The times., 1899-08-28
THE LIGHT OF CHRISTIANITY.
Discourse of, Rev. HI. II. Hynes on
the Sasieur's Words.

THE LIGHT OF CHRISTIANITY.
Discourse Of Rev. III. Il. Hyrses on
the Sasieur's Words.
Rev. Hamilton e. Hymes. of New AL
bany Ind, occupied the pulpit at the
Metropolitan Presbyterian Church yester-
day morning in the absence of the regular
pastor: He took his text from St Mathew,
VIA: ''Ye are thesiight of the world
Several years ago when the Christian
Endeavor Society was first organized,
the minister said, many people predicted
that the movement would be a failure
responsibilities which would be placed
upon them by such an organization, it was
said, and they would in the end drop into
oblivion, as all other such movements had
done before them. The youth of the coun-
try were not used to such high demands,
the opponents Of the society claimed, and
that while they all said it would be a good
thing for the Church and the rest of man
kind if such society should succeed, still
it must surely fail, because the work was
too great. History relates differently,
however. The society did not only sue
ceed, but ii made rapid strides toward
Christianizing ell people in all climes, and
now their membership numbers thou
sands, where it had hundreds before. 1t
was because they were told that they were
men, and that they could succeed If they
only tried; that they did succeed, and this
is the secret of all success Christ reco6-
nized this spirit in man when he made that
allusien to their powers, .'Ye are the light
of the world.
Now, Christ was surrounded with a
crowd of men who were good men, Mr.
Hymes said; they were honest men, but
they were not men of high mental attain
ments. Nevertheless he told them that
they were the light of the world, and he
wanted them to shine, and 1t is about the
lights and the way they should shine that
l wish to speak this morning. Tel man
he is fool and you crush him. Tell him
he is a sinner past redemption and he be-
comes miserable and morbid. Life has rot
a single joy for him. But tell him he is
the light of the world and he will try TO
shine, he recognizes his influence and uses
it. Christ's purpose in making use of
the word light" was not to phi.osophi.e,
but as an object to emphasize Christianity
There is the moonlight. When the moon
first rises one cannot tell where 1t is; we
have to look for it. Then it rises slowly
and softly, and finally the light shed by it
is so bright that we can read by it,
so there are moonlight Christians They
have little light TO begin with, but, after
basking in the light of the Holy Spirits ten
der influences, they gradually become softer
and brighter, until the whole world is alive
with their tender influences and their sweet
benefcance leads many sinners 10 God. And
the electric light. To make the electric
light possible it is necessary that the nice
arrangements Of wires, the switches. and
the insulation should not be disturbed. The
wires must not become disconnected, and
the circuit must be true. Otherwise some
night when you are walking home ttere
suddenly comes sputter and Kissing from
the light overhead, and out it goes. The
wires have become crossed, the insulation
burned off; there is a disarrangement in
some one Of the details that go to make
up the whole. So there are Christians OF
the same kind Their whole machinery is
perfect, but the wires must be set right:
there must be no disconnections, everything
must be in keeping. Should the organist
play something this electric-light Christian
does not like, should the preacher speak OF
some of his little private sins, there IS
a Kissing and sputter, and they go out.
Their light shines forth no more.
s'Then there is the gaslight. That is a
very gcod light but the joints of the pipes
must be properly connected, otherwise the
pressure will get low and the light go out;
then suddenly the pressure comes up again
and the persons in the room are either
asphyxiated or when they go to light the
burner there comes an explosion. | once
knew an elder who was a very good man.
He was particularly useful in supplying
preachers for the church to which he was
attached Then he would go about IN
a mean little way and make things
uncomfortable for the minister and
he would leave. There was some
thing always in the new minis
ter that he did not like. He would make
him leave The pressure was getting
low and new preacher was needed right
away But one day there came an ex-
plosion and the elder was blown out of the
church entirely. So much for the gaslight
Christian. The pressure must always be
maintained or out he goes.
''And last of all there is the Gil light.
I have no doubt but that when Christ
told his disciples that they were the light
of the world there was an oil light shin
ing in their faces, shedding its radiance
about 1t is the best light, the elearest
light, the certain light. You can have il
in the country and in the city; you can
take it in the garret or the cellar, in the
field or in the forest: anywhere, every
where the soft, warming rays go with you.
1t never fliekers, it burns on and on. II
is nearly akin to the sun in the manner
in which it is used. 1t reflects its radi-
ance on the objects with which it comes
in contact. So the light of Christianity
is nearly akin to the Sun of Righteousness
1t is not the flaming meteor or the blazing
comet which leads the mariner to his
haven. 1t is the small, steady star over
head which always shines in the same
place and in the same way. And it is
the steady, radiant light which leads to
Christianity and salvation But some one
| must light the oil light to keep it burn
ing, the wick must be trimmed and the oil
renewed. 1t is the same with the light
| of Christianity 1t must be lighted from
| the outside and it must depend on the
Holy Spirit for guidance and help. The
oil must come through channels of right
| eousness, from God, and these channels
must not be clogged or choked. They must
| be kept clear. The wick must be trimmed
! Oh, man: oh, woman; scme one is watch
! ing you today; some one is taking account
of your every move. Does your light shine
! brightly? Let us ask ourselves if oul
| lights are shining and try TO keep them
so One little spark is better than nc
| light. Be Christian spark, be a Christian
! light. We are to shine so as to glorify
the Father which is in heaven Let the
lights shine long and brightly"
CHASING THE TAGALS.