Where there are amusing stories told, idle expressions, unmeaning remarks, jestings and jokings, regardless of the a.s.sumed sanct.i.ty in the hour of public worship, it is a life after the manner of the world, and betrays a heart devoid of G.o.d's sober, solemn, holy presence, and the sanctimonious appearance on sacred occasions is but an effort of the human will, and not the deep piety and spontaneous reverence of the heart. Jesus said that for every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment: "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Mat. 12:36, 37. "Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded. In all things, showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that can not be condemned." t.i.tus 2:6-8. "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient." Eph. 5:3, 4. Slang phrases, gay, frivolous, foolish talking, and unholy conversation is degrading to society, disgraceful to Christianity, and a shame and a reproach to any people.

Dress.

When the new birth is experienced a marked change is made in the life. The individual is made a new creature, old things are pa.s.sed away and all things become new. The heart that loved this world is gone, and a heart filled with the love of G.o.d and heaven takes its place. The radical change effected within the heart will affect the exterior man. "Make clean the inside of the cup and platter and the outside will be clean also." "Out of the heart are the issues of life." "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." It is impossible for a proud heart to receive the grace of G.o.d. "G.o.d resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." 1 Pet.

5:5. The wonderful salvation of G.o.d which changes the heart will also change the manner of dress, if the dress formerly was worldly, which is very natural. The dear Lord has been so very careful to distinguish his loved children from the world and make them a shining light that he has given them plain directions how to dress. What a privilege the Christian has in obeying G.o.d in what is considered the "little things" of his Word, which however small are of such importance as to cause the eternal loss of the soul if wilfully disobeyed.

Respecting the manner of Christian dress we will quote from 1 Tim. 2:9, 10: "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing G.o.dliness) with good works." This is a much abused and wrested scripture. The proud-hearted, who have endeavored to persuade themselves to believe they are Christians, have surmised and planned to enforce upon themselves the conclusion that G.o.d did not here mean what he has said. In earlier days when the human systems of religion were more consistent with the Word of G.o.d such texts were incorporated in their creeds, but so deep has been their plunge into the whirlpool of worldliness that they are rejected from both Bible and creed. Many tell us that this was for the women in the primitive days of Christianity when it was the custom to plait the hair with gold and silver strands. This is only a ready sophistry to allure the soul. We will admit it was for women in the early days of Christianity, but we deny it is any less for women and men also in any other day. With respect to Christianity some people are shamefully dishonest. All the duties and sacrifices not congenial to a proud heart they are glad to impose upon the Christians of some past or future time, but all the blessings G.o.d has promised the saint they would gladly receive in this present time.

The Christian is commanded to dress in "modest apparel" "with shamefacedness." It frequently happens that people become so boldly proud that they can dress in the height of fashion and profess to be Christians without a shame upon their face. One who is really and truly saved will dress in modest apparel, while humility, meekness, and modesty are depicted in loveliness upon their countenance. Those who adorn themselves in pearls and gold and costly array usually bear a proud, disdainful look.

When redeemed by grace the fashionable dress and proud look give place to a sweet Christian modesty. A humble heart and a fashionable dress are incompatible. Shamefacedness is derived from _aidos_ in the Greek, and has "modesty" and "bashfulness" for its primary meaning.

How beautifully the teachings of the apostles harmonize. Peter tells us that the Christian's adorning should be the hidden man of the heart adorned by a meek and quiet spirit. This man in the heart, hidden as he is, does however reveal himself. "Out of the heart are the issues of life." When the heart is meek and humble, lowliness, gentleness, and modesty will be seen in the countenance. A meek, modest, Christ-like countenance under a fashionably decorated hat is the greatest incongruity.

With shamefacedness the Christian is to be adorned with sobriety.

