SERIOUS THOUGHTS.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 312, 9 July 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

SERIOUS THOUGHTS.

PLEASANTNESS.

Is not this a quality we all covet ? What greater compliment can you pay to any person than to say that they are pleasant ! This is what I should call a working-day virtue, which helps its possessor and everyone around through the rubs and worries of ordinary life. i'leasantnsss assumes a continuous state of good-humoured chcerfuluess—not sweot one moment and sour the next—but always the same. This state of mind gilds every action and every word, as it is the manner and the look, the tone and expression that makes the difference in people, not the actual doings and nayings. Even a rebuke may be given pleasantly and will have good effect when so given, as the heart will warm and not harden towards the corrector.

How could we better define our ideal companion than as a person pleasant to live witn —now we all want to know how to attain this excelleace.

Have you ever noticed in psalms xc. 17 in the margin of the Revised version it says " Let the pleasantness of our God be upon us." It is therefore by living in God's pre* sence, allowing His pleasantness, like sun shine, to rest upon us, that we shall become sweet-tempered, cheerful, loving, in fhet all that wo most desire. Our part ia only to assume the rijjht attitude, to act as a reflector —taking heed to keep our hearts pure and free from sin anundimmed mirror, flashing back the glory of our God so that His love " may be perfected in us."

Thus only can we let our light shino and benefit our fellows. . . . .

On the tombstone of a young girl in a churchyard far away, these simple words arc inscribed after her name and age. "She was so pleasaut." What higher eulogium could the sorrowing relatives and friends have found to express the virtues of their beloved and what greater tribute could they have given to her memory. Will the same be said of us when we have passed away ?—(F),

THE NEED OF NEW METHODS.

The Churches are just now suffering from a disease which cannot bo fitly described by any word current in the English language. We have, therefore, found it necessary to coin a word in order to express definitely our meaning. The word which aptly expresses our meaning is stircopcrfunclUy. This word definitely described tho stereotyped formality, the artificial piety, tho dreary monotony, and the heartless performance of very much that reigns in our church life and in the public services of most of the religious denominations. Hence, in pleading for a new terminology, it is absolutely necessary that we should be able to predicate an anterior new church spirit. It is no use to have new terms unless there is something with which to fill them. Without the new spirit tho new terms would become as sounding brass and a clanging cymbal. In fact, they would only make " confusion worse confounded." Their pretence would bo a hollow and consequently they would serve no useful purpose. At present it is lamentably true that very much of the teachings" of Christianity, which belong especially to the Church members, is entirely neglected, while that which is taught leads to very little practical results in building up Christian character. The time has certainly come for a change with respect to these matters. Who will point out a more excellent way 'i —Christian Commonwealth.

TO MYSELF. O Thou of little faith, God has not failed thee yet! When till looks dark ami gloomy, Thou dost so soon forgot— Forget that He has led thee, And gently cleared thy way ; _ On clouds lias poured His sunshiue, And turned thy night to day. And if He's helped thee hitherto, He will not fail the now. How it must wound His loving heart To sec thy anxious brow ! O ! doubt not any longer, To Him commit thy way Whom in the past thou has trusted And is " the same to-day." C. E.

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