The Dolores star., 1905-01-20
RELIGIOUS.
ExPEDIENT.

ductive to advantage; profitable"
know of no grace more attractive
In usefulness among christians, by
which personal influence is increased
for good, than ID prayerfully consider
the expedlency Of what is said and
done.
First Of dill honesty must be "prima
facie-on the first face, on the first
view Of an affair, or, in parliamentary
phraseology, on the first blush of the
business" In order to make life profita-
BILE. There cannot be such being as
a dishonest christian. Those who care
more for "the costly, sumptuous fur
nishing of mansion, or the tribe of
knicknacks; that pretiosa suppler, of
affiuence," than they do for their
word, to cancel an obligation are frauds
on society and in the business walks of
life unless, by unforeseen misfortune,
they are unable to redeem their pledge.
A thing may be true, Bnt will it
prove profitable to myself or others for
me to mention it, should be considered.
To live without moral purpose to de-
velop life of usefulness in society,
in state and national government as a
citizen Of the commonwealth, and to
elevate the conditions of the soul, is to
live without looking to a well defined
personal and general usefulness.
To say that "all things are lawful"
when they cause man to be indiffer-
ent to the position he occupies as a
christian, or citizen, In an onward
purpose to develop high respect for
humanity lin order to create better
social feeling and to cultivate regard
for love and worship Of God, is to make
a mistake against the security of tie
infallible purpose of God in creating
man for His glory. To understand the
possibility of such mistake is to begin
to be wise.
The purpose in life is correct only SO
far as it may develop man into useful
ness In morals, literature, art, agricult-
ure, the principles of craftsmanship,
tradesnen to handle the commerce of
the world, not for personal benefit
alone, but for beneficenee to those who
may need assistance; and above all for
the promulgation 6f the "flashings of
divine light" revealed in the love-tones
and teaching of Gods holy word.
Those wins make no effort to concrete
life in harmony with the spirit defined,
are dealing with life in a "follicking
buffoonery' way, by which men "sow
the wind and reap the whirwind."
While on the other hand, those who
localize their lives into temporal and
spiritual usefulness, though "they sow
in tears shall, reap in joy" Which will
bring the greatest fruit in the end?
There is, 1t is feared, disposition to
rejoice over the disasters of men. To
say the least, this is heathenish, and
smacks of the age when, .'on, that sum-
mer evening in the Asiatic camp when
l the CORY head of the Roman Crassus
| was brought to the. Parthian generals
tent, it was brought to the sound of
| the verses in which the Agave of
Euripides wants her gastly trophy"
l Let shame mantle the face of such q
spirit. 1t certainly does not copy after
the loye-voice of our Lord, whispering
l into the soul encouragement. and
gladly spend and be spent for you;
l though the more abundantly 1 love
] you, the less I,be loved.,' When once
you have leafned to love those who
despitefully, use you," you will take
| great pleasure in loving them, in that
they so much need the Savior's love,
and because the more abundantly you
love thOsey who love you less, the
nearer you are in heart-toueh with the
blessed Christ. Let all of noble heart
be bathed In tears that any one should
consider 1t axpedient to rejoice over
the downfall of any man, or the failure
of the weakest christian to do his duty.
| Both from financial and chris
tian view meh ought to rejoice over
success. Financially your own pros.
poets are. strengthened, to success,
when those around you become cham.
pions of success In any honorable busi-
ness enterprise. BY christian in
fiuence. you. have the protection OF
home, life and property. And more
marvellous vet, the love of Christ
knocks at your door for entrance tc
bless and save father, mother and
children, through the influence Of
some sympathetic christian, clad in
the Righteousness of the Savior, who
comes to bring to YOU "glad tidings Of
great. joy" that the chief of sinners
4 may be saved.
Is it not, expedient to listen to, the
soul inspiring truth of how Chris,
loves you, and how He has prepared
| the way through His atonerhehI
| by which you may become at-one-
ment with God-"to An inheritance
incorruptable, and undefiled, and thai
fadeth not away, reserved in HEAVIER
! for you, who are kept by the poMer q