Fashionable dress is directly the opposite of sobriety. This word is translated from the Greek word _sophrou_, which is properly defined, soundness of mind. The weary toil and labor that many undergo to earn money and then make the unnecessary expenditure in buying costly, fashionable dress does certainly betray a lack of wisdom, which might in reality be termed an unsoundness of mind. Gold and pearls and costly array is intemperance in dress. Instead of dressing in sobriety many are crazed or drunken on the spirit of worldliness in dress. There is a beautiful consistency in Christianity, but how inconsistent with divine things is the expenditure of money for the adornment of the physical being. No one can spend money for gold rings and chains and charms, for pearls and beads, for plumed hats, and such like, with the number around that are dest.i.tute, penniless, and starving, without incurring the displeasure of a merciful G.o.d. Man shall have to give an account in the day of awful judgment how he has expended the money the Lord has entrusted to his care.

In the purchasing of any unnecessary article of dress there will be a reproving of the Spirit unless the heart is so intoxicated with the love of self that it is unconscious of the things and voice of G.o.d.

Ah, how shamefully inconsistent with the tender-heartedness and sympathizing spirit of Christianity in this lavishing of charms and adornments upon self! Our dress should be only such as is necessary for protection and health. Going about in the world doing good in all humility of heart, modest and una.s.suming in our manners and dress, making ourselves as little conspicuous as possible, but lifting up Jesus everywhere, is the true Christian life.

Secret Orders.

The present-day inst.i.tutions known as "Secret Orders," are of an earthly, worldly origin. They are one of the things of this world which man can not love and continue in the love of G.o.d. Within those secret organizations are bundled together by strong oaths the professed Christian, the infidel, the lawyer, the doctor, the saloon-keeper, the gambler, and almost every character upon the earth. By the bonds of this secret union the preacher is made a brother with an infidel. The apostle Paul tells us, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" 2 Cor. 6:14, 15.

The preacher who professes to believe in G.o.d is here having a part with an infidel contrary to the Word of G.o.d. You who are professing to be a light in the world, how can you in the fear of G.o.d take the oaths necessary to make you a member of a secret order? How can you join in the worldly hurrah and laughter, and foolish, unG.o.dly pranks as played upon the candidate within the secret walls? What do you think of a preacher, or layman, becoming the laughing-stock of infidels, lawyers, saloon-keepers, drunkards, and gamblers, as he trembles beneath the blindfold? What kind of light are they letting shine? I appeal to your reason and common sense.

Is it Christlike? Do you think Jesus would engage in such dark works? Some have charged the Savior with being a freemason. Such is a libelous statement. In Isa. 45:19, the Lord says, "I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: ... I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right." Christ only speaks the things that are right and never the dark, unG.o.dly oaths and sayings of the secret lodge. Again, the Savior said, "I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort: and in secret have I said nothing." John 18:20. Jesus spake nothing in secret, and to charge him with having connection with the dark, secret mysteries of masonry is as slanderous as the charge made by the people who said, "Thou hast a devil." John 7:20. The Savior not only knew that men would, in order to defend their unrighteous systems, charge him with having a devil, but he also knew that for the same purpose men would charge him with having connections with such systems; therefore he said, to uncloak the falsity of such charges, "Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not." Mat. 24:26. Jesus gives commandment to preach upon the housetop what ye hear in the ear. Mat. 10:27. "For G.o.d shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." Eccl. 12:14.

It is not the mission of this work to reveal the awful oaths and secret works of these various orders. Other men by many volumes have done this.

We only hope to help you to see that secrecy is contrary to the Bible and the Spirit of Christ and Christianity. It is a thing of the world and conducted on a worldly basis. Connected with many of these orders are life insurances-a thing of the world. The Christian is separated from the world and Christ becomes his all in all. To make prominent the good qualities of their secret systems men tell us of their obligations to help their brother and his family. How these orders provide help for a man in time of need, and how true each member is to his obligation, etc. Such might do if there were no G.o.d nor Christianity. Secrecy provides only for its own members. Salvation provides for all. A member of a secret order is under no obligation from his order to visit a poor sick man by the way who is not a member of his order, but is under obligation to visit and care for a sick fellow member, though he be rich. We see no Christianity in this. We see no humanity. It is having respect of persons, forbidden by Scripture.

Humanity, and much more Christianity, will not only send man to do good to the rich, but to the poor also, be they of any cla.s.s or nation. A man that is a Christian will visit the sick and afflicted, no matter what may be their station in life.

