Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-07-05

criticise our Puritan forbears, still as
we read about these heroic men OF
whom the world was not worthy. does
It not sometimes seem as II the neces
sity of faith was emphasized ut the
expense of the necessity of works to
correspond? The two have been joined
together; their union constitutes the
perfect religious life. and what GOO
hath Joined together let not man put
asunder. What I am trying to say mas
been summed UP in sentence by the
late +. w. Robertson, sentence when
the church should never let die. and
that sentence is, "Faith alone saves.
but not the faith that is alone"
You remember Christ's words, "Do
men gather grapes Of thorns, or figs OF
thistles?" The man who rises from his
knees with the glow Of the divine com.
munion upon his face, the man whose
faith hath made him partaker OF the
power of God. and who then goes forth
to live the life which his faith hath
revealed to him. is the man of whom
Christ alone will not be ashamed when
He cometh in the glory Of His Father
| and of the holy angels to Judge the
,, world.
1t is noteworthy. too. think. that the
| virtue in which BoaZ and Ruth eX.
celed was the plain, everyday virtue
of kindness. The greatest material
blessings are the most common; air.
light, water these are within the reach
of all SO also the greatest virtues
are within the power Of all to possess.
! Paul says, "Now abideth faith. hope.
| charity, these three. but the greatest OF
these is charity" 1t is possible for us
| to attain to the possession Of that grace
the greatest Of all. We all have dt-
verse gifts and powers. differing one
| from another. so that some mount
higher than others. but there Is none
| of us, 10 matter what our limitations
may be. who cannot speak the kind
| word, do the kind deed and pass the
kindly Judgment. and that is charity.
the greatest of the virtues. What a
change would take place in this old
! and weary world il only our deeds cor
responded with our faith and we full
| filled the royal law according to the
Scriptures: Thou shalt love thy
neighbor rs thyself."
But. again. the book of Ruth teaches
us the necessity of decision. We read
that Ruth and Orpah came to the part
| ing of the ways, that one turned back
| to Moab and her people, and that the
other took her way to the land of
| Israel 8 Is not that a true smile of
| life? Sooner or later each one Of us
comes to the parting Of the ways. and
we make the decision whose results are
endless. THE kingdom of Heaven
saith our Lord. "sulfereth violence. and
| the violent take it by force" That
means that one cannot drift into IT..
1t needs a strong eXertion of the will.
a decision that abides. Memorable
forever is Ruths decision. When she
says to Naomi. "Entreat me not to
leave thee. or to return from following
after thee, for whittier thou gOeSt |
will go. and where thou lodgest | will
lodge thy people shall he my people,
and thy God my God" she takes her
place among the first ranks of those
to whom the high and gracious hearts
of all ages pay reverence. Friends, 1t
| is n great thing. it is n needfu thing in
! life to be capable Of clear resolve.
The man is to be envied who can part
between this and that of opposing
| claims and considerations. and is able
to say, Here l see my path; along this
and no other will l GO Indeed this
ability to make decision is the founda-
ton of all true and successful life. In
religion there is no escape from it.
You cannot drift into a state of saliva
| ton in crowd. "Once to every man
and nation comes the moment to de-
| eide in the strife 'twixt truth and false
hood. for the good or evil side" TO
each of us individually comes the
choice what to do. Many one.
think. is kept from the freedom and
| joy of Christianity not because these
things are undesired. not because the
call of Christ is unheeded, or His
claims unacknowledged, but simply
for the want of the power OF decision.
Of strength to so forward upon Il per-
| sonal quest
Young friends. to you especially this
lesson comes. You have still with you
the power of choice. and to you from
out eternity comes the cry, Choose We.
choose We. this day whom We will
serve" Pray God that you make the
good choice. and receive His grace to
abide therein.