The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-09-20
Thoughts On the Topic.

Said George Macdonald. God never
gave man thing to do concerning
which it we're irreverent TO ponder how
the Son of God would have done il. and
II were asked to state in a very few
words my idea Of how TO secure the ful-
ness OF God should say, do at all times
Just what you think Christ would like
70 have you do" at that time and place
/ know some people are inclined 20
doubt the soundness Of applying the doc
tF{ne What would Jesus do2'' 10 the
twentieth century life; but the fact re-
mains that TO be God-like is to be
ChTist-like, and TO be Christ-like is TO
dc as he would do And If the full
ness OF God" means anything. It is to
he full of God-like qualities and ChaTac-
te-istics, and We may best acquire them
by following Christ's example.
Our effort then should be 10 so train
ourselves that we should know at all
times just what he would have US TO
do. And that is the burden OF the great
apostles words in our text for today.
Paul could see far enough beyond the
day in which he lived 10 believe that II
the converts al Ephesus came to know
the love Of Christ" the GentiIes. for
whom his heart was bleeding and among
whom he was to preach the unseaTch-
able riches OF Christ, would soon be
brought TO the Christian standard; and
al the risk Of seeming commonplace,
viii say that the reason our cause does
not progress more rapidly today is that
the disciples OF the twentieth century
are not as seduousIy preaching the IN
searchsble riches Of Christ" as did the
IioB-hearted Paul and his fellow work
ers CT the first century Too many OF
Us are spending an undue proportion OF
our tina looking for other riches.
Prof Amos R Wells. in the 'Endeav-
orer's Daily Companion" mentions four
excellent things 10 assist in securing
the mIlness Of Cod" "a eating
Bible reading and prayer; (b) exercise
Christian service; (c) digestion-nedi-
taticn; and I'D sleep-peace; and all
these are within reach Of the most hum
bic OF US.
(a) Eatf1g-BibIe reading and prayer.
It has been stated that Bible reading is
declining. and while do not believe it,
7 do think that Bible memcrizing is de-
creasing. and that is z thing 10 be de-
pIored. for mind well stored with God s
word is quite likely 10 indicate a heart
well filed with Gods love, and heart
50 filed must needs find an outlet
through the medium OF pTayer-prayeT
something. either. Systematic. intelli-
gently directed. persevering Bible read
ing and study Il as essential 10 a Chris
tian's healthy growth as the same kind
OF eating is TO the healthy growth of The
body. ! an afraid We Of this busy.
Eustling day are too much inclined to
abridge our prayers until they come TO
be merely and always petitions, forever
asking something. II seems 10 me We
should spend some time IN telling God
some things-not that He does not know
them. but that we ourselves may reap
the gain that is sure to come from just
such familiarity with our Father who
art il heaven" tell our faults and short
comings and thus by an acknowledge
ment OF them gain strength TO over
come IN the future; tell our apprecfa-
tion of good things received and OF our
desires 10 minister unto others n ike
goodness-talk with God as did Moses Of
old. face 70 face Keeping back { part
OF the story may be as disastrous for
Us as keeping back part Of the price was
for Ananias and Sapphira
fb) Observation-Disclosures service: Ex-
excise pTesUpposes eating, and Christian
Service as necessarily demfUds Bible
reading and prayeT-a seeking for wis
dom in rendering the service In sup
port Of my statement that I do NOT
think Bible reading is declining. I would
cite the almost incaIculable amount of
Christian service that is everywhere be-
Inc done. OF course, some of II NAV he
o. an initiative sort, as child VIII do
things. in imitation Of an older person:
but the great mass Of il must be
prompted by q pure motive and main
laIred By an intelligent interest such
as only an intimate acquaintance with
the Book OF Books. and with its author
can impart. Rev c. u Butler said an
IT'S cclumn recently. Long ago the
theory was exploded that faith and
works may be divorced. and that the
spirit OF e life can be separated from
the life Itself" which is a statement so
absolutely tTs.e. hat It will bear repeat
ing IL this connection. The young PEG
PIE in our churches today cannot learn
any more Important lesson than that a
profession Of Christianity IS not worth
much In1ess II is strengthened by a good
proportion Of Christian service
fe1 Digestion-Me Meditation. What is
more disasseeable than dyspeptic? Al
ways out Of humoT. never pleased, look
ing at life through blue goggles, and