none of my affair; it is not my lookout. There is no need for me to say or do anything that may seem to condemn this practice." The same is true in society in the broader sense of the community. Many people understand that there are practices in the community which ought not to be. Perchance they voice this belief in the home circle. But as to public condemnation and actions they virtually say: "I am in no way responsible for these things. It might cause a little unpleasantness, I might lose the good will of certain persons, I might lose trade, if I took a decided stand, and openly condemned and worked against these evils."

The church is the visible body of the Lord Jesus Christ in the world. Yet persons have denounced the church for having this same spirit; for seeking to be on good terms with the world by being silent as to its faults and conforming to the world's life. Is it true that there is, even in the church of Christ, a fear of unpopularity? Have we not yet learned that the church is not fed and nourished by worldly popularity? Christ's work in the world was to grapple with sin; and if the church is the visible body of the Lord, the only excuse for the existence of the church is to live his life. The church is to grapple with sin, denounce, uproot and overthrow sin. The Master said: "The servant is not above his master." And, friends, if Christ lost his popularity because of his words and works, the church, his body, can not exist in the same sinful world, denounce the sins he denounced, live the life he lived, and then expect a constant ovation of popular approval and applause. Moreover the individual Christian sometimes seems to have this desire for popularity. Words and actions in the world are determined thereby. Christ became unpopular. He was denounced even by the churchmen of his day. And that Christian whose

aim in this life is popular applause, has not yet learned the truth of the gospel. He does not know the first principles of the life of his Savior, Teacher and Example. He sought to walk in the pathway marked out by God. He sought the approval of God, not of the people.

Remember, popularity or unpopularity is not necessarily a test of righteousness, of manhood or of usefulness. As one has said: "And the truth to follow, regardless of cost, is the measure of manhood." True, strong manhood does not bend and waver before every breeze of popular sentiment; does not seek to be with the crowd; does not long for ease and comfort at any cost; is not afraid, and does not shrink for fear of a hard blow; does not look upon suffering, woe and sorrow, and pass by on the other side with the words: "It is none of my affair; I'll keep quiet lest I become unpopular." Manhood lies across a battle field. Manhood is to be loyal to the truth and to the convictions of the soul regardless of popular approval or disapproval. If this be true of manhood simply, what shall we say of Christianity? What shall we say of those seeking the highest manhood, viz., a life modeled after the Christ? He lived the truth. And fellowship with him demands self-sacrifice, a cross-bearing, a following in his footsteps. The Christian must rise above every personal consideration. To the Christian the divine will alone is sovereign. The Christian should never raise the question, "I wonder what people will say?" His only question should be, "What does Jesus Christ think about it?" A few weeks ago I presented thoughts upon Paul's declaration: "Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." I wonder if I might not add: "We have not yet resisted unto unpopularity, striving against the sins of the world." "If any man

will come after me, let him his cross, and follow me." when first spoken by the truth, purposing to follow it,

deny himself, and take up This is as true to-day as Master. Accepting this may we not say :

"If Jesus Christ is a man,

66

And only a man, I say

That of all mankind I will cleave to him,

And to him will I cleave alway.

If Jesus Christ is a God,

And the only God, I swear

I will follow him through heaven and hell,
The earth, the sea, the air."

GOD BUILDING THE HOUSE.*

BY REV. J. GIBSON LOWRIE, d. d.,†

Pastor First Presbyterian Church, Niles.

* Preached in the First Presbyterian Church, Niles, Mich., Nov. 1, 1896.

Text:

"Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." Psalm 127:1.

Building a house is always a matter of interest, especially to those who expect to live in it. There is a great difference in houses. Between the log cabin of the frontiersman and the Kremlin; between the hut of the Patagonian and Windsor Castle, may be found great variety in buildings and much diversity as to stability and style of architecture, but no house goes up without somebody's enterprise behind it, or without awakening hope in some human heart.

The children of the new settler, as they gather the fresh chips that fly from their father's keen axe, or play at evening in the unfinished structure, build aircastles as busily as do the members of an aristocratic

James Gibson Lowrie was born at Wellsville, Ohio, Oct. 28, 1846. Graduated from Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary. Began his ministry in Colorado, where he laid the foundations of the churches of Golden, Longmont and Central City, closing at Colorado Springs, 1876. Pastor at Mt. Sterling, Ill., 1876-85; at Elkhart, Ind., 1885-88; at Niles, 1888-. Received D. D. from Knox College, Ill., 1894.