1 COR. x. 31. “Whether
therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory
of God.”
EVERYTHING that we do should (1) Show the intention of
God in our existence; (2) Be done in obedience to God;
(3) Be so done that when completed it shall be to the
praise of God’s wisdom, power, and love.
The principle of my text is—Religion shall mingle with
and guide all the affairs of life, and cannot be safely dis-
pensed with in any department of our existence. Take
five great words that cover our civilization and apply
this.
I. Business. It is busy-ness—going about here and there.
It is the sore travail God hath given to the sons of men
under the sun. We are all Issachars; the burden of two
worlds is upon us. Now integrity is necessary to a health-
ful business; strength and health and peace of mind are
necessary, and these come from religion. Business is a dull
leaden cloud in itself, and needs the light of God.
II. Government. In the home—in society—reverence
and religion are needed. The development of the family
cannot be beautiful without it. These great modern cities,
and this great British empire, embracing the globe, will
become a helpless ruin without God.
III. Literature. Books, beautiful books, the companions
of all my years! Literature! the source of thee is in God.
Literature must be (1) truthful; (2) pure; (3) generous,
loving, kind.
IV. Science. The natural world is a book which God
wrote and is writing continually. If men of science would
understand more perfectly the higher hieroglyphics of the
world of nature, they must pray to God.
V. Philosophy. The attempt to account for the whence,
how, and why of things.
Whence—God created them.
How—Even religion does not tell us.
Why—That ultimately the universe might be filled with
blessedness and the glory of God.
Thomas Jones