The evening world., 1915-03-15

NJ, fast preceding the
nniversaryI
OF Jesus death -
l(1ASIOR RUSSEIOl has long been q
@A---.----@f fixed rule with
some Christian people. Although not Of
Divine command. the custom appeals to !
many. Like eveiy good thing. II is
misunderstood and perverted by the ma
jority. because they are not spiritually
minded. To many Of these II Is q COM
mand. the neglect Of which would bring
upon them the disapprobation Of friends
and the observance OF which would
bring them some favor from God or
some relaxation from proper punish
ments for their sins-they know not
exactly what.
or such pe,functory fasting. ,displeas-
ing to God and valueless to the individ-
uai. we give an illustration. An ac-
quaintance who professed to observe
Lent was instructed to drink but one
! cup Of coffee daily. He made some kind
Of compromise with his cons, fence by
which he got his usual amount Of coffee
in a bowl. | Apparently he thought that
the Lord would not notice the cheat.
and would reward him for such hypo-
critical fasting.
Nothing Is more contemplate in the
Lords sight than hypocrite. Honesty
is the one quality which all who would
be pleasing to God must possess. no
matter how weak or fallen they may
be by heredity. In His preaching Jesus
condemned by pocrisy. perhaps as much
as all other sins together. With every.
body the first lesson should be honesty
not merely in monetary affairs. but In
everything. including words and
thoughts. ,,
Although nothing in the Bible s1s-
eests a Lenten season. the Apostles
commend fasting. St.. Paul wrote:
Approving ourselves in HASTINGS" and
again, Elm HASTINGS often e Corinth-
ians 6:4, 5. ll:27). Evidently fasting
lis n the nature Of sclf.sacri6ce-a vol
untary offering to God. with view
to greater efficiency in Gods service or
to greater control over our imperfect
mortal bodies in the interests of our
spiritual new nature.
| Appropriate Lenten Thoughts.
Much may be said in favor Of fasting
during the Lenten season. On hygienic
grounds alone. il would be Of advantage.
particularly TO the well-fed. II during
the springtime they would restrain them
selves from eating literally Of meats.
sweets, pastry, etc. Boils, pimples, liver
arrangements, fevers and doctor bills
would be greatly lessened II this course
were pursued. This is the practical side
Of the question, which may have led to
the custom.
The Christian. however. may advan.
taQeously take a much deeper. spiritual
meaning out Of Lent. He may remem
ber the Saviour experience for the forty
DAYS preceding His cruciiixion. He may
remember that just before His cruel
fision, Jesus instituted the Lords Sup
Der, and indicated the date as the prope
one for its annual commemoratioI
amonRst His followers, Is was the Gus
tom in the early Church. He may als'
remember that all Jesus followers cove
nsnt to share His Cup Of suffering. o
jenominy, misunderstanding. misrepre
sentation, slander, abuse. death. III
NAV remember that - this was tn
special time Of trial for Jesus. SO
.eems also to have been from the YER!
first q time OF special trial. testing. sift
ing, amongst His followers,
All these considerations might wei
move Gods true people to fast durin
a period preceding the anniversary q
their Rsdeemer's death. In Observin
such restraint Of appetite. from q desit
Is draw especially near to God. the
would certainly be contributing shar
toward that end. in harmony with tn
ScriDturaI declaration. Draw nigh unit
Me. and will draw nigh unto YOU"
We have no suggestion to offer respect
ing the kind Of food or the quantity ths
should be eaten. There are people !
such a physically weak condition that
would be absolutely wrong for them
abstain from such nourishments a. the
can sssimilatc. Heart and head shoul
combine in determining this matter
Daniel the Prophet tells that q
p three whole weeks he ate no pleasaI
bread" while he especially sought Il
Lord in prayer respecting matters whis
perplexed him. Evidently he confins
himself strictly to the things absolute
needed for the maintenance OF ment
and physical strength. He ate nothil
superabundsntly. to clog his system,
, make him sluggish in mind and bod
, and TO incspscitstc him for his routi
!. work and for his special prayers I
wisdom. We can take . good less
. from this Scriptursl example.
Jesus did not teach His disciples
fast, This does not mean, hOwev'
: that they lived sumptuously; for on I,
occasions after Jesus had miraculous
fed q multitude ORPHAN bread and III
He directed His disciples to gather
the fragments; and these they CARR
with them as their own food supply
many days. This was practically IL