07.01 Volume 1 cont'd
cont’d
True religion consists of two parts—
By
By
True religion is a right state of the soul, not only towards God, but also towards man. It must follow us everywhere, and influence us in all things, and at all times.
True religion gives an elevation and dignity to the whole character, and exalts even the commonest duties of life into acts of piety.
Who can wonder?
"You should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12
Look into some families of professors; follow them through the history of only one week, and see . . .their worldly mindedness, their gaiety, their frivolity, their unsanctified tempers, their worldly reading, their amusements, their homage to talent, their low esteem of holiness, their negligence of family prayer, their neglect of godly instruction to their children—and
Too often the children are like their parents, and bring into the church no higher or better kind of religion than what they have learned at home! And thus a low tone of piety, a lukewarm Laodicean spirit, is extended and perpetuated.
There must be a revival of piety in the parents! It is vain to expect that a worldly-minded father, whose spirituality, if he ever had any, has been utterly evaporated by the exclusiveness of concern about business and politics; or a frivolous, pleasure loving mother, who thinks far more about adorning the bodies of her children, than about saving their souls—should be at all concerned about the pious education of their children.
Recollect what a solemn thing it is to be a parent! What a weighty responsibility attaches to those who have the immortal souls of their children committed to their care!
"You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4)
Take the following maxims for your guide:
(John Angell James, "An Address to the Children" 1855)
1. True piety will be your best friend—for both worlds!
2. The eye of God is always upon you, and He is present when no one else is near!
3. Godliness is the best of all things, for it makes bitter things sweet—and sweet things sweeter!
4. What a boy would be as a man, let him seek to be that while a boy. The boy is the father of the man!
5. Sin is deceitful as well as wicked, leading you to commit great sins by first tempting you to little ones; and leading you into habits of sin by asking for only
one sin at a time. "Only this once!" is Satan’s way of beguiling you into a course of sin. What ought not to be done at all—should not be done once!
6. Avoid the first wrong step!
7. There are three things, which if lost, can never be recovered—time, opportunity, and the soul!
8. A holy and useful life is more to be desired than a long or a prosperous one!
9. To live wholly for ourselves is a poor, base, contemptible life!
10. "When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God and keep His commands. For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
Saving faith has a great influence on all one’s feelings, actions, and character. Though there is no merit in faith—
True faith in Christ is . . .the foundation of the believer’s happiness, the means of his holiness, the spring of all his actions, the true basis of his character.
Many are saying, "Who can show us anything good?" Look on us with favor, Lord. You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and
new wine abound. (Psalms 4:6-7)
There is certainly some pleasure in the gratification of the appetites—in the enjoyment of health, friends, property, and fame. Even sinful objects have their pleasures. There could be no power in temptation, if sin yielded no enjoyment. But viewing man as a rational, moral, and immortal creature; as a sinner subject to the stings of a reproachful conscience, and under the displeasure of the God he has offended; as liable to all the vicissitudes of a tearful existence, and ever exposed to the fear and stroke of death—he needs something more for his happiness,than can be found in the objects of this world. He has . . .needs which they cannot supply; cravings which they cannot satisfy; woes which they cannot alleviate; anxieties which they cannot dispel.
For each one that is even tolerably successful in gaining felicity from visible objects, there are many who utterly fail. Their schemes are frustrated; their hopes perish; their air castles vanish as they journey on in life. And each ends a course of worldly-mindedness, by adding another to the millions of examples which have proved this presentworld to be vanity.
In some cases, abundance and unobstructed enjoyment produce revulsion. Tired of old pleasures, they look about for new ones, and plead the oft-repeated inquiry, "Who will show us anything good?" Novelty perhaps comes to the relief of their discontented, restless, and dissatisfied minds; but novelty itself soon grows old, and still something new is wanted. There remains an aching void within, a craving, hungry appetite for bliss—unsatisfied, unfed. They hunt for
enjoyment . . .in endless parties of pleasure, in every place of amusement, in every scene of diversion; in the dance, and in the game; in the theater, and in the concert; amidst the scenes of nature, and in the changes of foreign travel.
But happiness, like a shadow ever flitting before them, and ever eluding their grasp, tantalizes them with its form, without yielding them its substance; and excites their hopes—only to disappoint them!
What are all the pleasures of time and sense, all the objects of this visible world—but as the dropping of pebbles into a deep chasm, which, instead of filling it up, only tell them how deep it is—by awakening the dismal echoes of emptiness and desolation.
Look at the worldling. Does he succeed in his quest for happiness? Is he satisfied? Let him possess all he seeks, all he wishes, all that earth can furnish; let rank be added to wealth, and fame to both; let a constant round of fashionable amusements, festive scenes, and elegant parties, follow in endless succession, until his cup is full to overflowing. What does it all amount to? "All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them. I did not refuse myself any pleasure. When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind! There was nothing to be gained under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 2:1-26)
Have not multitudes since Solomon’s time, made the same melancholy confession? Is it not a general admission, that the pleasure of worldly objects arises more from hope and anticipation—rather than possession? They are like
Even if it were granted, that the possession of wealth, the gratifications of taste, and the indulgence of appetite, could give happiness in seasons of health and prosperity—they must inevitably fail in the day of sickness and adversity. If they were satisfying for a season—they are all fragile and uncertain! All the enjoyments of this life are like gathered flowers, which are no sooner plucked, than they begin to lose their beauty and their fragrance while we look at them and smell them; and which, however mirthful and beautiful they appeared while they were growing—begin to wither as soon as they are in our hands!