Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-10-09

PLEA FOR PRAcmcABmrTY.
BY Rev. Howard r. I

by LSoV- EDWARD n. Eell.
Everyone that heareth these sayings
of mine and doeth them not, shall be
lilfened unto foolish man, which built
his house upon the sand.-St Matthew
vii 20.
The Christian religion is not mere
~ a philosophy. 1t is a divinely re-
yealed rule of life The church is not
university. It is a technical school.
The function Of the preacher is to teach
rlen De- to take the raw material of
life and build 1t into character. The
founder Of the Christian church was a
great preacher. During His three years
ministry thousands hung upon His
words. And yet, at the end He had
only about 120 disciples. OF the many
who listened only these few were ac-
tually learners.
IN the Sermon on the Mount, Christ
lays down the great fundamental prin-
ciples which should guide His follow
ers. He closes by telling His hear
ers that those who not only hear His
words, but do them, are like wise
man who built his house upon rock.
When "the rain descended and the
floods came and the winds blew and
beat upon that house." it stood But
those who hear without attempting to
practice are like a foolish man who
built his house upon the sand. When
the time Of testing came, his house fell
There are many such to-day, Men and
women whose religion is that of hear
ing only.
There is story told of a certain
new farmland who was instructed by
his employer to feed his fayorite horse
some corn Sin the ear" He was dis
covered some hours later endeavoring
to pour the grain into the ears OF the
unfortunate animal. We cannot get
any vital religion through the ears
only. The truths of Christianity must
be digested and made a part of our
very life before they can nourish us.
The only way to accomplish this Is to
practice them.
Many Christians fall when tempta-
ton comes because they are only hear
ing Christians They go to church
regularly They are familiar with the
tHuets of the particular religious body
TO which they belong, but they have
never practiced what they hear THY
are like students at a technical school
| who have listened to many lectures
about the general principles and tools
| of their trade, but have never actually
/ taken those tools in hand and expert
mented with them.
Jesus Christ was very practical
| Out Of the many who came to hear
I Him He choose twelve who seemed
| very much in earnest These He made
| practice religion. He took them with
/ Him on His preaching tours He
/ taught them to help others. Later He
selected seventy more and gave them
likewise something to do At the time
| OF His ascension there were about one
F.! hundred and twenty such learners.
This is what He wants us all to be-
| learners in the school of practical re-
/ ligion. The man who thinks that hear
ing the gospel preached makes him a
! Christian and viii bring him saliva
ton has a bitter disappointment In
store st. James says. BE We doors
| of the Word and not hearers only, de-
| ceiving your own selves
Hearing is important as a first step.
| Faith cometh by hearing" Faith is
important as a foundation. But faith
without works is dead. One cannot
! erect substantial building without a
! good foundation, but how bad it is to
| see q strong foundation with no super
structure built thereon. Such sight
| speaks Of failure Of disappointed opes.
Many man has been disappointed In
| his religion because his Christianity
| has consisted of faith without works,
/ a foundation without a building, hear
Ing without doing
Let us be practical Do not be Ike
! the man who built his house upon the
sand. Join the ranks of the real dis
ciples. Be learners Handle the tools
of your religion. Practice the construc-
tion of character Begin by putting
| at least one principle of Christianity to
use Do at least one kind act each day.
Try to conquer some one fault, Go 20
some Christian leader and ask him
to allow you to help in his work. He
will give you an opportunity. And as
you become more familiar with the
tools of your Christian profession God
will set you harder tasks, and will
give you at the same time greater ioy
In your religion. Your spiritual house
| will be founded upon a rock.
THE NEW FAITH AND THE OLD.
Speak unto the children of Israel
that they so forward. "-Ex. 1915.
The first impression of any forward
| fs chat ,,.oa,,n al.