The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-01
IMPROVE THE SIGHT
md LOVE YOUR GOD
Y 8PIRITUAL sHoRTsIGHTEDNEs
SUBJECT or STRONG SER
MON M DIR. WILSON.
C ULTIV "A T E FAITH
FAILtRE 10 UNDERSTAND OFTEN
THE CAt sE or MANS COM
PLANT uF GoD'>
DEALINGS.

DEALINGS.
spiritual Shortsig htednoss7 was the
topic of a most interesting and in
structiye sermon preached last nIeht
by Rev Lloyd r Wilson, pastor Of
Grace-Street Baptist Church. His text
was taken from II. Peter f:9---"t For
he that laCkcth these things Is blind,
seeing only what is near. having for
gotten the cleansing from mis- old
sins The preacher showed that
many people were shortSighted ia
spiritual things, white being very f7r.
sighted tn worldly mA&ters He urged
his hearers 30 think deeply OF the
spiritual things. while not negiectine
the things physical. IL said
Cultivate tho Faith.
These words form a part Of time
ly exhortatton. which was addressed
10 the early followers of Christ con
corning the cultivation of their faith,
and, therefore have reference ia tho
shortssg htedness Of Christians a fact
to he deeply lamented, bat I am sure
do no violence tn these words IN
giving them ii larger application. II
q the Christian who faiia 80 culture his
faith il blind and cannot see afsr off,
surely the man who has no faith to
cultivate must he b,ud indeed
NOW, there are many people IN the
sightedness and that were bad enough.
but there are many more who are
more sorely afflicted because or siYr-
itual shortsiehtcdness. would that
could picture 10 all such their con-
1itfon and danger and thus arouse
them to q realization Of their need
Il. Those who do not see the folly Of
shining may be thus chased.
They seem not to realize the mean,
Ing OF sin nor what an awful thing
III is. Sin is that ahominable thing
which hurts us all. IL darkens the
understanding; il wsTps the judgment.
II stupefies the conscience; 1t perverts
the will: II deeecrateS tho affections
and corrupts the imagination. VIVA:
a foolish thing TO play with sin Noce
II Is sin that deceiyes. defiles, aeetros =
and damnS the race, then how blind
ss the man wh1 fails to sec the folly
Of shining? ! would war; al who
are thus shortsighted that her need
is n visit to the Great Ocutist, who
alone car rectlfy their spiritual vision
I'll, Those who see the needs Of the
body, hat fail tn see the needs ~ the
soul are also in this class,
ftThe body has its needs, and these
should be met, but We must remember
that the soul has its needs also. ana
these should have our attention. II
we were AS careless in cur attention
TO our bodies az We are in our attep-
tion 10 our souls. many Of us who are
NV robust IN health would be invalids
under the care Of physicians hud
nurses
think will you, how many parents
there are who give the beat attention
to tho bodily needs of their children
and almost absolutely negIccf their
spiritual needs. on, the folly Of IT,
"And then. too. many of us who
l.
tryius 10 feed them, as did the rich
fool 81 ola. on cows f.d oh, the
stupidity of such action Upon the part
IF otherwise Intelligent men
iii The man who makes friends
OF his fellows, bat falls to cultivate
The Christ. h spiritually sh0r1sish'ed
we are all mere or less serial be
4ngs. and II means much to us 10
have. true friends among those who
can he trusted There are times when
such may he greatly needed. ana Il
liz we'll lo have them. but 10 fail tie
cuIfivate the friendship If Him who
Is the friend that sticketh closer than
brother ia surely shortsIghted bust
ness.
sThinig what IL means 10 us 10 have
Him AS our friend-no help SO great
no power mighty, no lote so strong,
no sympathy 80 tender that of Jesus
Fail not to cultivate Him, 10 iay
np treasures or earth aud fan IN lay
them ny in heaven IL on evidence OF
short sightedness.
u have no criticism for those who
are trying 20 make and save money
That liz wen and Eord " they deal
honesty with God, remembering their
stewardship.
tsBat money IS a small matter
There are oth4r and better ways ~
laying up treasures ln heaven. THE
point ] desire to make tx That It i@
shortsis htedness to fail to aceumulate
spiritual wealth. the wealth that
abides.
~. They who see ufvs trials hut
fall TO recognize tneir purposes, are
shorssightcd
Men often complain ol Gods deal
snEs with them because they fail to
understand Ills purposes. They for
set that life Ii "A great 81 hood There
IN u meaning TN an cur tears They
4 have a n.ission to perform Let us
learn 20 seek 80 know the purposes
Of God, ANA then va shall better am
sierstand our trials
what God sends comes to us
weighted with love, and we Viii do
well TO remember THESE beautiful
lines:
God win keep HIS own annintcd;
Naurht shall harm them, none
condemn.
& All Their trials are aprHiatcd.
All mas1 work for good to them
M All shall help them
TO their hfayeuiy dladem
Consult the Great Oculiet
II might speak 81 othcr. forms II
N his awful Inalady. bat tame VIII not
allow. And row as ] close ] would
urge all who are thus afflicted. espp-
rfaiiy those who up 10 this time haYs
{ .ofg often thetr sDUPs peace and their
eSDe3d OF a cure for Their spiritual blind
ness. To fail not TO cali upon The Great
f1cuiist NJ once and have their spirit
NAL vision rectifed "
ATTACKS ARE MADE
1l,nri Ir...at fr.-r1 H.. -.