The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-08-05


Christianity calls us. And So we turn back
10 the text, and hear the words that -
Paul said: The aim Of the command
mSnt, the whole ann Of the Christian IN,
stitut.on. i .ove out Of pune heart, aud
out Of a good conscience and out OF ;aiih
unfeigned'
First-ln this matter Of Christianity We
have 10 do with such divine forces m Their
operation upon human nature as ys'd
hopes OF even this great result. Ii Is not
that We expect ourselves 10 attain any
such goodness. hut Is IL not possib.' that
He who made this thing NC call the human
soul with all Its varied powers OF obserNa-
tion, reason. imagination, fancy and mem
ory, conscience and viii, lie who made
this strange, subtle. intangible thing we
call the human soul. may not He remake
the soul enter ioto us profoundest depths,
so reconstruct. recorder and inspire u that
il may shine in all the likeness OF Godg Is
il not said. "He will do for us far more ex.
ceedlngiy than we can ask or THINK
Aud that il the warrant IN tins Christian
church. and in all these Christian churches
for the high aspiration toward which
Christianity points US.
And the other thing 20 he said is this.
that however true Il rs that most oi US
who profess and call ourselves Christians
come far very far, short of this high ideal
of character: however true lt n that with
many of Gs our Christianity Il simply as
IL were, an attempt TO secure seltwell be-
ing IN the long reaching iuture-alas' that
u is such a narrow form OF Christianity as
that-howeySr true that may be, neVerthe-
less | take Il for granted that perhaps
every one present has during some time IN
his experience come IN contact with some
soul has become intimate PERHAPS wi.h
some life, upon whom the divine truth, the
divine providence and the divine lnspra'
ton has so operated IN Transforming power
that the soul seems 10 have entered into
the very fellowship OF God, even has be-
come radiant with divine life, the features
have been chiseled by the soul within, the
eve has looked tender,y out toward all
men whom IL has met, and now and then
the very habitstion and habit of such
person becomes unspeakahy endcarlng, be-
cause Of this dwelling of the Lord Christ
within.
Second-The aim of Christianity is love
not only ont OF pure heart, but also out
of a good conscience. That rs TO say lts
aim is not a mere sentimental overflow OF
tears and pity: II shall he a living and
mighty engine within. under the guidance
of God as 10 method. and rs To measures,
of a widely instructed moral sense, Chris
tianity is something beside mere happiness.
1t aims at the great soul OF life under the
guidance and shaping OF an instructed
moral nature.
And finally the love at which Christian
ity aims Is a love out of faith unieiened
Let faith return. Bring back your Bible.
Behold one living and eternal God. He Is
love, and He has loved this poor world so
that He has effected redemption for man
kind and lifted them across the heavens.
Has thrown His arms around man, IN or
der that lie might lift him mp by His Holy
spirit Prayer, so that the broken hearted
and the sufferer and dosolate may 90 apart
from the eyes of man and pour out their
hearts to God, whose ear can catch their
faintest sigh and whose eve beholds the
falling tear. Providence No sparrow falls
to the ground without His knowledge, and
the very hairs of your head are numbered.
Death: transformation. Lie here: nitro
duction 10 the life eternal, Let these
truths enter and live within human souls,
and somehow the human race has become
transformed 10y these facts. ] cannot meet
man woman OF child, but at once J know
there Is one whom God loves why should
| not love that oney And 80 II comes TO
pass that wherever Christianity Is there Is
still love where 1t was not.
Two inieronces are interesting. There
may seem 10 YOU Go be various defects IN
the historical parts of the Bible, but II you
will only tell me where there ~ a system
whose breath is love. whose inspiration Is
love. which makes this earth a paradise
and a very heaven Of love. II you tell me
where that comes from | am sure ! shall
know how God comes down 20 our world
in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Second. How much Christianity have
you? Not how much religion. The Brah-
min the Mahommedan have religion; that
is common TO all nations, but how much
Christianity have you? There is one an
swer. So much Christianity az We have
selfforgetfulness, seli-sacrihce, charity; so
much and 40 more. May God help us.
There is infinite resources for us. Let us
look TO heaven, and let US look 10 earth
and do the little things at hand IN order
that when the opportunity may&come We
may nourish within ourselves the victor
ious forces OF he,pfulness until at length,
If IT please God, we shall be like our Lord
Jesus Christ who was the very fulncss Of
love toward man.