Let us frankly admit, however, -that fallow ground has often a superficial attraction. All sorts of casual flowers grow there and it is a happy hunting-ground for butterflies. On the surface it is much more interesting than the straight lines of upturned furrow. And so it is with the society that is only nominally Christian and has cut out the habit of worship. It has plenty of smiles and there is much politeness and pleasantness. But it is superficial, it won't stand any test. Its kindness makes distinctions and costs nothing. When the real test comes these pleasant folk will not put themselves out. It is tell-tale phrase. Self is in possession and no power can put self out but the love of God. In the hour of need our neighbour wants something more than pleasantness and_prettiness, and in the day of judgment we shall want more ourselves.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.