Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-03-06

taketh his name in vain. Sincere rever-
ence of Gods holy name is exercised by
every true christian, but this spirit of
reverence grows out of Cody fear.
?. Cody fear produces a spirit of
meekness and humility. a man humbles
himself under the hand of Almighty
God, but it is a spirit of fear in the heart
that enables one to recognize that mighty
hand. The soul that meellly bows at
Gods footstool possesses Cody fear.
Meekness and humility show themselves
in every Christian life.
Cody fear leads to an abhorrence of
evil. Job feared God and eschewed evil.
Hatred of sin and avoidance of evil are
consequent upon the fea1sof God in the
heart, and every truly converted soul alb
hors that which is evil.
4. Cody fear incites to obedience to
the will of God Fear God and keep
his commandments" ~ hat man is lie
that feareth the Lord him shall he teach
in the way that he shall choose" God
teaches the ways of righteousness aud
shows the faults of obedience to them
who fear him. Transgressors who take
pleasure in wrong doing have no fear
of God before their eyes. Stand in awe
and sin not Every true Christian feels
he must do what his Lord says.
5. Again Cody fear inspires a spirit
of zeal in the service of God. If we truly
fear God will we not try to do the very
best service in His name? Will we not
seek to abound in the work of the Lord?
Can we endure the thought OF going
before God in the last day empty handed
well done good and faithful servant "
is a plaudit which every God-fearing soul
Graves to hear on that great day.
To have the mind of Christ is to have
the spirit of Jealous service, and this is
inspired by Cody fear. You perceive,
therefore, there is no quality of Chris
tian character which is not dependent on
the fear of God.
And when we say "a woman that
feareth the Lord, we can point to ore
who reverences God, who is meek and
humble, who abhors evil who is obedient,
and who does with her might what her
hands find to do in the name of the Saw
ior King.
Reverence, meekness, purity of thought
and act, and Christian zeal adorned in a
high degree the life about which our
thoughts centre this morning.
Sister Spots loved the place of public
worship because she feared the Lord
She prayed and toiled and made sacri-
fees for this church building. She
adorned and made more comfortable the
church premises by planting shade trees,
which stand forth to-day in promise of
her excellence and industry. She had in
mind the comforts of the pastors home,
and at her suggestion we have fine fruit
trees surrounding the parsonage She
could sing sincerely
love Thy kingdom, Lord;
The house of Thine abode"
Sister Spots was always kind and
neighborly, a ready helper of the poor
and needy. Her earnest, active life evil
denced her possession of the grace of
God, (which, - Martin Luther said, is
kind of thing very great and strong
powerful and active. 1t does notlic down
sleeping in the soul as some of these fancy
preachers dream; nor is it carried about
as painted board carries its colors. No,
by no means. 1t is that grace which
carries and drives and operates and works
everything in man and makes itself both
felt and experienced. Itis concealed. but
its works never Work and word show
where it is, as the fruit and leaves of
tree tell us its kind and nature"
OF the home life of our dear sister we
might say She was Sarah to her hus-
band, Eunice to her children, Lois to
her grandchildren, a Lidia to Gods
ministers, Martha to her guests, Dor
Gus to the poor, and an Anna to her God.
III. Our text also teaches the crown
ing excellency of godly character and
life, Everything that the world ad-
mires is deceitful and vain compared
with the fear of God in the heart.
The adorning of the soul is the chief
attraction to the eye of God. The
path of the just is as the shining light
Gods praise is upon the woman OF
chaste conversation coupled with fear.
whose adorning is not the outward