The Washington herald., 1922-07-10
ROWLAND WARNS
OF PESSIlnSTIC
ATTITUDE In LIFE
Names Fear, Selfishness
And Sin as Causes of
Unhappiness.
HIDDEN TREASURE
Whole Nature Must Be Trans
formed to Be Like
Christ's, He Says.
HIDDEN TREASURE
BY REV. REGINALD ROWLAND.
Faster N. Y. Ave. Pres. Church.

ny new hSohNAAD RowLANDs
Paster N. Y. Ave. Pres. Church.
Texts: Ps. 32:11 and John 1911.
1t is the pearl of great price. 1t is
the pot of gold at the end Of every
rainbow Of promise. 1t Is the quest
of, Sir Galahad; 1t is the vision of
Sir Launfal; 1t is the dream Of Sir
Robert of Sicily.
have been asked whether I found
happiness in getting what I wanted
or in going after II. Happiness Is
that priceless something which we
all desire. which comes not by con-
sclous effort. but which is the by
product Of true and noble life.
There is just one place where we
can find happiness. There Is just
one way in which we can find hap
piness that fadeth not away. That
is by trusting in the gracious Provi-
dence of God and molding our lives
after the pattern and example Of the
Lord Jesus Christ.
Warned Against Gloom.
So we are warned today against
too much gloom in the pulpit, too
funeral an order OF service. too pessi-
mistic an outlook upon life and the
trend Of the times This attitude Is
condemned in educators as bacca-
laureate gloom and in editors as
destructive criticism. We are re-
minded that the gospel Of Christ said
rejoice and be glad. The Joy He has
brought into the world should be re-
fiected in our lives and faces.
Af
happiness in the spiritual realm. There
is first of all. fear 1t is not the
fear of the Lord which ID the be-
ginning OF wisdom. but sense Of
uncertainty and danger as to our po-
sition, as to our life, as to our faith.
Being afraid TO make the venture
stops many a voyage of faith. We
are afraid II ourselves, we are afraid
Of others, we are afraid Of God. Christ
comes to the heart saying, Fear not.
1t is l." 20 ye of little faith. where
fore didst thou doubt" Why are We
fearful for ourselves or afraid of
what others might say Of us? Why
do We draw apart from God? Why
not launch into the deep and cast
our nets for the great haul which
is promised US?
Secondly, Sin.
There is. secondly, sin. which is
the root of all fear. 1t was not
until the first progenitors had
sinned in disobedience of God that
they sought to hide from His face.
1t Is the feeling of guilt, Of con-
scious imperfection.. which causes
US to retreat into the solitary place
and seek a tree for a covering. Suf-
fering and evil is never apart from
a world in sin, yet we are told that
while We must suffer with the race
our individual transgression Is COW
cred that we may attain unto that
peace which lieth in the secret
places of the soul.
There is. thirdly, selfishness,
which is the root of all sin. 1t is
the desire of the lower value or a
personal advancement which leads
to the preparation of crime and
commitment of offense. 1t is the de-
sire for personal satisfaction
thwarted that leads to great un-
rest. Yet Jesus has promised that
II we are but emptied of self, in us
shall all the fullness Of the God
head dwell.
Causes of Unhappiness.
this unhappiness as fear, sin, and
selfshness. We would lay the ak
at the root of the tree that 1t may
be hewn down and cast into he fire.
Christ has described the method par
abolically in tho parable of the
vine. The secret which we all SO
much desire is to be known by
abiding in Him. Il am the Vine.
ye are the branches Abide in
Me-" Abide in the sense of visit
with. become acquainted with. Then
there shall flow in US the streams
Of life. We shall bear the earmarks
of Christian living, which are joy,
peace, and love.
Wherever there is the beginning
of that oneness and likeness to the
Master all the rest will come in
due time IL we but wait patiently
in hope. Our very longings and ex-
pectations are a promise of its
manifestation. Our present realiza-
tion Is but an anticipation of our
future expectation. The whole ma
ture must be transformed to be like
Christs, and the process will not
ha nj ish ad in oil