The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-29
Benefits OF GOODNESS
The President Hears Gospel Ser
mon by Rev. DIR. Bristol.
A Moral Lesson Derived From the
Athletes of the Grccinn Gnmcs-
The Three Attributes OF Pcr-
feet Life. knimnIism. United with
intellectually and Spirituality.


at the Metropolitan Church. In the invo-
cation the pastor Rev. +. n. Bristol.
prayed earnestly for the blessing OF God
upon tire President OF the United States
and all in authority
In introducing the subject of "Gadli-
ness" which was the burden Of his text.
Or. Bristol said that in the text the Apos-
tie Paul was writing to young man The
age in which Timothy lived was rs fast
and as progressive as the present. The
world then had as great a charm to the
young. the rich. and the ambitious as it
has now. Pleasure was no less ailuring,
and human nature was about the same then
as now No religion could make Roadway
then that did not help man to live his
life right. No religion in that age was
accounted good which did not give cour-
age 10 doubling hearts. which did not give
hope in sorrow. and which did not hold
cut help TO feeble hands.
Jaul, the preacher said. in substance.
presses home in the mind of Timothy
that g0dliness and religion were TO be help
fillmore helpful. in fact. than the ath-
letic training TO which the world In that
day gave so much attention. Preachers
have often taught that the religion of
Christ was of inestimabie value to men
when they come to die. But here is Paul
adinonishing Timothy in his youth that it
is a religion to live by. "Godliness." he
says, lis profitable unto all things, having
promise OF the life which now is" And 1t
is sublimely true that a religion that is
not worth living by is not worth dying by.
The young man who came to Christ ask
ing for eternal life was doubtless much
like Timothy. He had the same oppor-
tunities, he WAS placed among the same
temptations, he may have had similar am
billions and similar means to attain them.
But he was rich and when the Master told
him TO go and sell his patrimony and di
vide ii among the poor the test of the
mans weakness came. Timothy had temp
tation before him. The world pleased him
and invited him to partake of its pleas
ures, and Timothy could not have been
much of a man or much OF a boy il he did
not have some mighty. absorbing ambi
ton What should he doe There was God
On his throne and Paul pointing the way
of duty. How would we have solved the
same problem? How are We solving it
How can 1t be nationally solved without
godliness7
The Grecian world. DR.. Bristol went on
TO say, was given up 10 athletic games. TO
poetry. oratory, and to art. But its poetry,
oratory, and art we're largely of heroic
mold. Its chef statues are of athletes,
and the foot race, the boxing match. and
the throwing of the discus were matters
as much cultivated in Greece as other
feats of strength were in Rome. Paul's
imagery in all his writings breathes the
spirit of the Olympian games. In limo
thy's day there was more money to be
earned in the circus than in any other
aal ha nv hp zft N
boxer were greater than those of the
author who might write book to charm
hundred centuries. The applause given TO
the gladiator in Rome who could STAY the
Trumidian lion was more hearty and sin
cere than that accorded TO the home COM
ing Of the brayest general. And Timothy.
rejoicing in the strength of his youth, and
perhaps having had a taste of the glory
of the circus, may have had an ambition
TO become great athlete. Paul himself
does not belittle the value of physical
prowess. He makes use OF ii to round out
the finest periods in all his writings In
the apostles thought physical strength is
the true basis of moral conduct. Bodily
superiority becomes a figure of moral
grandeur Physical exercise, he admits,
is profitable. Strong. healthy manhood is
a type OF moral manhood.
To many duty is a curse. responsibility
a blight. and even the thought OF God a
source of unhappiness. PeTversion OF duty
wrecks happiness. The good alone can en-
joy. because the good only is enjoyable and
satisfying. Goiliness is willing obedience
TO the law, bringing man back TO harmony
with God. The suspension of one law
in the universe. for one second of time.
wculd bring humiliation TO the race and
chaos 20 the world we inhablt. And when
man nj haftOouv with law ba
suffers in consequence.
The best principle of success in life is
sodliness. Sin only makes riches a curse
while gcdliness sanctifes them. Sin makes
poverty uncomfortable and our very weak
ness and helplessness a curse while right
eousness often cnlightens poverty and up
lifts us when cast down. -
No one should be content 90 live only
one-third Of n life. There are many who
seem TO have no thought above animslism.
They have DO intellectual life-no appre
citation OF art. letters. or music. They
have never aspired to anything above
bodily contentment and the qualification
of physical appetite. Living down in the
cellar or basement OF the physical taber-
nacie, they may be happy. but not satis-
fed Longings will arise. There are
within man voices that will cry out, and
the human animal who has not sought
anything beyond the qualification of physi-
cal desires is more than likely to arrive
at a period OF great dissatisfaction and di,-
content of mind.
But he is only one degree lower than
the man who develops alone his intellectual
life. There IS no profit in living two
thirds OF a life and in never getting above
the ground floor OF ones existence.
There is a better life than either of these
OF both combined. Jesus Christ is here
10 uplift the grovelng man OF the dust 10
higher attitudes of activity and hope.
When the image OF Christ is stamped upon
The heart and man begins to develop his
spiritual nature then true happiness be-
gins IL is a union OF the triune life--tbe
physical. the intellectual, and the nkDral
Godliness adds enc hundred fold to every
good thing IN this life, and still adds the
hope of a glorious Immortality. DO not
deny that you are "A citizen OF heaven. Get
all you can out OF life. Ii is Gods world
Get the most you can out OF the culture
OF the mind. Learn all you can, but do
not content with poems. histories. and
PHILOSOPHERS. Get all you can out of your
spiritual life. Take God as your light:
take the eternitics as your hope: take
Christ into your life. Enjoy a full and
complete existence.
The true philosophy of happiness is
Christ