The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-20
Son of God wor whom they score In high
tst things.
THE PRIEST EVER FAITHFUL.

MOfh Tor nlmStn as part ol
| but really for the people-the sacrifices
he offers, the prayers he prays, as Tor
others. for that multitude between whom
God and Gods gracious gifts-he Is ever
standing. When he goes into Gods pres
ence IL is with the homes burning on MS
heart. When he comes out OF 1t with
Gods message and benediction for them
for which. consciously or unconsciously
they wait His whole life has that at
titude and Is valued and kept and puri-
fed that IL may be more and more meet
for that purpose of standing 10 God Tor
others and of standing 10 others for God.
IL Is not an Office only or a function be-
longin 10 "A special caste as we some-
times think IT, 1t is the character which
we see in other eartly relations where
every noble and true life is always in
terpreting and handing down higher
things In which II is at home TO those VINO
are less favored-the father or elder,
brother to the younger ch itadlhissET
brother younger child at his side. The
book teaches to the pupil in his case. 1t
Is the life 10 which in reality belongs
the power OF the kings;'-I know that
other lives is administered will depend
upon the conservation OF the possessor
OF himself and to his work. And this Is
tho relation exalted, purified, ennobled,
between the church OF God in It's mm-
bers and the outside world with all its
needs and capacities
What high honor! What an awful
responsibility, This idea clothes all life
with! This priesthood which gathers m
to it's embrace alike clergy and laity by
the simple fact that they are Christians.
What anew aspect IL puts upon all that
we are and all that we do-binding and
loosing for others. for the children, at
our side. for the neighhorhood, the
greatest moral issues for the
Opening up and making easier the path
to God by our word or act or shutting
the gate of heaven by our inconss tency
or even carelessness. How dare we
think OF IL? Yet 90 on living as if IL
only meant living and dying TO our
selves. DO you remember how Jesus
described his life and its governing pur-
pose i'm that last great prayer of Ills?
For their sakes l sanctify Myself" for
others. those whom he had come TO save.
And as He was so are we To he in this
world as lie Himself said Is IL possi-
BILE that this is the consciousness under
which most even, of processing Chris
tians are living? We may well ask IT,
as we look round a great city like this
and count the many churches pointing
their spires heavenward, where the CEN
sus number so many thousand Christians
OF various names among its population,
and then read our daily journal, with
it's tale OF wretchedness and crime, or
walk the streets night or even day,
OF sin and the presence of its victims.
When we think OF the corruption OF its
politics and the struggle with which
those who are making for reform are
met or when we take up our conven-
ton journal even and find how small
after all are its returns of real work at
tempted or done for God and man. And
then picture to ourselves the different
scenes that would greet us, II every
Christian church and every Christian
life were really alive, earnest devoted,
doing its work. letting its light really
shine out setting it's irresistible leaves
OF it's vitality To work i'm the communi-
~ performing all it's duties TO the full
in the social world in the world Of poll
tics and i'm business, and so in daily
life and i'm hourly deed setting forward
the kingdom for which we daily pray,
and in which Gods name will be honor
and His WILL which after all is only
mans highest welfare. will be done on
earth as il Is done in heaven, sponta-
neously, happily, completely.
WORK OF CHURCH COMPLETE.
But certainly that can only be accom-
plished by the church through her mem
bers bearing In mind her high commits
sion, her royal priesthood" and laborng
to sanctify and purify herself for the
work TO which she is called. It will
only be by her members cultivating in
every way the Christian life which Is
I'm them so becoming shining, winning
examples OF its power. Is that what we
you and T. and those whom we represent
are striving 10 do? Is that at least what
we want and are determined TO do by
Gods grace? Then let us strengthen,
first i'm ourself and I'm our homes. the
things which remain, sometimes seem so
ready to die Let us set up again In our
midst the family altar which has fallen
down; that every day and every days
duties may have the strength and bless
ing which comes of touch with God and
conscious dependence on his presence.
Let us recall the days that are past and
remember the Sabbath day, 1 care not
what YOU call IL. Ito sanctify it," not
with a cold or negative puritanism. but
with a bright and happy home life, be-
ginning and completing itself I'm the
Great Fathers house of praise and
prayer. and so including In our circle the
elder Brother with his power to cheer as
well as comfort.
In a word let the church and let us, its
children and members, be Christens in
deed. earnest. single eyed living. true,
noble and devoted lives for ourselves and
for those 10 whom we are set as light
20 shine In dark place.
Then every cause missionary. charita-
BILE. progressive-shal find its place and
help in our hearts and hands Then re-
forms shall never lack supporters and all
good things shall come about with the
coming kingdom and God shall bless us
and all the ends Of the world shall come
10 fear or rather to love and serve Him
CONVENTION PROPER