The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-12-07
requirements of the spirit God and
the spiritual life. When the finger Of

he must listen to the "Thou art the
man. wherefore hast thou dcSpiSed
the word of the Lord to do that which
is evil in His Sight:" and in deep con-
triton OF soul he must cry out Cor
mercy and confess. Il have sinnad
against the Lord"
Not only have men rs individuals
been led to false emphasis upon the
material. and To blindness toward the
spiritual. but the church herself has
become too material in the expression
which she has sought to give to the
religious impulse. Too much OF stress
has been and is laid upon form ana
organization and not enough upon the
spirit. Not until the church comes
again to the side Of Jacobs well and
hears afresh the sweet emphasis OF
the Man of Galilee upon the essential
spirituality Of God and the supremacy
and priority Of the spiritual can she
ever enter into her full heritage Of
divine power. 1t is high time that
we should have done with the be-
Jogging and befooling effort to meet
the requirements Of that God who is
spirit, with substitutes that are mere
material foibles. 1t is the inners OF
the soul that God desires and requires.
1t is a damning folly to offer any SUBJ
stitute for that self which God has
destined for eternal fellowship with
Himself. Goodness. not goods: char
.acter. not cash: piety. not pretenSe:
sincerity, not sham: these are the
sacrifices acceptable to that God who
is a spirit and who would he wor-
shiped In spirit and with reality.
Another truth is placed beyond per-
adventure by these words of Jesus.
True worship Is not matter or local
ity or nationality or sect. Men love to
distinguish themselves by some dis
tinguishng mark and will congratulate
and f,atter themselves that it in some
way makes them superior TO their
brother man. If he is white. he con-
graduates himself that he is not black.
If he IS black, he congratulates him
self that his eyes are more shiny and
his teeth whittier. Doubtless demon
strationS and sects have served some
good ends. but II men had but learned
to sweetly insist upon the truth 10:
truths sake. instead Of lining up
against their fellows in war paint and
with toma hawk in hand. in utter dis
regard OF the true spirit Of the gospel.
the millennium would be much nearer
than it is to-day. Argue as best we
NAV. the essence Of religion is spirit
in harmony with the infinite spirit; a
spirit TO which reality. fact, truth. Is
the supreme consideration. 10 truly
worship God is to pay to Him the
homage Of reverent thought and feel
ing. and Of fllial trust and love. The
real temple Of God is human heart
wherein the spirit Of man meets IN
shekinah presence the Spirit OF God.
Such worship and such worshipers
God seeks.
Again true worship is the great
solvent of llfe's enigmas. In one OF
the psalms credited of Asaph lie seeks
to express the doubt and difficulty
that possessed his mind when he
sought to explain the prosperity OF the
wicked. 1t is surely source OF con-
slant question to 4 thoughtful mina
that the wicked flourish while many
righteous are constrained to live III
comparative il not quite penury. Ine
question will arise. How Is It that
Gods material good SO constantly MIN
listers to the wicked and unworthT:
In honest doubt many hearts have
asked. "Why should worship God
who 50 uneQually distributes His bless
inCs:" This was the difficulty Of the
psalmist. He says: Then thought l
TO understand this. but it was too hard
for me: until I went into the sane
tuary of God, then understood | the
end of these men" When the psalm
iSt entered into spiritual fellowship
with. God and saw the glory OF that
God in all His spiritual beauty there
dawned upon his soul the reality OF
the larger truth. that Gods greatest
good is not material good. His rich
est gifts are not houses, or lands, or
mines. or stocks. His richest gifts are
those which bring the inner spirit or
Il man into perfect harmony with d!-
vine heart. No wealth .Or pelf can
ease q restless conscience or lift the
burden from Il bereav9d heart. Only
God can fl! to overhOwing the human
soul with that quiet and calm. that
neacefulness which makes all life
song.
Does your heart cry out for God:
Would YOU know that peace which
passeth knowledge? Then be assured
that these blessings can come 20 your
life only as you recognize the eternal
reality Of the spiritual and placing the
first emphasis upon the kingdom or
God and the spiritual life seeks to live
in perfect harmony with the divine