Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-19
The Times-Dispatch Sunday
Sermon
The Religion That Keeps.
Dy J. a. Eubnnk,

Mark the perfect man. and behold the up
right: for the end of that man Is peace
Psalms NNXvii. a.
In His farewell discourse to the disciples
upon the night of His betrayal, IN which lilo
sought to comfort them and prepare them
for the tribuiations OF the future Jesus sa id.
ieace leave with you, My peace | give
unto you right appreciation of the mean
ing OF this statement is important in IA study
Of the above text.
Illinois. some years ago, Uncle Joe" Cannon
delivered speech in which he said:
me older get and the more see Of my
seit ana men. the moro strongly convinced
am that perfection resides with God alone,
together with all wisdom ana power
The old veteran politician was fighting
back at h's critics. ana this shaft was aimed
ut those who Will justly feel It's sting
But the statement made by him is true.
There is no such thing MS absolute perfection
with man. And He said unto him. Why
cailest thou Me good? There Is none good but
one, that is God"
In 4 speech delivered before the pupils of
the Woodward High School I'm Cincinnati on
the same day that Mr.. Cannon spoke, william
Howard TAFT now Chief Justice of the Su-
premc Court, suid 1T is enough for you to
grow up To be good men, to DO always honest.
kindly and to do right. The satisfaction you
can get in that life is much greater than by
being President"
Tho force Of that saying will grow upon
those pupils who heard II with increasing
years. obedience to It's spirit will meet the
terms OF the text in the estimation of man
kind, and such obedience will hasten the com
ing OF tie Kingdom of God. In which Ills
VIII is 10 be done earth as II is in heaven.
DIR. JONAH Strong. in his thoughts on RE-
l'gion In Everyday Life" says: what q man
really needs is a religion that will keep him
keep him patient and strong and hopeful
MI IA
sufficiently alive and growing to rcadjust
himself To changing conditions; keep his face
To the future and maintain and deepen his
interest in the public welfare and the progress
"f the world; keep his heart warm toward
God and his brother men,"
This is the kind of religion that Jesus
offers the world. 1t is n religion that keeps.
y religion that evokes from the world tho
commentator OF those who really liv. it,:
MARK the perfect man. behold the upright"
In Ills strength. then, arc we accounted
perfect In tho sight OF God, with Whom as
Uncle Joe" has SO apt. said, is oil wisdom
ana power, and goodness.
Il can do all things" exclaimed Paul
Through Christ, which strengthcneth me-"
So we should not vainly assume that We
are going TO attain to perfection within our
selves. We may help to make the world bet
ter, and as we labor to that end, we will
grow better and happier ourselves.
Let up keep in the Pauline spirit: Not as
though had already attained. either were
already perfect; but follow after. IL that [
may apprehend that for which also | am APP
Prehcndcd of Christ Jesus. Brethren. ] count
not myself to have apprehcnded; but this one
thing do, forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those things
which are before. press toward the mark
for the prize OF the high calling OF God in
Christ Jesus"
So. let the individual whose hopes look to
Il lie beyond the grave take courage and re-
member that the religion which helps to
make him upright in his ways here on earth
VIII make the most of him hereafter.
This" says DIR. Strong. zig practical age
ana We are Il practical people. hence il is not
the theory. but the practice or religion which
appeals 10 us. Not creed not logic, hut cx-
perenco is the test. That religion Is best
which in variety of circumstances works
best
The individual who takes this view OF re-
lison can with confidence join in rcpoatinE
Pope" universal prayer:
Teach me TO feel nnother's woe
To hide the fault see;
That mercy to others show,