SERIOUS THOUGHTS.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 288, 14 May 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

SERIOUS THOUGHTS.

SOUL RIGHTNESS. The great thing in religion isjrighfcness of soul. Other things may be healthful an;l desirable, but this is essential to the true religious sentiment and life. Aud yet, well nigh all the controversies and strifes in Christendom have been over mere points of conduct, or form, or outward show. For the history of the wars, and the great controversies of the church is nothing but the history of huge battles fought over sucti things, to the terrible neglec" of the true life of the soul. Hence, it cannot be repeated too often, that no profession of a creed, nor observance of a form, nor sacrameutal rile, nor priestly blessing, can have anything to do with making a man a Christian. For Christianity is a life—a thing of tendencies and sufceptibilities, affections and desires. Aud true religion, about which people have troubled us so much, is, after all, nothing mysterious or grim, but simply the loving reception into the soul of the life and lordship of Jesus Christ, that as He lived by the Father, so we might live by Him. The more we can come to know that to be at one with God, in harmony of mind and sympathy of spirit, is to be a true disciple of Jesus, the clearer will it be to us that the true Christian life is not made up of external appearances, however honest, or mechanical performances, however minute, or spasmodic virtues, however intense ; but that it is entirely concerned with the inner lifeits seen deeds being but the happy, natural and intelligent development ot the unseen thought—the outcome of the heart's true purpose, or the out-speaking of the inner, silent will. The question for us to be anxious about, then, is not " Do I hold the right thing?" but "Am I doing the right thing?" it is not " Is my croed sound?" but "Is my heart sound ?" it is not " Is my doctrine true?'' but "Is my life true?" For however helpful and desirable creeds and doctrines may be to a man, yet, after all, they are worthless without true Tightness of soul. There is a time coming when everything will fall from us but that which has its root and life in our very souls—all the outward forms and shows of things, and we shall be left alone with what has its deep and true abiding in the soul. —John Page Hopps (F) THE RESTORER OF THE SOUL. The recovery of lost souls, to the glory of God, is the great purpose of the Gospel. Pharisees sec no need of the restoration of the soul, for they are not conscious of the loathsomeness of the sin within them. If they saw and felt it they would know what the broken heart for sin ip, and how much they need the healing grace and power of Christ, the Restorer of the soul. Tho Lord said, speaking of the heaven and the earth : " All those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord ; but to this man will I look ; even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and tromblcth at my word." Thus Peter's heart was restored when ho had sinned, for the Lord Jesus was very pitiful towards him. Though there was a sense of indignation in his His holy heart towards the sin, still ho k new that Peter was ono of those whom His Father had given Him, and He turned His mournful look towards him for that sin, tho guilt of which He would shortly expiate on the cross. In tho fifty-first Psalm David shows a genuine sense of the depth of sin. It seemed as if " his heart were poured out like water." He offered no defence for it, no excuse, for he felt the plague of sin and mourned over it. By the teaching of the Holy Spirit ho searched it out and asked God to search him. This must bo tho experience of every child of God : " For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of, but the sorrow of the world worketh death." —English Churchman. THE HIDDEN LIFE. There is an inner life h\A deep in men, A holy hidden life beyond our ken, Which ever guides the soul in doubts and fears Upon the sea of life to choose tho best In love for God, though sometimes dim with tears : It is the hidden life that leads to rest. The life of him avho dwells beneath the cross, Aloite witli God, though swept by earthly loss; The life that niakelh God the aim of all, And shines from out the soul a holy light To lie]]) the weaker ones, and those avho fall, To bear the Cross iu love, to strive for right. Draw ever daily nearer God, Treading the Calvary, where Christ has trod, With lives that praise him both in deed aud word, From whom the rays of God's own love may fall Upon sad weary souls, who ne'er have heard Of this hid life, where God is all in all. —B.C.F., in Family Churchman.