The Washington herald., 1908-05-31
A SUNDAY TALK.

As it Is written. There Ia mons righteous no not
one.-Romans. filO
| The above statement written by st. Paul
In his epistle TO the Romans is one that
in various forms Is very often quoted
from the Bible and applied TO modern
conditions At first blush II may seem
hard saying. but it Is well within the
truth, II one considers what is meant by
righteous. The real definition of the word
Is Upright incorrupt, virtuous. acting
in accordance with the dictates Of reli-
gion or morality; free from guilt or sin;
In accordance with the divine law"
1t is plain, then. that Il is true not only
that there Is none righteous. no. not
one," but that so long as the world is
what ii is. there will be none wholly
righteous, for righteousness may be TAX
en- TO be the ideal Of man never to he at
tanned but always TO be striven for by
those who have faith. and who hope TO
Inherit the reward that comes 10 honest
effort
Christianity Will not make a man
righteous. any more than II will make
him rich, for as Claiming said:
Christianity is not system Of precise legsla-
ton marking out with literal exactness everything
70 DO done. and everything 20 be avoided; but an
incubation Of broad principles. which it intrusts 70
individuals and to society to be applied according
TO their best discretion. II Is through this gen
erous pecuhanty that Christianity Is fitted 10 be
universal religion.
Very often indeed. those who are striv-
ing to live religious lives, bending their
energies and devoting their hearts to the
service OF God. suffer the keenest pangs
OF self-repTOach and remorse because
they fail and have fallen short 1t is 10
these and such as these that st. Pauls
statement should come with healing
There is none righteous, no, not one"
and this implies that since the world be-
gan there has been none righteous, none
but the One. the Son of God, whose ex-
ample on earth was meant TO be, as It
has been indeed. an inspiration and q
help through all the long long years
the world shall last"
But II one falls short Of righteousness.
and knows that he falls short. there Is
no need for despair. Still, religion re-
mains 10 US and, as Oliver Goldsmith
wrote
Of life for our tTuest comfort for II already we are
happy II Is a pleasure 10 think we can maze that
happiness unending: and II miserable. Il Is
very ccnsoling 20 think that there Is a place Of
ltal- mus 10 inc fortunate. religion holds out
continuance Of biss; % the wretched a change from
pain.
righteousness may be unattainable in
this life OF ours. but II that life is 70 be
sweet and healthy. an influence for good
IL viii be because we strive diligently and
without weakness TO attain 10 the ideal
Of righteousness. In that way We can at
least be happy. and we shall trust that
happiness the more II. frankly, we ac-
knowledge 10 ourselves before we start
that the goal for which we strive is not
70 be won. II IS. as Tennyson wrote.
the
Glor' Of Virtue 70 hght 70 struggle to right the
wrong
Nay. but she aimed not at glory. no lover Of glory
sho:
Give her the glory Of going on. and stu 10 be.
Striving after the mark OF righteous
ness which IS the high example set by
Jesus Christ we must inevitably fall
short Of our ideals: we must fail. but in
that very failure-if we have lovingly
striven and honestly-we shall find the
source Of our greatest strength, for
"A We fan By various WAYS ard sink
Through manifold desTces Of giilt and shame
So manifold and various are the ways
Of restcntion. fashioned 20 the steIs
OF all inhrmity. ard tending an
To the same point. attainshle by all
Peace In ourselves and union with our God.