THE STANDARD OF COMPARISON.
THERE are many objects of earth which may lawfully receive a portion of our affection. While we tabernacle in the flesh, objects other than spiritual are necessary to our happiness. But the material should always be subordinated to the spiritual. Some seem to think that religion requires us to look with disfavor on all the sources of earthly enjoyment and look to God alone. It is true that we must look to God alone in one sense, but we look to him when we make a right use of earthly sources of joy as bestowed by him. The injunction to set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth, is not to be understood as forbidding us to love anything on the earth. It plainly means that our supreme affection should be set on things above. Christ has given us a standard by which to decide whether the love we bear to earthly objects is excessive or not. Lovest thou me more than these? By comparing their affections for any earthly object with this standard, men can decide whether that affection is lawful or not. Men love their earthly possessions. It is lawful for them to do so to a certain degree. They must not love them more than they love Christ. If one is asked, "Do you not love your property more than you love Christ?" he might reply, "certainly not." "If he were on earth, and required you to give up your house to him, would you do it?" These answers might all be sincere, and yet the person might after all, love his money more than he loved Christ. If asked, "Do you love your property more than you love Christ's cause?" a prompt negative might not be so easily given. There may be facts which would be in the way of such an answer. There may have been calls which were answered with great reluctance or perhaps not at all. If Christ had really been loved more than money, such unseemly facts would not have formed a portion of that individual's history. In regard to their property their houses, and lands, and comforts, and conveniences, every Christian should remember that Christ asks each one, "Lovest thou me more than these?" Let each one be sure that he can answer, "Yea, Lord." It is lawful for Christians to love their earthly friends, and very tenderly too, but it is not lawful to love them more than they love Christ. Christian, Christ asks you respecting your friends, "Lovest thou me more than these?" He asks you respecting your children, "Lovest thou me more than these?" Do you answer, "Yea, Lord." But are there not some things in your conduct with respect to your children inconsistent with that answer? You place them in circumstances favorable in a worldly point of view, but unfavorable so far as Christ's service is concerned. You gave your consent that they should associate with those who are confessedly Christless. If you loved Christ supremely, would not your chief solicitude respecting your children be, that they too should love Christ supremely? In regard to all objects of affection, Christ asks us, "Livest thou more than these?" Let us remember that our answer will be read in our deeds, not in our words.—Sel.