The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-10-20
RELIGIOUS
DEPARTMENT
q THE DEVILS ISLANDER. /"

at the Methodist EplSc0pdI cnurCu
last Sunday evening the Rev. Ralph
b. Urmy spoke on The Devils Sian
DER referring to the sneering words
ascribed to Satan in Job 80, " Doth
Job fear God for nought?"
In beginning, the preacher referred
to the incidents recorded in the pro-
logue to the ancient drama of Job,
wherein Satan, or 1.-THE AccuSer," is
described as appearing before God, who
asks if had considered His servant Job,
anperfect and an upright man, one
that feareth God, and escheweth evil. }"
Satan's reply is to the effect thatJob's
service of God is not disinterested, but
is born of the motive Of material we'll
being that indeed, he serves God be-
cause !" it pays The whole book may
be taken as triumphant answer to
this satanic SANDER.
Similar aspersions are sometimes cast
upon the religious motives OF men to-
day, and there is some uncertainty as
to what is the proper ground OF mans
devotion to God For there are those
who teach that we should do the will OF
God and engage in religious practices
because, if we do, business will be bet
ter, our purses will be fatter, affiic-
tiops will be averted, and health will
be restored. Whatever truth there IS
in the view that to obey the laws OF
God will result in a larger degree OF
strength in body, mind, and will, and
that such strength when applied to
the practical affairs of life will have
larger measures of success, tourge such
truth as motive for entering or con-
tinuing in the service of God is con-
temptible.
1t is unworthy of God and man. 1t
makes God mere bargainer, seller
of providence, an exchanger of His low
ing care and redeeming grace for the
perfunctory performances of men. IL
was primitive and erroneous idea OF
God that led Jacob and other charac-
seemingly, at least, make such con-
tract with Him. We know better now
Gods providence is not measured by
the poor standards of human faithful
ness. He maketh his sun to rise on
the evil and on the good, and sendeth
rain on the just and on the unjust. ="
Christ was "the friend of sinners"
Such view is also unworthy of man.
It would have us give God our faith,
love and honor only on the basis of an
equivalent return, whereas these are
qualities and powers of the soul which
should be freely rendered or not at all.
To bring in this rule of relationship
between men and their Creator is to
introduce an element that creates n.y.
pOcrisy, and makes an honest serving
of God impossible.
The same objection may be urged
against that idea of the religious life
which makes heaven a mere reward of
merit. He who serves God for what
he is to get hereafter is in the same
class with the man who serves Him
for what he can get while here. Heaven
is not so much the reason for fidelity
as it is the result of it. Only when it
is regarded as a field for spiritual en-
terprise and growth, of moral satisfac
tion and achievement, should it have
place among the motives of a mans
soul-life.
The true motive of religious life
must be ethical. AS men obey con-
science simply because it is right to do
so, they should also find that suffi-
Gent reason for serving God, who
stands behind the conscience. The
mere fact of God lays upon every hon
est man moral obligation to do His
will. Not by the cheap lure of the
outward or physical comfort,
riches, would God win the minds and
hearts of men, but by implanting with
in the desire for righteousness, a de-
sire which shows itself in RECOGNITION
of the baseness Of sin, the penitent cry
for forgiveness, the passionate longing
for Christlikeness, the hunger for the
life and power in the soul. When the
motive that has its origin in this part
of our nature has the right of way, we
are moving under the inspiration of
the highest possible influence. This is
the only jastitiable ground upon which
men may be appealed to to follow
Christ and serve God. And when faith
and practice are thus founded, mis-
fortunes, losses, Affections, may come
if they will, the soul itself shall remain
mistaken and unafraid; it has surer
anchorage.
Next Sunday evening, October Is,
Resolute Hook and Ladder Co., No. |,
will attend the Methodist church in
full uniform, and the pastor will preach
on 1.-THE Resolute."