The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-05-20


 summer conferences taught 1t all last summer. But Jesus said Christianity was not renouncement, but acquisition; | not deprivation but fulfillment; not repression of natural emotions, but their free glad, increasing exercise
 along high lines. Christianity accord-
 ing to Jesus Is the appropriation of
 everything that Is beautiful, good and true; 1t is more of the pure glad world,
 not less; more human companionsh1p
 and love, not less; more of the free glad play of all pure human qualities, not their repression. Paul is the only man who really caught the real meaning ,of
 Jesus teachings, All things are yours; whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all are yours for you are Christs, and Christ's is Gods. So then to be Christian to-day,
 according to( Jesus, is to believe in the
 enlargement 'of life and practice 1t. It
 is to fulfill all ones natural powers in
 every way. k is to go into every new
 experience, looking for new vision and
 truth of God It is to go through the
 days with the windows of the soul open
 tC CFCiy liGW Icy OL IoA D lis5Hl' ~ A''
 by observation of nature and of men
 to be continually enriching all ones be-
 ing. It is by Knowledge to be contin-
 ually storing the mind with Gods
 truth. It is by prayerful communion
 with the great spirit to be continually
 deepening the wells of spirit life. add
 ing power to power and glory unto
 glory. It is by service to daily devel-
 op the divine within us until we come
 into the divinity of Jesus. This is
 Christianity as Jesus taught 1t. This
 state of things has always followed
 His coming where His life has been
 truly understood He says T am
 come that men might have life" and all
 experienea bears witness to the splendid
 fulfillment of that mission. For wher-
 ever His truth goes 1t quickens the
 thoSght-life of men Wherever His
 words Of love and hope fall
 they quicken life to love and
 deep emotion and large vision.
 When His ideals are preached
 they inspire young men to larger, finer action, and challenge them to noble deeds; wherever the spirit of His life goes the life of the world has been enriched by service, love and brother hood.
 But I want, rather, this morning, to consider our relations to the world as Christians, in the light os this verse. With this declaration of Jesus before us, what is 1t to be His follower? There can be but one answer If I want to ask myself Am 1 disciple of Jesus of Nazareth must ask myself Am I here that men may have life?' " There Is no other test. I may believe this and that about Him; I may accept His teachings about God; may cry often, Lord, Lord, but If I am not giv- ing life to men by my presence, words or deeds, I am not a disciple in the fullest sense of that great word. One of the striking things that gradually comes over you as you study the words of Jesus Is that He always claims for His disciples all He claims for Himself. He says T am the light of the world;' then He turns to Ills disciples and | says, "Ye are the light of the world" He says T am one with God" Then He | asks that they may become one with the Father. So where He says T am come that men may have life" he, as | 1t were turns to us and says, "If you | are My disciples you are come that men | may have life.' So, then, If we want to | know whether we are truly Christ-ike pr not, these are the questions we must ask ourselves. Are we bringing love nto the world or strises and hatreds; | hat is, does our daily living make love to abound among men and. enrich and r make life sweetar for all or is our pres- ,nce disturbing presence, and the words we utter words of pain Are we bringing hope to men or discourage nent and despair. that is, does our presence always raise the tone of life md encourage, or does It take the sinew ut of action, and our words cast down? Are we come that men may have joy lnd gladness or does our life bring orrows into the world? Does our pres 'nee disseminate sunshine among men IT does 1t cast gloom on neighboring learts? Are we come that the law of ,indness and consideration shall be- one the ruling motive of the world or To we by life and deed preach selfish less as the law of life? Does our 'resence bread enthusiasm for high iy o larger ambitions for character and ervica, 0. does 1t create an atmos-
 here of lstlessness or indifference? Ire we adding to the sum of happiness nd blessedness and peace by service re are We by idleness draining the re- ources oe the world. As I study the fe of Jesus and hear Ills words all hese former things give life-the lat CT bring death As we come in COIL act with that life our hearts always { urn within us. for wherein He walk d and talked love sprang into being Ike light from the sun in heaven; hope evived in the hearts of men; joy per- aded life, spirit, sunshine illuminated Il the hearts, kindness became the nly life possible. in His presence men lens hearts, in His presence men 1ought finer, purer thoughts-service :, ecame the natural expression of leir nature. No wonder the poets ! ave sung that the place where He welleth seemed full of music and that overs sprang up In His footsteps as ! [e walked, and songs rose to the : carts of men. It is merely their t ay of saying that in his progress the 'uits of life abounded; love, courage, irtue, gladness sprang into being on Il sides. I say 1t Is the only test of for to-day. If we can t " the world is a richer, gladder bet q ix~ | { l. l ',