The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-12-30

has on life around. II was possible to
study Jesus in His own character. The
crowd came that day TO see Him and 10
see Lazarus. whom He had raised from the
dead. Indeed, Lazarus, changed into. new
HE. was so strong an argument that his
enemies would have killed HIM 10 silence
him.
And IL is still the eommonest method TO
explain away or 10 deny the effects Of Je-
sus in the world. II He has laid hold on
people, We must find out how climate and
ancestry and customs have been the real
uplifting agencies. If He makes a eharac-
| ter attractive and winsome, We tali. about
disposition and training. That is, we want
Lazarus explained away unless - mean
TO acknowledge the power of Christ. The
changed hte ~ the argument which the
world finds NEST forceful. The world is
interested, not in Christ's theory. but in
His success. That argument can be made
in large way; His influence can be
| traced through the long stretch OF years.
Our own race and nation could be made
! an illustration. Or the minds of men could
be pointed TO peoples only yesterday IN
sayagery and now lifted into a well begun
civilization. i read recently the life OF
James Chalmers, the missionary in the
South Seas just after he became ae-
quanted with the people one of his wife's
| friends, as mark of respect and affection,
brought her a piece of human flesh, nicely
cooked. as dainty for her own table.
They were often invited 10 cannibal feasts.
On new island. only four years ago,
Chalmers was killed and his body eaten.
Ana the gospel of Christ. with the arts of
civilization, has taken hold upon such peo.
pie and make them fraternal and safe and
helpful There is no Christian island IN
the Sorth Seas where a yoyager Is not
safe; there is no non-Christian island where
he is safe.
1t is life of hope. It has not ye. re-
eeived its best things The best times are
not past nor present, however glad they
may be. There are better things TO come
out of the Fathers love as we so on in the
Fathers world And this hope works into
the sight Of men in the form Of cheer, OF
brightness, Of encouragement. Some one
asked the other day what l thought OF
laughing Christians. IL was q new phrase
TO me. We do not think much OF silly
Christians, / suppose, OF shallow Chrls-
tians, whose JOY compares with real JOY as
a giggie compares with laugh. But what
can one think of a Christian life whose
hone never comes out into the cheer and
brightness Of a Joyous lifey / heard
child say little piece once, in which was
explained that one dav IN heaven God be-
came weary of the dinglng of the harps
and the singing OF the angels. so He ST.
lenced them all and sang a strain OF music
caught IT. threw about It beautiful pu-
mage and cast it into the air, and so the
songbirds came to earth. They are Gods
music sent into life. And are we othery
Who so well as we may catch the glad
strain of JOY and make our lives gladden..
ing influence In the worldy And II instead
we droop and pine. and will not bear the
SORROWS as though they were charged with
glad meaning from our Father, and will
not cast a radiance of lov into other lives,
where Is the changed life?
The Kings of the Holy Roman Empire
were crowned with triple crown, IN one
of which was n nail of the true cross. And
il the triple crowning which marks the
changed life, one bears the nail OF the
cross For supremely the changed life is
the life of love. and love means sacrifice,
love means service, love means heipfu.
ness. No man can see apotheT's love save
as 1t shows itself in the service of helpful
ness il renders. When men seek the SUI
preme example Of love they look upon
figure which glorifed the cross, which had
the pierced hands and feet and side--a
figure of One who came as e.senger OF
glad tidng Of peace-IIs feet beautiful
upon the mountains, but bloodstalned.
And love is the hid fact of that best life,
coming into sight of Others as helpfulnrss
and service. This is the supreme mark OF
the Christian life-such a love as makes us
helpful among men for Christs sake. ii
Is no mere pity of other meme needs; II is
no shallow sentiment which cannot bear to
see suffering 1t is a far deeper thing
than that 1t is the commanding motive in
all life-to serve. 1t means laying out our
lives for that wherever they are lived.
Sometimes it demands largcthings. Some.
ti1es 1T cones out in the daily common
life We may not do for men what they
wass. but we learn TO do for them in one
measure what they need. And so life be-
eorlcs a constant help TO others.
These are the plain marks OF the
chanred life, which stands as argument
for Christ Faith. within which comes
out In view az faithfulness everywhere.
Hope. coming out into view as cheerfrl-
ness. encouragement, brightness. Love,
breaking out into service IL your life so
trip,y marked. rot by fortunate birth, not
in shallow ways. but deeply and because
you have lnown Him? Ii it is, then YOU
in your commonplace life are His oaily
argument, the Lazarus Of the present day.
drawing men TO Him.