The leader., 1900-08-15
Published by request Of the Church,

forevermore. IL our motive be to
serve ourselves first and self interest
first, then we must spend eternity
where selfishness abides and is pun
ished evermore. If we have not the
spirit of Christ, we are none of His.
Christ came into this world to min
lister to others, not to be ministered
unto. Look not every man on his
own things, but upon the things of
others. Bear We one another's bur
dens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
| have investigated with the view of
ascertaining the reasons why so many
Church members are unhappy and
find these reasons to be in general,
l. Many Church members are not
Christians. These have joined churches
under a wrong idea of Church. A
Church is the body of Christ. 1t is
therefore to be composed of those only
who have by faith given themselves,
with all they have and are, for
time and eternity, to Christ. An
unbeliever has not made this gift
of self and all he has to Christ.
He will therefore, not serve Christ He
will complain at every suggestion of
duty. He has not the spirit to seek
first the kingdom of God and his right
eousness," but seeks first the things
of this world, and vainly hopes,
against reason, to in some way, unre-
vealed, get into the kingdom of God
and have his righteousness, when he
cannot remain in this world any longer.
This mans hope is vain, above all van
tiles know of. God will be first with
us, or nothing at all in helpfulness.
| There is way that seemeth right
unto man, but the end thereof is
death eternal.
z. Those who do the wrong things,
that is do what they know to be wrong
Christians often incur this sin because
it appears to be profitable, or to give
pleasure. These forget that "whatso-
ever man soweth that shall he also
reap "He that soweth to the flesh
shall of the flesh reap corruption, but
he that soweth to the spirit, shall of
the spirit reapli life everlasting" Many
Christians are unhappy because of the
things they do. Obedience means
happiness: disobedience means unhap-
piness. Most of us are slow of heart
to learn this important fact.
3. Those who neglect duty, great and
small. These generally know what
they ought to do, but for various rea-
sons, will not do it. | am sure that
most Christian lives are clouded, made
unhappy, by failure to do known duty
baptized man rs years old. When
he came out of the water, he stopped
and turning to the audience he said:
my friends, the Lord saved me 81
years ago; but | say to you have had
more real happiness the last six hours,
since | asked for baptism, than in all
my life before. | am as happy as
VAIN W bt boN. iJOu llCSlttb QiIl :.
christian friend, it you wish to be hap
! y." Many Christians are unhappy
because they have neglected to follow
the Lord in baptism. Again, much of
the unhappineSs among Christians is
due to the fact that they withhold
time and money that belong to the
Lord. 1t is plainly taught inthe scrip
lures that one seventh 40 of our
time belongs to the Lord, and we must
cheerfully give it, else be unhappy,
"Thou shall remember the Sabbath
day to keep it holy is command not
to be ignored with safety. The bust
ness man violates this command look
er violates it by looking after his
crops OF stock. MoreoFer, many Christ
ians withhold money that belongs
| to God. There is that withholdest
more than is meet which tendeth to
poverty" Withholding Gods money
will account, perhaps, more than any
thing else, for the poverty of Christian
people. "Give and it shall be given
unto YOU" at is more blessed to give
than to receive" said our Lord, THE
Lord loveth cheerful giver." "Freely
ye have received, freely give" The
Bible lays great emphasis on giving
for our good. Give as prospered, is
the Bible rule for us all. 1t is clear to
nv mind that the Lord requires one
tenth Il -1O) of our income. Under this
| rule, those who give dime give as
much as those who give dollar. 1t is
according to what we have, not accord
ing to what others have. No rule
could be more just and easy to comply
with than the Bible rule of giving.
Nothing has more to do with our hap
piness and prosperity than scriptural
giving. III we do not believe what God
teaches us about the duty of giving to
His cause. at home and abroad, why
should we believe what He teaches us
on baptism, the Lords supper, or any
thing else? l am thoroughly con-
WINGED that the weakness of individ-
uals, and churches is largely, and dis
tinctly because they are withholding
what God demands of them in time
and money.
If this shall be my last message to
all my friends, who hear these words.
should emphasize the foregoing as
worthy of serious attention. The mem
ory of my relations to Topisaw, Shady
Grove and Bogue Chitto churches and
Caseyville, too, is fresh and tender.
Were it my privilegeto speak to you
face to face should want to say the
things that would heln you to greater