The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-28

| too. Will be added unto him.
AS matter OF fact, that happens
every day. The general principle OF
tho sure sequence between sowing and
reapinS is verified continually. There
are those who read the comfortable
| assurances of Holy Scripture and shut
words are false.
The Psalmist was either Il man OF
scant acquaintance with the world or
had the good fortune to live in an un-
commonly prosperous time who said
i have been young, and now am old ;
and yet Saw | never the righteous for
saken. nor his seed begging their
bread"
st. Paul wrote to Timothy. that
goodness has the promise Of Tho life
that now is rs well as of that which
Is TO come; but. III his own experience.
the life that now is was moro than
usually lacking in material satisrac-
ton. 1t was full of poverty and un-
appreciated work. and hardship. and
persecution.
Yet ST. Paul said that. 1t ia quite
unlikely that he meant to contradict
the evidence CT his own senses. And
the initial promise to those who shall
seek the lSinSoom of God and Ills
righteousness hrst--you know Who
made IT, No man ever so diligently or
SO accurately fulfilled the conditions
rs He did. And YOU know what kind
of life lie lived lie was so poor that
lie had not where to lay Ills head
There were times when lie seemed 10
favc no friends. And at last every
body turned against Him: they who
had been His friends forsook Him and
fed: the leading statesmen aud the
chief churchmen agreed together that
religion and politics would 70 on bet
ter II lie were out; and 50 He died ~
an cvildoer. That is the commentary
which is set in Holy Scripture beside
this text. Whatever it means must be
in agreement with this explanation.
1t is accordingly evident at once
that the phrase. ALI these things"
has reference to very simple way of
living. We are surrounded in these
days by an exceedingly complex and
artificial civilization. Our desires are
enormously in advance of our needs
What does the man want who declares
that this promise is broken? lie has
sought the kingdom Of God and His
righteousness. he says, and "all these
things" have not beer added unto him.
What things? Casually a comfortable
house. paid for and we'll furnished. n
full larder. with ut least one servant
10 administer it, good business and
money in the bank. 1t is not likely
that the worldly goods of the twelve
apostles put together amounted to so
much as that. The promise was never
intended to include that
The ideal life, as IL was described
by Jesus Christ and lived by Him. is
not the life we live. lie never nut
on material success. Poverty. he
seems to say, is nearer akin To JOY
than wealth; though Francis OF Assist.
spoke no doubt. In the spirit or his
Master when he said that he loved
poverty. but not dirt. Gentle poverty
glad simplicity, plain living. and high
thinking, the Kingdom OF God first and
saints-that is what He meant. Ham
piness. as He estimated 1t, does not
consist in the multitude of the things
which VIC possess, He begins Ills ser
mon with = list OF the kinds Of neonI,
who arc beloved OF God and have INC
best of life. and tho rich have no place
in it,
Jesus is preaching against needless
anxiety and telling people not to
worry. There is Il difference between
care and worry. Care has To do win
the heavy responsibilities tho sore
burdens. the sins and sorrows ana
tragedies OF life We may cast ON,
care on Him who careth for as. Worry
is concerned with lesser things. ana
was busy in our Lords day. even ms
now. asking. What shall we eat" and
What shall We drink" and. Where
withal shall We be clothcd?, Jesus
says that the less we think nbout thasa
things the better. and that if we sock
hrst the kingdom OF God and Ills
Righteousness we shall have Just ms
much Of them as We need If We could
believe that and act upon il. We would
be rid Of worry. Simplicity and Sc
renity would enter into life together.
Another part of the promise which
needs explanation Is the word right
eousncss."
Righteousness is not negative viz
tue; it is not attained by leaving evil
Things undonc. And it is not an in
dividual virtue: it does not mean tho
same as morality IL is both positive
and social. No man can he righteous
by himself. The opportunity OF right
consness is in society. Not 10 DO min
| istcred unto. but to minister, ana TO
love our neiShbor as Jesus Christ loved
us-that is tho heart Of righteousness
lie seeks the kingdom Of God ana
His righteousness who lives the life
OF conscientious. Intelligent. onthu-
siastic and aggressive Christian cit
i"en. Thus shall the viii or heaven
he fulfilled on earth. and the skies