The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1912-11-29

4
SyfX& ly TO the credit OF
Jesus, but the
text announced (and IL does not stand
alone as 10 the sentiment expressedD
calls halt and asks for serious think
ing.
Hope in Christ is the thing under
consideration, hope for the individual
through the influence or mediation OF
Christ The word hope. expressing
even an abstract idea, lures us, and
rightly so. There is nothing that sus'
tains man better than hope. and Chris
tian hope is we'll put into tho cate
cory with faith and love, as forming
the great trio OF Christian graces. In
view OF this hope In Christ what ex
pectation OF relief and rescue from
disaster. and what positive assurance
OF satisfying happiness may we haver
But II is the step forward that
brings US TO the place OF more seri
Gus thought, even OF deep concern
If we have only hoped in Christ In
this life" bringing before us tho
place of realization of our hope In
life, we are OF all men most pltiable
The heart of the pastor referred to
was moved because he realized that
in these degenerate days, as far az
real religious thinking 10 concerned
the hopes In Christ are those that
are 90 be realized in life quite ex
clusively. What does a man get In
4 hRfg ~
amelioration OF sad social conditions,
better prospects for success In the
vocations in life, respectability. and
easy life experiences. Jesus Is held
up as one to be patterned after with
respect 20 purity OF conduct, as one
uttering easy things such as the be.
attitudes and the golden rule In the
Sermon on the Mount. yet without any
reference TO the context. This is even
done In the propaganda OF some OF
the modern religious movements that
have been heavily financed and have
been prosecuted with wide and ex.
tensive advertising. banquets, and
with mutual admiration OF those par.
ticipatlng regardless OF their ad-
herence TO the faith that was once
for all delivered 20 the saints" In
such propaganda there Ia practically
nothing said about anything that ac'
crues TO men beyond this life. IL being
considered almost an insult TO mod.
ern culture TO intimate that men and
women need anything that Ia sug.
gested by the sufierings at Calvary
or the opening tomb.
Probably few would reject the
proposition that the gospel must be
preached, but how far from the gos'
pei as suggested In ! Corinthians
1873. 4, is much that is now called
the gospel As to following Christ
I'm this life, where is the promise that
tho undertaking will be one OF ease
and comfort? Those who know the
Bible do not forget that tho yoke OF
Christ is easy and has burden Is light.
but they do not see that In any sense
there is a modification In this fact OF
the llfe-fare OF those who follow
Jesus-suspicion poverty, sneers. per.
secutions, and even death itself. That
the Christian has In this life more
than enough to satisfy him az to his
hopes I'm Christ II readily admitted.
but II is not in this life that those
hopes are 10 be chiefly realized. a
casual reading OF the fifteenth chapter
n First Corinthians shows that the
great subject Of Paul I'm that chapter
was the resurrection Of the Christian
from the dead the future clothing OF
this mortal body with Immortality
that In the object OF the Christians
hope in Christ
We note that P.ul says that those
who have hoped IN Christ only In this
life are most pitlable The enemy o'
their souls has deceived them into be.
llcving that religion is for this life
only, and they grasp II for such life
benefits. when as a matter OF fact
before the Christian IL held the glori.
Gus certainty OF resurrection from the
dead with a body that is incorruptible
spiritual. powerful. glorious and heav.
emily Man r. 20 be pitied because he
locks good judgment IN choosing that
which In inferior rather than choosing
that which is infinitely superior. and
which II offered 20 him gratuitously