The Penn's Grove record., 1904-01-29

endowments, tempting the young man to
turn from courses that cultivate the mind
to those which prepare for business. Our
theatres have felt the influence, and think
more of pieces which will draw than of
those which will elevate as well as amuse
and r%ecreate those who see and hear.
Yea, 1t is conceivable that even the
Church may not escape. The ministry
that sets gain above usefulness has caught
the contagion. Put me into the priesthood
that / may eat a piece of bread" So cried
one of Did. The very thought was a desc
Grafton. The ministry that is sought for
the sake of the pieces of bread" for a live
ihood, whether it be large or small, is a
ministry not to God, not to those among
whom it is exercised, but to the man that
ho.ds it. The clergy who are in orders
chiefly for what they can win IN the way
OF comfort, or responsibility or income are
unfit for their place. They serve not God
g their fellows, but themselves. And so
the church whose chief aim is a large pew
rental and a fashionable CONGRATULATIONS
getting the while that the Masters boast
was that to the poor the gospel was
preached, is tarred with the same stick.
Yes, commercialism is in the air. 1t Is
the spirit that now works-that stealthily
penetrates every d nartment of modern ac-
tivity, always seeking to make gain the
dominant motive. There is no line of work.
no business, no profession safe against its
insidious influence. 1t invades law and
medicine, even divinity. as we have seen.
1t is felt in halls Of legislation and seats of
government. Yea, it pervades even so-
clety, making the fine raiment and the gold
ring and the large bank account more po-
tent to open doors than gentle birth and
fine breeding.
How are we to resist this Influences
cape this spirit? Just as we resist the con-
tagion of an epidemic, the depression Of a
malaria. by fortifying the powers Of life
A man in whom the tide of life is full and
strong will walk unscathed through the
plague laden air. The health hat is in
him resists the disease that rushes upon
him. The bacteria that floats into throat
or lung, or stomach finds no indus and
dies. 1t must be thus, then, that we e.
cape the spiritual danger. Fortify the life
within. Remember that life is more Than
meat; that the kingdom of God and His
righteousness are infinitely worthy of our
seeking. Do not forget the possibilities of
your life, what you can make OF it in the
way of growth, what you can make of it in
the way of usefulness. Keep your eve on
the Master. In Him see what you may be
in Him see what you NAV do. Yea, not
only keep your eve on Him, but keep in
living touch with Him, that the tides OF
His life may flow into your soul. and carry
you on and up to the measure of the stat
ure Of the perfect man in Christ Jesus.
Finally, my brethren, whatsoever things
are honest = whatsoever things are just.
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are Of
good report, think on these things" Turn
your thought aud your eyes away from the
dazzling bait of the age. Escape its snare.
Seek first the kingdom of God. Determine
to be a man, mentally, morally, spiritually;
determine to be a brother to your fellow
man, and do for him a brothers part; de-
termine to be a child of the heavenly
Father and obey His will, so far as you
know it; resolve thai in you the splendid
possibilities hidden in the gift Of life shall
be realized, and you shall have learned
how to use this world without abusing it.
Then commerce, business, success shall
minister to you but not ~enslave you; shall
embellish your life but not absorb it; shall
bring you, perchance, an abundance of
things to possess, but leave the while
strong and pure within you the life of
God. Then shall you in very deed possess
the abundance Of the things which are
yours. Let them once get the better Of
you, climb into the throne of your heart
and life, and then they possess you and
you are their slave and their victim; nailed
and incoffined in your own strong box
which has, alas, with your treasure, shut
in your soul also.