If a man thinks he is a light in the world because he is true to the obligations of his secret order in visiting and administering to the needs of his sick brother, he is very much deceived. Such is a false light. When a man has to place himself under such solemn oaths to do good, it proves that he has but little or no humanity. "Do good to all men," is the spirit of Christianity. A man need not take the obligations of a secret order to be furnished with the qualifications for doing good. The Word of G.o.d is all that is needed for reproof, correction, and instruction, that a man may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim. 3:16, 17. A man need not seek membership in some secret organization in order to be provided for in his old days, or his family in case of his death. The Psalmist says, "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." Paul says, "But my G.o.d shall supply all your need." Phil. 4:19. "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." 2 Cor. 6:17, 18. "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." John 17:16.

Chapter XIII. The Domestic Relation.

When we speak of home life with its relations and duties we are not digressing from the subject of gospel light. Nowhere does the light of Christianity shine so peaceful and beautiful as in the home. Nowhere is the power of its influence so felt as in the home circle. The public worship of Christians is an inspiring scene, but nothing apparently is so heavenly as the sacred family altar. A father and mother whose hearts are filled with holy love together with happy, obedient children bowing together at the shrine of devotion is the most imposing scene the eye and heart can witness.

Marriage.

The union of man and woman in marriage is the work of the Creator. G.o.d saw after he had created man that it was not good for him to be alone. Such was his const.i.tution. So he made a helpmeet for him. G.o.d from the rib of man made woman and brought her unto him, who said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Gen.

2:22-24.

In conjunction with the divine inst.i.tution of marriage there is also a legal inst.i.tution. While the civil contract is acceptable unto G.o.d by way of preventing promiscuous s.e.xual intercourse, it is powerless to make both one flesh and bone. It is only the power of G.o.d that can make two hearts to beat as one. By the power of his grace he makes Christians of "one heart and one soul," and of man and woman he makes "one flesh and bone."

The apostle to ill.u.s.trate the blessed union of Christ and the church makes use of the union of man and wife. "They two shall be one flesh." Eph.

5:31. "Man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined unto his wife." The union between husband and wife is stronger than between parent and child. The all-wise G.o.d has a design in all his works. He reveals to man in his Word his purpose in the union of man and wife. One object in the marriage union, as we have before said, is to prevent promiscuous s.e.xual commerce. "Nevertheless to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband." 1 Cor. 7:2. The union of man and woman is a holy and sacred inst.i.tution, however the union of Christ and the church is still a higher and more important work of G.o.d.

Therefore Paul advises all who can live a pure life in an unmarried state they can be more useful to G.o.d, for he careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

Another object in the divine mind for uniting male and female is for the purpose of procreation. "And G.o.d blessed them, and G.o.d said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply and replenish the earth." Gen. 1:28. Alas! how few properly reverence and esteem the divine purpose. Marriages are too often contracted for the comforts of a home, or for affluence, or for elevation in society, or, worst of all, for the gratification of l.u.s.tful desires. Of such too many murderously resort to the devices of art to thwart the designs of the Creator. Procreation was the highest purpose in the divine mind for the union of man and wife. For this purpose he implanted in their natures a s.e.xual desire. They who avoid to act this part in life come short of the purpose of their creation.

Divorce.

Because the contracting parties at the marriage shrine do not feel and have not properly considered the obligations and responsibilities of a married life, but enter in from selfish desires, then finding it attended with cares and responsibilities they do not care to bear, they seek opportunities for release. The legal union is often severed by the same authority as was given. But as the civil power can not create two hearts into one, nor make of twain "one flesh and bone," neither can such authorities create two of what has been made one. The law of Heaven is, What G.o.d hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Mat. 19:6.

The Word of G.o.d fixes death as the limit to the bond of union. "For the woman which hath a husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth: but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man." Rom. 7:2, 3. "The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth: but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord." 1 Cor. 7:39. "And he [Jesus]

saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery." Mark 10:11, 12. In Mat. 19:9, we read, "And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery."

