The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-01-12

ltN tnan the nanuy absence OF elluet
good or bad. True religion consists
not in outward ohservances. but i'm in-
ward graces; not in semblance. but in
reality Because God is n living God.
He has no satisfaction in halt-alive
saints. We must uot only serve Him
in this life: we must also live in His
service. The are lamp uncounccted
with the dynamo is in tie way. Your
presence in the church is in the way
of others. unless the dynamo ot power
within You is at work ANA your light
is shining.
4 man may crv Church, Chureh," at
every word
With uo more piety than other peope,
y daW not veckuucd a religious nlrd
because II keeps a-CaWlng from a Steeple.
Forms are by no means confined 10
liturgical churches. \ printed prayer
is less formal tEon one which differs
in phraseology each time il is uttered.
IL the first come from the heart and the
latter from the head. Some one thus
confeSSes and questions and dcduces:
| often say my prayers.
But do | ever pray
And do the wishes of my heart
Go with the words | say?
Words without the heart
The Lord will never hear.
Nor will He 20 those lips attend
Whose prayers are not sincere.
Spiritual forces are all about us, per-
VaSive as the subtle element we call
electricity. The power Of godliness Is
the concentration of this energy with
in ourselves. so as TO make il radiant
for good 10 others. We are in good
form. We have taken Christ 10 be
our Prophet and listen to His teach
ingS We recognize Him as our priest,
accepting the atoncment He offers. ls
He our King Whom we obey, in Whose
strength we go out 10 fight fearleSsly!
Because hypocritcS exist is no reason
why YOU should he n coward. Let us
not hesitate 10 say what we mean.
Let us determine To mean what we say.
\ form of godincss may speak
words of sympathy 10 mournerS, of
warning To evil doers, of hope 10 af-
ficted ones. But the power is not
there. Ii is "voicC, voice; nothing
more" Although miniStorinG To the
self complacpucy of the speaker, IT
ministers To no one else. The form or
gOdliucSS lacks substance. The ttimsi-
ness is revealed when it's wCarer needs
sustaining power. It is no rod and
staff 10 comfort when the valley OF
the shadow of death is 10 be trod.
1t has no light to shed when "A man
comes 20 the forks OF the road and
knows not which way to take. lt may
fool him for while here. Its hollow
! ness is apparent on his first arrival in
the world that knows no shams.
The power OF godlincSs is profitable.
| both for the life that now is and for
| that which is 10 come. It's poSSessor
| has "thp tongue of the taught that he
may sustain with words him that is
weary" may "rCprove, rcbukc, cxhort.
| correct" \ man is behind the voice
and Christ is behind the man. In
| times Of trouble, ii supports unfailing-
| ly. When the house is darkened and
| the friends make their pitiful attempts
to condole. they are anticipated by the
! God of all comforts.
He whose form Of godlincss Is val
! idatCd by its power. with unblanchod
| cheek with firm confidence, faces each
crisis of life. the supreme crisis or
! death knowing Whom he has believed,
persuaded that He is able TO keep
| what is committed TO Him throughout
| eternity.