The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-10-19

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l---ae-44 =, system OF things
to be relieved, has consideration; with
another company the consideration of
Christianity as presenting fine code
Of ethics, something to be done, salts
fies; but larger company Is interest
ed In Christianity as presenting that
which stirs the soul, which sets 1t
aquiver. Our Christian religion Is
religion Of enthusiasm, 1t calls for
songs, for musical Instruments, for
the shout OF victory, for the clnrplng
OF hands, for the triumphal entry with
its natural accompanlments. Chris
{ tianlty Is not dead thing, II Is alive,
and one of the reasons why II has not
accomplished what might be expected
Is because 1t has been propagated by
too many in cold and listless way,
humanity speaking.
The Natural Body Must Die, But
The thrill of Christianity does not
come In connection with the consid-
erations that belong to the body OF
man; indeed the opposite effect would
naturally follow, as there are few
promises to the body. Unless the
preacher of the Gospel is unfair he
does not conceal the fact that Chris
tianlty, properly confessed, means pow
erty, obscurity, privatlon and perils OF
many kinds, even death Itself. Its
founder met all these things and the
servant cannot be above his Lord. II
the Son of Man had not where to lay
his head, his disciple cannot ask for
better fare. Notwithstanding this
the person in his full personality may
be filled with joy, may be really hi
Iarlous and ecstatic, and should he
able to make the world stare with
establishment and possibly criticize.
Why Is this? Because the spirit Of
man is that which naturally thrills him
with pleasure, just as the body may
have that which depresses him.
Some Things That Thrill the Spirit.
l. The Christians family connec-
tlons are of the finest. He is mem
ber of the family OF God This is not
a theological dogma, II Is fact clearly
presented In the word OF God. Chris
tians are the children Of God, born
children partaking of the nature Of
God. They are not the natural hui
man offspring OF God about which
Paul spoke to the Athenians, but spir-
ltually born children Of God.
2. A Christian has n peculiar rela-
tlonshlp to Jesus Christ, not simply in
potential, but real sense. Jesus
Christ Is his Savior, Redeemer and
coming glorious King but he is some
thing quite aside from this. lie has
n personal relationship to the Chris
tlan that cannot he gainsaid. He is
shepherd with true shepherds
thought of provision for need the
guarding from danger. He is broth
er closer than any earthly brother; he
is friend in the most loyal sense.
Taking that relationship to Jesus
Christ II can be truly said that he is
"all the world" to the Christian, and
that Is by realization here and now,
an Emmaus experience continued In
the individual life.
3. The Christian not only fears moth
ing of the future, but he anticipates
the future with the greatest joy. While
recognizing the body as the temple of
the Holy Ghost, he sees another body
beyond this mortal body. lie sees
this body to be the subject of physi-
cal corruption, but he knows that after
the worms destroy this skin, in his
flesh shall he see God. He knows that
interruption, honor, power, glory and
spirituality await him; indeed he longs
for day that he will be delivered
from this body of clay. However the
body may be defective here-lame, de-
formed, weak with disease or age, he
knows that he is to have a body that
will be beautiful, possessing power
and eternal youth. With such an an
ticipation he cannot but clasp his
hands and shout with triumph.
4. The Christian is thrilled with
the glorious conditions of this earth
that are coming. They will not be the
realization Of the Utoplan pictures of
the poet and the visionary, but Of
Isaiah II and 30. When ravenous
beasts destroying storms floods and
fires, will not be known; when pesti-
lence will not waste the land, and
wars will cease. He knows his King
Is coming to put his enemies under
his feet and reign In righteousness.
The Christian cannot be a pessimist
as far as this world, sin-cursed though
II be, is concerned. He knows that
there will be a new heaven ant a
new earth.