The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-02-26

thing that in family, community, state
or world of men sets up the decompos-
ing forces rupturing connective tissue.
Soul union cannot become sure if there
is dirt in the juncture. Get hungry for
the loftiest ideals and feed upon those
things that will cause them to grow. So
one attains to an individuality that is
ready for associated action. Such a
life becomes stone as Simon became
finding its union with other stones in
Christ the only bond that will tran
scend every prejudice of nation or race.
So united there appears the developing
towers of Gods house in the world of
men. house in which each is partaker
of the glory of the whole and ministers
as does the priest in a great brother
hood of service. From babes to men.
from men to builders. from builders to
ministers the line of development along
which Peter would carry all who has
tasted Christ.
THE PILGRIMS.
Passers along the thoroughfares of
earth may catch the gibes of those who
see the strangeness of the life but rec
ognize the character of the action also.
That miner who begged promotion for
another when it was offered to himself
on the ground that 1t was lighter Job
that paid better wage which the other
needed because of his lesser strength
and larger family was certainly filling
Peters picture of pilgrim. His mas
ter passion is not to get possession of
earth, he is not an owner of things but
an almoner OF blessings. He walks
thru Gods world and uses it for good
but neither owns it nor is owned by it.
Spirit must master things. DR.. Jowett
writes, "Fleshly lust is anything in the
life that steams the windows of the
spirit. Fleshly lust is therefore inclu-
sive of envy, jealousy, avarice, insati-
able selishness and immoderate am
bition. Abstain from fieshly lusts, from
any excessive heat that maintains its
fire by consuming the furniture of the
soul" Such persons must expect to be
laughed at but their unselishness will
presently silence the jeers.
THE TRAILERs.
There have been pioneers in every
field. Thru the tangled forest they
have gone and others follow carefully
scanning the marks on turf and tree
that they may keep the trail blazed BY
them. They learn to recognize indi-
cations meaningless to careless passers
and their life takes on a direction and
directness that ultimately causes men
to fall in behind this one so certain of
the way. Peter makes Christ the trail.
blazer and would call every man to fol-
low the path broken thru lite's tangled
forest by Him SO that the Christians
would trace his Lords track and be
guided certainly thru the perplexing
maze. Sensitive to suffering He re-
joiced to suffer for others. He was re-
viled, called liar, but maintained a
magnificent self control. He suffered
but did not grow bitter and bide the
time of retribution. Be patient and en-
dure, trail Jesus thru this world is the
admonition of one who learned the way
slowly but did learn it.
THE HILL CLIMBERS.
1t takes sound lungs and good heart
to qualify for the Alpine club. Given
these there is no summit that may not
be attempted and the height slowly at
tanned. Crag after crag must be pass
ed, ledge after ledge crawled over,
crevice crossed but the movement is
always upward. Drawing supplies from
the unmeasured resources of God in the
earlier verses they are to dare the
heights and put under their feet IN the
same fashion as Joshua was promised
every bit of land for possession upon
which he would plant his foot, the
cliffs of faith, virtue. knowledge, self
control, patience, Goodness, brotherly-
kindness, love. Having mastered these
they would find their lives upon the
summit mot out of job" and bearing
select fruit. 1t would be hard climb
but the scenery from the crest would
repay all the effort so Peter urges en-
listment in the goodly company of hill
climbers.