PULPIT MESSAGES

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 18, 16 October 1933, Page 10

PULPIT MESSAGES

Wellington Churches SINCERITY ESSENTIAL Love Most Princely Virtue Preaching in Wesley Church recently Rev. T. R. Richards selected for his text the words, “Le Love be Without Dissimulation,” Romans xii, 9. The preacher said: “St. Paul, in reviewing the principles of Christ’s teaching. fastened on many shining moral virtues. He mentions the sunny Christian virtues— humility, simplicity, diligence, cheerfulness, hospitality, mercy. Then he sets forth the most princely of all the moral virtues —tho supreme enthronement of Jove. AU graces are one in the spring. Love is one in the root, but it has many branches. Of all moral qualities love is supreme—its moral quality brings sincerity. In his epistle the writer makes application of this teaching to life and all its manysided issues—the words and deeds which are built into the framework of character. Love, like ‘spring,’ brings a rebirth of new life, it vitalises all thought and action. It is a regal thing. Without it all else is dead. Sincerity is the basis of every virtue. Two Propositions. “Two propositions are assumed. First, that sincerity is the essential quality in Christian character. Secondly, that insincerity is the peculiar parasite of love. Dissimulation, it has been said, is a clumsy word. Tlie Apostle is urging that this love may be free from the moral defect of all insincerity, or hypocrisy. How much hiding there is in life to-day, under false appearance and flimsy pretence. In the early days of Rome the actor was known as the ‘hypocrite,’ one who played a part. It is a fact that love, the most, princely attribute of all souls, is ,‘bribable.’ It is found in the home, society, and the polished ways of life. How often it. is said: ‘I laid the bait and he took it,’ or ‘I put the telescope to the blind eye. and, by diplomacy, got the best of the bargain.’ Before a general election one would think that to please men was the surest way to' ‘top the poll.’ It is the temptation of most men, in all branches of life, to win success—so called —by the sacrifice of sincerity. This is a difficult precept. Insincerity is the common sin of society. Let Love, says Paul, be sincere. ‘Seek the wisdom that cometh from above; that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God —without rebnke—in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom ye shine as lights in the world.’ “Parasite of Love.” “Insincerity is the peculiar parasite of love. It is difficult to be perfectly sincere. There is a certain amount of alloy in all character. It has been said ‘that perfection slipped over the bank in Paradise and has never been found.’ Kingsley has said that when some men die their tombstone is covered with all virtues and so there are ‘more lies told in death than in life.’ In social life there is much ‘finesse’ that is regarded as venial. ‘Do as Rome does’ may be a good rule for sheep, but not for men. Tlie brown bear in crossing the Arctic snows conforms to the law of ‘adaptive change.’ This is often followed as the popular way in some phases” of life. Sincerity is the Apostle’s goal and battle-cry. This sincerity is possible, and redeems life from low, mean and sordid levels. This quality was present in the life of the great Hebrew leader, Moses. He said. ‘lf not, blot .out my life.’ It was found in the life of Ruth, Jonathan and David. The supreme example is Jesus Christ.