The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-12-10
A CLOSE SEARCH
Careful Appeal for Cor
rect Christian Conduct.
One Who Advocates Application to
Strong Advice.
Honolulu, December !, 1898.

EDITOR P. G. Alt appears to me
that at this time, when many church
members are Iamenting the lethargy
and lukewarmness OF protesting Chris
tians, and when strenuous efforts are
being put forth TO quicken the zeal, love
and devotion of all, We should in all
sincerity ask ourselves, if we fully
comprehend the nature of our endeav-
ors, and if We are prepared to attest,
before our fellows, the sincerity of our
ldesires, by practicing in our lives, those
| beautiful and heart-searching princi-
pies, so unequivocally enunciated in
the life and work of our sovereign
teacher.
| What is the reason why with such
Iprofusion of religious literature, such
multiplying of Christianizing societies,
such wealth Of pulpit eloquence and
| persuasiveness, the world and the
Things thereof are so dead TO our influ-
ence, so Indifferent to our pleadings
| Is it not, at least in a great measure,
| because we fail to grasp the profundity
and exactitude of our beliefs and man
Iifestations, because we will not allow
ourselves to believe that such a COM
plete change of front, such trying I'M
selfishness, profound humility, com
lplete and answering remuneration of
the ways of those who seek not the
smile of redeeming and sanctifying
lommipotence and love are called for?
How many of us, even such as are
first to testify at public meetings, to
Gods love and mercy, 10 raise our
voices in request to God beseeching
him to fill US with His grace and truth.
to take away all sin. to put new spirit
within us and make us shining lights
in the spiritual world; how many such,
means, and what heroic efforts are nee
essary to fit us for such pure, loving,
Ipatient, beneficent, hard, sorrowing
and suffering lives.
We will not be persuaded OF the diff
|culties and dangers to be encountered
on our upward paths. We fondly hope
we can be disciples of Jesus, and still,
in many ways, follow the ways of the
children of this world. Yea we seek to
persuade ourselves this is not only JUS
'tifiable and legitimate but almost i'm
perative.
We do not appear yet to have learned
the truth, that we cannot serve God
and Mammon." We are familiar with
'Christ's statement. 1T is easier for
camel to pass through the eye Of
needle than it is for a rich man to en-
ter the Kingdom Of Heaven" but also
we seem to be little influenced by the
knowledge. Although we cannot but
see that this is in exact accord with
all ChriSt's teachings and works, yet we
endeayor to persuade ourselves that
Christ could not have meant just what
His words imply, that there must be
some hidden meaning. Yet | dare to
say that if we look at the question hon
estly, We can easily be convinced how
difficult it is for rich man to model
his paths after the pattern of Jesus.
Few, very few, appear willing to follow
the footsteps of Him whose name they
hear and whose they profess to be.
Neither are we disposed to bear the
crosses which He bore so sweetly, or TO
say with Paul Il count all things but
hope that l may win Christ and be
found in Him.
In the world of business, how hard
it is to see the spirit of Christ. Such
spirit most men think, would preclude
financial success. Men couldn't take
of many opportunities of ac-
quiring wealth and power, they would
be overburdened with sense of re-
sponsibiuty and minute searching con-
scientiousness, which would unduly re-
strain them, instead of the acquisition
of money, holding the primary cords OF
the heart and coloring all things with
its own hue, an approving conscience
and the horror of doing one mean base
or questionable action, would sway and
regulate the thoughts and instincts.
Let US not delude ourselves by soph-
istries but soberly enquire if we are
prepared to conform to those conditions
incumbent on all true children of God
Not until such time, as We not only
raise our voices in testifying our faith
in Christ and devotion TO His cause,
but also in contrition OF spirit yield
faithful and loving service, eXalting
His name by our spotless lives, can we
expect the blessing we seek.
A CHRISTIAN.