The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-15
WILMINGTON. n. c.
TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1898.
RELIGIOUS EDITORIALS FOR
SUNDAY

SONDa4
That is a very particular and i'm
portant injunction recorded in Romans
xii, 16, and it is one SO constantly dis
regarded by those who profess to be
followers of the meek and lowly Jesus
1t reads: Mind not high things, but
condescend to men of low estate. Be
not wise in your own conceits." Here
is a positive rebuke to the sins of pride
and arrogancy. Men are SO easily
pulled up, and if rich or well born
socially are apt to look down with
something of contempt upon the poor,
upon those born in o%bscurity but really
meritorious. Some of the best and
noblest and truest men we have known
IN a long life have been among the
poor as to this WORLDS standard, out
indeed rich in Christian character and
devotion to God. The true disciple
must necessarily regard with Christian
consideration Inc affection Gods faith
full whether born in a palace or born
birth bring necessarily happiness nor
great elevation and purity of principle.
Many of the meanest Of the human
race were born in the purple. Old
pious Burkitt commenting on this in
junction of the great apostle, says Of
pride-'Mind not high things" Mind
not preferment, o riches, nor vain
glory, but be content with and thank
ful for a middle state and condition in
the world" And as to arrogant pre-
sumption, superciliOus spirit-"Be not
wise in your own conceits"-he writes:
Entertain humble thoughts of your
own knowledge, think it not greater
than it is; take heed tn an
ing opinion of your own wisdom"
Man is easily inflated. A partial sue
cess is apt to puff him AID make him
swell, frog-like, with Q ioftiness that
makes him absurd. 1t is So much bet
ter, wiser, more Christ-likt to cultivate
the spirit of humility than pride. Top
holiness is not a grace, and in many
people who assume it there is a pinch
beck glitter that betrays the small soul
within. The humility of the Bible is
4 genuine thing-a beautiful adorn-
ment, a grace OF exceeding attractive
ness. A converted skeptic said that
two words from Paul conquered him
Thou fool" He said it was not ar
gument nor reasoning that did the
work, but the convincing fact that he
was a fool as to eternal things. 81
will remember always that l am a
fool, and God only is wise" Men for
get origins, and hence have no genuine
humility of soul. 1t is tod of Agath-
ocles, a Prince of SILICA, that he had
his earthen plate set before him to re-
mind him that he had been a potter.
This was a good remembrance of early
obscurity, and a warning not to be
pulled up with vain glory because he
Dau risen IN the WOrlu 10 nOuOI anu
station. The reader of Roman history
may perhaps recall how the Roman
Triumvirs, in the very meridian of
their pomp and s%plendor, had a servant
behind them crying to each-"Remem-
Der that you are only a man'-Memen-
TO te esse hominem. Then there is a
story hat has come down from an
tiquity how when King Agesilaus was
dying he ordered that there should be
no statues made for him, saying-"For
if l have done any honorable exploit,
that is my monument; but if l have
done none, at all, your statues will
signify nothing This is fine for a
heather. How many men protesting
Christianity have not shown their
hypocrisy in proud contempt and in
hated vanity and ave been pompous-
iy wise in their own conceits?'