Arizona republican., 1909-05-17
THE MANY SOURCES
 I0F THE CHRISTIANS JOY
The Theme of Rev. MT. Campbell at
 the Presbyterian Church Yesterday.

terday morning preached on Christian Joy" using as his text the first clause of the twelfth verse of the twelfth chapter of Romans: Rejoicing in hope" The following extracts from the sermon give brief outline of the thoughts presented:
 "In the twelfth chapter of Romans, in a score or more of crisp, short sen tences. the Apostle Paul outlines the characteristics and purposes of the Christian life. Of these there are none more important to us than this one: Rejoicing in hope Paul must have been on optimist, and he was not a blind optimist either. for he knew all about sin. We wonder how he could rejoice in hope when he had written to the Romans just a few chapters be- fore this of the awfulness of sin. We do not rejoice enough as children of the living God.
 What are the secrets of a Christian joy? Let us look at some of these se- crets in the life of the Apostle Paul and answer them from what we see of these.
 q believe that the very first one is the boundless confidence of the apostle in God. You do not need to read far in the writings of Paul to learn of this secret. He writes in the indicative mood He is sure of his ground. T know he says, over and over again at least a hundred times. He knew that he was a child of the King: he was sure that he was saved for time and for eternity. The individual who is conscious of the fact that he has passed from death unto life is happy person. Those who realize most strong ly that they are saved, that they have been brought up from the very depths of hell. can sing with the greatest joy. We're living in Canaan now.
 Then Paul rejoiced in the fact that God could save all men who would be- lieve on the Lord Jesus Christ Listen, as he tells the jailer how to be saved:
 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved He did not say, I expect, or hope, you will be saved, but, Thou shalt be saved If we have reached a high standard of Christian life, surely We have earnestness of heart for the salvation of men: and can be but glad that God will save all WHO COlne lO HllU
 Again, Paul rejoiced because he knew that the cross was to be the vic tor. He had heard the words. The heather shall be given to him for his inheritance.' It ought to make us re- joice even in the midst of the sinful ness of this present life to know that the cross is to win the day; that Christ is going to triumph; that the victory shall belong to King Emmanuel.
 The Apostle Paul rejoiced in the service he rendered. In this presence I need hardly say that the idle man cannot be a happy man. I might go a step further and say that only the man who is unselfishly busy is the happy man. The earth's happiest per sons are the earth's benefactors' 1T any man would win joy. he must share it: happiness was born a twin Side by side are a piece of charcoal and a diamond. Any difference in their chemical composition? No. But one is constantly absorbing the light, and it is dark. while the other reflects the light, and is a priceless gem. If we want to be exceedingly happy, we ought to do for others. God give to us the secret of knowing that the way to be happy as the children of God is to impart the blessings that we have received that others may be partark CTS together with us.
 'I dare sa:- that the acme of Paul's happiness was his joy Tn the fact that he was leading men to Christ. That is. after all, the truest service that you and I can render. We are oftentimes amazed at the way the apostle shows his joy in the midst of his trying ex- peience. We need not be. for it was because he was doing the will of his heavenly Father.
 Then, do not doubt for a moment that Paul made a great deal of his contemplation of the heavenly coun- try. We do not make as much of it as we should Paul's epistles are full of thoughts of heaven. Listen as he says. For me to die is gain:' I am in a strait betwiXt two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ; which is far better These expressions and hundreds of others tell that he was making a great deal of his interest in the heavenly country.
 The apostle was highly happy be- cause he was thinking constantly of the nearness of his God as his Father and Savior. He gloried in tribulation, which brought him closer to God.
 God holds the helm and guides the ship. He is the pilot. Clouds may gather and storms may lower: the waves may r4se, and we may be rocked hither and thither, but He has prom ised to bring us into the desired haven. Therefore we ought to rejoice in the Lord"