The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-09

teaching deals almost wholly with llfc
Tho subject and substance OF the Sermon
OF, the Mount from exol'dillnl to pcrortl-
ton Is life. Life and not death was force
most IN Hts mind. And the Church,
while 1t Ought not to neglect Its warming
to men In view oftthot uncertainty OF
life, should keep before them the need
Of preparation {forelife. She IO,,ghbto be
saying to them: You don't know how
& rng you may live. Turn toEGod and get
ready to live. Without religion no man
Is prepared for life. AS good as It is to
die BY, 1t Is better to live by"
So long has the Church been ringing
< the changes OIL preparation for death
that the world has come to think that
this is the chief value Of religion Men
say they purpose some day to become
Christians. But there is time enough
a little more pleasure. "a few more
years in which to SOW wild oats. The
only care such men have for religion IS
Z to keep then, out fof hell, to got them
Tito heaven. They take It lis they take
Insurance, to provide against loss. But
religion Is more than this. 1t has as
wei the promise OF and IL profitable for
this life. Perhaps not always IN The
sense in which we use the word proht-
able. There Is no promise that we shall
be rich Still religion Is favorable to
prosperity. 1t commands sobriety, ex-
horts to honesty, cautions prudence ana
Urges diligence. And are not these the
very foundations OF prosperity? Besides,
there is evidence enough that wheraver
religion guides in daily life there is to DO
found the largest and truest prosperity.
Religion gives no promise that we snail
BIO honorod Of men. The Lord Himself
vas crucitlcd. And the disciples were
thrown into jail as common criminals.
Stlll religion WINS respect. Pllate ana
Nero are remembered to be eXecrated.
Christ and Paul to be revered and loved.
Religion gives no exemption from trials,
Moro often than not it increases them'.
for the religious life Is opposed by the
word. the flesh and the devil. Yet in
snte Of all, religion Is profitable for this
life.
It is favorable to the health Of the.
he DIV. 1t promises temperance, indus
try and regularity. The average human
life is increased by It, It improves tho
mental state Of human beings. 1t reVo-
lutlonizes the moral condition of men
and communities. 1t Is the secret OF
human happiness on the earth II IN
spires men in their discouragements. It
steadies them In their trials 1t
strengthens them for their burdens. 1t In
spires them for their work. It Gains
them in danger. It guides them IN per-
plexity. It banishes all fear in the val
ley Of the shadow.
1t does what no human philosophy ever
has or can do. 1t throws light on the
grave and death. Life and work IN the
Lord are not In van,> for they reach be-
yond the grave, and bear a blessed fruit-
age All the depressing effects Of death
are swept from, the heart that has be-
come the throne of Christ. It IS no
longer DEATH 1t is an Incident IN lie.
II is transition. And no less OF energy
and spirit is thrown into life because It's
shadow falls yonder across the way
goodness Is profitable unto al Things
having promise Of thesli that now y
and OF that which is to come.