The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-01-30

package of whiskey and partake of it
and as he thinks of wife and children
dependent upon him, he takes the
whiskey as an antidote. The other
calls in convivial companions, and
holds high revelry.
Two may attend church together.
One with a sense of need, a heart
hunger. The other, seeking victim
to his Establishments and wiles.
Two may stay away from church.
One, desiring intensely to be among
the worshipers. but from a sense of
duty to her household, or sick babe,
she foregoes her privilege. The other
out of a spirit of Ill will or resentment
toward some one who is there, does
not go.
This brings before US the real inner
character, the very basis of human &C
intentS of the heart" and gives us the
immense value of self-culture, of Gull
tivating, not our actions, but the heart
out of which actions spring.
Much Depends Upon the Spirit.
In giving, the spirit is especially
valuable. God loves a cheerful giver
If ones heart is right, giving will be
not only cheerful but proportionate
and liberal. In the wilderness the
people brought willingly and had
goods left over. 1t is said that Gods
people shall offer themselves willingly
in the day of His power. grudging
spirit is not a religious spirit. Many
act as if they felt like the little boy
when he dropped his money in the
church basket, with the only quota
ton he could think up. "A fool and
his money soon part" | believe If i
felt as gr9ldging as some people
have known about giving money and
time to religion, I would just quit and
never give another cent or hour, A
certain man who was very comfort
abies told me he never went to church
because he never had any money sie
could give away, and did not like TO
see the basket passed around. Now,
that man was passing sentence upon
himself. He had wrong spirit.
This emphasis upon the spirit Of an
action or a life, makes bed rock
foundation to which are riyeted firm
" some of the Baptist's most cher
ished teachings.
For example, the value of CONVEX
sion. When God touches human
heart it has the right spirit. David
knew what it was. He was now
under a cloud but he had basked in
the sunshine.
Also it makes up chary of rules by
which we Judge each other. A rule is
an iron thing, and if applied rigidly
would work injustice. The principle
which leaves much to the Individual
conscience is safer Religion is not
government, but moral suasion. I'VE
persuade men," If regenerated con-
science cannot live consistent life.
a church hand book OF rules cannot
make up the deficiencies. It is the
love of Christ which constrains Us.
It is not what mother says, but the
| love for mothers wishes and views
which counts.
Not Compstsnt TO Judge Each Other.
The same principle leads us to re-
| frain from judging each other As no
man can know the motives of another
so no man is competent to pass sen
| tence upon another, whether one IS
good or bad. Goodness and badness
are relative. They are not separated
| by cleavage but mixed in all lives
None is good but God. said Christ.
and He might have said also. none Is
\ bad but the devil. by which is meant
| these are the two extremes and be-
| tween lie all grades of human stand
| ing. No man is a perfect Judge II
his neighbor. One has Just as much
right to go into his yard and steal his
axe or his chickens as he has to rob
him Of his good name. The averages