Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-07-31

BUILDING A CHRISTIAN HOME.
BY Rev. Theodore 1. CuyIsr. D. d.
Il never let fools or BARNS see my
work until It Is DONE" said a famous
Scotch painter; he knew that no pro.
duction Of human art could be rightly
judged until 1t was completed. 1 re.
member that when first saw Cologne
Cathedral nearly fifty years ago, it had
stumpy, and unimpressive appear
ance, for it was towerless. The next
time saw the editice 1t was disfgured
by scaffolding on which workmen
were busy. But when, in the summer
of 1894, beheld the completed towers
In their flashing splendor, l felt that
it was mighty and magnificent poem
written In marble.
That illustrates the way IN which
the Master builds true Christian.
The Bible declares that the Christian
Is "Christ's workmanship created
anew unto good works." Any one who
looked at company of church men,
bers in prayer meeting or at sacra-
mental table might say that some Of
them were quite imperfect specimens
of workmanship, as he could testify
from intimate acquaintance. Very
true; but II that same person wished
to purchase a melodeon he would not
go into the mandatory where the
different parts were being fashioned; !;
he would go into the salesroom and In
spect the completed instrument. This
world is the great workshop in which
Jesus Christ by his Spirit constructs
Christian character. "Ye are Gods
building" wrote the Apostle Paul to
his brethren at Corlnth. OF himself
he wrote at another time, Not as
though l have already attained, either
one already perfect" He was still in
the hands Of his divine and loving
Architect. The scaffoldings were not
yet taken down, and the work Of
grace was not yet completed.
1t Is easy to discover some flaws in
even the best men and women; but
the critic must consider what materi-
ais our Master has to work with in
frail and fallen human nature. so often
disfigured and defaced by innate de-
pravity. Napoleon used to say that
"he had to make his marshals out of
mud" Certainly no power less than
that Of the Holy Spirit could have con-
sructed such conscientious and ef
fective Christian as John Newton out
OF so hardened and desperate sim
her. A very eloquent and spiritually
minded minister once said to me- "Re-
lore L was converted l wonder how
any one could live in tho house with
me" burtSg nay forty. -four years Of
paseerates, when l received converts
INTO the church, often recognized the
TACT that one candidate for member.
snip had been reared in frivolous md
worldly family-and another had
naturally violent temper-and another
was constitutionally timid and irreso.
lute-and still another had to contend
with hereditary sensualities of tenn
permanent or practice. Some of the
overhasty had to be held back and test.
co. and some desponding doubtless had
10 be encouraged. A study of the OK.
perienceof our blessed Lord In BUILDING
[welve disciples out of the material
mat came to his hand Is full of solemn
suggestion, and one Of those twelve
Iumbled into ruin under the very eves
of the Master Builder.
Character building Is like cathedro,
oullding-a gradual process. No Chris.
Ian is born full grown, else there
would be no sense In the divine in.
junction to grow In grace" and to
press towards the goal Of tho b,oh
,alling Of God In Christ Jesus" Tho
cornerstone Of every truly regenerated
'haracter Is tho Lord Jesus: otber
ounoation can no one build on WITH.
'ut risking a wreck In this world ora
1ernal ruin In the next world Tho
'rst act OF saving faith is the Joining
u the new convert to the aton,nS
savior. Then upon that solid FONDA.
lon must be added the courap. th.
aeekness, the patience, the consc,er.
'oumess, the honesty, the loving kind.
less and the other graces that masa
OF goodness. Let no young bepinn.r
% disheartened- Oaks do not prow
IKE hollyhockH A solid Cbr,st,.n
ma cannot be reared in a day
or 10 1t to be done simply by sabbsth
ervices or by sacraments. Some noo,
umice stone has to be thrown on
M not little bad timber rejected IN
pite Of to varnish on Il
The Bible Is the only plumb.l,n. %
uhd by; and 1t must be used constant.
7. All the snowy ornamentation the,
man can put on his edifce amounts
nothing, II his walls are NOT n.,-,,.u