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The Commoner,
. VG.IiUMB.;i2; NUMBER 22
THE LARGER LIFE
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By William Jennings Bryan, at Calvary M. 13.
" church, Now York, Sunday morning, 'April 21,
1912, and on several other occasions.
Tlio one thought which 1 desire to impress
upon your minds this morning is sot forth in
the subject, as announced, "Tho Larger Life." I
did not come to speak to you as a minister! rriy
Work is along other linos. I will not attempt
to put my work in the same class with the work
of tiic minister, nor to assort that it approaciies
tho minister's work in importance. Our work
is to a great extent determined by environment.
Our lives arc not largely of our own choosing.
Tho freedom that wo have to decide in what part
of the vineyard we will work, is not an unlimited
freedom. But though my time is devoted to
work which J think important, though Icsb im
portant than the work of tho minister, I can
not withhold from the minister such assistance
as i may be able to render in tho form of tosti-
. mony. 1 know of no moral principle that is
binding upon the minister that is not binding
upon the layman; and J am so much opposed
to tho idea of monopoly that I am not willing
that the ministers shall monopolize the joy that
comes from service in tho Christian life. And
so this morning 1 desire to turn your atten
tion for a few moments to What I believe to be' a
growing understanding of Christ's work.
Christ was a nUister in addition. He came
' not to subtract, but to add. We are told that
Ho came "to bring life and immortality" to
light." Had tho people been in darkness? Yes,
thero was a dispute when He came as to the
-answer that should bo made to the searching
question asked by Job: "If a man die shall ho
live again?" Christ answered the question:
Ho came to bring immortality to light. But Ho
came also to bring life to light, for the world
had had but a poor conception of ljfe. Man's
vision, even of lj,ltt existence here in this world,
had been hUtra limited vision. Sometimes 'the
- Chvlsti&Av-TVas' placed too much emphasis, Ve'la
jyfce'iyrupon the' future and not enough ori'Uhe
.fw'prcsent. People used to read the Bible to -find
out what it said of Heaven; now they read it
moro to find what light it throws upon the path
way of today, for they have learned that where
Christ spoko once of the world to come Ho
spoke ten times of man's present relation
to his fellowmen. People used to search the
scriptures, and then retire from society and
in seclusion seok to prepare themselves for
future bliss; now they are coming to under
stand that to walk in the footsteps of the "Man
of Galilee" they must go about doing good."
But we not only have the testimony of Paul
that Christ camo to shed a haw and brighter
light upon life, as Well as upon, Immortality, but
.we have Christ's own words the highest pos
sible authority that He came "that they might
have life, 'and that they might have it moro
abundantly."
If we were in tho midst of a great agricul
tural community, where everybody lived by farm
ing where tho surface of the earth was culti
v(ated and made to bring forth all that was
necessary to meet man's physical needs; and
some one should come, a stranger, and tell 'us
that we were but scratching the surface, un
conscious of hidden wealth; tell: us that down
a few feet in tho ground we could find a vein
of coal that would furnish us' tMc heat for steam,
and that we could convert it into light and mo
tive power, we would be grateful to him for
making known to us the larger" Wealth that we
possessed, but possessed in ignorance. And
possibly, if we did not become too busy mining
the coal and too absorbed in the enjoyment of
the new wealth that it would bring, we might
erect a monument to him, when he was dead
to show that we appreciated the service he had
rendered. . .
And if, after we had for a while enjoyed
the addition that this stranger had made
to our possessions, 'another 'came and said
"You have discovered only ' two elements
of your wealth; there is a third' Go down just
a little farther and you will find a mine of
gold, a mine from which everyone of you can
draw enough of the precious metal to purchase
everywhere and always whatever else you need
for your welfare;" would we not feel grateful
to the second stranger who thus multiplied our
wealth still more? , I know pf no better wav
of illustrating what Christ 'came to Uo:,vVie
threw a brighter light upon Existence and:Ve
vealed to us a larger life. ' "".;-
Man first learned of his physical possessions'-
he was absorbed in tho pleasures that camo
through the body. But long before Christ ap
peared man had learned that the mind pos
sessed a wealth greater than the body's store.
