The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-06-24

verse, For narrow Is the gate and
straitened the way that leadeth unto
life and few be they that find it,
Here is definite, clear statement Of
fact. No doubt Is left to the mind as to
its exact meaning. This was a universal
characteristic of the utterances of Jesus.
He made 1t a point to bring to a head
and apply to men each truth that He
spoke. Authority and consequent def
niteness marked HN words and acts.
In our context He is bringing to a close
the wonderful Sermon on the Mount-the
sermon which sets forth the constitution
of the Kingdom of Heaven, laying down
the principles which govern entrance into
il and life within the kingdom. Right
eousness is the prime requisite, right
eousness that exceeds that of the scribes
and pharisees, a Righteousness of heart
and mind, not simply of act and deed. In
this fact lies the secret of the whole Of
Christian life Christianity is not thing
one can put on as one puts on gar
ment. 1t is a thing of the heart and
soul. Until We realize that Christianity
consists of righteous thought, intent and
principle as well as act, We fail to grasp
it's meaning. Now this righteousness of
the Kingdom calls for the highest self
sacrifice and the greatest lowliness of
spirit. But to this gate the multitudes
of the world do not rush. 1t is not pop
ular. So Christ begins the conclusion to
His wonderful sermon by clearly setting
forth its inevitable outcome. Enter ye
in BY the narrow gate, for wide is the
gate and broad is the way that leadeth
to destruction and consequently many
be they that enter in thereby. For mar
row is the gate and straitened the way
that feadeth unto life and consequently
few be they that find it,
That multitude which stood close
packed at the foot of the mount from
which Jesus spoke was bound to be di-
vided. His words were too searching. too
definite to please all. They stood at the
fork in the road--on one hand the wide
gafe and broad way: upon the other the
narrow gate and straitened way. Some
heard him gladly and said to themselves
This is the man for US; this is the life
We want 10 lead. We will enter this mar
row way, for it satisfies the longing of
our souls" Others heard the same truth
but said. There is nothing in it That
man is fanatic; no one can live ac-
eording to his principles and amount to
anything in this world. The narrow way
is a dream; there is only one, the broad
and easy way" So the two classes sep
arate. Now the present time is not SO
different from that eventful day, nor are
people now SO unlike that multitude. We
all stand tonight at this same fork in
the road. Which road do We take?
There is a certain characteristic be-
longing to matured . men and women
which gives them power and stability.
1t is a characteristic which usually only
comes with experience and maturity.
We call it foresight" the ability to
look ahead and see the outcome of
certain course, the faculty of knowing
beforehand the results of action. It is
the faculty that makes substantial bust
ness men, that creates successful law
yers,s that makes effective physicians 1t
hae always seemed an unfortunate thing
to me that this faculty-foresight-
not the gift Of the young. For who need
1t more than they? Standing upon the
threshold of life with innumerable
courses opening before them, the one
ty-foresight-would seem to settle
the whole problem and settle it well. Yet
it is lacking. The problem of life must
be fought out step by step, instead OF
being all well planned beforehand. Never
theless there is much more thoughtless-
ness and want of consideration of results