THE ELIXIR OF LIFE.

I have seen patent medicines bearing the above title.  By the word elixir is meant length of days and happiness.  The medical man by labeling his cordial with this title offers to give to all who will take it a long life of happiness.  Such things have their sad failures; but I will offer to you a prescription, which, if you will carefully follow, will prove an unfailing elixir of life.  “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:  let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.” 1 Pet. 3:10,11.  If the reader will follow these directions strictly, making them practical in every-day life, we can upon the authority God has given insure him a long and happy life.

RULES FOR EVERY-DAY LIFE.

“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt.”  Col. 4:6.

“Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.”  Prov. 3:27.

“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without.”  Col. 4:5.

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings.”  Phil. 2:14.

“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth.”  Prov. 27:2.

“Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks.”  Prov. 27:23.

“Eat so much as is sufficient for thee.”  Prov. 25:16.

“Be not wise in your own conceits.”  Rom. 12:16

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thes. 5:22.

“See that none render evil for evil unto any man.” 1 Thes. 5:15.

“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love.”  Rom. 12:10.

“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Rom. 12:21.

“Be content with such things as ye have.”  Heb. 13:5.

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.”  Eccl. 9:10.

“Let all things be done with charity.” 1 Cor. 16:14.

“Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.”  Jas. 1:2.

“Keep thyself pure.” 1 Tim. 5:22.

“In everything give thanks.”  I Thes. 5:18.

“Keep yourselves in the love of God.”  Jude 21.

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”  Eph. 6:18.

A HOLY LIFE.

What, in its true sense, is a holy life?  It is the life of Jesus.  His whole manner of life was truly holy.  His life is the ideal life.  If we would live holy, we must live as he lived.  We must walk as he walked.  The artist has his ideal before him, and with touches of the brush here and there upon his drawing he forms a picture in an exact image of the ideal.  The life of Jesus is what we are to imitate.  He sets the example of holy living and calls us to the same holy life.  “As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.” 1 Pet. 1:15.  This text has a better rendering in the Revised Version:  “Like as he which called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living.”  We, as Christians, are God’s offspring and as such are like him.