Before the beginning of tho Christian era man
had learned that the delights of the mind aro
of a higher order and more permanent than tho
joys that tho body can bring. But Christ camo
to tell us that there was yet an unexplored field;
that thero was yet a depth which man had not
found; he came to reveal to man the larger,
broader, deeper, higher joys of spiritual life.
And Christ, when He revealed these new pos
sessions, did not withdraw that which man had
learned to know before. When Chri&t said,
"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His
righteousness," Ho did not add that we must
take this as a substitute for, all other, things.
He did not ask us to compare that which He
would give with that which we had before and
.calculate the difference in value; He said,
"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all . these' things- .will be
added unto you."
Ts there any excuse fPr riot leading the larger
life? Is there any excuse that any man can
give for not being willing to make use of all his
powers? Shall we allow the materialist to
speak of being "more liberal" than we are, when
he refuses to consider the most important ele
ment in life? I resent the charge rf narrow
ness Hint the atheist brings against the Chris
tian. The Christian is in a position to enjoy
every good thing that an atheist can enjoy, and,
in addition, those larger, better thiners that an
atheist can not enjoy. I hope the time is not
far distant when the egotism of those who think
they are stronger than Christians in mental
power, will vanish and when they will no longer
assume a superiority over those who allow
Christ to lead them into the larger way.
What is there that Christ would take from
us that has value in it? Does He deny us the
food that -we need? No. the Christian Is at
liberty to eat; aye, not only at liberty, 'but' it is
his duty to eat enough to lift- his body to the
maximum of efficiency. If his passion is
service, how can he render the largest service
unless the instrument of service is in good
order? All that Christ would deny to us in the
form of food is excessive food, food that instead
of helping, harms; the kind of food that burns
the stomach out and makes man old while he
is yet young. If Christians find that instead of
looking for something to eat they are travel
ing from one watering place to another trying
to improve their digestion they can not blame
Christ. It may be because they pay too much
attention to the body and not enough to the
soul. Christ requires no physical concessions
that are not for our gopd. There is not a good
habit that Christ does-not allow. He only pro
hibits those habits. that decrease our strength,
and rodpee pur capacity for work habits that
waste our bodies and make them unfit to be
temples for the. indwelling of; His spirit.
So, in vthe intellectual world, what is there in
the range of science, i or history, or poetry, or
art, that. Christ forbids-us to enjoy? All that
he asks is that we shall remember that all these
things are means toian end. Where will you
find more learning than-. in the Christian world'
Where will you findi higher art than in the
Christian world? Whore will you fln,d sweeter
poetry than In the Christian world?.. All that
Christ asks is that wiehall train the' mind for
usefulness that we. shall not glory in our minds
merely because we enjoy intellectual pursuits
but because a larger mind can do a larger-work
because a more extended vision can be of
greater assistance to those who rely, upon the
educated to ise'e in advance coming dangers and
warn against them. All these things are but tho
means we use for the development of that which
is highest In. the life and best in man. ,
Christ does not restrain our activities? alonir
any line of legitimate work. On' the contrary
he furnished a higher 'incentive' and 'a lamer
purpos Ih domestic 'life; in business-Wo nd
In political life everywhere, the v Christian is
' ,, fo satly every wbrtliy ambition' everv
noble MftglBo. The cmly injunction, laid upon
him is 'that God shall c6me first an cl All other
things afterward. Bjit this oho injunction does
WW1' ifc mP directs one's energies
It is the comnass bv wliiMi'Wn Cfv ?. ..,,
. noii 'juj. r u. ; iv:; . mm'.w woum
dilii Liin mhii. ill 1 1 1 f - in nnrflrn
Christendom are those in' which God is on
throned, and in which His will is the supreme
law of the househpld. .
Nowhere id busiriess more supcessfully con
ducted than In the Christian nations; nowhere
does it rest upon a, more substantial. basis. And
in the Christian nations no. business men build
more surely than" those who, dally live as in
His presence. .' ,' .
