Norwich bulletin., 1916-04-18
Dishonesty Another Factor.

Another factor to be removed from
a life that would be true and right Is
dishonesty, or the giving place to other
things where honesty should be. 1t
is a well known fact that honesty Is a
virtue of the highest value; a great
many excellent things are said Of the
principle of honesty, and il is univer-
sally admitted that the greatest and
best euIogy which anyone can merit is
the appellation OF an honest man."
And yet, how often is 1t the case that
persons seem to forget that II is i'm
portant to act always and in all re-
spects upon the principle OF honesty.
If il is true, as IL is often remarked,
that the world is governed by fashion,
it is very desirable that the fashion
should come to be strictly honest in u
things.
Hypocrisy is another evil that needs
to be banished from the temple of God.
The pretending to be what one knows
the best life of that individual and to
those about him.
Our Lord desires man to stand forth
as he is, to be true to the light and
truth as he sees it, and not hold in
his own mind one thing as true while
he processes to the public another thing
to be true.
Another evil that should be cast out
of the temple of the living God IS
prejudice. Mankind are in a great
AlACeioAAC Tic NAGesAAlCo VI AAdO4A1 dAAa
therefore liable to be governed by Jne
influence of prejudice. Impressions
made upon the mind in infancy are
not easily removed in maturer years.
And whatever contravenes the pre-
possessions of education is regarded
with suspicion or rejected with malice
We have spoken of only a few of
the evils that are occupying space in
the living temples of the living God.
As the sacrifice of doves and cattle
was not essential to the true worship
I of God, so these evils of which we
| have spoken do not help one, but
rather hinder in the true worship OF
God.
Our Lord and Master would have
, them removed that the temple may
| be clean and used for the purpose in
| tended. My house shall be called the
house Of prayer"
Duty and Worth of Prayer.
Every professed Christian acllnow-
| lodges the duty and worth of prayer
| All parties are willing to admit thai
/ Is not only obligatory but useful
] Prayer IS the expression of our wants
to the great Giver of every gift. and
! the return of our thanks to the same
| being through faith in Christ Jesus.
In the secret chambers of the hear
| we may pour forth our prayers e
heaven and raise toward the higf
! throne of grace the pure sentiments o.
I our Souls.
It is holding communion with tn,
/, Father of our spirits and the God o.
our salvation. 1t is reverentially ador,
ing that being who is spirit, in spirit
and in truth.
The design Of prayer IS to benefi
man. 1t is to produce IN the human
mind a spirit of contentment, Of hu
mility and resignation. Its object Il
to allay the passions, excite the az
fections of the heart and bring to view
our dependence on and obligations q
| that God who art our everlasting Re
deemer and Friend
No particular season, place or pos
| ture is requisite to discharge the duty
Secret prayer, however, is spoken o
as meeting with the appreciation o
God.
The command of Christ to His disci
Piles was for the INTO retire from tn
gaze of the world and in secret pra.
to Him who sceth in secret, and the.
should be openly rewarded
Prayer kndles to a flame the imag
ination, improves the mind and puri
fies the heart. Is 1t not clear to u
that in order for man to enter int
the highest enjoyment of his life h.
must prepare il for the incoming of tn
Holy Spirit?
For this incoming there must be re
moved from these living temples al
that defiles or pollutes or degrades o
retards growth. all that prevents tn
development of the true life.