The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-14

(both d revelation and warning). "A
 mans life consisteth not fn the abund-
 ance of the things which he possesseth.'
 Why, my friends. life Is infinitely more
 than these, for see what 1t means. It
 means development of our noblest pow
 CTS along their highest lines: that Is.
 Christian lines. It means, moreover, our nature, mental and physical, social and spiritual. In word. 1t means the realisation of self. (not it's suppress sion as many would have it), the real ization of self in the light and under the law of the revelation of God in Christ Jesus.
 Having seen what life is. let us glance at its conditions, (how 1t is,) without which there could be no life whatsoever. First. of course. what ever the form of life, there must be l the seed-germ. This is but saying there is something necessary to hold
 the life. out of which 1t develops and grows, whether plant life. animal life. or spiritual life. Now. let us look
 within ourselves. Immediately. we dis cern certain inborn qualities. charac- teristics, essentials, etc.--a belief in a, Supreme Being. a belief in a future ex- istence. a belief in prayer. These are universal facts of mans being and cor
 respond, in some sort, to the seed-germ
 in plant or animal life. For, observe.
 they constitute (from the human side.
 mark you). the foundation of religion.
 Furthermore. it is largely to them the
 Gospel appeals and upon their pres
 ence depends a response. There must
 be something in us of good to which
 God appeals, otherwise why should He
 appeal at all? They (tfie 0eiiefs just
 spoken of), constitute from the human
 side the beginnings, in 6 certain sense, of religious life, feeble movements in
 the soul. 1t is true, but none the less
 real and vital.
 Now, consider another condition of
 life. It Is seen in the fact that nour-
 ishment must be received by the seed
 or germ in order that 1t shall develop.
 As yet, 1t is only the beginning of life
 and will soon perish unless 1t receives 'nourishment. whatever the kind of life
 it may be. Take the seed of a plant.
 for instance. You bury 1t in the
 ground. It is perfect in itself New
 ertheless, it Is helpless without nour-
 ishment upon which 1t absolutely de-
 pends, and nourishment outside of it. self, in the soil. warmed and moistened
 by the forces of nature. So with us
 when the Christ germ of life has been implanted, with its Heavenly potenti-
 alities. It must receive nourishmeut. Irregular and continuousl, otherwise 1t nourishment is found in the means of grace provided by our Lord in His church, the witness and keeper of the truth" We know what they are: Bap- tism, the support Of the Lord. public worship, self-denial, self-sacrifice, aims giving, prayer, and a thousand other
 instrumentalities intended for our use and benefit. We can disregard or avail ourselves of them, as we please. This is but another way of saying we can choose life or not, as we please. But, if we are to grow and develop and be
 strong in the Lord, bringing forth the fruits of righteousness and peace. we
 must receive by our voluntary and con- scious act the nourishment God has pro- vided.
 Still another condition of growing life Is: 1t must be constantly giving in order to grow and expand and realize itself. Study the plant once more. Sup pose the soil Is rich and fertile: sup pose the sun sends down regularly its life- giving rays; suppose moisture is bountifully supplied; suppose. in a
 word. the plant receives nourishment. These things are not enough. It must give forth what 1t receives and thus
 utilize the nourishment essential to it's life. Indeed. 1t is only so that 1t grows at all, that 1t develops what 1t envelopes. which is but a process of giving. What momentous truth here for us as Christians. Suppose the Christ-life has been implanted, Sup pose nourishment has been received. Is that all 1t means to be a Christian Then are we merely passive. inanimate machines No. we must go further and a,,A- c. A- a1I.- ceived. This means we must give 1t forth in the shape of Christian activ- ity, Christian service. Thus alone do
 we grow and develop in the Christ life, in the Christ character. That is to say, it Is only as we receive Christ and give Christ are we able to live Christ and obey the Divine injunction: Choose life and so, at the last, be with our
 Lord where He Is, partake of His tram scendent life and glory forever and
 ever.