Materialism can not deal successfully even
with the material things of life,. A spiritual
viewpoint is necessary if. one.woUjld see clearly;
no one is farsighted who does npi see farther
than the eye can reach. Faith 'is a spiritual
extension of the vision, and no' one can afford
to .be. -without it.'' Faith also is necessary if
one would resist the temptatibns ' which, if
yielded to, drag men down. In order 'to suc
cessfully withstand 'the IhSldiPus 'allurements
that beset life's way' we must understand that
wrongdoing .automatically Tecbils" upon the
Avrongdoer; that God' is not mocked? arid that
no human effort can prevent a harvest ' accord
ing to the sowing. "One is sure to fall if his only
restraint is the fear' of being detected.' by others.
There are too many chances' for escape from
the vigilance of others to .make' 'the' fear of
being caught a sufficient barrier t6 wrongdoing.
No outer guardian ' can take' the place, of the
inner monitor the voice that' bids the' "wicked
flee-when no man prirsueth." !
Nowhere does 'Christ enlarge . pne's ', concep
tion' of life more 'than in the conflict, .of public
affairs. Those who exercise authority have
special need to give -weigh td the ''things that
affect the heart. iOnly when o'fte '-Itriows tho
. heart ;can he judge- meni and onlyl when his
heart is knit to the hearts' of 'his' fellbws can
he enter into the spirit of 'brotheHifco'd. 'con
descending service is riot sufflciehtf; man is not
fit to .serve unless 'he recognizes;th&fc',he is serv
ing those1 who are attached ;tonftin hy undis
soluble ties, and only when 'he 'understands
Christ's -measure of grdattiessvaoes"his; ambition
become 'helpful 'to others1 aB-'weirWto -himself.
' l-n. no other 'walk in- life is it mb re necessary for
one to be guided by conscience' than'' Iri public
affairs, for novhere else' is one' watched more
constantly or subjected to more continuous
criticism. The fear of exposure, operates no
where else more powerfully. In the bearing of
great responsibilities he, ,is strongest who has
trained himself to measure up to the responsi
bilities imposed upon him by ,hlsi Creator, for
this being the greatest, of responsibilities, re
sponsibilities less weighty are' more easily dis
charged. ,
Christ is not only a guide and friend in all
the work that "man undertakes, .but. his name
can bq invoked for the correction of every abuse,
and the eradication of every evil,- in private
and in public life. . .,!'
There Is no nation in which.! the-' reviving,
. regenerating influence of Christ's; words and
lifei is not sorely needed no nation, iwhere we
can not quote with, propriety the lines,..
"I know of a land that is sunk iri shame
Of hearts that faint and tire, '
But I know of a name, a name, a name,
That can set that land on fire.'. .'- "
We spend a great deal -of our time taking
care of our bodies, and yet -it is the body that
is subject to sickness -it .is the centre of
disease; it is the thing that causes 'us most of
u,r ftr.oubl; Not ly do Its pains bring us
?i!2 ' A , nassions and the temptations that
come through them darken our lives. And, yet,
now we sometimes worship the body! How we
pamper it and how. We try to adorn.it. Christ
n ,0l)Ject to. man's making every proper
use of the body, but He waruod ub not to spend
an our time taking care of it. He pointed to
tiie birds and beasts about ns .how God cares
ior. tnem. He reminded us that- even the
Kn-i ? re imore DeautifuJ thaji man arrayed
1 , ,?loIy' e constantly 'tried te: turn
EJuslts from, the things that engross pur
tr&Y nii WG think only of Physieariife. He
nS J dhect our1 thoughts toward 'the higher
the 2S!!?f eX,alJed. tliings' Compare, .tf you will,
nhfoni tUa y,VYitn those thai are either
?ApW' on i lnte"ejturil. Look back over your
daVs Si0?4 " llaPy d Are" they the
days when your bodily want wr -aaUhfiUil or
tiie davs wiQ Hrn .j.j . . . j... . .
fe- hVinnv rr" ii"11 ?B were ewtingY, o.
u uieea or life in safety. a . ; . . ;;'.. V'H w"en your minds were exulting? 'No
TllfiA nro Tin hnttrtloi. ,A'i xi. -JUil .. . tIle riaPPV d.lVti ward ' tl, -1 Iti-i ' -
of Christendom, and the happiest 'homes ' in ' SL&T
.:.? . tl . .in , flaseinsh contributlbn to 'the welfare bt others.
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