The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-22

September 23, 19o0-Luke xii, 35-49-
The Duty of watchfulness.

Argos lost his head when he closed the last Of
fifty pairs of eyes. While Ulysses slept his SAIL
ors loosed the baleful winds of Aeoius. So the
classics woven and interviewer with legends
strikingly Illustrating the necessity OF eternal
vigilance. 1t remains, however. for the Divine
Teacher. divesting the subject OF quaint fiction.
to define the ethical principles involved and
ground the necessity upon moral basis This
Jesus does when He reveals the truth that man
is Gods servant. What he has he holds in trust
for his Maker He is not an original. independ-
ent proprietor He holds nothing IN fee simple.
He is to occupy. and increase. But an ac-
count OF stewardship is ever impending. This ac-
counting time is the assize OF the SOUL 1t is TO
be kept always in view. One is 10 be instantly
ready for IL. Here. however. is no harsh,
unreasonable and purely technical reckoning.
Nothing can surpass Jesus radiant portraiture
of Him with whom all souls have their final
dealings Nothing is hid from, His omniscience.
true, but II is benevolent knowledge 1t Is so
all-inclusfve to descend TO the very hairs OF
ones head. 1t bids the child OF God take no
anxious care He who sustains the soul In being
Will provide bodily comforts. He who notes
sparrows and lilies will not neglect immortals.
The principles OF absolute equity Will be OBJ
served in the final accounting. He viii not at
tempt to reap where He has not sown. A rea-
sonable increase only will be demanded. The
ratio between the knowledge and the stripes VIII
be accurate. . Yet all this does not muf-
fie the alarm Jesus sounds II unequivocally.
"Gird your loins Light your lamps. Be ready.
Blessed is the faithful and wise steward The
reward of Christian fidelity is rich and enraptur-
ing. AS in the SaturnaIia host sometimes turned
servant. in the festival of salvation. a
token of regard and appreciation. Jesus will
save in person. and exalt to higher stations
those who have been persistently trustworthy.
JeSrI IL nj in Lead n CDrr
those who are idling or misspending their pro-
baton. There is no evasion or ambiguity In His
language. Retribution awaits them. They shall
be cut in sunder. appointed portion with UNI
believers and, according to their knowledge.
beaten with stripes. many OF them.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN
The spirit of true Christian watchfulness is
sometimes lost in the mazes of arithmetical cal
culations of the date of the second coming of
Jesus He watches best who most dill
gently. 'fWesley's reply TO the question
what he would do il ne knew he was to die next
day at midnight characterize: II should do
just what 1 expect to do. Preach tomorrow
morning at B., and meet the leaders. Preach
in the afternoon ct F. and ride over TO NJ
where i should preach in the evening Then 1
should go to bed to Sleep and awake in glory
That Is awaiting the Lords coming. ideal
and glorious. . The of the probation
airy life as related to the life immortal is finely
expressed I'm the lines:
''Since am coming to that room,
Where, with the choir immortal,
shall make thy music when / come,
tune the instrument here at the door,
| And what / must do there. think here before .
Jesus faithful servants are to be exalted
| to highest rank conceivable. The reveIator saw
| thrones for the faithful They shall be rulers
The wisdom learned in humble spheres
shall be useful to the mighty governor of uni
verse. His stewards. exalted shall share with
Him in some form of dominance all inteIli-
| ge:ce. such promise let no one contemplate
except when clothed in the profoundest humiI-
| ity." Retributve punishment only can
be expressed In the language. ''cut in sunder
appointed portion with unbelievers and beaten
with many stripes" 1t is preposterous to at
tempt to tone this down into "affectionate chas-
tiseInent for the moral amendment OF the mis-
led" 1t is also significant that while grades Il
severity plainly indicated. differences OF du-
ration not affirmed. Drunkenness is
| the fruitful cause of a misspent probation and