Good Cheer in Life.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 108, 9 May 1896, Page 4 (Supplement)

Good Cheer in Life.

The Sunshins or CHKisTumrr.

The Rev. Dr. David R. Breed, of the Firrt Presbyterian Church, of Pittsburg, Pa,, in a recent eermon on the subject of *Bebh« eaida,' took sis his texb, 'Now there waa much grass in that place '—John vL, 10. These seemingly commonplace words he inberpreted as symbolical of the refreshing, bright and cheering side of Jesus Christ's personality. His discourse had a vein of sunshine and good cheer throughout. In the course of the eermon be said:

'In the ordinary subjecb of thought thera is a neglected feabure of Jeaus' ministry. People do not co often refer to Hie gepial and sunny nature and to His refinemanb and culture which was everywhere evidenced in Hie miniabry. He was holy and refined ; He was pure and tnie. His recognition of the beautiful, Hia appreciation of harmony, and His delicate taste, showed Him to ba the very Son of the Highest. He was of the sunniest nature. He was nob indifferent to what was going on about Him. He attended tea parties and tea and drank with Hia companions. It is recorded that He took a prominent part in a wedding. All this shows thab Jesus did nob stand aloof and regard the pleasing, happy affairs of thin life with coldness, as bo many people even now make tbo miat&ka of doing.

'Refinement and culture should not ba merely physical. They should be moral and spiritual. Polish that does not include the moral and spiritual nature is only a veneer. There ia a false culture which resembles the cub flowers of the florist, which have Bhorbsbema, are abbreviated, and aoon wither away. Bub the church i» the centre and source of all true culture. In arb the creations of the church or representative of its character are the finest. Sacred music is the highest type of musical production. The church beautifies tha person. It clothea the form with grace and courtesy. It is the guard and protector of the home. .■ '■>■■ ■: '" '■ '"■*•'"''■:>':"

1 The beautiful city with wide boulevards is the result qf church culture.. If ib were not for this pur hbm.ea tnighb be cold and uninviting, like a Trapptab monastery. Our cities might be crowded and their inhabitants huddled together as they are in heathen citiea. Our books might be replaced with beer glasses, our hymns with ribald songs, Bub people have learned the genuine refinement, of Jesus, Is is shown in the civilities of life. The sick are cared for kindly. They feel the soothing touch, the soft sweet voice of strangers. They receive pleasant and nourishing food. And the world seems more bright and cheerful.

'Every one should pub the question to himself, How is my life? Has ib sunshine and sympathy for humanity? A person may be stanch', bub cold and indifferent like a mountain—stanch, bub inaccessible. He may be true as steel, bub like steel, cold and hard. Men should have more of the refining sensibilities, more of the Christlike spirib, iv this regard.1