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May 5, 1909. THE PRESBYTERIA1
Devotional and Selections
"HOPE THOU IN GOD."
"Keep up your optimism. The world is better than
it was when you and I were boys. There is more honesty
in trade, more sympathy for the unfortunate, a
higher tone of morality in private and public life, and
a deeper and wider spirit of evangelism in the churches.
'The Lord reigneth; let the earth "rejoice; let the multi
tude of isles be glad thereof'."
These sentences from the conclusion of a letter received
by the writer recently from a venerable and beloved
brother, minister of a sister church. I have known
him somewhat intimately for some years past, and entertain
for him a reverential regard because of his cultured
intelligence, noble character and consecrated
Christian life. His testimony to the present state of
society and the Church is cheering?adapted to inspire
hope and to awaken and sustain continued and enlarged
effort in behalf of the betterment of mankind. It must
be confessed that there is much in the news items that
come to us dailv by observation as well as from all
parts of our own land and from fnrpiim
? "" viia iu repress
and cause a feeling of hopelessness. But along
with these are found messages of a different purport,
showing that there?is a social and religious awakening
among the people of God and among good citizens
everywhere, which, under the divine guidance, gives
promise of blessed and ever enlarging results. There
seems to he a deeper and wider feeling of individual responsibility,
leading up to more individual work, while
the church, as a whole, appears to realize as never before
its mission to ^pnrl i-.k~.-~? '1
. win muuicia into me neid of
the world, with the purpose of winning souls to God
and extending the Messiah's kingdom throughout all
the earth.
At home and abroad much remains to be done, and
it behooves every sincere Christian, old and young,
male and female, to bear his part of the burden and
overtake his full share of personal service. God is our
hope; he will be our help, and sooner or later, his
kingdom shall rule in all hearts and homes. R. M.
Richmond, Va.
Christianity is not a voice in the wilderness, but a life
in the world. It is not an idea in the air, but feet on the
ground, going God's way. It is not an exotic to be
kept under glass, but a hardy plant to bear twelve manner
of fruits in all kinds of weather. Fidelity to duty
is its root and branch. Nothing we can sav to tli#? T r\rA
- ~
no calling him by great or dear names, can take the
place of the plain doing of his will. We may cry out
about the beauty of eating bread with him in his kingdom,
but it is wasted breath and a rootless hope, unless
we plow and plant in his kingdom here and now. To
remember him at his table and to forget him at ours is
to have invested in bad securities. There is no substitute
for plain, everyday goodness.?Maltbie D. Bab>
cock.
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_
M OF THE SOUTH. n
PRAYER.
God of peace, who didst bring again from the dead
the Lord Jesus, grant that we, being united to him by
faith, may die with him unto sin and may rise with him
into newness of life. As thou hast called us to be
saints, make us worthy of our calling. By patient bearing
of thy will, by works of Christlike charity, by diligent
endeavor to spread abroad the gospel, may we
serve our brethren and glorify thy name. Finally, make
us to be numbered with thy saints in glorv everlasting.
Amen.
RELIGION?POETRY.
From the very beginning religion and poetry have
walked together hand in hand. The oldest literary production
is the sublime poem of Job. The oldest book
?the Bible?contains the poetical writings, elegiac,
lyric and idyllic, of David, Solomon, Isaiah, and most
of the prophets. The origin and earliest application of
poetry is traced to the service of religion, in the hymns
and choral chants to Jehovah in the temple. Asaph,
Heman and Jeduthun not only directed the instrumental
music in public worship, but were also excellent composers
of hymns or sacred poems. "To give force and
energy to the devout affections was the employment of
the sacred muses," says Home in his introduction to
the "Study of the Scriptures."
"The poetry of the Hebrews derives its rhipt
lence from its being dedicated to religion. Nothing
can be conceived more elevated, more beautiful, or more
elegant than the composition of the Hebrew bards. * *
The Hebrew poet who worshipped Jehovah as the sovereign
of his people?who believed all the laws, whether
sacred or civil, which he was bound to obey, to be c
divine enactment?and who was taught that man was
dependent upon God for everything?meditated upon
nothing but Jehovah; to him he devoutly referred all
things, and placed his supreme delight in celebrating
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me aivine attubutes and perfections."
Those who, either from their own engagements and
hurry of business, or from indolence, or from conceit
and vanity, have neglected looking out of themselves,
have from that time not only ceased to advance and improve
their performances, but have gone backward
They may be compared to men who have lived upon
their principal, till they are reduced to beggary, and
left without resources.?Sir Joshua Reynolds.
Let every man be occupied, and occupied in the high
est employment of which his nature is capable, a ic die
with the consciousness that he has done his best.?
Goethe.
It mav nnt Ko e? -
?j ..wu u*. puaaiuic iur a young man to measure
life; but it is possible to say, I am resolved to put life
to its noblest and best use.?T. T. Munger.
The enterprise of Christian missions is the greatest
enterprise being carried on upon this earth. There is
no work that lies nearer the heart of God; no work in
which he is more manifestly present.