Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-16

Water is the Gfe-fluid of our physical
bodies. And a well of pure water is of
more value than broad acres of fertile
soil without sufficient water. 1t has
always been a symbol of security, peace
and prosperity in desert lands. So the
psalmist in describing the blessedness
of the man who walketh not in the
counsel of the wicked. nor standeth in
the way of sinners, nor stitch in the
seat of the scornfuP' as like a tree that
is planted by the stream of water; his
life bears its fruit in season: the leaves
of his happiness do not wither and he
is a prosperous man.
God Teaches Way of Happeness
God has many things to say about
human happiness. In Pisa. 1911, we
find this: I'm thy presence is the full
ness of joy;' and in Psa. 1865. Happy
is be that hath the God of Jacob for his
help" In that beautiful. poetic vision
Of the future triumph of Christianity,
lsa. 3J:1 and following, we find in the
tenth verse THE ransomed of Jehovah
shall return and come to Zion with
singing, and everlasting JOY shall be on
their heads; and they shall obtain glad
ness and JOY, and sorrow and signing
shall flee away" Jesus tells his disci-
pies in John. 1911. that '"These things
have / spoken unto you that my joy
may be in you and that your joy may
be made full" There was great joy in
the city of Samaria, when they had all
fruitage of the Holy Spirits work in
the human heart is joy-Gal. 500.
Happiness Not in WIckedness
Take all the scriptures dealing with
the subject of human happiness and
test them by human experience and
they will be found true. But the de-
plorable condition of average life is seen
at once when we set this picture of
the happy man over against the life of
the man of the world. The pleasure
hunting world has run mad in its chase
for happiness which it has not found.
1t is not found in the social whirl.
Thousands of men and women of
America are money mad because they
think that money will buy them happi-
ness. 1t will not; it never did. The
Apostle Paul wrote a fearful common
tary on these times when he said:
They that are minded to be rich fall
into a temptation and a snare and many
foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown
men in destruction and perdition, for
the love of money is the root of all
kinds of evil, which some, reaching
uAltA, nave pleECSu luSuSelNcS luIOubu
with many sorrows"
Happiness is not with the great, or
famous: not with those in authority be-
cause of their position. 1t is the result
of a condition of life within the soul.
1t can and does exist amidst the worst
physical conditions of human life. But
it is never found in wicked men and
women. Massilon, in his sermon on the
Happiness of the Just" makes this
statement; "IntoxicatiOn (of the
senses, delirium of passion, and the
extinction of all reason, can alone rem
der the unbelieying soul happy; and as
this condition is momentary, the in
slant the mind becomes calm and re-
gains itself, the charm ceases, happi-
ness takes wing and the mar finds him
self alone with his conscience and his
crimes" And alone with his God.
Seven Principles Of Happiness
l am going to name seven founda-
tons or principles Of human happiness,
a happiness that is without any regret,
that abides under all conditions of hu-
man life. which cannot be destroyed.
The first | shall mention is the prin-
ciple of trust. Trust in God, and trust
in man because of the trust in God.
Trust is the fruitage of a living faith
in God. 1t is confidence, the faith
in the thing believed there is that which
is sure and dependable. Life is i'm
possible without this trust or conf
dence, this sure ground. this abiding,
rock foundation. The second principle
is a good conscience. An evil con-
science is a ~lictor's lash to the soul.
A good conscience means a clean life.
There are no unhappy memories, no
dark places in the past, no skeletons IN
the closet to stalk forth, no guilty
fears. A good conscience looks the
world in the face. 1t is the result of
doing right, of obedience to God. But
the soul with a guilty past-and who
is not guilty-may have a good cor
science, void Of offense toward God
and man." through repentance of his
old life and laying hold of the mercies
of God in Jesus Christ, who, through
obedience to His Word washes out the
stain of the past with His W blood
in substitution for our lives. This is
the great message of the gospel of
Christ, the good news" It is the
privilege of every soul. Here is the
chief element of happiness in the Chris
a booster. The knocker, the self-ap-
respect. This is the product of faith
and a good life. But it includes also
the consciousness of trying to be ones
best, a result of endeavoring to express
the best that is in u.s.; of rendering
to the world the best service of which
we are capable. 1t Is to be true to our
highest selves. This is especially true
in the life of a true Christian. Man
discovers himself In the revelation of
Jesus Christ.
Good VIII Essential
The fourth principle is good will.
This is an expression of love in the
soul. Love is to the soul what the
sunshine is to the earth in the spring
time. Love is unselfish. All selfish
ness makes for unhappiness. Coed
will is so because it sees the good in
men. Good will is friendliness. 1t is
a booster. The knocker, the self ap-
pointed critic, the cynic, the grumbler
and fault finder usually gets pain for
his pains, but good will is as an oil of
gladness. Love is the soul of happi-
ness, without which none can be happy.
1t is pure, unselfish, serving, solicitous,
'believeth all things, hopeth all things,
endureth all things" 1t is the divinest
expression of man and the highest rev.