Article January 1, 1910 ISSUE

FROM OUR EXCHANGES

[Western Christian Advocate.]

If, in truth, "a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth;" if, in truth, it shall be found far from profitable to gain the whole world, were it possible, and lose one's soul—one's true life; if our main endeavor here should be to lay up treasure in the heaven of a spiritualized character and the record of kind deeds; if there is a distinct danger that the deceitfulness of riches shall choke the Word; if swift doom threatens him who grossly says to his uncultivated soul, "Thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry"!—then why, when we worship this peasant-born Saviour, who lived all his days the simple life, who uncovered the sources of pure joy, who laid stress on righteousness rather than riches and on holiness rather than holdings, should we so inconsistently and so furiously pursue the things that perish in the using, that make not necessarily for happiness or composure of mind, and that belong not to the spirit or to eternity?

[Universalist Leader.]

There is nothing the world needs so much today as the man who can say, "I know." The preacher who knows only a little, but who knows that little, and knows he knows it, will get a following, when the man who doubts a great deal, has suspicions about everything, and deals only in suppositions and possibilities, and raises questions instead of answering them, will flock all by himself! Happy is the minister who at least can say, "This one thing I know," and people will seek him for that one thing. Lonely is the minister who has only his doubts and speculations with which to feed hungry minds and hearts and souls. Pitiful the man who has lived even a score of years, who has not come to a conclusion about something, who cannot speak at least one confident word.

[Christian World.]

Philosophy is the endeavor to make the world wiser. The gospel is the bold attempt to make the world better. Philosophy is an appeal to the intellect. Religion in its highest form captures the heart. We are told today that the modern cultivated intellect is leaving the church; is giving up the Christian dogma. Perhaps it is. But let us clearly understand what is happening. What men are giving up is not the fact, but old-world, medieval explanations of the fact. When they reject the Ptolemaic astronomy they are not rejecting the stars. Christianity in itself can never be given up, because it is here,—a fact that has happened.

[Examiner.]

In the struggle with unbelief faith is strengthened; through the clenched antagonisms of life we win our souls. The word of the Lord is assimilated in the very effort to hold fast to it, and the faithful man is a king before the crown is put on his head. It is to a great destiny that we are called. If the exceeding greatness of the promises of God challenges our souls to an heroic faith and to a bold adventure, let us rejoice at the prospect. No life is worth anything which has no unfulfilled hopes, and no fine hopes are fulfilled except to the man who picks up the gage God flings at his feet.

[Christian Register.]

The world sadly needs just the kind of leaven that Jesus meant,—the destructive principle to the caste spirit, the leaven of religious and moral democracy for the accomplishment of noble things for the higher good of the race.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
January 1, 1910
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit