The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-12-01

them. Everything
hinges on what James means by ire
ligion." The word he uses is really
equivalent to worship. As Colcridge
says: The outward service of an
cicnt religion, the rites, ceremonies.
and ceremonial vcstments of the law.
had morality for their substance. They
were the letter of which morality was
the spirit; the enigma Of which NOR
allty was the meaning. Rut morality
Itself ls the service and ceremonial of
the Christian religion" James Is not
ward aspect of the divine life against
It's inward aspect. TO make him say
that bcnevolencc and personal purity
are religion, I'm the present day sense
OF the word. would be like saying that
n mothers love In washing and feed
ing her child These deeds are only
the fruit of her love. just as the "rc-
llgion" OF the text is the fruit OF re-
llgion I'm the soul. And while James
states that true worship consists I'm
bcnevolcncc and purity, he would not
discourage the worship OF the sane
tunry only. hc would insist that what
we do outside the sanctuary IL tho
actual test of us.
The men who especially appeal tn
this age are such as Chinese Cor.
don, the Soldier saint" who put down
the Tni-ping rebellion, saving thou.
sands of lives; who opposed slavery
I'm the Sudan, gave to the fntherless
and widows MI he had. and died ~
martyr OF Khnrtum: yet he was n
member Of no church. but communed
ms opportunity served In Greek and
Romnn Catholic churches; moreover.
did not accept the orthodox view ms
TO future punishment.
Relation to Others.
These men really "vislted" the fa-
therlcss and the widows I'm their af-
Fiction, caring for them personally.
Gordon taught the rugged schools and
was not content til he had placed
the boys where they might hope for
success I'm life; many were sent To
sen and he had chart on his wall
stuck with pins, showing where the
vessels containing his "klngs" were.
lie would slt down nt the bedside OF
old women In the almshouse and read to
them. The earl of Shnftesbury would
take n lantern Of nights and seek out
the lowly on London bridge To help
them.
Relation 20 Self.
Our text also requires that one bo
"unspottcd from the world" Dean Al
ford defines the world as "the whole
earthly creation, separated from God
and lying In sin, which, whether as
consisting In the men who serve II, or
the enticemonts which II holds out 10
evil lusts, IL to Christians a source OF
continual dchlcment." II is human
society In It's ungodly bias. TO refer
TO Gordon alone, he refused honors
from the Chinese government because
~ had broken faith with rebels In the
rebellion, numbering some
who had been promised immunity.
Relation 10 God.
Moreover, oil this service must be
done as before our God and Father"
II must please him. and II ~ not strict
ly true 10 say the service Of humanity
lg the service Of God, for it is not nj
ways so. "Thls IL the work Of God,
that ye believe on him whom be- hath
sent" The first requirement for scrv-
ice IS life; Eye must be- born nRain."
We are not disturbed by Gordon's
views on church fellowship and fu-
ture punishment, for he was not infal-
llble. We are more Interested 10
learn that, Ok result Of his early
trimming, the divine life came into his
soul while hc was IN China. The earl
of Shuftesbury was deeply devoted
evangelical Christian. Doctor Bar
nnrd0 was fruit of the revival
lP Irclaud.in 1S50.1SGt, and cared for
the souls ~ the waits OF London "a
well as for their bodies. Doctor Gren-
fcll traces all the good I'm his life 90
y. l.. Moody and especially TO n scrv-
Ice be attended where he found n faith
md reality which he coveted and at
last obtained. He says. 81 am n brick
IN the superstructure which has grown
Ip through Mr.. Moody on the founda-
ion of Jesus Christ, and am out I'm
Labrador working" While giving
praise even 10 humanitarian work con
lucted without reference 10 the Cos
pei, he says, II can only say stlll,
have found faith in Jesus Christ as
Son of God makes men do that which
nothing else did, and bear and suffer
with equanlmity that which nothing
slse would"