The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-14
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THE VIRCINIAN'S WEEKLY SERMON
THE LOWEST ROOM

be trial. not only to his Lord, but to
his felIow-apostles: but his worst
enemy would not accuse him Of indo-
lence. or indifference. or the want Of
initiative and enterprise.
And though he fell he would rise
again. In the course OF time he would
be at the front once more. where, az
some might think. he had no right to
be.
But a dominant personal force,
though 1t may BE- curbed, cannot be
crushed.
II will out, and 1t will be ahead.
Such man will seem to more retir-
ing people. who do not make allowance.
to be pfesumptuous, il not impertinent.
1t is possible, of course, that he may
be both these, but II does not neceseaE-
lily follow that he Is either.
What looks like presumption may
| be unconscious courage, and what
looks like impertinence may be UNI
fiinching candore.
What are frequently the defects of
these qualities are hasty, ill-considered
opinions, and the lack Of sympathy
with others-defects which may easily
uhA S"hAAAy PAoau~Ss NV VAby AahaP-
piness, but disaster.
The Master would not refuse such
man; He would not rule him out
| or order him down; but He would
say, Lowest thou Me- until love had
refined his tremendous force and made
1t strong ministry. When thou art
converted. strengthen thy brethren"
The other nature IL the one that
the Lord was particularly rebuking
that day In the Pharisee's house. It
| is the nature that is course, suspicious,
INSCRIPTIONS; with no claim OF SER
vice. and vet bent upon ascendancy:
elbowing better men out OF the way:
riding rough-shod over everyones
susceptihilities to reach a seat OF scorn.
full power. It was to men who claimed
the chief seats without any right to
them. that the Lord said. go and sit
down in the lowest ROOM"
We are In this, world as the guests
Of God. We brought nothing with us.
and We can carry nothing away.
Whatever we have that is more than
another mans Is ours by Divine grace
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and seemfy thing that we should live
and Iobor in lowliness Of mind. The
guests Of God. when they remember
that they are His guests, will not
scramble for prominence. but will In
honor prefer one another. The lowest
room will be more than good enough
until the Master of the house shall
say, Friend. go up higher Then
the promoted one-promoted by the
gracious will OF the Host-shall have
honor among his fellow-guests.
4 When our own hearts are humbled
we are not envious or jealous of one
who, himself OF humble heart. Is pro-
NOTED to greater usefulness and
honor. We rejoice with him and with
his Lord.
| 1t was q saying of DR.. Dale's: God
has no use for man who is not holy"
1t might with equal emphasis be said:
God has no use for man who il not
humble. 1t Ia only to the iowly soul
that God can impart His high and
holy things.
IL He resists the proud, so also
do we. We cannot help It. There IL
in us an. instructive recoil from AFRO
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to the humble. so likewise: he gets out
of US the best that is in us; he may ask
what he will, and 1t Is given.
/ This principle is deep and vast. It
encompasses the individual In all his
human and Divine relationships. and
II goes far out into all the life Of the
nation and the world.
In Bancroft's History Of the United
States are written these weighty
words: 1.-THE formation of political In
situations in the United States was not
effected by giant minds or mobiles after
the flesh The truly great law.
givers In our colpnies first became a.
little children"
Humble yourselves therefore un
der the mighty hand OF God, that He
may exalt you In due time.