The Nevada County picayune., 1911-06-16

/ 2SA LJ III StNtIdl IutdHluSS, anu SA4NI therefore needs to be in
 SFb~ terpreted with the utmost
 care and discrimination
 Sometimes 1t denotes the whole material universe as created by God, the Maker of heaven and earth. ' Sometimes it is this world in which God has placed man for time, the temporary scene of human existence, mans abode. in which he sojourns for a limited period. Sometimes il con Yeys the idea, not q material creation Of Gods fashioning, but of spirit of wofldlincss in Gods reasoning crea- lures which is antagonistic to the will of God. Sometimes il is Inc aggre- gate of those possessed by this spirit "ho having been made by God. rebel against his authority and refuse 10 heed his commands. Sometimes if is
 he equivalent of \ hat is known to us by the name of Society. | o. the en- @fronment Of persons and things. in the midst of which each one lives his life here, and which, while not evil in themselves, must be used as St. Paul writes in his letter to the Christians at Gorinth, with caution, mot overus- Ing il, or using it to the full, as his words really mean.
 It is with this last aspect of the word We are specially concerned.
 To the majority of persons Society is very complex thing In it. as In all else that has to do with persons and things, there Is an intricate and puzzling interningling of good and evil which neeessitate the utmost eau tion and discrimination in the using
 It is of this social life. with all its complications, Jesus is speaking in his great microscopy prayer on the night before he died 'I pray not that thou shouldest keep them from the evil"
 Christ's Life Social One
 When We study the life of Christ as It is put before us in the fourfold DOT traiture of the Gospel, We obtain fuller conception of what Society real " means than any more words and theories can give us. and are better ahle to understand the relation in which the Christian man ought to stand towards it. For tue fife Of Christ was pre-eminently soc.I life This is the characteristic which stands out most clearly and definitely if We compare his life with that Of his forerunner. Jchn the Baptist Jesus himself draws the attention of his disciples to the striking contrast their lives presented 10 these before whose eyes they were lived. John aame neither eatiug nor drinking and they say he hath devil The Son of Man cane eating and drinking and they say. Behold a gluttonous man and a Wine-bibber. a friend of publi, cans and sinners" The Baptist lived the life of an ascetic, apart from his fellows, not dwelling in the haunts of men. but reciuse h fhe wilder ness. But the Son of Man who came to save mankind mingled with mon. He Eyed he ordinary life of ordinary men and women, going in and out among them as one of themselves.
 Jesus and Society.
 A modern writer admirably sums up the life hat Jesus lived in relation 10 Society. So wide were his sym pathies that Pharsaic pride com, plained. To this universal adaptive ness he appealed as an evidence of tine prophecy fulfilling of his coming Was Ee exclusive? Did ever man or woman come near hiE and be turn away2 Did he not go among all ranks and into every socictya Did Ire not go into the houses of great men and rulers Of Iharisees. of poor Men, of publcans' Did he not frequent the temple, the markc;piaee the syna- eogue, the shore. the hmnts of outcasts and harlots2 Was he not found al feasts and at basials2 N.her eyor men ard women were 10 be found. there Was lis llae" aId there is ours
 Yes. each Christian hae lis ap. pointed Iiaee 70 fll h. Society He cannot live the life of Il recluso With ouI hurt 10 himself The social life rightly lived has a wholesome mhu epce on the Christian himself There is nothlrE which does More to develop character thsn intercourse Withot It brings out traits which would other. wise remain uudisccN red and un Gaed II prevents the growth cf self ishness and isolation @fien are so great a hindranCe 10 the development of the spiritual life, Il draws out thc healthy sympathies which arc like the sprouts of d tree breaking forth under the influences of the warm sun or refreshing rain, or like the roots Of the plant, which must have room 10 grow or they Win become sickh end stunted