when
these are SO uncertain and so soon to end7
A child can take little pleasure in a toy
which he knows is liable TO be taken from
him at any moment. Is the man most alb
sorbed in heaping up riches the one least
troubled with cares and doubts and fears?
Is the woman who wins the greatest social
triumphs the most genuinely contented and
happy?
Again, there is no real gladness in that
which brings a sense of guilt or shame, or
fear of punishment. And even If conscience
be hardened against these, still the pleasure
soon will cloy In the latter days of the
Roman empire the feeling OF guilt and
shame was practically dead, and people
gave themselves up to indulgence. Were
they happy? Let Matthew Arnold tell US:
"On that hard pagan world disgust and Sc
cret loathing fell;
Deep WEAKNESS and stated lust made lE1-
man life hell
In his cool hall, with haggard eyes, the
Roman noble lay;
He drove abroad in furious guise along the
Appian way.
He made a feast drank fierce and fast,
and crowned his hair with flowers,
No easier and no quicker passed tn inn
practicable hours.
No; take remorse and shame from world
ly pleasures and there will remain only
safety and loathing-not gladness.
David's declaration is not prophecy nor
a resolution that he will be glad in the Lord
hereafter, but a determination for the inn
mediate present. No million years in eter-
nifty are so important TO us as our three
score-and-ten here in which we are to Tx
our character and determine our destiny.
The more promptly we begin this character
building the stronger win our characters
grow: the more quickly we determine to
use the psalmist's key the sooner viii true
gladness be ours and the longer win its
influence bless our own lives and those OF
our fellow-men. Let US be glad in the Lord
to-day.
There were two temptations against
which David set his resolute purpose. First,
he was tempted to be sad in the Lord; Sec
ond, to find his gladness in other things
NH. OWL tendency rnpp leads them RI