Evening journal., 1911-09-20
EPWORTH LEAGUE
DEVOTIONAL MEETING.
Sept 2ith. "The Exemplary Life"
Tim. t;i2; Psalm, II.

Sept. 9th. "The Exemplary Life"
Tim. t;i2; Psalm, II.
Il is said of Lord Bacon. "he had
high ideals and noble aspirations; in
practice. unfortunately. he stopped
constantly to sorbidness and venal-
ity." Few of us practice what we
preach" yet the conscious tugging at
our heart, the lashings of a sensitive
conscience are evidence that the
ideals remain even while "our lives
are trailing the solemn dust"
Paul tells Timothy to let no one
despise his youth; presumably he
means for Timothy TO separate him
SELF from those of his age who live
worldly lives and 50 command the
respect of all aud exert an influence
| for good II is a common expression,
"Oh young folks will be youngl" So
they should bel Sad is that life that
from earliest childhood Is so crowded
with anxiety born OF home burdens
too heavy for his young shoulders;
from such life no joy bubbles forth;
no song Is heard; happily. these lives
are the exception, yet one may be
young without living a life of idleness,
| engaging In questionable amusements
and losing sight Of the fact that the
world was created for others comfort
and not expressly for one persons
whims. The exemplary young life is
filled with earnest thought" speech
that Is like apples Of gold in pic
lures of silver" sacrifice that
When duty whispers low, Thou must,
The youth replies, I can
And we need not. be ST. Augustine
nor Thomas A. Kempis TO live such
a lifel
Let your light shine at all times
everywhere. Everyone is lonely. You
do not realize perhaps, that the one
who needs a CHEEKY word is the man
or woman who smiles the most
SIN les, perhaps to help scatter Gods
sunshine while his own heart is sad
get in the inner circle of Gods smil-
Ing ambassadors and smile, too.
Paul says, BE an example of love.
No one can love as Jesus loves and
surely His followers hold the secret
of perfect love. Be an example in
loving the sinner; even If your SOU
shrinks from his sin. don't shrug your
shoulders or you will lose your griI
on one you might otherwise win fol
Christ Did Christ commend the vir.
tue of the Pharisees? No. as somI
one has said, "He wrote their sins IN
the sand and reading their condemna.
ton they slipped away in shame.
Some of us are rather poor specimens
of examples in faith; we lose faith IN
ourselves because Of our daily fail
ures: we pin our faith to others who
appear stronger in character, only {
find they are built on the same pat
tern as we No man nor woman Il
the same yesterday today and for
ever" either in friendship. in disposi
ton. or religious experience.
We profess great faith in God an'
perhaps il is firm when our friend L
in affliction, but "let storms like wilt
deluge" come to us and-here is tn
test! Yet faith as a grain of mustar'
seed will enable us to see over tn
mountain Of sorrow, distress and SUI
fering.
Be an example in purity. Her
above all other virtues should th'
Christian stand fast Don't compro
mise with sin lest you pay compound
interest in suffering.
Why should you. a child OF the King
covet the friendship of the sinful-un
less II Is to win them to Christ? Ever
then, If you wear their colors borrow
their signs and follow their leading'
you cannot win them; oh, perhaps
you may win them to yourself, bu
you will not win them for Christ. lie
your own life be "as leaf Of pape
white"
David says, who shall sojourn II
thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell IL
thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, an
worketh righteousness, and speaket
the truth in his heart"
We can deceive others. we can, per
haps. deceive ourselves. in a measure
but there are moments when We hav'
TO face the truth--when no pretens
will stop the wild clamor of our ear
liest teachings of truth which com
back TO lead US near to God. We mus
he true to ourselves OF we cannot b
true TO others nor to God so we mus
speak the truth IN our hearts" w
are not very wise nor very strong
nor very great creatures-the best O
! US: I'VE are infants crying In tn