The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-06
Show ThyseIf a Man.

Show ThyseIf a Man.
| This is David's charge to his son Solo
mon. Every true father wants his son
| to ''ShOw himself a man" David was
man in the truest sense OF the word.
He was one of the greatest men of his
| times, and in fact of any time. He was
great mentally, morally, religiously, and
as a patriot, and a ruler OF men. He
showed himself a man by the piety OF
his youth, the integrity of his manhood,
and the nobility of his whole life. 1t is
true, that he fell into one horrible sin,
| but he showed himself a true man by
confessing his sin, and asking Gods for
giveness. David having personally exper-
fenced the blessings of true manhood,
wanted his son to ''Show himself a man."
so that he might enjoy the benefits him
self, and be a true pattern to the great
people over whom he was called to rule.
Solomon did show himself a man IN
the early, and latter part Of his life. He
made a noble start. God appeared TO
him, and said: ASK what Ishall give
thee And Solomon said, 'Give me an
understanding heart, that l may discern
between good and bad" In this nc
part of his life he was led far astray
by heather women. But in life's close,
he wrote the book of Eccleaiasto which
shows his repentance for wrong, and
his return to right ways. In thus con-
Tossing his wrong, and repenting Of it,
he showed himself man.
What are some of the characteristics of
| true manhood?
1 Nnf nnt of
this, and say: Il am man" But oxen,
and mules, and hons have physical
strength. Great mental power does not
necessarily make ture man. Such power
may be prostituted to the basest of ends
A man may be strictly moral, and yet
be wanting in the elements of true man
hood. He may be a good neighbor, and
a good citizen, and not be true man
| For one to show himself a man in the
the highest sense of the word, he Must
| be born again" He must be made a
| New creature in Christ Jesus" When
| God made Adam he had so sin. Adam
was Gods idea OF a true man. He en-
| bodied in him all the elements OF a noble
| manhood. But Adam slnned, and fell,
| and lost all that was purest and best IN
| his nature. He was degraded, and allied
| himself with the false and corrupC nature
of the Devil. All men partake OF Adams
sinful, and degraded nature. To show
| ourselves men, we must be regenerated,
| re-created, made new creatures We must
be brought back to Gods original idea
of man; to His purpose in sending Jesus
| to redeem men.
| Man was made to glorify God This he
cannot do until he is regenerated, Jesus
said, 'Ye must be born again" The SON
| ship of God, lost by the fall must be
regained by the New Birth. Till this is
done no one can show himself a true
man.
To show ourselves men we must, Love
the Lord with all our soul, mind and
strength, and our neighbor as ourselves"
We must help the needy, uphold the
| weak, and lead the lost to Christ to be
saved We must confess our wrongs,
against man and God, and forgive those
| who trespass against us. This is hard
| to do. He shows himself man who does
| it. He who does not do this is less than
| a true man.
"Show thyself a man." This implies
! that man can show himself a man if he
will Every man is the architect of his
own character He can be good or bad
Il K,
it is easy to do wrong. His corrupt ma
ture prompts him to the wrong If he
wants to do right, and will ask God to
help him, God will help him, and with
| Gods help he can do right. So then,
whether one be rich or poor, high or
low, ignorant or learned, he can "sho,y
himself a man." by resisting evil as joseph
did, or by doing right as Moses did when
| he "Chose rather to suffer afflicton with
the people of God, than to enjoy the pleas
ures of sin for a season."
| The times call for men, true men, who
can say: II will do right, and II will
not" do wrong. Millions today bend be-
| fore every passing breeze of temptation.
or allurement to wrong. They are with
out backbone; they have onl va tow
string up their backs. They are moral
towards like Plate, who declared Jesus
to be innocent, and yet delivered him up
to the most shameful death.
| There is a man in Granville, N c..
who has Showed himself a man" TWENTY
years ago he was drunkard OF the low
| est type. He became christian, quit
drink, regained responsibility, and prop
erty, Now he says: 81 am man. l can
walk by the grog-shop door and not go
| in"
Young man, if you have not formed
bad habits show yourself man by
avoiding them. If you have formed them,
show yourself a man by breaking away
from them, and living a pure lie.
| j. A. STRADLEY.
/, Oxford, N. G.