The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-05

fections God is inimitable, but His moral
attributes may be copied. Christ was
copy OF the Father. He was God manifest
ed In the flesh. A pure Christian life is a
copy OF the divine life. Goodness is God
likeness. The life of the divine Christ is
pattern for Christian life.
THE Scripture presents to US Christian
lie as an imitation OF the divine life. HUI
man life is always representative. 1t is
repre- scented by sounds and actions. No one
can see the essential life of another. The
looks, actions, words and gestures of the
body indicate the life which remains con-
cealed behind them. Thoughts are conveyed
in sounds or signs. Motives may be known
by actions and character Is an index to
principles.
Human life is always initiative. The
life of the child is fashioned on this prin-
ciple. Man has no creative power, nor is
there any absolute originality in him. He
can shape up few forms TO be useful, using
the materials God has created, but even
then he must look to nature for pattern.
Collecting the best discoveries of all past
ages and utilizing them for the present is
what makes our wisest men and women
People are wise or ignorant, good or bad,
cruel or merciful. just as they have imi-
tated what has been set before them by a
gracious God or tempting devil Hence
the admonition of the text. BE We imita-
tors of God as dear children.
Human life Is made up OF little things
and is marked by rapid changes. Life
never continues in one stay. To-day is
CledT, tO-mOrrOW 10 CiOuuy. lneIc Is JOY
and sorrow. labor and rest, youth and age.
One result of these changes is expectancy.
1t is a good thing, for expectancy is one Of
the spices of life. One event Is scarcely
past until the cry Is, What next? Who
does not wish to see tomorrow and what
Ii brings to us?
with this initiative life God has given
us let US inquire who or what are we to
initiate? Imitators of God! What sub
lime character! And a divine pattern is set
before us! But a character must be known
before ii can be initiated. Stop and think.
Who is God, where Is God. and what does
God require of man? Such inquiries must
be answered according to the word before
there can be an acceptable imitation.
God is holy and man must initiate Him
in holiness. Indeed, man needs nothing so
much as holiness, because holiness and
happiness are inseparable. The way to
holiness is plain and easy through Christ.
God is lovely, and man must initiate His
loneliness. God Is love. and all love comes
from Him, just as all the varied hues of
light come from the sun.
This admonition to initiate God comes
to all men, especially to His professed fol-
lowers, because they are In His visible
church, and the church is the divinely ap-
pointed theater for Christian activities.
The church is conspicuous and is not
bounded by geographical lines. Her doors
open wide and there is room enough for
all. The kingdom Of Jesus Christ is march
ing on in spite of opposition from within
as well as from without. The opposition
from within comes from those who will not
initiate God and are spots In your feasts
of love- If all church members, bishops.
ministers and all, would initiate God as
dear children the world would soon wit
ness the dawn of the millennium"