Godliness the Root of Piety.
WHERE there is life there is godliness, and the more vigorous the life, the purer and more perfect will godliness be. Are you making it your first care to see that you have life? You are busy and diligent in the exercises of religion; but busy, diligent in doing what? Is it executing an imitation of piety or in cultivating the reality? If, when you survey at last the result of your prayers and efforts, there is a possibility that you will have despairingly to say of your Christianity what the gifted artist said admirably of a master-piece of sculpture, "It wants only one thing—life," is there not reason why you should pause and ponder now? There are many skillful imitations of piety, and it requires much labor and pains to produce them. It requires the cunning of trained and skillful fingers to mold in wax or paint on canvas such imitations of flowers and fruits as deceive for the moment the eye. But a seed dropped into the ground by a child's hands will, by the power of the life within, germinate and grow. Its life will weave the texture of its leaves and flowers, and secrete the rich juices of the fruit. So while the mere form of godliness is the product of cunning and labor, the reality of godliness is the product of life. Be it ours to seek this life. Filled with it, it will show itself in the blossoms and fruits of godliness. And let us not forget, that if there is no godliness of conduct or character, we want the only sure evidence that life from on high has descended into our souls.—Wilson's Heavenward Path.