vain show or embittering their hearts because they can not succeed in getting into the weary race of wealth and fashion,—­suppose instead of all this, they should turn to quiet ways, lowly pleasures, pure and simple joys, “plain living and high thinking.”  Suppose they should truly find and show their happiness in the knowledge that God loves them and Christ died for them and heaven is sure, and so set their hearts free to rejoice in life’s common mercies, the light of the sun, the blue of the sky, the splendour of the sea, the peace of the everlasting hills, the song of birds, the sweetness of flowers, the wholesome savour of good food, the delights of action and motion, the refreshment of sleep, the charm of music, the blessings of human love and friendship,—­rejoice in all these without fear or misgiving, because they come from God and because Christ has sanctified them all by His presence and touch.

Suppose, I say, that such a revival of the joy of living in Christ and working for Christ should silently sweep over the Church in the Twentieth Century.  What would happen?  Great would be the peace of her children.  Greater still would be their power.

This is the message which I have to bring to you, my brethren, in this General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.  You may wonder that it is not more distinctive, more ecclesiastical, more specially adapted to the peculiarities of our own denomination.  You may think that it is a message which could just as well be brought to any other Church on any other occasion.  With all my heart I hope that is true.  The things that I care for most in our Church are not those which divide us from other Christians but those which unite us to them.  The things that I love most in Christianity are those which give it power to save and satisfy, to console and cheer, to inspire and bless human hearts and lives.  The thing that I desire most for Presbyterianism is that it should prove its mission and extend its influence in the world by making men happy in the knowing and the doing of the things which Christ teaches.

The Church that the Twentieth Century will hear most gladly and honour most sincerely will have two marks.  It will be the Church that teaches most clearly and strongly the truths that Jesus taught.  It will be the Church that finds most happiness in living the simple life and doing good in the world.

THE BATTLE OF LIFE

    Romans vii. 21:  Overcome evil with good.

The Battle of Life is an ancient phrase consecrated by use in Commencement Orations without number.  Two modern expressions have taken their place beside it in our own day:  the Strenuous Life, and the Simple Life.

Each of these phrases has its own significance and value.  It is when they are overemphasized and driven to extremes that they lose their truth and become catch-words of folly.  The simple life which blandly ignores all care and conflict, soon becomes flabby and invertebrate, sentimental and gelatinous.  The strenuous life which does everything with set jaws and clenched fists and fierce effort, soon becomes strained and violent, a prolonged nervous spasm.