Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-11

is spirit and 1T Is life. but only to those
who arc born OF the Spirit.
IL We arc TO love men We must have
tho spirit of humanity. Shakespeare
and Burns were able TO Interpret the
heart Of humanity because they pos
scsscd in an unusual degree the spiri,
OF humanity. In The Jolly Bcggars'
Robert Burns introduces us TO d GROUP
| OF mcndicants who have sold their ex-
ira clothing Tor drink and arc gathered
IN country inn To spend the evening
IN "A drunken rcvelry. What do you
gee! Suualor. vice, disgrace, shame
lessncss. something utterly hidcous to
your nature. All that is there hut
! there IL something else there which
only the poet sees: that is humanity
intact though soiled: humanity cour-
hgcOuS. though rough and course: hui
mainly stiil capable OF covcnanting and
loving. humanity capable Of rcdcmp-
ttoh; by his insight and sympathy the
poet lifted that world all damaged
but yet human. into a great poem, into
great revelation of the soul OF good
in evil.
II GOD Is IN HEART. HE
WILL. DE REALITY IN LIFE
To apprchend God we must he born
Of tho Spirit of God. II the Spirit Of
'fod dDlGcS III our hearts the
seriousness OF God will be a reality i'm
our lives. If the Spirit OF God has
not been bcgotten in our hearts.
neither argument nor evidence will
convince us that lie is. Lyman Abbott
spoke truth when he said: God Is not
a hypothesis TO be explained. but IN
experience to be achieved" To APP
prchcnd God is the richest expert
ence In life His presence brings TO
our lives a love which satisfies. JOY
which thrills and a passion for service
which endurcs. Tho nobler impulses
Of tho soul awaken in His presence.
and life takes on .lew meaning because
II is Interpreted in terms Of God.
And when men scott at beauty, mu.
Sic humanity and Cod We do no,
scott in return. but pray that they
may be born of the Spirit who alone
, is able TO make truth a reality Ia
them
Have YOU been born OF the Spirit?
Unless a man is born OF the Spiri,
Spirit.
FRUITS or THE SPIRIT
ARE: LOVE. JOY AND PEACE
I'll" fruits or the Spirit are love, joy.
peace. In this beautiful paragraph
Paul groups together the family OF
virtues which we desire 10 express in
our lives. The problem Of life is the
achievement, Of the ideal. We have
"A clear conception Of what We ought
TO b.. and there can be no true con
tcntrueut until I'VE bring the bottom
Of our conduct up to the SUNNI; OF
our ideals" The fight for the good is
a stern reality. We fight brarely, hat
experience defeat SO consistently that
We often ask in despair: rs il worth
fighting "a losing battle Like Paul
we groan III anguish and cry: 20
wrctched man that | am. who shall
deliver me from the body OF this
DEATH"
The ideal can he realized. This is
the message OF the Gospel OF Christ.
BE We therefor perfect even as your
Father who is in Heaven is perfect
n. expressed wonderful possibility.
Men can be like Cod. Yes. In spite
Of their past failure and present lini-
,aiions they will become like God u
they Will abanlo-, themselves entirely
u Him, and allow His Spirit 10 take
nosscssion OF them. Religion is not
/ 10 practice certain emotions. however
excellent: il is not TO repeat good
words: il is not even to admire or
Worship certain beautiful ideals: its
law is To let ourselves utterly go with
the motion Of the good Will of God.
When our lives so merged with
Gods that can say with jesus:
Il and my Father are one. we VIII
nav, achieved the angle OF repose IN
our lives and the beauty OF the Lord
our God will h" upon US