The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-09-23

church, yesterday. and the program of
music was in at keeping with the oocs-
sion
cor, Rev. Asbury X. Krom, and " was an
sloausnt as well as powerful effort.
He spoke as follows:
ssThen Peter said. silver and gold have
4 none; but such az i have give / thee:
In the name OF Jesus Christ or Nazareth
rise up and walk"
Tho picture w-..ch the writer has left
Us OIL the healing OF this lame man is an
interesting one. The Temple with It's
xate called Beautiful, Peter and John af-
ter the custom OF good Jews going up TO
pray the unexpected healing, tho de-
nunciations that Peter hurled at the per-
secutors OF Jesus. followed by the Inn
prisonment of the disciples all combine
60 make a scene picturesque and strik-
Ing.
The language OF Peter as found in our
text Is dramatic. That which you seek
have not. Yet i give you that which has
more value. In the namc of Jesus OF Ma
zareth, rise up and walk.
Ii is the only time this man appears In
history. His name is unknown. What he
did before the healing Is revealed 10 us,
what he did after the healing remains
mystery.
But there Is no character in the Bible.
however insignificant, that lacks It's own
peculiar interest. Each teach their lesson
in their own way and pass on and on the
stage OF action.
One man instructs us because OF his
strength, but another because OF his
weakness
In one hour David teaches us with his
virtue. in the next he warns us with his
vice.
solomon aids us with his wisdom. this
mans ignorance helps us 20 become wise.
To all outward appearances he had be-
come satisfied with his lot. He was doubt
less content to beg day by day. Possibly
ne rejoiced in the thought that while the
hale and strong were obliged to earn
t..eir daily bread with labor he lived be-
cause OF his infirmity upon the labor OF
oihera. When he was finally healed and
found himself able TO walk he rejoiced
and leapt for joy, but the joy OF walking
was as yet unknown to him.
NEED AND DESIRE.
But Il is not for us 10 be content with
n mere diagnosis of this mans mental
condition We are TO seek for facts. The
one TACT that overshadows all others Is
this: the mans desire was not In accord
with his need.
He needed healing He desired silver and
gold
Peter overlooking his desire met his
need.
This contrast between need and desire
II instructive.
II leads one into the deep recesses OF
mems hearts. 1t is by suoh searching you
discover yourself. for ''as man thinketh
In his heart 80 is he"
Lay hold upon your ruling desire and
you have touched the essence of your
life.
- a.stra. What a.. IfkaS what a
man likes" says Ruskin. lis the exact
expression of his life.'
Ii is characteristic OF desire that IL Is
always aimed at some definite goal what
a man desires therefore Is what he
really is and hopes 20 be.
The task OF discovering ourselves. our
true character Is not so difficult as We
have thought. You can know the one de-
sire OF your living and striving. You can
become conscious or the one thing that
means more to you than all others
That desire is more than an expression
OF your life. Il is the very essence OF u.
III is more than a manifestation OF you,
in true sense IL is you.
As such IL oolors and changes your
whole life.
Thought. feeling, willing are all infu-
enced by II. 1t In the great passion Of the
soul.
What is a? ask you each one this
morning TO ask yourselves that question.
II may be that you have never asked
Il before. Never having been asked.
no answer has been coming and you are
ignorant of the one motive which above
all others sways your life.
DECEPTION DENOUNCED.
Deception always works injury De-
ception practiced against other men and
women Is an evil. but the worst decep-
rtfrc IL hat Of
yourself.
How many men have been charged
with having selfish desires. with work
ing for their own individual profit. VINO
have denounced the accusation. beiiev-
ing the charge false and themselves true
who afterwards in honesty have been
forced 70 admit that others knew them
better than they knew themselves. This
Is generally true. Certainly as concerns
our faults The world knows them bet
ter than we do.
We think ourselves perfect while the
world sees n score of imperfections. We
think ourselves honest In our Christian
profession when n we should look At the
real desire Of our hearts we should find
they were set not upon the things 81
Heaven but the corruptible things OF
this life.
r-nconsciously We love ourselves better
than our God. We are seeking fame
service.
For how mRnv man protesting the
name OF Jesus the condition of the stock
exchange r. more vital question than
the condition Of the Kingdom Of God In
MS midst.
For how many a woman whose name
q enrolled upon the records of the church
her position IN society Is of more vital
conc~rn than her standing with her
Nsker
Trs not that We are dishonest. but be-
cause tic way ~ ilfe goes on % gentle
vet 80 sure that we arc really ignorant
~ IRE things mon which orr affections
,~e sri sofne day - stor and wonder
wfr iife ~ 30 cnrty. We question
whether after al ihrr~ IL ioy and peace
MAT corrce A. she fruit ~ tho holy spirit
Doubt lsys hold upon us and we ssk
oursei,es vhefher The Christ life is what
w> h.d f~pef for y
r~f - nrse~pive ourselves To r not
We fau1t ~ ne HOLY Spirit. ~ r. not
hecspse the iife lived with Christ r.
enSsy. me fault is our own. NOT