Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-02-19


q where We are placed and not wait to
serve God in resounding position; text, L.
Corinthians X, 81. Whether, therefore,
We eat or drink or whatsoever We do. do
all to the glory of God"
When the apostle in this text sets forth
the idea that so common an action as the
taking of food and drink is 10 be con-
Quoted to the glory of God. he proclaims
the importance of religion in the ordinary
affairs of our life. In all ages OF the
world there has been a tendency to set
apart certain days, places and occasions
for worship, and to think those were the
chief realms in which religion was to act
Now, holy days and holy places have
their importance. They give opportu-
nifty for special performance of Christian
duty and for regaling of the religious
appetite, but they cannot take the place
of continuous exercise of faith and pray
er. In other words, a man cannot be so
much Of a Christian on Sunday that he
can afford to be wording all the rest
of the week. If a steamer put out for
Southampton and go one day in that di-
Tection and the other six days in other
directions, how long before the steamer
will get to Southampton? 1t win never
get there. And though Il man may seem
- be yogaging heavenward during the
" Sal bath day, if during lie follow
I'M s'y days Of the week he is going to-
wal the devil how long will it take him
to h the peaceful harbor of heaven
You cannot eat so much at the Sabbath
banquet that you can afford religious
abstinence the other six days. The gem
uine Christian life is not spasmodic; does
not go by fits and starts. | propose to
plead for an everyday religion.
In the first place we want to bring the
religion of Christ into our conversation.
We ought every day to be talking relig-
ion. have noticed that men just in
proportion as their Christian experience
is shallow talk about funerals and grave
yards and tombstones and deathbeds.
The real. genuine Christian man talks
chiefly about this life and the great eter-
nifty beyond and not so much about the
insignificant pass between these tv-Y resi-
dences. And yet how few circles lere
are where the religion of Jesus Christ is
welcome. Go into circle even of Chris
tan people, where they are full of joy
and hilarity, aud talk about Christ or
heaven and everything is Immediately 81
fenced. As on summer day when the
forests are full of life, chatter, chirrup
and Garcia mighty chorus of bird har-
mony, every tree branch an orchestra
if a hawk appear in the sky, every voice
stops and the forests are still. just so
] have seen a lively religious circle ST
fenced on the appearance of anything like
religious conversation. No one had any
thing to say save perhaps some old patri-
arch in the corner Of the room, who really
thinks that something ought to be said
under the circumstances; so he puts one
foot over the other and heayes a long
sigh and says. 'Oh, yes; that's so, that's
So"
1t Makes the Heart Glad.
My friends. the religion of Jesus Christ
is something to talk about with a glad
heart. 1t is brighter than the waters;
it is more cheerful than the sunshine.
Do not go around grooming about your
religion when you ought to be singing it
or talking it in cheerful tones OF voice.
How often it is that we find men whose
lives are utterly inconsistent who attempt
to talk religion and always make fail
IRE OF it. My friends. we must live re-
ligion or we cannot talk it. If man is
cranky and cross and uncor genial and
hard in his dealings and then begins to
talk about Christ and heaven, everybody
is repealed by it. Yet | have heard such
men say in whining tones, I'VE are mis-
cradle sinners" The Lord bless YOU"
1.-The Lord have mercy on YOU their con-
versation interlarded with such express
sions. which mean nothing but cantins
and canting is the worst form of hypuc-
riSy If we have really felt the religion
OF Christ in our hearts, let US talk it.
and talk it with an illuminated coun+e-
nance. remembering that "hen TWO
Christian people talk God gives special
attention and writes down what they
say; Malachi ill.,. 16. Then they that
feared the Lord spake often one to an
other and the Lord hearkened ana heard
it, and book OF remembrance was writ
tea"
Again. | remark. we must bring the re-
ligion of Christ into our employments.
oh" yen say, that is very well if
man haadle large sums of money or If he
have an extensive traffic. but in the hum
BILE work in life that | am called to the
sphere is too small for the action Of such
grand, heavenly principles" Who told
you SO? Do you not know that God
watches the faded leaf on the brooks
surface as certainly as he does the path
of a blazing sun? And the moss that
creeps mp the side of the rock makes as
much impression upon Gods mind as
th..owaving tops of Oregon pine and Leb-
mp cedar, and the alder. cracking I'M
der the cows hoof, sounds as loud in
Gods ear as the snap of a worlds con
ilagratiOn. When you have anything to
do in life. however humble it may seem
TO he, God is always there to help you
10 do it.
Putting Religion Into Practice.
There are those prominent in the
churches who seem to be on public ocea-
sions very devout who do not put the |
principles of Christ's religion into prac- /
tire They are the most inexOrable Of
creditors They are the most grasping /
of dealers They are known rs sharpers |
on the street. They fleece every sheep |
they can catch. A country merchant |
comes in to buy spring or fall goods, and !
he gets into the store of one Of these pro- D
fessed Christian men who have really !
10 grace in thsi. hearts. and he IS COM
tjlctely Swiaded. He is 50 overcome thar 7
h. cannot get out Of town during the /
week. lie stays in town over Sunday. !
gees into some church TO get Christian I
consolation. when what is his amazement (
TO find that the very man who hands him
the poor box in the church is the one 4
who relieved him OF his money. Bat
never mind: the deacon has his black coat
On now. He looks solemn and saas home.
talking about the blessed sermon" Ii ]
-, -. - }