The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-07-26
PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY
A Little Sermon Upon the Perlshable
Nature of Material Things

Nature of Material Things
We attract to ourselves just such in
| fuences as are necessary for our fur
Their development. So, IL things seem
to go against you, don't squeal and If
they come your way, don't brag about
it. Remember things are not always
what they seem. Money buys misery
as well as pleasure.
We are, constantly sowing and reap
ing. The seed sown in the mind will
have its outward expression in the
body today, tomorrow or in the years
to come The law never forgets. This
being the case. we must live in har-
mony with the inner man. Heaven"
(the kingdom of harmony lis within
us" The natural can never see
this kingdom because he is under the
dominion of the devil lin harmony
The natural man is at enmity tow
ard God" How hardly can the rich
man lin his materiality) enter the
kingdom of heaven" He is bound
hand and foot with love of material
things which he imagines he owns but
he can't even control his own body
His bones are not any better than
those of his poor neighbors. He leav-
es the world to be born into the next
a pauper. He pushes the cart before
the horse during his natural life, per-
haps never thinking what he will do
when his muscles fail to operate.
When Jesus told the disciples that
it is easier for camel to go through
the eye of a needle than the rich man
to enter the kingdom, they wondered
an dasked who then can be saYed?"
and ne said, with men it is impos-
sible but with God all things are pos
sible.' Here is the possibility, Seek
We first the kingdom of God and all.
these things shall be added unto you"
Now don't let your mind get away off
into some vague, impossible concep-
ton. With God all things are pos
sible.' But that is what sticks you
that doesn't make you feel any better
or see any clearer. You have been
taught that you can't understand the
ways of God. You can't If you are
thinking of the photograph of your
self; but this is only the temple. Let
us get inside the temple-forget every
thing about Yourself and listen. If
you don't get the light at first, it will
at least rest your nerves The world
is throwing off its yoke of superstition
and putting its conception of God on
a practical basis.
Let us find our true center and
come out broad enough to take hold
of the biggest proposition before the
world today. 1t is time we were about
our Fathers business" and "all these
things" will come by divine inheri-
lance.
The meek shall inherit the earth"
This doesn't mean a humble, wishy-
washy sermon but a quiet. self-poised
individual who lives in the principle
and not in the ups and downs of out
ward appearances. Everyday exam
pies are often helpful; here is one; /
know a man whose business. a few
years ago was going down hill. He
struck bottom. Did it kill him? /
should say not! 1t brought him to-"
He told the clurch of which he was
an active member that he had gained
a broader view of God-he had found
the God within. But the church
would not accept it so he was Obliged
to discontinue his membership. He
lost all the trade he aad had from
members of that church; but he had
become introduced to himself (the
real NAM and like the meek that
shall inherit the earth he went about
quietly trying to live from the inside
out. The church people thought he
had turned wrong side out but "By
their fruits We shall know them" He
gained his freedom as fast as he was
able to express the God within. Lar
ger deals began coming his way and
the customers wnom he lost at first
respect him more than ever, TODAY
Anyone can see that he is living in
the principle and not in the detail of
life's worries. AS he expresses IL 81
was Mr.. b., the grocer Today | am
Mr.. Il. in the grocery business" Do
you see the difference. The devil has
TO let go as man becomes conscious
Of the kingdom within. And the dew
II took Jesus up onto an exceeding
1igh mountain and shewest him all |
ne Kingdoms of the world, and the |
glory or them and saith unto him "All |
-hese things will | give thee. If thou
Wit rail- down and worship me. Then |
alth Jesus unto him, Get thee hence
satan, for 1t is written, Tnou shalt
Worship the Lord thy God and Him
'nly shalt thou serve. Then the devil
eayeth him and behold, angels came
nd ministered unto him"
He that controleth Ais own spirit
greater than he that takest a CITY"
Conscious of the God within you be-
in to express new life, physically. f.
and every other way. Fail
re, Death and He'll are wiped out of
our remembrance forever. There
re no backsliders in the kingdom of
Iod. know personally many a man
mo has struck bottom and is working
IS way up Having found the one
Old foundation, ne will never fall
The meek shall inherit the earth"
ure, for God is the God of the living.
or He that findeth his life shall lose
and he that loseth his life shall find
I. In other words he that findeth
laterial luxury through his know
edge of worldly cunning. shall lose
Tor he buildeth upon the sand. his
avs are numbered and his soul long
In for covering. But he who
hrows aside all these things for the
axe of his Fathers business has
uilt upon a rock and will dwell in
he house of the Lord forever" He
iill enjoy these passing material