Piety!—Reverent scholarship is ever to be courted by the ministry, but it can never take the place of genuine piety. There is no legitimate conflict between them, as they are not alternatives. However, if choice were inescapable, we should choose piety—a vital godliness, a vibrant spirituality; for God cannot truly use unsanctified knowledge or ability. Let us, however, cherish the blessed union of the two.
Surprise!—This remnant message will, for hosts of its adherents, close suddenly, unexpectedly, far in advance of human calculations based on statistical records of progress. It will defy all graduated ratios of advance, for statistics do not take into account the incalculable work of the Holy Spirit in the outpouring of the latter rain upon all flesh in these last days. Unprecedented means and results are in God's hand. The final movements will be rapid and precipitous ones, for which we thank God.
Pray!—The rush and activity of the day make it increasingly difficult to enter into our closet and shut the door, that we may pray in secret to our Father in heaven. We are like soldiers under the discipline of definite tasks that draft so heavily upon our time that we crave more hours for the day. But effectual spiritual life demands these periods of detachment which exclude the world and closet the soul alone with God. Failure here is the cause of much of our weakness. Strength and power for public work is gauged by these secret trysts with God.
Extremes! —Two contrasting extremes—formalism and fanaticism—closely flank_ the balanced Christian life, and frequently rise to plague the church, and if possible, to retard its progress. The one is about as disastrous as the other, though differing widely in manifestation. Formalism rests back with ease upon past experience, in the complacent security of sound doctrine, or the engrossing round of formal service. Fanaticism, on the other hand, is not infrequently at first a pious attempt to flee from the deadening blight of formalism, worldliness, and spiritual stagnation; but, losing its balance, it goes extreme on some feature that may in its purity constitute a wholesome truth, but pressed out of rightful relation to other aspects of truth, carries the enthusiast to lengths that bring reproach to the church, and frequently result in disaster to the individual. Usually such emphasis, it may be noted, leads to a minimizing of the definitely designated platform and commission of this remnant people. Let us guard against these twin evils.
Unbalanced!—It is possible to become so exercised over the "mint and anise and cummin," as to crowd out the "weightier matters" that are paramount. For example: There are congregations so constantly lectured as to arbitrary inches in sleeve or skirt lengths for the sisters, that they become dress conscious and unhealthily critical, and tend to judge every woman in the congregation, and every stranger who appears among them, by external standards. Proper clothing is important, but not all-important. Garments that meet every rule projected may conceal an unsanctified life, and so avail naught. Without in the least minimizing the lesser things, let us put our emphasis upon the greater.
Abstinence!—Eternal vigilance is the price of sustained victory. For example: Temperance began to lose when its proponents relaxed their campaign of continuous education and rested back upon the force of prohibitory law for its maintenance. The imperative need and power of an educated conscience was forgotten, or at least neglected. As a consequence, the legal gains of decades have been lost, and we must begin anew with an educational program, faced by handicaps hitherto unknown, for the use of alcoholic beverages is now clothed with a respectability heretofore denied it. Popular opinion is at present against prohibition to a degree unrecorded in the past. We as workers need to revive the circulation of the total abstinence pledge. We should lecture on the incontrovertible evils of drink, dealing with its scientific, civil, and moral aspects. The present setback constitutes an inescapable challenge, for Christian temperance is an integral plank in the gospel platform.
Reaction!—From the stalwart health reform positions of three or four decades back, the trend has swung to carelessness in the matter of vegetarianism, or to the use of tea, coffee, or condiments, on the part of not a few. Modern prepared foods containing condiments or spices we probably would not buy outright, may have exerted an influence in this direction. Reaction against the extremes of some in the past has doubtless played its part in fostering laxity. And there is, of course, plain self-indulgence. But whatever the causes, has not the hour come for a revival of sound health reform principles and practices? Clear and balanced instruction is needed by our people, and by the public in our evangelistic efforts. Nor should the indulgent smiles or the caustic remarks of the careless be allowed to deter us. Eschewing extremism, let us do our duty.
L. E. F.