Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1906-04-06
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BY rev. JOnn D. DOn1an.
l would thou vert cold or hot
Rev. iii. Is.
These words of. the beloved disciple
lead us to suspect that something more
Is demanded of Christians than mere
acceptance Of doctrine and the doing Of
good works. Unless the motive power
behind the good works be vitalized by
inspiring goodness their performance
cannot be viewed as a distinctly Chris
tian act.
The text has no reference to sinners
except in the sense that 1.-The just man
falls seven times a day." Its lesson is
for those whose lives are relatively
perfect, yet cannot show any positive
act to further the honor and glory of
God or to secure their own progress in
the spiritual life.
Such Christians are apt to deceive
themselves as to their true condition.
The facts that they do not transgreSs
and that they contribute to or engage
in philanthropic works are glaring
lights that injure their spiritual sight,
and they are unable to perceive their
own restitution. To these the apostle
says: "Anoint thine eyes with eye
salve that thou mayst see.
Our blessed Lord said: He that
doeth truth cometh to the light that
his works may be made manifest, be-
cause they are done in God" Here,
then, is the crucial test: Are your
good works done in God or through a
desire to shine before your fellow men
To most genuine character moved by
the sincerest human motives can pro
duce only pagan economy if the spirit
of God be not his guide, for that
which is born of the flesh is flesh. and
that which is born OF the spirit is
spirit"
OF such st. John says: "Knowest not
that thou art wretched and miserable
and poor and blind and naked. l cOun-
sci thee to buy Of me gold, fire tried,
that thou mayst be made rich and
mayst be clothed in white garments,
and that the shame Of thy uakedness
may not appear"
The fre-tried gold is charity or love
of God Hence, whatsoever is done, if
it be not done through love of God, it
avails as nothing
St Paul expresses this, saying ::
Though l bestow all my goods to feed
the poor. and though l give my body
to be burned, and have not charity, it
profteth me nothing" Again, speaking
of the basic principle of all good deeds,
he says: Other foundations can no
man lay than that is laid, which is
Christ Jesus"
Christians without spiritual motive
exercise only their natural gifts in
doing good and forget that 1t is only
through the merits of Christ that we
are lifted above pagan Christian acts
not according to grace, but according
to nature.
Prayer, attendance at church service,
large contributions to religion are as
dross If the motive be not primarily
God, and secondarily himself, his fell
low man and the world Such Christ
had IN mind when He uttered the re-
Duke L KNOW LILY WORKS, lndL luOu
are neither cold nor hot"
1t Is only when the humiliation of
calamity comes, and We despair not Of
God, but of ourselves, that we realize
the mere humanitarianism of all done
Then the truth dawns that the build
Ing Of good deeds was erected on q
Foundation Of gold, silver, precious
stones, wood, hay, stubble."
In the hour Of trial the structure
collapsed because Jesus Christ was not
the chief corner stone. Let US always,
therefore, follow after charity and de-
sire spiritual gifts that all we do
shall be for God through the saving
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.