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October 20, 1909. THE PRESBYTERIAh Contributed % I THESSALONIANS 5:16, 17, 18. 0 *oul of mine, be joyful! Like birds of summer gay. Pour out thy heart's rich blessings in one unbroken lay. Let not the sun-touched flowers more sweetly yield than thine Owa words dropped, it may be. where there is small sunshine. O soul of mine, be prayerful! Bend low, as falls the dew Of heaven's benediction the early hours through. Pray as the sun climbs higher or paints a rosy west;. Drop on thy knees?with loving lips, at even, praise Him test. O soul of mine, be thankful! In everything give thanks. I shall not want. He leadeth me by cooling river banks; He maketh me adown to lie, while o'er my cup doth flow." O soul, let him thy thanks receive for all he doth bestow! Savannah, Ga. ?Edna A. Pigman. "IS THINE HEART RIGHT?" By Rev. John H. Davis, M.A., M.D. "The heart is the central organ of the vascular system," according to one definition; another, and the better for this time, is, "The heart is the seat of the emotions and will." The emotions include the affections and passions. The head in these times is all-important. Smartness transcends goodness in many quarters. Thank God not among all. The Scriptures use the term heart nearly a thousand times, and say little about the intellectual side of salvation. That salvation is impossible apart from intellection is clear, but the affection and will transcend the recognition of truth. The seat of all trouble is, according to one writer, in the heart: "It is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Another says: "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the r?f life " The condition of a man's heart is therefore of the very first importance. The heart right means the man is right. There is a strong and steady demand for such men and women. Every profession in life needs just such men. Right principles are especially tried and tested in the legal profession, and morally strong men are needed there, to remove the reflections often cast upon that profession. Men who are ut* terly without principles go to lawyers and expect to be defended in their wickedness the same as if they were honest. A wicked man's success is often due largely to the willingness of lawyers to help him. That profession must therefore share the blame of his wrong doing. But the hearts of many lawyers are right? like Governor Hughes, God bless him, who, is a good example. 'Ts thine heart right?" Then go into medicine, because good principled men are needed there, too. "The son of man came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them." This is the honest effort of the majority of medical men, but still some M. D.'s are willing to sell their birthrights for a mess of pottage. 'Ts thine heart right?" Then you are better qualified to teach others and be helpful to them than by being simply learned, or "a college graduate." Your learning will then be of greater service. With a plastic condition of mind and good principles as to your moral ' * * I OF THE SOUTH. 5 qualifications, your example may be of tremendous importance. You will be able to sow seed that will germinate in life conduct, that will make civic and national life purer and better. Arnolds there are who never saw Rugby, and such there must be if the stream of life is to be clearer. "Is thine heart right?" Then the business world needs yOU. tO trive the lie to the rnrrent cavinor "On/. w J "&' ^ *,Vcan not be honest and succeed in business.-" If success means simply accumulating by plundering others, then you can not be honest and successful, but fortunately it does not mean this. Thousands of men are carrying on business honestly and using their means for the Church, missions and philanthropy, and have the means thus to use. "Is thine heart right?" Then, if the opportunity comes, get right into politics and stay there. Politics will never be better till enough right-hearted men get there. Why should it be that a man like Governor Hughes is so prominent? He should not be an exceptional man, but the average man for honesty. All men ought to be as honest as he is supposed to be. In political life the bad are often where the best should t_ _ t r . i - * * ue. 11 tne nest is toul those in it should try to cleanse it. It is a safe thing to say that if men like ex-President Roosevelt and Governor Hughes had been in authority in Europe and America for the past one hundred years, the world would be better, if from no other reasons than because those in authority were honest. Men of right hearts are especially needed in politics, and needed now. Church and State must be kept separate, but.the Church, in my opinion, even clergymen, should endeavor to get men with right hearts into politics, and so invade the very citadels of the evildoers. It is no use to be afraid to fight the devil because he happens to be in politics. Isaiah and Amos were in the Church, and were the strongest kind of ooliticians. God needed them and thev fame out against corruption and all evil alliances. "Is thine heart right?" Then you are needed and will be useful in the ministry. The rescue work of the world. The work that Jesus left for his followers to do will be your work. He came "to seek and save the lost." Do not wait for the glow of "perfection" to fill your soul before you are willing to go into the field of the holy ministry. Peter was not a perfect man, but his heart was right. "Thou knowest that I love thee." Hosts of men and women are perishing in the face of the good, comfortable assertions of the optimists. There are multitudes of men and women who are without Christ, even if we do have now more Christians than ever before. Sin may be less disgusting in these days, but it is just as effective as ever. Look at our prisons, police force, courts of justice, legislatures, the list of crimes, intemperance, vice, piurders and numberless divorces! Men's hearts are not right. The ministry calls for the right men to fight sin, the foe of God and man. "Is thine heart right?" If so, you may enter law or medicine, teaching or preaching, political life or business, which is the world's busy workshop. The challenge calls you for your best and fullest gervice. Parsonage, Torringford, Conn.