Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1903-07-01

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held ne patiently
turn n straight
-.furrow. He must keep his eve on
the fixed point ahead and he must
walk faithfully in the direction to
which that point led. The sturdy
farmer furnishes us with an illustra-
ton which Eliminates the meaning
of our text. The world as sin un-'
plowed field lies before us If we
would turn straight furrow, we
:, must fix our eve upon God. and walk
in the direction which the light which
proceeds from Him would indicate.
Followers of Cod" Walkers in the
light! a Heavenly vision to guide.
An earthly experience to test! The
Heavenly calling must not so enrap-
ture the soul as to make il forget
the earthly walk. The earthly walk
must not so occupy the time and at
= Hntion as to obscure the high call
Of God in Christ Jesus" There is
ger in both directions. Scripture
n unfolds and emphasizes one
ect of life is too often sought out
lose portions of Gods Word which
- develop and enforce the equally i'm
lportant relation of life in the other
- direction. The Christian should never
sit in Heavenly places in Christ
Jesus while his feet are withdrawn
from contact with the world. Nei-
Their should he DE a worldly-minded
Christian. loving the world and the
things of the world, with never
vision of his high calling and des-
tiny.
10Th these types of Christians arc
- stumbling blocks to the unre-
generate soul. The world points it's
finger of contempt and reproach at
. the Christian who is all immersed in
the earthly walk, whose life bellies
his profession. 1t turns with disgust
and impatience from the Christian
who has grown pious and Heaven
y as to he out Of all practical touch
with the world and the worlds needs
and who has lost all sense of per-
sonal responsibility towards the
: state and nation. 1t says of one: "a
pretty Christian, surely! He is no
better than or different from the peo-
pie who make no profession" 1t says
Of the other: when n person gets
go much religion as 90 be too good
for the world he ought to get out
This religion which sets one in a lit
tic m-holier-than-thou sphere and
sewers all obligations of citizenship and
responsibility towards the govern
ment of state and nation is too ex-
elusive and sanctimonious to he SEN
sible or practical" And these two
Christian extremists become stumb-
ling blocks and hindrances to the
progress of the Gospel in the world
- I'VE have been led to select this
w topic and text for our indie
pendence day sermon. because the
tendency on every hand seems to be
distinct separation in thought and
practice of Christianity from public
affairs and politics in it's broadest
tense. The world in its progress, and
civilization and political cvolutions, In
moving at tremendous pace. Life il
indeed strenuous. These are condi-
lions which the citizen must face. He
4. cannot frowh or argue them down.
He must accept the situation and ad
Just himself to the swift movements
VI the onrushing world. 1t will not
10 10 take the governor off the en-
CINE. II you do the engine will race
to it's ruin. it will not do to check
- e. down and lock the steam I'm the
boiler. for the increased pressure
which finds vent will burst the
boiler and tear the engine to pieces
n is so in regard to the affairs Of
men. If the governing hand of God
is removed the engine of political,
commercial and industrial life will go
racing on 20 certain ruin. II it were
possible TO check the present tremcn-
ious developments in the world the
Dent-up power would work ITS own
destruction. Both extremes must be
avoided If the nations and peoples Of
The world are To steer a safe course
The greatest peril which this nation
has TO fear is the Indifference or
willful neglect GIFTS Christian cfti-
gems. We believe there is a tendency
in this direction. The nation as a
whole is losing its sense of God as
l governing and controlling factor
in the national life. This modern
say materialism Is having it's narrow
ing and blighting influence upon the
Christian and bringing him to believe
that outside of the pale OF religion
nan is able to walk, and think, and
plan alone.
DUT neither nations nor individuals
ID can get away from God. Any at
tempt to do so, any failure to recog-
nize His leading and guiding hand, is
attended with disaster Not only
A.. 4ho oterpoI Word Of Cod ,Io,t.~.