Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-06-07

GRAND RAPIDS, WO(
way. preventing an answer to the
apostles prayer. One was their lack
OF knowledge, the other was their
self-righteousness. He says. 81 bear
them record that they have zeal for
God" That was good thing. It
was more than can be said of a great
many people of this Republic, they
are Jealous for anything or everything
except religion. Paul however had
to say their zeal twas not according
to knowledge" ''for they being
ignorant of Gods righteousness, and
going about to establish their own
righteousness have not submitted
themselves to the righteousness OF
God" There we have the real cause
Of Israel's weakness and decay. Paul's
prayer could not be answered because
they were self-satisfed and self
sufficient.
Jesus had gone about among them
for three years, teaching them the
truth and will of God, but they
refused to believe it, he could not
teach them for they knew already.
How blind and foolish! we pronounce
them. And, yet, that is just where
many people are today. The more I
come in contact with people and talk
with them the more I am convinced
that the greatest number reject
Christianity because they do not
know what it is, If they did-if they
saw that it is vital to all human
interests-to the health and strength
of individuals, the prosperity and
progress OF nations, the harmony and
happiness OF hOmes-then no one
would hesitate to become Christian.
Think OF that. Let the light of that
truth flash upon you and 1 know what
your decision will be.
There was another serious defect in
the Jew-he. was self-righteous. He
went about to establish righteous
ness Of his SOwn-to try and do what
was absolutely impossible. He had
got his theory Of life, he had made it
himself, it was set of rules and
maxims, and he was trying to keep
them, but he never did and il he had
done, he would still have been
unsayed. for salvation is living in the
spirit OF Christ and not conformity to
an outward rule.
Who can take his life and say, LET
it be tried in every possible way by
the highest standard and it will be
found right? Will it be found that
every thought and motive is pure?
That every act is perfect? It is
possible to live according to the law
of the land, but a large part of our
conduct lies beyond its jurisdiction
The law cannot reach all the evil that
is done. The law cannot touch the
heart; the tongue may whisper a
falsehood, arouse suspicion and de-.
fame character. What did these
Jews do? To make even show of
virtue they had to bring down the
divine law to their own level and
put it into set OF observances-that
was legalism. An eminent divine
in the English Church set him.
self the hardest, most unpleasant
rules in order, that by restraining
himself on every side, he might be
able to live such life as would
constitute at least some claim on the
divine favor. We are in no danger
of making that mistake I know. We
shall not torture ourselves that we
may be saved. We may think we are
wiser than that, yet, even that is
better than to have no concern for
salvation. The mOraliSt who takes
the lowest standard he can find and
boasts OF his conformity to that, is
not so good man as he who is willing
to make great self-sacrifces to attain
his ideal and fulfill the demand OF a
higher law upon him, he may be
mistaken in some of his methods, but
he has moral enthusiasm and that
is the most vital element in the
national life, there is no health-no
soundness-no victorious power or
progress without that. And this
moral enthusi asm is not content with
the common, conventional moralities.
Wherever there is this enthusiasm in
an individual or a nation there is the
vision and inspiration OF moral
ideal, tits this which keeps alive the
spirit OF progress in a nation.
1--WE live by admiration, hope and
love-" says Wordsworth.
Yes, we are saved by our ideals, not
by our industrial activities or our
material developments-thesew without
a moral ideal are not signs of national
greatness and stability; decay sets in
II the vision OF the higher and wider
good is not kept clear that it may be
the inspiration of nobler manhood.
These moralities of which so many
men boast are not enough to save
nation, they are insufficient because
the spirit Of progress is absent. It is
good to be sober and honest. but il
man is content with these he is not
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