The Newtown bee., 1900-11-09

dishonor be 1t said, she was antagoniz sd, took occasion greatly to annoy him with rapidly turning the leaves of book and then passing out of the door with bang. During the preceding pastorate, sermon hinting plainly at whist parties would be followed by certain members immedi. ately after giving invitations to the con- Rregation to that same card party. And when the friend spoke there was an in- di ference, a eelfishness, suspicion, A PERFUMES WEIGH WAS PAGAN, NOT
 CHRISTIAN.
 Let us eyer hold before us' the change which the Christian church is to work in society. It has the spirit of leaven which, placed in dull dough, is to raise and per do we find in the world? Paul says the natural man is prone to fornication, un- cleanness, lasciviousness, idolatrv, en- mites, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, heresies, envyings, drunkenness and such like. (Gal. :192l) Is that the world we fad today? Then 1t is the work of God in His church to bring sweetness into decay, life into the body of this death. And this is to be the issue |: a heart of compassion, kindness, humil- ity, I mssaness, osss lone.spfe.iDE, tosgiying
 
 us until ye love the brethren as Christ loved you, giving His life, yes, even loving your enemies. Brethren, is this church alive to its work? Is this com- munity being regenerated because ye are the salt, the lghts of the worldf But that is the program of Christianity: redeemed and perfect humanity-:hat is the aspiration and mission of the man of Christ.
 When, then, Jesus came proclaih1ing the kingdom of God, disciples gathered about Him alike in interest ani spirit. These He welded into one organization for as the soul must have it's body, so must the truth have men to proclaim 1t, and unity of eff )rt is best secured by an organiz ation. Let us come, then, to con- sider some fundamental truths bound up in our text, as the colors of 8 myriad sunbeams are cherished in the diamond.
 l. The living God is the foundation and seal of His church. In using the word we mean not meeting-house, nor local body of Christians, or denomfna. tion, but that great society of believers in whom Christ is loved and obeyed-of this Church universal, ye who are the brethren in Cornwall form . part. We belong not to the church formed by man but we organize in the living God. On the human side was Peter, the man of faith, which was cementinG him into rock, and upon all like him from that time on has the church been built. But on the divine side was the Spirit which, coming from the Father, inspired him to say, "Thou art Christ, ,"-and that spirit still continues the foundation in every believer who Is inspired to say, "Jesus is the Lord" He who was dead but now liveth forever more Is the eternal Rock on which the church is built. You may build clubs and societies on the hay, wood, stubble that decay, but for this divine institution ssother foundation can no man lay than that which is laid-| which is Jesus Christ" Let no man fear for the church who believes in God. The temple may burn, the society decay, de- nominations rise and wane. You may succeed the fathers and in turn give your bodies to the dust-but this is the church of the living God. If you would mark it's power gather into your imagination Paul, the apostle, the Chrysostom golden tongued, St Francis and stalWart Luther, that innumerable cloud of witnesses that gather round. Aud the seal of the future is not your transient wisdom and strength-but that humility and weak. ness glorified by the unseen presence of Him who redeems us. The kingdom is safe; we glory, because we are part of the church of the living God. 3. IT Is THE CHURCH OF GODS DELIGHT. He has founded 1t; it is His. Avaunt with man who refuses to do Gods work in the church because 8 minister hits his sins or someone does not suit his fancy. That egotism and 2x4 spirit deserve sack cloth and ashes. This church, or any church, is not designed to suit the whim of any man-it is the church not of little man but of the living God.
 Through much travail has He built it. He was dying in His son upon the cursed cross; He bore with Peter and Thomas suffered in the prosecutions and labors of the centuries. "Ye are not your own, ye are bought with price,"
 Fathers, are the children of any worth to you? Friends, do you find value in frienda? Painter, why do you priza the picture? They are the objects in which your souls delight. Paul CT )ins hus- bands to love their wives even as Chriat loved the church and gave himself for it. (Eph. 5 25). What a painting is to the artist, a frlend to friend, a child to the parent, that is the church to God. It is the Bride of Christ who is in God. In it He lives, in 1t His Being is express ed.
 But what is the church that delights God? We may court men of intelligence and culture; but the unsanctified wisdom of the world is fcolishness with Him. We may welcome the rich, but He chose the things that are despfsed. Not the rich, nor the intelligent, nor the "strong" church is the delight to Him who founded