THE FAMILY ALTAR

October 18.

"Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after

Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."

Matt. 16:24.

How ugly is sin, and how degrading its evil power! We see

this every day in the lives of unconverted men. Can there be a

more disgusting and pitiful sight than a man who cannot control

his passion for drink or morphine ? What vile diseases carnal lust

causes in men and women ! How so-called gentlemen often shock

others by their foul and blasphemous language because they cannot

control their temper. And though unregenerate men may succeed

in leading an outwardly moral and respectable life, on closer

acquaintance you will find them filled with pride, or vanity, or

avarice, or malice, or other ugly, sinful traits of character. Jesus

would save His followers from this debasing power of sin. He,

therefore, calls His Christians into the school of self-denial and

cross-bearing. Sessions in this school are held every day. Every

day His pupils must learn to resist the suggestions of their own

sin-corrupted hearts, must learn to say no to evil companions who

would lead them to play the truant, and instead of enjoying the

alluring pleasures of the wicked world must deny its lusts, and

live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. It is not

an easy school to be in; but it is a most ennobling and refining

school. The longer you are in it, the better you like it; for the

Master becomes dearer to you every day, and His wise and kind

precepts and His inspiring example set your heart aglow with the

holy desire to become more and more like Him. When your lesson

in cross-bearing is too hard for you, before you know it, He is at

your side and carrying the heaviest end, and encouraging, and com-

forting you. And when school closes, what then ? The end of the

poor devotee of sin and pleasure is death. You who have gone to

Christ's school shall graduate into the high school above where all

self-denial and cross-bearing is at an end, and the divine diploma

of "Well done," and, above all, perfect holiness in the image of the

Master is yours forever.

O love, how cheering is thy ray!

All pain before thy presence flies:

Care, anguish, sorrow, melt away,

Where'er thy healing beams arise.

O Jesus, nothing may I see,

Nothing desire or seek but Thee!