The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-03
a Page Devoted to Religious MATTERS s1 asEf Fl BD
wEEKLY SERMON
- vIRoINIANs WEEKLY SERMON
Goodness OF Christianity VS.. Pessimism
nv REV. ERNEST STEVENS
Ia stor Trinity Al. Ell Church., Richm opd

, found In many of the iacto
OF public opinion as to lie n It's
| Characteristics. such as the muck
rakers.~ the very yellow Journal
lists, the writer's az the modern rea-
issstc novels, the piay-writers ana pro
motors Of the modern stage. Ihey
profess to hold up the mirror TO ma
ture. hut Is almost always nature fn
Its most deprayed state n In It's
/ most objectionable manifestations.
They would see nothing but the
spots" IL they trained their tele-
scopes on the sun.
They are almost as much OF a
nuisance as O ~scavenger would be who
| collected garbage and deposited 1t at
our front doors,
III. The Folly and Dishonesty or
Shutting ones Eyes 10 Facts.
The man who is not a pessimist
need not he an ostrich nor he be sim
pie and easily deceived. To close, ones
ewes 10 facts, however. disagreeahle Or
even repuisive the facts. n 10 de-
clare or persuade oneself to believe
that "all ia well" Is to be not only
~cowardly. but dishonest. Optimism
which results from this attitude to-
ward me--toward men events
is ~aisingenuous and may lead to men
tai and moral obiiquity. To fear the
: LTUtl Is l0 pS FdRptA "a
friend. 10 hat which Is false.
Dr. Henry Van Dyke says: Who
will venture to say h a the true
philosophy Of life does not lie some
where between optimism and pessi-
mism. in that chastened meiiorism TO
which old -fashioned Christianity
makes Its appeal and gives its prom
Use p" But why "old-fashioned Chris
t%ianityT" Jesus Christ In the same
yesterday. to-day and forever n
so Ia genuine Christianity.
Ones view of life and men depends
upon ones point of view: and 1t de-
, ponds upon the color of the glass in
the windows OF the mind. Moreover.
nothing Ia more fatal to q sane,
wholesome view of life thar narrow
ness OF view, and nothing Is more I'M
christian.
Some people can scarcely conceive
of really disinterested motives. impo-
lite actions, unselfsh ~liberality n
genuine kindness for the very good
reason tina they have "A fairly good
acquaintance with themselves and
they are afflicted with h a species of
mental and moral dyspepsia called
cynicism.
Paul, having the mind that was
In Christ Jesus" tand all who really
have "the mind share his view) had
a broad. zane. wholesome view OF
life. of men and events, in spite or
all he saw. perceived n new OF
the weaknesses of humanity, of he
horrible sin of the world.
We need to pray-we must If we
would ward off pessimism, pray the
prayer of the text:
III. Lord, lift up thou the light
of thy countenance upon US. For in
thee lis the fountain OF life: In this
light shall we see ligfft. Jesus. the
Christ, IL the Sun OF Righteousness.
He IL the light that lightet every
man thai cometh into the world. He
is to the moral and spiritual world
what the sun is to the earth and the
solar system. The explanation. and
the condemnation of pessimism. IL
that light is come into the world,
and men love darkness rather than
light because their deeds are evil"
There is no color. beauty, grace,
art without light. In the light of the
Sun of Righteousness we may sin
cereiy and faithfully pray: Let the
beauty of the Lord our God be upon
us" And we may see beauty in
the serum OF things" The light that
the life and teachings. the Gospel of
the Son Of God, as the iInmanent
Christ. sheds upon all questions. prob
lens. events and conditions of life
upon past history and current life. Ii
the antidote or cure for pessimism.
". The peculiar duty n high
privilege of Christians In regard to
themselves and others Is not only to
pray the prayer OF the text, but to
reflect the light that is in the world;
to rejoice that the Lore God Omnipo-
tent reigneth and to let the light OF
their faith and hope shine.
"Ye. are the iightHof the world
Let your light shine .lnot that
the gaze OF men may be attracted te
you; not that men may praise YOU'D
that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father which is In
heaven" Matt. s: a. 16.
Look not every man on his owr
things. but every man also on tht
things Of others. Let this mind be In
you which was also in Christ Jesus
Work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling; fer II is Coo
which worketh In you both to viii
and TO do of his own good pleasure
Do all things without murmurings and
disputings: that We may be blame
less and harmless. the sons of God
without rebuke. in the midst OF a
crooked and perverse nation among
whom We shine as lights In the world,
holding forth the word of life. (Phil
2: 4. 8, I2-1s.)
One canno be Il pessimist N a
j l Christian at the same time.
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