RELIGIOUS WORLD.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 137, 10 June 1911, Page 14

RELIGIOUS WORLD.

RESTLESS SOULS.

(By the Rev. A. A. Jones, M. A., Metho

dist Minister.)

Tlie great Israel singer, in one of his poetic, and yet searching quests into the human mind when haunted by a sense ol gell-cond.-mnulion, asked, ••Whither shall 1 lice from Thy presence':" i,i less poi-iie language Solomon declared. "The way of transgressors is hard," aud the prophet Isaiah alhnued thai, "there is no peace . . . for the wicked.'

The haunting, fear-striking, lnsunc making power of the intellect under some conditions constitutes mental phenomena that have for ages bullied pliilosuphci's ( riminals who lly from justice, and then under the lashings 01 a guilty conscience voluntarily haud themselves over to the law, illustrate this restless-

This restlessness is expressed in divers ways, such as the quest for adventure, exploit, conquest, and progress, and when it comes under the sway of moral depravity, extreme ignorance, or remorse, the spirit of man is ofteu to a greater or les„er degree driven 'to distraction. It is an unrest that makes lor unhappincss and moral and. in some instances, physical decrepitude. When a man has, to put it in common phraseology, "something on his mind" be is in a dangeroits state. He cannot quite be trusted. He may. especially if he is Idling a trust of some moment, be led to neglect his duty, or forget something that may lead 'to the injury of others. Now, the essence of the comfort of Christ's peace is mental rest. "I will give you rest" was not spoken of the body. It referred to the mind. Among the causes that produce this unrest, and lead to men really becoming roving, wandering, flying souls, may bo mentioned:

1. The result of a badly-ordered life. Life is like a business. Everything in it ought to he. dune decently and in order. The (feeding, euT.ilghte.ni.ug, recreation, and disciplining of the mind is, in lact, more important that that of the. body, and the neglect of this paramount duty accounts for the wretched failures that are strewn along the coasts of our civil and church life.

2. The peculiar indisposition of the mind to learn from experience. The first bitter sequel to an act of folly should, by a reasoning, to say nothing of one's self-interest, be sufficient to make the victim determined to avoid all temptation to fall into the same net again.

3. The tendency of the present day to throw over faith iv the supernatural and find a materialistic basis for everything. Such a one-sided explanation of the grandest work of God —the creation of man—is unreasonable.

These are, 1 consider, the main causes that produce in certain minds the unrest that drives them to despair. Once despair ascends the throne of reason, he is the thief of all peace, all true joy, all settled hope and confidence ill the goodness and sovereignity of (Jod. There is a remedy for all this unrest. If not, then Christ lived and died in vain. It is the real and transcendental prerogative of Christianity to put the human heart at rest with itself. "My peace 1 give untu you," said Christ to llis disciples; "not as the world giveth, give 1 unto you." llis pence is abiding. Therein is tbe difference. But this is a peace that is not imparted in some supernatural, miraculous way, as if we had nothing ":. do but drink it in and that was this beginning and end of it. .We often sing: Jesus, lover of my soul. Let iuc to Thy l.osom fly, While the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high. But what do we mean? Do we imagine that this refuge is only for the soul when crossing the bar" ? If so, we mistake the whole point of all Christ's invitations. "The peace of Cod which passeth all understanding" is for the great present in which we live, with its ceaseless toil, struggle to realise our legitimate ambitions, and the disappointments that confront, try, and entangle us almost at every turn.

And what is this peace?—and by what process of reasoning or faith or self-sacrifice can 1 obtain it?

Well, it is not composed of specific, quack-medicine form of spiritual counsel. The peace of Cod is to be obtained by adherence to certain well and easily understood principles. The first is by obeying the mystical law of self-abnegation. Christ said once that he who tried to save bis life would lose it, and that he who would lose it would find it. People who are everlastingly looking after themselves are not the happiest of men. They are often the most miserable, possessing no satisfaction in what they gain or having around them friends who love them for their own sukc.

This peace is to be gained by acquiring the habit of subordinating the lower in our nature to the higher. It is to be obtained by using our opportunities and the iniluenee. that wo possess for promoting the happiness of others as well as ourselves. Seek happiness and it will fly away from you. Seek 'the happiness of others and it will run after you. Concern yourself about your own gratification, and you will taste the sweets of sensual enjoyment 1 have no doubt. Seek to gratify the just and pure happiness of others, and you will drink deep draughts of the holiest pleasure that it is possible for the soul of man to experience. Along this well-worn path lies Elyslan bliss. Elsewhere is barrenness and death.