The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-10
SELF DENIAL.
CONTINUED From Page Five.)


his Interpretation of the life OF Christ.
1t was something of this kind that ST.
Paul meant when he spoke OF possessing
the mind OF Christ.
weighed In the white light of the goal
thai we have set for ourselves. What
retards our reaching that goal should pe
cast aside. What furthers that should
I'm business as IL is in Christianity.
This last command of Jesus, therefore,
has these twofold aspects. 1t anords
criterion of the things that We shall deny
ourselves and IL also teaches us What
crosses we shall take up and carry. But
II does more than that. There is a COM
like mumps and measles, usually mani
tests itself pretty early in life. IL comes
just when the boy or girl is passing OUT
from the paternal care that ofttimes man
ifests itself In enforcing self-denial and
just at the time when the young mlnd
begins TO soar. to see visions and dream
dreams; II is the time when one discards
the valentine bought I'm the store and
sends a few of ones own verses. IL is
critical period of fife, for IL is just the
time when the mind begins TO fasten ITSELF
on some ideal Too seldom is the ideal
large enough. Too seldom Is IL one of
the whole mar. Consequently IL is an
ideal of business OF professional life OF
society. These are right, but only In
their subordinate position II is not an
ideal OF ones whole duty to man and
God This does not seem necessary Youth
deems itself all sufficient. one can In
terpret ones duty without this. One
can say for themselves what things shall
be discarded and what other crosses shl''
be Assumed. Rut the youth or man VINO
argues thus oVcI looks the fact that men
are measured not by the things of which
they deny themselves or the crosses they
take UP. but by the nature of the goai
toward which the crosses are borne and
the success one has i'm attaining II. The
most unsuccessful men i'm the world are
ofttimes the most weighted down with
the most burdens and responsibilities. but
they never arrive at destination. They
never bring anything 10 an issue. They
leave so many irons I'm the fire that they
have not the time 10 beat one into shape
and fashion IL for use. Follow Me,
says Jesus. Have an end and purpose I'm
life. carry your crosses somewhere. The
words look backward, giving direction In
self-denial and burden assuming. but they
look forward as well 10 the goal toward
which our strength Is TO bear the work
OF our hearts and hands.
DISCORD. IDEAL AND GOAL.
Yet again the voice of .discord arises
by my own standards and assume my own
obligations apart from any ideal, but /
will also choose my goal.
dea sd ia nf'sf e % WHAT ssnesnoe nas to
Christian man has the Christ life? Does
IL merely afford him a criterion and set
before him q goal? OR does II do more
ing OF our ideal truly that much OF the
criticism has arisen I'm the minds of GER
tain men in speaking OF Christ. not as
God or Saviour, but as an ideal of life?
is not every true ideal in some sense a
saviour of the man who possesses IL? For
an ideal Is not only criterion by which
a man may Judge himself, nor Is IL mere
ly goal toward which he may betake
himself. 1t is within man as a nvlng
vital power that helps him TO realize the
goal. that 1t itself has established; BE
ye therefore perfect, even as your Father
is perfect" There is the goal Jesus sets
for us. But who has the overwhelming
egotism To believe that he could ever at
tain to that high pinnacle II God were
not a living. working in and through
men. A father sets for his son his own
high standard of honor and integrity In
business. But does he feel that he has
done his duty to that son by telling him
TO be as honest and faithful as he is? No,
the work has just begun. He then en-
deavors to aid the youth by every effort
TO realize that
Grant that you say you will deny your
| self and assume. according 10 your own
| judgment, life's task. Where comes the
| comes from that high ideal OF that humble
| Nazarene who said, Follow Me
No, believe me, II is not I'm theology
! not I'm the subtleties OF metaphysics. MOI
| m the augmentation Of the schools thai
| one finds the necessity for accepting tbs
1 guidance and the leadership OF the Christ
| life. II Is I'm careful conscientious studS
| OF the needs of the life We daily live thai
we find our need OF putting ourselves un
der the banner of Jesus All else is pre-
paratory. we have undergone the dril
| of scf-denial We have taken up oul
| weapons for the battle. Now comes thu
command. forward, march, and now a.
we go on and on all this past Is explained
| TO us
| such seems TO be the significance OF oul
text and We NAV pause moment To poin
| out just these thoughts that With thos'
| have mentioned may be OF significance
| And first Of all let us ask ourselves 4
| we are wise In our denals. Aren't We de
| nying ourselves some things that we have
| a right to enjoy and thus DENYING our
selves, some pleasure God ln,endgd & W,
! Van DYKE. "for n pleasure at which M
| sun complexoned soul hath ever girdet
you will go through life with a sad an'
But ! think God r. best pleased with u
| when we give little heed to scoffers an'
enjoy His gifts with thankfulness an'
an easy heart. Bat the sin of this IL no
only that we refuse 90 ourselves pleasure
! that are duo. we allow our eyes TO ~
| blinded to certain things which We do d
! and which ought not 10 he done.
| Secondly. N We are careworn with bur
dens that fret and wear. should We no
stop and ask ourselves how many Of thcs
things are necessary and how many ar
that are not we shall be freer TO Fo {
| God With those We ought Co bear AZ
come away with the assurance OF hi
Lastly n we walk straight on with m
irnagc ~ Our Lord beforr us ~ the eos
OF our toll aud denial We cav 20 wit
surcr. lighter stem for rest assured som
dny the iicht Of his couniepanco viii shin
back over OR path aud help ne to unds
stand what n has All meant. We cha
thcn not only fnd deeper Joy In our 10,
| hat y peace AMI satisfaction in our aoi
row and pain than those who have n0
horne these things never know. Rlcsse,
saws the psalmlst. n the man that walk
| eth not a. tho counsel % The wicked 10
| etnndcth in the wav of sinners nor sii
| teth IN tho seat Of the scornful pesset
we NAV saw. is the man who w this iif,
under the new dispensation. denies him
sell. takes up his cross and follows Jesu
Christ. .'H