The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-04-08
EPWoRTH LEAGUE.
April 1ys S'The Transforming Power
of Christ."-ROm. XII, 4, -
Phil. iii, 20, RI.

OF ChFtst.v-AOm. X11, i, 81
Phil. iii, 20, RI.
The character of our religion is clear
~ shown by the use we make of our
bodies. This is true not only of Chris
tianity, but of all religions. In seeking
means to satisfy our bodily appetites
and needs, in preservation of health
and physical life, all recognize their
dependence to a great extent on an
overruling power. Well being comes
from obedience to the will of this SUI
preme Power outside ourselves. How
to obtain favorable notice and benefits
from this source is a most important
question. On it's right answer depends
all our happiness and welfare. The
answers to it have varied through all
extremes of the scale, from the most
superstitious self indulgence to the ut
most fanatical self torture. Often
times, indeed, the opposite extremes
have been closely Joined.
Being in world of material things
qualification of appetites has been
found helpful to physical health So
men have concluded that good for self
and honor to the Power that rules
would best be reached by gratifying
to the limit all cravings of appetites
So they have by gluttony, drunken
ness. Righteousness and every sensual
excess tried to reach the pinnacle of
earthly enjoyment and good. This
was ever and now is largely charac-
teristic of all heatherism. 1t is FORM
ing life according to the world of
feshly lusts and material things 1t
is conformity to the world. In it's ma
ture it is the same whether found In
temples of Corinth, parks of Antioch
and palaces of Rome in the days of
Paul, in heathenism of India or civil
lized vice of Paris, Chicago, New York
and country crossroads of today. II
never yields purity nor peace nor par
don. 1t diseases body and debauches
the spirit and ruins society and dis
honors God.
Seeing that such results always fol-
low indulgence of bodily cravings to ex-
cess and that seeking for the pleasure
to be had in such indulgence brings
misery, men have tried to find bet
ter way by starving the appetites
by HASTINGS, abstinence, infiction of
pains and penances and practice of al.
kinds of asceticism and self denial.
But such bodily excesses have profted
little when so pursued, whether in Hin
dooism or Christianity. The body has
been emaciated, but the spirit has not
been emancipated from the bondage to
corruption. The appetites of soul have
not been permanently purified. Peace
and pardon do not come so.
Jesus teaches different method. In
this respect Christianity differs from
all other religions and gives the only
satisfactory way of living. Hence is
the only religion adapted to all men
and hence the obligation on all who
profess it to carry the ''good news"
to all others possible.
Here we find body and spirit are
good for each other Appetites are in
dications of needs. Needs are to bt
properly supplied for the good of the
spirit and not for the pleasure found
in the act of supplying them.
Here lies the parting of the paths.
Body is servant to spirit, ever to be
kept as such in subsection. Eat so as to
be strong and fitted for work. Make
this body the most efficient instrument
possible for the soul that is in it and
must depend on it for development.
Self indulgence for mere pleasure is
vicious and sinful, because it weakens
the powers of soul, wastes the forces
of body needed for real work and often
binds in steel letters of habit both
body and SOUL This not only Injuries
the man, but defrauds God of the
mans service to Him.
Jesus shows service of God to be the
only right, good and perfect path for
soul life He gives knowledge of Gods
will to all who seek. He gives power to
all to do it. He gives joy to all who do
it. This mind to do Gods will instead
of seeking mere physical and earthly
qualification is renewing and trans
forming gift of grace. The aim of life
is shifted the diameter of the world.
Now the body takes it's place as servant
of the soul, which is servant of God.
1t must keep its place and work until
fashioned like unto the glorified body
Oh Christ.