Some have thought there was a lack of harmony in the teaching of Jesus as recorded by Mark and Matthew. Mark makes the plain statement that whosoever puts away his wife and marries another commits adultery. He makes no exceptions. Matthew says, "Except it be for fornication." There is no disagreement here. It is the prominent thought each has that makes the difference in the statements. The truth that Mark wishes to teach is that there is no just cause for a man marrying who has a divorced wife.

The plain statement is if a man puts away his wife and marries another he commits adultery. There is no exception. There is no just cause for his marrying, and if he does it is adultery, no matter what may be the cause of divorcement. The truth that Matthew teaches is that there is one just cause for putting away the wife. This is a just cause for putting her away, but not for marrying again. Every one that divorces his wife, even though it be for fornication, and marries another violates Mark 10:11 and Luke 16:18. A man may put away his wife for fornication, and not transgress a single text in the Bible. Fornication is the only just cause for man to put away his wife, or the wife the husband.

Some have fallen into the dangerous error of putting away the wife because the Scriptures say, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers."

2 Cor. 6:14. This is a wrong application of this text. No doubt but it does forbid the unmarried Christian yoking up with an unbeliever, as in 1 Cor. 7:39 the woman whose husband is dead is at liberty to marry whom she will; only in the Lord. However, it does not teach the breaking of the marriage yoke. Matthew gives the only cause. Paul says, "If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath a husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him." 1 Cor. 7:12, 13.

A man once told us that G.o.d showed him to leave his wife. (She was a true wife.) He was decidedly mistaken and should have tried the spirit. "What therefore G.o.d hath joined together, let not man put asunder." The word joined is from the Greek _suzeugnuo_. and means "yoked together." This yoke man can not break. When G.o.d by his saving grace unites a soul with Christ, no man can break the bond of union. Sin, and sin only, will sever the tie that binds them together. When G.o.d unites husband and wife into one flesh and bone, no civil court can break the bond. When woman has become so untrue to her husband and false to her marriage vow as to have s.e.xual connection with another man, G.o.d allows such an unchaste sin, and such a sin only, to dissolve the union. Why is fornication the only just cause for disuniting husband and wife? Why is sin the only cause of separation between Christ and the Christian? It is because the design of G.o.d in sending his Son to the world was to destroy and prevent sin. Then of necessity when his purpose fails there can be no union. The design of the Almighty in inst.i.tuting marriage was to secure a legitimate population of the world, or to prevent the lewd, indiscriminate s.e.xual intercourse.

When this purpose fails the object of marriage fails, and there can be no union.

Brooklets joining form the river, Rivers joining form the sea; Love uniting hearts together Beat as one eternally.

G.o.d by law of his creation Creates in one the happy twain; Hand and heart they are united As they pa.s.s adown life's stream.

See the flowers greet each other, And the sunlight kiss the sea; See the waves clasp one another, Why not hearts united be?

Birds in springtime mate each other, 'Tis a law decreed above; For the sake of procreation G.o.d creates connubial love.

Duties Of The Husband To The Wife.

Great are the responsibilities resting upon the husband. The wife is termed the "weaker vessel," unto whom the husband is to give honor and to dwell with according to knowledge. 1 Pet. 3:7. The Word of G.o.d gives instruction how the husband should dwell with the wife. It is his duty to glean knowledge from the same and dwell with her accordingly. He is her example. She looks unto him as her instructor, both in precept and example. She is to be honored by receiving the benefits, by way of counsel, support and protection, of his superior strength. He in his strong, courageous construction, and she in her feminine frailty, are both heirs together of the grace of life. When each understand their true position and dwell together according to knowledge their prayers rise unhindered to the throne of grace.

The Scriptures grant man authority over the wife: "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is G.o.d." 1 Cor. 11:3. "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church." Eph.

5:23. You understand the protection and care Christ has for his bride-the church: in like manner man is responsible for the protection and care of the wife. He takes the position of head of the wife as Christ takes the position of head of the church-in love. "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it." Eph. 5:25.

"Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." Col. 3:19.