Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-13
Body Under, Soul on Top
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TOMPKINS.
Text: l Corinthians. tx. 24-27.

icAl. 1 corinthians, tx. 2i-27, |
There has been published recently
little pamphlet entitled: "Whither?"
which is very suggestive, as bearing
upon the present condition of the world.
as we'll as upon the common methods
81 thought and judgment In our land.
The author says that we are bound by
materialism which makes us neglect
or disregard the spiritual:
1t is an era of the flesh and it's
needs its possibilities, of nnawareness.
Tor the most part. OF any aspects deeper
than the physical. Many OF US can re-
member the day when we were taught
that we had immortal souls. to whose
safeguarding thought and care and
profound endeavor must go. The chief
question was: Is II right or wrong?
The chief question to-day Is: rs 1t
sterilized?' Life, which used to be
brave fight between heaven and hell
has come to be long and anxious
tiptoeing between the microbe and the
antisept!c. The modern world has n
new and elaborate dogma OF the body,
but conviction in regard to the soul is
tentative and wary. Images of per
fect bodily development arc kept be-
fore the young, the Apollo. with beauty
or sinew and muscle: but the face Of
the Christ is growing ever more and
more dim before their eyes. and is
more and more apologetically pre-
Eented"
IF NOT A CONDITION,
AT LEAST A SYMPTOM
There can be no question but that
these words. II they do not describe a
condition. at least declare symptom
or life as we ind IL to-day. and II is
startling because IL leaves God quite
out Of consideration. There seems 10
be an unwillingness TO admit that God
has anything TO do with the events Of
the day or hour. II any one is brave
enough TO suggest that God at least
had personal relationship TO any
great accident or to any volcano pour
Ing forth its lava, he is laughed to
scorn We are SO bound by what We
call law" that we do not realize and
In some cases do not accept spirit
Christianity. however, with a vsry
positive declaration. bids us hold the
spirit as the chief thing Matter mus,
change. and perhaps change 50 com
pletely as TO lose its identity. Even
truths. which are evolved out OF human
conceit, may, and probably will. soon
or late prove elusive and false. But
become like Him. the love for Christ
and the longing for heavenly things
must endure. They will endure Just
because they are superior to the struE-
giles and changes of material things.
EVERY MAN HAS
CONFLICT IN HIMSELF
AS all this is true in general. so 1t is
especially true in our own lives. The
body fights against the spirit and the
spirit seeks 10 suhdue the body. They
ought TO live together in harmony. each
having its place: but, alas VIC know
that there is often a hard battle be-
tween them. Let us remember. how
ever that in this conflict IL is not in
tended that the body should he crushed
under the spirit. We not 10 des
pise the material. but rather 10 eXalt
il into fellowship with truth and right
eousness. The man who ignores the
demands of the body. or who thinks
that he does God service by breaking
or hurting II needlessly. is utterly ir
norant OF the great principles of human
existence. The body and the spirit
should work together for the lifting
up OF the whole man
Again the spirit. because il is the
higher and more intelligent part of us,
should lovingly and revcrently guide
the body. The true Christian does not
treat the body as master treats a
slave: he recognizes anionsh!p
and so he pleads rather than commands
And the body, il true TO its responsible
it's. looks up TO the spirit and lovingly
and gladly follows its leading. This
is common in tho most ordinary emo
tions OF a man. My arm is lifted in
order that may reach something
which desire: but never think of my
arm as slave, hut rather as helper
do not cry out. You miserable and
good for nothing arm, do AS tell you
or will crush YOU" But ! say gently
so gently that there is no thought OF
separation between myself and my
body please get me that object which
I desire" and my arm instantly fulflls
my expressed wish.
ARE TEMPTATIONS FIERCEST
TO BODY OR SPIRIT.
II has often been a question whether
the fercest temptations come TO the
body or to the spirit AS a matter of
fact each has its own peculiar trials.
and the calls made uron the flesh are
harder sometimes to resist because they
seem TO be almost mechanical; at any
rate they are often inherited and may
become 1ercer because OF physical
weakness. Here comes in then the
splendid brotherhood of the spirit: for
strong with its high ideal and its mes
SAGE from heaven. 1t reaches out to
help the weak and calls upon it to keep
good heart. DO not give up I call
10 the body when the temptation ts
strong "I am with you and I will
help you, and together we will master
this passion which is trying to
DESTROY" And the body. comforted be-
cause IL recognizes the coming help. is
the more ready to fight and the evil
is overcome because of the joint effort.
Let us ever remember that in the
nerfect state. to which at last, thank
Cod. we shall come, spirit and body
will dwell together in perfect unity
Three threefold parts of the human,
body, mind and spirit, each one per-
fected and swept clear of Ignorance and
weakness. will unite in an existence
which will be bliss. We must strive
for that perfection here and now, for
it Is possible to have little OF 1t even
on earth. He who seeks for 1t here
and believes in the possibility OF It,
will surely find peace hereafter,