St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-08-01

~ hoio Ac PdllcHlI
YXZ walked benin
..Skk. the pillow, guidin
.L> it's blade wit
~C steady hand t
turn a straigh
aufrow. He must keep his eye O.
the fixed point ahead, and he, mus
walk faithfully in the direction t
which that point led. The sturd
farmer furnishes US with an illustra
ton which Eliminates the meanin,
OF our text. The world as an un
piowed field lies before us. If w
would turn a straight furrow, W,
must fix our eye upon God, and wall
IN the direction which the light which
proceeds from Him would indicate
Followers Of God!" Walkers in tn,
light! A Heavenly vision to guide
An earthly experience to test! TIL,
Heavenly calling must not SO enrap
ture the soul as to make 1t forge
the earthly walk. The earthly wall
must not 80 occupy the time and at
tention as to obscure the high call
ing of God in Christ Jesus" There il
danger in both directions Scripture
which unfqlds and emphasizes one
aspect of life is too often sought out
and dwelt upon to the exclusion OF
those portions of Gods Word which
develop and enforce the equally i'm
portant 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Jesus" while his feet are withdrawn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 be worldly-minded
Christian. loving the world and the
things of the world, with never a
vision Of his high calling and des-
tiny. 5ls.
DOTH these types of Christians are
- stumbling blocks to the unre-
generate soul. The world points its
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 impotence from the Christian
who has grown SO pious and Heaven
~ as to be 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 It says of one: "A
pretty Christian, surely! He is no
better than or different from the peo-
pie who make no profession" It says
of the other: "When person gets
so much religion as to be too good
for the world, he ought to get out.
This religion which sets one in lit
tie I-am-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 be sem
sible or practical" And these two
Christian extremists become stumb-
ling blocks and hindrances to the
Of the Gospel in the world.
But there are those. thank God,
who steer the blessed middle course,
who keep their eye on God and walk
as children of light in the world. The
Heavenly calling does not make them
forget their part in the world.
and their responsibility in the af-
fairs of men, but rather intensifies
the sense of obligation towards the
world and the opportunity afforded
by the earthly walk. Their lives are
above reproach as far as contact with
The worlds sinful pleasures, its greed
md selfishness are concerned, and
their loyalty to the community in
which they live, their sense of the
OF citizenship, their pa
triotism and their earnest, steadfast
effort in behalf Of every public good
ind Incorporating opposition to ev-
Try evil command the respect and
of their neighbors and
associates. They live Christ in q
PRACTICAL way, and demonstrate that
'eligion does not curtail the abilities,
Ioes not stifie patriotism, does not |
.hange public-spirited energy into
prayers and the singing |
# the soul away into everlasting
Hiss.
I'VE have been led to select this
wv topic and text for our Inde-
,endence day sermon, because the
endency on every hand seems to be
distinct separation in thought and
ractice of Christianity from public
fairs and politics in its broadest
ense. The world in its progress, and
Utilization and political evolutions, il
,oving at tremendous pace. Life is
indeed strenuous. These are condi-
ions which the citizen must face. He
annot frown or argue them down.
lie must accept the situation and ad
lst himself to the swift movements
{ the onrushing world. It will not
o to take the governor of the en-
inc. II you do the engine will race
!, It's ruin. It will not do to check
down and lock the steam In the
oiler. for the increased pressure
,h;ch finds no vent will burst the
oiler and tear the engine to pieces.
J is so in regard to the affairs Of
zen. If the governing hand Of God
removed tho engine OF political,
and Industrial life will go
cinr ON to certain ruin. If it were
,ssible to check the present tremen-
,us developments in the world the
.nt-up power would work its own
,.+rnction, Both extremes must be !
,oided il the nations and peoples OF ]
= world are to steer safe course.
8 greatest peril which this nation
q to fear is the Indifference OF
;llful neglect Of its Christian citi- (
- We believe there is tendency /