The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-01
PRACTICAL RELIGION.
elected for The MINES. pigpatch.l

(Selecte0 Tor me IlfneS-DlSpatcn.)
pure religion and undefled be-
fore God and the Father is this: TO
visit the fatherless and widows in
their affection and to keep himself un-
spotted from the world."--James /. 81
This word religion" means religious
service. Not religious doctrine, not
merely nominal religious profession, but
religious service, with activity in con-
duct You ask for a code of action?
Very good, says the apostle; If you
want that, here 1t is-real honest. use
| full service, pure religious service is
! this: Visit the fatherless and widows
| in their affliction." Real, downright
the neighborhood and make the desc
| late sing for joy.
/ You should ask yourself, Whom can
1 make happy to-day? Whose burden
can 1 share, if not tighten? What good
can do to others for the love OF God?
In what way can | help?
Many persons are afraid of good
conduct lest it should take somewhat
| from the honor of Christ. On the con-
| trary, Jesus Christ is the fountain
and Inspiration of all good conduct.
| Wherever there is good conduct there
| is Jesus Christ No man can call
| Jesus the Lord, and no man can do
the works of Jesus but by the sp!rl,
J of Jesus. although he may not know
it,
How Is that character to be culti-
waited? BY acts of service. How is
q man to be strong enough to stand
upright? BY STOPPING. The gospel
always uses such methods
II man would save his life he must
| lose it, if man would serve Christ
i he must take up his cross and follow
Him; If man would be really disnified
he must be graciously condescending.
Pity the man who is SO anxious about
doctrine that he absolutely forsets
) the matter of practice. II any man
}, who commits himself to a holy life
ignores the existence Of doctrine. ther
form exists behind everything else
thought first. then word. then deed
, that is the succession Of action no
: in metaphysics only. but In all prac'
; teal life.
Have You ever really helped any
one? Then you have prayed. # 70,
have fed orphans f you have wipe
, away the tears of the desolate, If yo
, have visited the lonely, the sick ant
the stranger. you are following in thu
steps of the Master-you are Chris
tian. For He went about doing good
. always doing good. He never sen
away any one from Himself-He gave
to all. and He gave freely Himself. FL
had everything in HIS own soul and II
His own gift. No man can do thu
works of Christ, except the Father b'
in him and with him, and the very
doing Of these works will lead on an
on until the presence Of the Master
is reached,
James is very strict In discipline
He Is practical and helpful ant
thorough. He probes to the root; III
!, never says; Taking life as 1t goes ant
: considering all things. I think 70!
may be allowed to pass. He takes VI
the garment. and looks at it through
: q microscopes; and what an enemy tina
: microscope Is TO everything that want
TO hide itself We go back to tn
apostle and say: I have fed a hun
dred orphans to-day, and called a
places which death had emptied. an
! kindled a fire on the cold hearthston
in every Instance; is not that enough
May ! not 60 to heaven? But heare
9 plies, Let me see your garment; ther
! arc plenty of klnd-hearted souls. nat