The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-28
BEST OF VIRTUES
S%ELF-DENIAL NECESSARY.
TO BE A CHRISTIAN.
So Says Pastor Granger, and Practising
It Is Following Literally in the
Masters Steps.

In a sermon on "self-denial" in the Cen
trail Presbyterian Church last, night the
Rev. Charles Everest Granger outlined
what he regards as the duties of a Chris
tan who would follow in the steps of the
Master. The clergyman told them that
they must deny themselves something
daily. 1T must be a daily self-denial,' he
said. Mr.. Granger took occasion to praise
the members of the Salvation Army for
their noble work.
Pastor Granger's text was taken from
st. Luke ix., %. And He said to them
all, If any man will come after Me let
him deny himself and take up his cross
and follow Me-" TIL sermon in part fol-
lows:
Jesus had Just fed the $1,000 with but
two loaves and fishes. Perhaps, therefore,
there would be an inclination on the part
of the multitu1e to follow Christ for the
sake of the loaves and fishes. Now, Jesus
was inclined to warn his disciples against
such a course, for 1t was to his disciples
he addressed these words. Why speak
thus warningly to the disciples? All, had
they not been disputing among themselves
as TO their expected honors in the new
kingdom? Jesus on more h a one oc~
casion improved the opportunity to impress
pom his followers his truth concerning the
aims of disclpleship. He would teach them
that TO go after him must not be for gain,
but for service. He would bring them
away from sordid self unto a life of self
the new religion will be less, vigorous
than the old. If that was q religion of
sacrifices, this will be more SO. WhenNthat
was a sacrifice OF beasts, this must be a
sacrifice of lives-of everything that goes
to make up a life, viz: Ambitions. desires,
loves, will, intellect, strength, mind and
body-a living sacrifice for God and human
ity. This Is the message of Jesus. What
will You do with it2
'Some one will ask, DO you mean to
say hat there is no other way to follow
Christ? Do you mean to say that we DO
not go after Christ If we do not deny our
selves? Yes, i answer; that is Just what
l mean to say. These are the words OF
Jesus. and I simply take Him at His word.
VIII you dare do otherwise. If any man
will come after Me let MIN deny himself
rs your life one of self-denial? As you
look about you and see the lives of neigh
bors and friends who are protesting Chris
tians, how many of them do you observe
to be lives of self-denal for Chrlst's sake2
And as these friends look al your life do
they find ii to be "A life Of self-denal for
Christ? Is that the impression your life
makes upon others?
But what Ia self-denial? Do not these
parents here tonight know what It is?
Especially these mothers present? All. the
thousand and one self-denying acts which
the children do not ~realize!. And what one
of MS upon thought cannot remember some
acts Of self-denial on the part OF both
father and mother. Oh, yes! can re-
! Ittillf u many Vi iAitAAAH Ahh Ah0 wv =
get the more / realize them. How many
pleasures forfeited, how many desires sur
rendered, how many? it is not an un-
known thing for mothers and fathers, too,
to do without proper food and clothes In
order that their children may not want.
Boys and girls. young men and maidens,
reverently remember the self-denying acts
Of your parents. Self-denial! Beautiful
self-denial. 1t is the loveliest of virtues.
1t Is sweet of voice; II is gentle of touch
1t is strong in it's clasp; it Is constant in
its love, and If l could paint the most
could imagine, golden hair, perfect feat
ures, symmetry of curves an expression
blending love. sacrifice, peace, joy and
withal divinity face with a SOUL
weuld call that ace-self-denial
"How much of this sweet, beautiful
virtue have you Z in your life
All, l fear we have, not too much
the loaves and fishes we will go after
Him in the hope of a place Of honor in His
kingdom, but many will not do more. That
rs. we win 20 after Christ so long az there
is gain in II, so long as there Is adVan-
tage In 1t, but not very far VIII We s.
in the way Of self-denial. Yet Jesus says,
II any man will come after me let him
deny himself" :,
For Christ's sake all time must be di,
yinely improved; for Christ's sake all
strength must be divinely expended; fol
Christ's sake all mental power mus
be divinely employed, our appetltes
must be curbed; for Christ's a our pas
sions controlled; our dispositions sMeetelleu,
our pleasures regulated, our bodies KEEP
clean. $780,
put there is not a demand nor a scheme
in the whole law of God written or re-
vealed but what is after all for mans
sake"