Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-01-28
ACOOD PAPER.
How Can the League Advance the Spiritual Life
Of the church,"

| How Can the League ADVANCE Inc spiritual Liz
Of the Church,"
| Many of those who heard Mr.. Ohm
sted's paper on the above subject last
Sunday evening expressed the " ish that
it might be printed, and after consider
able solicitation we succeeded in per-
suading the gentleman TO let US have his
manuscript for publication and give it
herewith.
"At first thought it would seem that
this question could be answered abb
ruptly, and off hand, by statement
that the faithful observance of the pledge
of our society covers the whole matter.
In fact in addition to this l can only
offer few thoughts as to how we do
not, and how we might become more
potent factor in the advancement OF the
spiritual life of our church. We live in
theory, more than we feel the force of
the uplifting power of christianity. In
order to accomplish much good in lead
ing others into the light of the truths
which we believe we must be baptised
with the spirit from on High and we
must receive constant reawakenings of
the Holy Spirit. This assertion is borne
out by scripture reference. In Acts
End chapter 4th vel Sc we read Of Peters
being baptised with the Holy Ghost
and again in Acts lst chapter 9th verse
In Acts 4th chapter Sth verse we again
read of Peters experiencing new fill
ing with the Holy Spirit. And in the
3lst verse of the same chapter we have
description of the kind Of reawakening
power which the church militant some
times felt in those days. When they
had prayed, the place was shaken where
they were assembled together and they
were all filled with the Holy Ghost. If
we had one or two experiences of this
sort (Which are possible for u.s. we
should be in no doubt as to the best
means to employ i'll the bringing about
of the kingdom of the Lord, as we should
then be filter instruments for the ac-
complishment of the Divine Will. But
we are constantly loosing power Power
is lost through self indulgence, through
the too ardent pursuit of the perishable
goods of this world. Power is lost
through neglect of prayer. Power is
lost through neglect of the word. We
are constantly loosing power, and are
constantly in need of recharging from
the eternal source of power. 1.-The path
to God leads through the hearts of men. F"
Primarily the object of church life is to
find God. God has been sought in
mysticism, in theology, in philosophy in
the Heavens above, and evidences of God
have been found, but not God. Along
the obscure path that Jesus trod humbly
going about on his mission of love, doing
good to the outcast and the despised of
men, as we'll as to the centurion and
the officer Of the legion along this path
we may press with ever surer and more
confident step toward the Heavenly
Father. The knowledge Of God is
gained as the knowledge of man is
gained, by living much with him. If
we only come across a man occasionally
and in public and know nothing of him
in his private and domestic life, we can
not be said to know him. All the know
ledge of God many processing christians
have is gained from formal salute they
make to him in their prayers when
they lie down at night and when they
rise up in the morning. While this state
of thing lasts no great progress toward
God can possibly be made. No progress
would be made if we were to offer stated
prayers seven times day instead of
twice. But let us try to draw God down
into our daily work. Consult him about
it, offer it to him as contribution some
times to his service. Ask him to help
you in it, ask him TO bless it; do your
daily tasks as unto the Lord, and not
unto men. Refer to him in your temp
tations seek refuge under the shadow
of his wing until the tyranny of temp
tatiOn is over. Go back at once TO his
a
parture from him, not waiting till you
confess it, lest meanwhile the night of
death should overtake you or at best
you should loose time in your spiritual
course. In short, walk hand in hand
with God through life as little child
walks hand in hand with its father over
some dangerous and thorny road Let
us seek not so much to pray, as TO live
in an atmosphere of prayer, lifting up
our hearts hourly to him in varied ex-
pressions of devotion as the various &C.
casions of life may prompt. AS this life
becomes more and more habitual to us
we shall increase in that knowledge of
God which fully contents and satisfies
the soul. We may be more helpful in
spiritual work sometimes by cultiva.
tiOp IF toct in Our social relations