The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-13

because he wants 10. He is not thinking
or fathers power TO compel obedience, but
OF the happy privilege Of obedience. lie just
wants TO obey him because he loves him
Is that your attitude toward God?
righteousness is music in that 1t is hap
mony with holiness and truth. Right re-
Iation is music; wrong relation is discOrds
No truth ever makes discord with another
truth. You sometimes see ten or fifteen in
struments in one orchestra, each one differ
ent, and yet each one in perfect harmony
with all the rest. And so Il is with scientific
truth, moral truth. historic truth. religious
truth, spiritual truth. Truth harmonizes
with every truth in the universe. IL is one
great orchestra OF music that sends up its
melody into the heart Of God.
sympathy is music in that IL is harmony
with the attitude OF God toward people and
condition Of every soul on this earth. What
We need 10 do Is 10 get the attitude OF God
toward all people. We know that His atti-
tude toward sin is one OF unrelenting hos
tility, that His attitude toward all kinds
OF uncleanness is one Of opposition. When
we come into Gods attitude toward all men
we make melody In our hearts unto Him.
Humility is music In that IL is harmony
with the greatness OF God. The lowest note
may harmonic with the highest and dis
cord may result when the low note tries
TO climb out OF its place up toward this
high note. When / consider the heavens
the work OF thy fingers. the moon and
the stars which thou hast ordained. what
is that thou art mindful OF him pc
IL Is not fitting that IAN atom OF this atom
world" should be inflated with his own
seE-importance. Conceit often parades as
sef-respect and glories in its shame. Cole
ridge tells OF man who never mentions
ed his own name without taking OF his
hat Real greatness and true humility
are Siamese twins; they are united by a
living ugament Of grace. A man OF large
acquaintance with celebrities told me the
other day that the greatest men he knew
were most unconscious OF greatness. They
know their limitations and are humbled
as they see themselves In contrast with
what they desire 10 be. only little men
must increase their size by imitation.
Those who put on airs do so 10 hide their
nakedness. but they only make themselves
ridiculous. for people can sec through
airs however thick. AS one rises in real
worth Of character he sinks in the scale
of self-cOnceit. As we rise toward heaven.
self becomes smaller. until, by and by,
when we reach the height OF heavenly char
acter. self will not amount TO much When
such a climax OF character has been reached
the discord Of pride will be gone and tho
harmony OF humility. which makes music
unto the Lord, will I'LL the soul.
IN HARMONY WITH GOD.
Joy Is music In that IL Is harmony with
the will and pleasure or God. Whatever 10
against Gods Will is discord. and. when
there Is discord in the soul. there can be no
Joy. Sin. therefore, destroys JOY There
may be fun at the expense OF purity.
amusement at the expense OF good morals,
and pleasure at the expense of consecra-
ton; but such fun. amusement and pleas
ure Danish Joy from the soul, and no sane
man can afford 10 sacrifice "A JOY which rs
a fOretaste OF heaven for fun, amuscment
or pleasure which b. only the muddy frOth
and foam OF earth. While We keep right
with God there IS joy ia the soul which
makes melody unto the Lord, but when sin
puts Us out OF right relation with God the
soul is filled with grating discord. and no
laughter produced by fun. amusement or
pleasure can prevent IL from rasping the
conscience and giving pain. Let Is guard,
our souls as the master musician guards his
instrument. that he may keep ~ m perfect
tune. IL we would be- filled with JOY. and the
pleasure of God Is the keynote with which
every faculty OF the soul must harmOuizo
II We would make melody unto the Lord.
When all that pleases Him pleases Us We
have reached heaven on earth
Gratitude Is music IN that Il Is harmony
OF the text. Giving thanks always Tor all
things unto God There Is no room here
for the discOrd OF complaint The purpose
OF God in redemption h 10 bring the dis
cordant nature and lie OF man into per-
feet harmony with His own nature and
will
God uses every means TO reach the soul
of man and bring forth the response OF
gratitude and love. Nature about him APP
peals to his sense Of the beautiful and the
stars above him bid him look up and wur-
ship their Creator. But the love OF Jesus is
His Irresistible appeal May We come into
such harmony with God that every faculty
OF our being will vibra.e In response % the
appeal and all the time make melody IN our
hearts 10 the Lord.