Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-07-06
MEN SHOULD GO TO CHURCH.

1
| tuary.-Psalms xcyi., 6.
We love the places, the persons, the
things possessing these great qualities
strength and beauty.
The best strength and choicest beau
| ty in the world-the strength of con-
secrated Christian purpose. the beauty
of ChristIike character-are found in
the sanctuary and service of God. The
responsibilities of living in this world
| of sin are so great, the obligations
! resting upon those whose chief end of
existence is TO glorify God are 80 vi
| tai, that men who are true to them
selves and their better natures can
not, dare not attempt to get along
without God nor without the inspira-
| lions promised in his appointed
| places.
What are the results to be expected
in our lives if we are faithful TO God
in the use of his appointed places and
! means of grace negatively? 1t will
| always be a great trial and disappoint-
| ment when hindered in any way from
| attendance. This was David's ex-
| pressed experience: My soul long
eth, yea even fainteth for the courts
of the Lord" But positively we are
to expect as a result of our being in
| touch with the strength and beauty
! of Gods house. and of our obtaining
| somewhat of these gifts and graces
| in our own character, that sin will
| lose much of its charm and hold upon
us.
When the love of Christ increases
| in our lives every fascination of evil
| grows less. Christ stated the undeni-
! able in nature as well as in grace
| when he declared no man can serve
| two masters No heart can vow and
| hold its allegiance to tive Kingdoms in
| deadly opposition BY gr1sping in
! thought and desire the strength and
beauty to be found in his sanctuary,
men by law which is as imnutable
as God himself lose their hold and
fondness for everything which is sin
| full The keener and the truer this
conception of God is, the deeper will
be the sense of sin and the more thor
/ OuSu tIC hbAh VI SAtlNC III HAA44N Al4ss
our hearts and lives.
Again, we are relieved from all the
| embarra ssment in which we may find
ourselves in the providences of God
by setting our hearts desires ON the
strength and beauty to be found in
his house.
David declares, when bafied and
tainted by the fact of the apparent
prosperity of the wicked and the CON
| tinued sufferings of the righteous.
"When | went into the sanctuary of
| God then understood l their end"
He learned there who stand in slip
! perry places" and also the awful fact
that their steps in due time shall
slide"
He discovered as fact of faithful
ness that God holds the RI cteous by
the right hand" guides them with his
| counsel and afterward receives them
into his glory" There is no other
explanation to the inequality of re-
wards and puniShments in this life:
! to the apparent unequal distribution
of this worlds goods; TO the suffer
| ings, and trials. and burdens. and loss
| es, and crosses which some have to
| bear while others go free. than that
which is to be found in the revela-
| tons of God to Us in his sanctuary.
| There and there only comes to us an
explanation which is both strong and
northumberland satisfying to
| the soul of the renewed man.
A final result of discovering and APP
propriating this strength and beauty
of the sanctuary ; that it puts song
| of gratitude in olIr mouths which will
last through an eternity, and which has
in it the sweetest notes of praise that
| can ever be sung on earth or in h1av-
| en-. John in his description of heaveG
| declares how we who are redeemed
| by Christ shall stand nearest the
throne. closer than the angels who
| never sinned and therefore cannot
know by experience the power of re-
deeming grace.
My from such creatures as you
! ami l are, only from sin stained and
grace redeemed men and women. can
| cry of praise. Thou. o Christ. hast re-
deemed US by Thy blood"
What strength and beauty, there
| fore. there are in these days and with
in our reach to be discovered and APP
propriated in the Sabbath services and
sanctuaries of God,
How definite how distinct should be
| our Grand. To discover and to re.
ceive the strength and beauty of God
How our faces ought to shine. as
we return. with the reflected glory
and beauty of God.
Touched with such baptism Of
power we ought to go forth each Sab
bath day girded with force and con-
sistency of Christian life. which is
simply irresistible. which nothing hui
man can bind or restrain from speak
ing forth the truth of God. declaring
exultantly:
CHRISTIAN HAPPINESS.
BY Rev. ". J. Hckfftrick.
Al 9