The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-08-10

lacks the quality of righteousness in that it
is mere kindly affection and desire to do
kind things to those who are objects of our
love, while at the same time there is no
recognition of shat foundation which up
holds the whole process of human life, that
fundamental truth which only can confer
any large and permanent well being.
Finally, this natural 'oye is oftentlmes
ton in man (thc children OF Cod OF This
or that scintillation of the iniinito Good-
ness, while it withholds from Him who
gathers unto Himself all conceivable eX-
ccllences, all truth, patience, generosity,
purty--whiie it withho.ds from Him tho
hearts true loyalty. So that this native
or natural love OF which we speak is indeed
oftentimcs very faint reflection and i'm
age of that perfect love toward which
to the text, end hear The words that S..
Paul said: The aim of the command
ment. the whoic aim Of the Christian IN.
stitution, is love out OF pure heart, md
out of good conscience and ont OF faith
unfeinned."
First-In this matter of Christianity we
have to do with such Givine forces in Their
operation upon human nature as yield
hopes OF even this great result. 1t is not
that we expect ourselves TO attain any
such goodness. but is it not possible that
He who made this thing We call the humau
soul with all its varied powers OF observa-
ton, reason, imagination, fancy and MEM
ory, conscience and will, He who mace
this strange, subtle, intangible thng we
call the human soul may not Itc rcmoke
the soul, enter into its profouudest depths,
so reconstruct, leorder and inspire 1T that
it may shine in all the likeness OF God? Is
it not said, ''Hc will 90 for us far more en-
ceedingiy than we can ask or think:"
And that Is the warrant in this Christian
church, and in all these Christian churches
for the high aspiration toward which
Christianity points us.
And the other thing to be said Is this,
that however true 1t is that most OF us
who profess and call ourselves Christians
come far very far, short of this high ideal
of character; however true ii is that with
many of us cur Christianity is simply. aS
1t were, an attempt TO secure sef-wc!l-bc-
ing i'll the long reaching future-alas! that
# is such marrow form of Christianity as
thGt-howcv2r true chat may be ncvcrthe-
less | take it for granted thaC perhaps
every one present has during some time III
his experience come III contact with some
soul. has become intimate rcrhaDa wish
some life upon whom the divine truth the
divine providence and the divine inspira-
ton has so operated in transforming power
that the soul Sccns 10 have entered irtI
the very fellowship OF Cod. even has be-
como radiant with divine life, the features
have been chisclcd by the soul within. the
eye has looked tCnGer,y Out toward all
men whom it has met, and now and chen
the very habtation and habit OF such
person becomes unSpoakab!y endearng, be-
cause OF tins dwelling OF the Lord Christ
within.
Second-Ihc aim OF Christianity Is love
not only out OF a pure heart, but also out
OF good conscience. lhaC Is 10 say, lts
ann Is not mere scatimental oNerAo" OF
tears ana pity; 1T ShaIl be a living ana
mighty engine withn, under the guidance
OF Eod, as to method; and as to measures,
OF widely instructed moral sense. Chris
tianltY Is something BESIDE mere happiness.
1t aims at the great soal OF lie under the
guidance ana Shaping or an instructed
moral nature.
ANA ilna!ly tnetore at when CHRISTIAN
lty AIMS IS love oat OF iaith nnicignGd;
Let ialth return. Bung back your Bipie.
Behold one hyihg and eternal God lie Is
love, ana lie mas loycd TINS poor Wor'd so
that lie has erected redemption tor lnan-
Klnd and hhGd them across the heavens.
fias thrown ms arms around man. N or
der that ilc might lit nm up by HIS tloiy
spirit. Ir&yer, so th4t ne oroken-heaFtcd
and the sufferer and deSo!&te may go apart
from the eyes OF man ana pour oHt their
ncarts 10 900, whose car can eaten thGlr
lamtcst sign ana whose eye bchoidS tne
iaiilng tta:. IroVidencG; 40 sparrow la.'S
TO the ground without ihS knowledge, and
nc very mars OF y"Ar EcId are numbered.
lleath; trans lormn.lon' LliG mere; nitro
truths enter ana i've WItAln human sous,