Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1906-03-01

end in self, then we are deliberately
killing the soul within us. What, then,
is the price we have to pay if we want
to grow a soul? We must change the
mode of life which enthralls us, and
make provision, not for the things of
the flesh, but of the spirit. In that
purer, sweeter, simpler atmosphere the
the soul will inevitably begin to grow.
The vitality of your soul is wonderful.
It's recuperative powers are marvellous,
but these powers must have their Op-
pOrtunity Here is a disease which is
stunting and slowly killing my soul
am willing to fulfill the condition
which will eradicate that disease, and
make spiritual growth a reality?
g. That leads to the third point.
What is that condition? And who OF
us, by his own strength, is sufficient to
meet that condition? We cannot GER
tainly, by our own efforts, hope to re-
verse those natural tendencies within
US which war against our souls. we
cannot, by any strivings OF our own.
force spiritual growth. II we are un-
able to add cubit to our physical
stature, much less can we add to our
spiritual growth. Yet, the call Of
Christ is to 'grow in grace. and in His
likeness What, then, is the secret OF
that growth? The Gospel Of Christ is
the answer Our souls grow as they
come into living touch with Him. We
cannot transform ourselves, but we are
transformed into His likeness, as we
reflect the spirit Of Jesus, and we re-
fleet Jesus in the measure that we re-
fleet on Him. Make Christ the theme
Of your daily prayer and meditation,
and every moment you spend IN HIS
presence is springtide of spirituaf
growth within your soul. That growth
you cannot check; no sin can hinder 1T
if you are living in the atmosphere or
Christ's life. 1t is not our strivings
and strugglings that add to the stature
Of the soul; it is our faith. simple as
that of little child which, laying hold
Of the love of God revealed in Christ,
builds up the soul. day by day, into His
,, grace and into His likeness.
Now, ask, is there anything strange
or mysterious about that? Is splrituaE
growth subject to laws any different
from those which govern any process
Of mental development? Surely not
To make any theme subject OF daily
thought is to make that theme potent
| influence in your life. The more deeply
| it lays hold of your mind the more pro-
| IOuuUly IL UcCOUlCS Pdl L VI yNUAoNAAe
All YOU have to do is to fulfil the con-
dition of continuous thought, and the
object of your thought reacts upon you
and becomes a dominant factor Of
| growth We speak, for instance, of a.
man being possessed by some master
| passion-it may be the love Of money,
or of power, or Of sordid self-indui-
gence, or of some higher interest, but
| whatever it is, the result is the same.
| Constant dwelling upon it moulds char
| acter into it's likeness.
| So it is with the soul that surrenders
| itself to the influence of Jesus. AS we
| think of Him, and as we enter into the
| spirit of His life, and breathe the at
mosphere of His love and purity, grad
ually we are transformed, and the soul
within us leaps up into glad recognition
| Of its lawful Love. Every power we
have, every faculty we possess be-
comes interpenetrated by His spirit,
and because His spirit is life We hva
! also.
]