The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-09-10

''Biessed are they which ho hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled" This Is directed to us. It at oncc raises the question of our attitude towards righteousness. We look about us and study human life with it's varying conditions. We see many forces at work which greatly impair and sometimes altogether de- stroy. the peace and harmony of life, such as sickness. sorrow death we feel also the presence of another pow CT and experience 1t daily in our own persons. which poisons life at the springs thereof. It Is sin, with It's cruelty, lust, but, in spite of all these things. we feel sure God made this world beautiful and good: feel sure that if sin could be only cast out and that which Is the opposite of sin could be brought in. all would be fair again. We know the righteousness of Christ can do this and can change the whole face of society.
 Now, does this help to be- get in us d correct attitude toward righteousness? If so, 1t will create in us an imperative. impeiiinng purpose to make things better. It will create in us an earnest and ardent longing for righteousness. In word, 1t VIII re- suit in real, honest effort to promote righteousness and to trample sin url- der foot. accompanied by prayer TOT grace and strength to do both.
 Further, our conception of right eousness is just as important as our attitude towards It. We must take great care lest we think of it as mere ly an abstraction If so 1t will not be real to us at all. We must regard righteousness as the supreme state for us to strive after and aspire unto. We r.alr oe n which the Savior of the world lived His life upon earth and died His death upon the cross. Above all, we should recognize 1t as the will of a personal God This calls for loyalty to per- son, with all that 1t means. and it means we must first love righteous ness as the embodiment the essence of the will of God our Father as mani fested in His Son our Savior, before we can possibly hunger and thirst after 1t. Then shall we strive to make righteousness our own, and so win the promised blessing. Then shall we think constantly of our Redeefner as a Savior to whom we owe unquali- 1 lied and absolute loyalty and as a King | to whom we owe implicit and ready 1 obedience. Then shall the Cross with which we were signed in Biptism as ! Christ's soldiers and servants to our life's end. be to us really the symbol | of never ceasing warfare which by | Gods grace. shall have It's consumma- | ton in crown of righteousness eter- | nal in the heavens.
 Moreover. there is In us all what may term an involuntary ideal of righte0usn ess.. 1t may not he very strong, but 1t Is very real as far as st goes What Is It but that which makes us uneasy and dissatisfied in our minds wheE we have not acted honestly. in word or In 1,sf. have violated our con victihns of ffEn;: Wrat Is 1t but thai which distufbs and febukes us wncn | the lie enters into our hearts and rises to our lips?
 What is 1t but that which makes US feel ashamed of ourselves, humiliated | diseusted with ourselves if we hays touched the aceursed thing of impur- | tty? In a word. what is 1t but this involuntary ideal of righteousness which rnakes as dispiritcd and unhappy constantly fearing detecflon and ex- l posture. when we have wilfuliy sinned
 or been guilty of wrong doing or vile ness of any sort7 On the other hand
 when We are really trying to follow cur Lord in the spirit of willing and l faithful obedience. though we may fall en account of weakness. time and time again. everything appears altogether different. We feel hopeful and happy
 We look the world fn the face with fearless eyes. We know we arc under l our Heavenly Fathers approval The Everlasting Arms are about us and we fire safe.
 Now. what is righteousness? 1t is obedience, In thought, in word and in deed, to the will of God in Christ Jesus And we perceive and appreciate that will as it is made known to us in DI- ' A.44 .f
 We can discern 1t by means of the con science. Further, tustSas our blessed ness lies In hungering and thirstine | after righteousness, so are we created Tor 1t, and there is a constraining force within which iInpels us, feebly, it is true, but still irapels us to seek 1t. This is because we are yet in Gods Image in spite of that mysterious .an nd tremendous tragedy which theology ! terms the fall. This makes plain why It IS there is often found expressed if
 Eeathen literature noble and sublime 1 sentiments, found striking evidences or appreciation for that which Is good
 II Is so with us We are not. by na.
 ture, absolutely vile and deviIish. as some would delight to consider us. W. are not altogether and entirely withou
 icnslngs Tor the pure and holy.
 1es, there are undoubtedly certain
 ldeas and feelings about righteousness
 which are distinctive and inherent Ir
 us; But never let us make the n,,s.
 take of stpposihg they constitute
 righteousfiess, or can, In any way takt US place. Oh. mol for after all. the,
 amount to desire merely and are not
 controlling principle within. There.
 fore, they do not affect the will anS
 regulate conduct These half-forme(
 and involuntary desires are not to b.
 considered as a substitute in any sense
 for that hungering and thifsting aftei
 righteousness to which the Mastei
 promises Ills blessing. For tha
 means infinitely more than a desire
 however exalted. It means not onl,
 that we seek Righteousness, but W,
 strain and strive, and fight for it fight the world, the flesh and the dev
 H.
 It means not only that we have a, ideal of righteopshess in our heart
 and minds, but that we are trying t,
 exembllfy 1t in conduct and life. I means we realize fikhteousness as ou greatest need and ultimate object
 realize it as living factor in our per
 sonal religion. It means we are wrest ling and working for 1t by night an, by day, and will never cease unti that hunger and thirst are satisfied
 .The blessedness which the Maste promises to those who hunger an thirst after righteousness is that the.
 shall be filled but. how can this pos sibly be? We put righteousness on on
 side and ourselves oh the other. Hoy weak we are! our faults, our imper fectiors, our shortcomings. Aonstahtl, | hamper and retard us. They cause u
 to stumble and fall as we try l.
 walk in the path of duty and obedl enee. Our tendency to sin continual,