Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-06-17

cOnStraint, but because we love Him. 1t is the
obedience of the child to the Father, the re-
sponse of our nature to kindred nature, the
outgoing of one personality to another and a
higher. and purer personality than our own.
Every effort grows out of that wondrous en-
bOdiment of self devotion. that noblest eXhi-
bition of love, seen in the human life of our
Divine Lord, and manifested especially upon
the cross.
If the body is to be full of light. the eye must
be "single" and the oneness of motive and de-
sire must spring from the superhuman energy
that comes to us from the spirit-given love of
Jesus Christ who spoke as never man spoke
and taught as never man taught.
1t the energy of cur ethical life springs from
the spirit-given love of Christ, then the whole
.'body" of christian character will be "full of
light" We must draw closer and closer to the
Son of God whose teachings are inspiration to
our ethical life. Yes, my young friends, and
much more than that. The teachings of Jesus
Christ are an inspiration to our christian life
to our whole being mortal and immortal. To
aspire to this, is to possess the true spirit of
christian ethics.
But let us never forget, for single moment
that the spring and fountain of all our efforts
must be love. the Love of the Divine Christ and
conscience, the stronger resolve, the completed
purpose of the actual christian life, all spring
from the inspiring, and impelling love, of the
Lord Jesus Christ,
Mr.. Drummond tells us, that Edward Irving
was called to see a dying boy. He entered the
room, put his hand on the sick boys head and
said: my boy God loves YOU" The child start
ed up, and said repeatedly, ssGod loves mel"
ba Of 1nva IF nd
quickening power changed and melted the boys
whole being and life into sweet submission to
the will of God who loved him.
To accept the moral law as interpreted by
the son Of God. is to receive the mind of Christ
and is referred to by st. Paul where he says:
.And be renewed in the spirit of your mind
and that ye put on the new man, which after
God is created in righteousness and true holi.
ness. [Eph 4.c.l If so be that ye have heard him
and have been taught by him as the truth is in
Jesus"
To be taught the truth as 1t is in Jesus, is not
to eliminate from your life, your own indiyldu.
ality you are to have mind of your own. else
you Will be like weather vane, going round
and round and never making progress.
1t is a good thing to have mind of your own
and especially so, if it is good mind, just be
taught by Christ, receive the truth as it is in Je-
sus. We can all have the mind of Christ, the
great Exempler, without any diminution of our
individuality. We Gun have the mind of Christ
for our very own, Howe By hearing him, and
being taught by him. 1t is what we mind most
that goes fartlest to make our minds. If we
mind little things we will have little minis. If
you seek great truths, you will have great
minds Ifyou mind sinful things you will get
wicked minds. If you receive the truth as it is
in Jesus Christ you will have his mind, as your
own which is the best of all.
1t is wise, it Is learned, 1t Is scholarly, 1t is
grand to see things as the Son of God sees
them. and to know things as he knows them.
We may say with the hundreds of millions, who
II the light of the highest and truest culture
| possible to the human intellect, have already
said: 1--WE have the mind of Christi" How did
they get it? By hearing him. by being taught
of him. BY learning to do things as he would do
/ Them and say things as he would say them, by
loving Him and speaking to Him.
That is the great way of getting the mind
of Christ for yonr own mind for as you speak
to Him, He speaks to you, speaks is your hearts
and so You get to know His mind, and love it as
your own.
To YOU. Young ladies' and gentlemen, who are
soon to receive the final honors, which your
faithful energies. through the wears of your
school course merit; hermit me to saw when
YOU receive your Diplomas. and 90 forth from
/ your present halls of lear ming. remember. that
in the wise nroyision Of the state. and the 1--we