The Newtown bee., 1899-12-15

two sons might sit with Him in His king.
dom, one on His right hand and the 9th.
er on His left. The Master had TO sav
unto her, aye know not what We ask
Sometimes we desire things which would
do US more harm than good, and our
Father, in love, withholds these things
from US. So, let US return thanks to God
for what He has given us and for what
He has mercifully withheld from US, he
doeth sill things well. We may all be
grateful to our heavenly Father for re-
ligious liberation and liberty, for matte n
81 peace, for the condition of the times,
for the giving hand OF Providence, and
for the withholding hand of Providence.
But the verbal giving Of thanks is not
the Only way of manifesting our graft
tude to God. Our forefathers were thank.
full for what they were enabled to &C.
complish by their own industry. They
left their native land, they voyased
across dangerous sea, they settled in a
wilderness, they made themselves homes,
and they were enabled to live ana wor-
ship God without oppression. For being
able to accomplish this they were thank
full. And so we may show the sincerity
of our Thanksgiving by our works. To
cultivate Christian patriotism ia in beau
tiful harmony with the spirit of this
season. Let us enjoy the blessings of
life by making the best possible use of
them. And in doing this, let us 20 back
to the text: "For bodily exercise profit
eth little: but godliness is pre- fise BILE I'M
to a. / things, having promise OF the life
that now Is, and OF that which ia to come"
By bodily exercise is meant outward
forms and obserVances. These, in them
selves, amount to little. At most thew
are the outward expression of an inward
condition. II the inward condition is
bad, good forms and observances
amount to nothing. 'sBodily ex-
ercise profiteth little: but aodu-
ness is profitable unto all things,n
Goodness is an inward condition, a realt.
ty. living power. Goodness is not to
be shown in forms and ceremonies mere
ly, but in deeds and practice. This L.
profitable unto all things.
It should be observed that goodness ia
not only profitable for the life to come.
but first for the life that now ia. Chris
tianity concerns the present world, the
present life. Men must be saved from ain
now before they can be saved in heaven
BY and by. Present salvation secures
future salvation.
LOOK WELL THEN TO THE LIFE THAT
NOW Is.
Have goodness In this life first.
Goodness in national life means uber-
", peace and prosperity. s'God ia loye''
md the Gospel law OF love ia peace on |
'arth, goodwill toward men. But ma
ional life is made up of individual life,
md so 1t must be observed that godIiness
s profitable for the Individual. A god
ess man is one sided. Splritus develop
nent affects and eIevates the present life
o say nothing Of the hereafter. A god
ess, thens does not and cannot enjov the
ILLNESS Of life. Christ came that men
hight have life and that they might have
more aDundantly. A man without
'hrist Is like q ship without q compass
n stormy night-it may sail and sail
n bat no one knows whittier.
Ii goodness is Profitable for the indi.
idual it must be profitable in all his at
Iirs; and so it is. 'Bodily exercise
rofiteth little; but godlineas la prt fit-
BILE unto all things" There has existed
the minds OF many people, in and out
the church, an unfortunate distinction
etween sacred and secular affairs. Mat
'rs OF business and temporal concern
ave been spoken Of as secular. Religion
Do been thought not to concern these
1t only church services and doctrines,
wo-thirds of the man has been given To
10 secular affairs OF the world, and the
iner third to the sacred matters OF God. .
le church, and eternity. The New Tea .
ment teaching Ia that all there ia of .
an, body, souland spirit, and ell there
OF life, temporal and eternal, 10 sacred.
Goodness is profitable unto all things. .
wing promise Of the life that now ia.
ID OF that which Is 20 Gomez Surely :
9 text includes all with which man Ia
neerned. The Rev Or Osborn OF Louis.
lie, KY, has remarked: !
There has been violent attempt Ia
Dwd Jesus Christ ont of business. !,
IN tell me that business il business. !,
q religion is religion. But business ia :,
ristianity and Christianisy Id business. J, : s
g truth OF the matter 10 that hs who ID
Christian 10 business ID nos 4 Chris. ],
. at All. What seaehes the textl Tha- - -
y teaches that empty forms and Oh. = y
yanees profit nothing. ..Godliness il .
lasanle unto I'll thsngs.n and godliaesa !,