,transcriber's ,note3 ,italic text is denoted by underscores4 ,minor typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected without note4 ,irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed4 ,illustration3 cover ,illustration3 titlepage ,faith and ,duty ,sermons on ,free ,texts ,with ,reference to the ,church-,year ,by the ,,rev4 ,,louis ,,buchheimer ,pastor of the ,evangelical ,lutheran ,church of ,our ,redeemer1 ,st4 ,louis1 ,mo4 ,illustration3 logo ,,st4 ,,louis1 ,,mo4 ,,concordia ,,publishing ,,house #aiac ,,contents4 ,,page ,first ,sunday in ,advent4 ,gen4 #g1 #a #a ,second ,sunday in ,advent4 ,rev4 #bj1 #aa4 #ab4 #ae #g ,third ,sunday in ,advent4 #b ,cor4 #h1 #bc #ad ,fourth ,sunday in ,advent4 ,luke #a1 #gh #bj ,christmas4 #b ,cor4 #i1 #ae #be ,last ,sunday in the ,year4 ,isaiah #fd1 #f #ca ,new ,year's ,day4 ,matt4 #f1 #i #cg ,epiphany ,sunday4 ,john #h1 #ab #dc ,first ,sunday after ,epiphany4 ,eccl4 #ab1 #a #dh ,second ,sunday after ,epiphany4 ,hebr4 #ad1 #d #ed ,third ,sunday after ,epiphany4 ,john #d1 #ad4 #ae #fj ,fourth ,sunday after ,epiphany4 ,matt4 #ad1 #bb-bg #fg ,fifth ,sunday after ,epiphany4 ,matt4 #ac1 #dg4 #dh #gc ,septuagesima ,sunday4 ,matt4 #bj1 #ae #gi ,sexagesima ,sunday4 ,john #e1 #ci #he ,quinquagesima ,sunday4 ,rom4 #c1 #bc #ij ,first ,sunday in ,lent4 ,exodus #ag1 #h-ac #if ,second ,sunday in ,lent4 #b ,tim4 #d1 #aj #ajb ,third ,sunday in ,lent4 ,luke #g1 #ci #ajh ,fourth ,sunday in ,lent4 ,matt4 #ah1 #g #aad ,fifth ,sunday in ,lent4 ,exodus #ab1 #ac #aai ,palm ,sunday4 ,gen4 #ce1 #a-c #abd ,easter4 ,john #e1 #bh4 #bi #abi ,first ,sunday after ,easter4 ,john #ba1 #d #acd ,second ,sunday after ,easter4 ,john #ba1 #ae-ag #adj ,third ,sunday after ,easter4 ,matt4 #e1 #ae4 #af #ade ,fourth ,sunday after ,easter4 ,col4 #c1 #af #aej ,fifth ,sunday after ,easter4 ,eph4 #f1 #ah #aef ,ascension4 ,mark #af1 #ai #afa ,sunday after ,ascension4 ,luke #i1 #bf #aff ,pentecost4 ,zech4 #d1 #f #aga ,trinity ,sunday4 #b ,cor4 #ac1 #ad #agf ,first ,sunday after ,trinity4 ,matt4 #be1 #df #aha ,second ,sunday after ,trinity4 ,acts #bd1 #be #ahf ,third ,sunday after ,trinity4 ,matt4 #i1 #i-ac #aib ,fourth ,sunday after ,trinity4 ,matt4 #af1 #ai #aig ,fifth ,sunday after ,trinity4 ,acts #i1 #ag4 #ah #bjb ,sixth ,sunday after ,trinity4 #b ,tim4 #c1 #e #bjh ,seventh ,sunday after ,trinity4 ,luke #ab1 #f #bac ,eighth ,sunday after ,trinity4 #a ,tim4 #f1 #bj #bah ,ninth ,sunday after ,trinity4 ,luke #ab1 #af-ba #bbe ,tenth ,sunday after ,trinity4 #a ,cor4 #ab1 #ab and #bf #bcj ,eleventh ,sunday after ,trinity4 ,rom4 #c1 #bh #bcf ,twelfth ,sunday after ,trinity4 ,prov4 #bb1 #f #bda ,thirteenth ,sunday after ,trinity4 ,matt4 #be1 #dj #bdf ,fourteenth ,sunday after ,trinity4 #b ,pet4 #a1 #e-g #beb ,fifteenth ,sunday after ,trinity4 #a ,pet4 #e1 #g #beh ,sixteenth ,sunday after ,trinity4 #b ,kings #bj1 #a-f #bfc ,seventeenth ,sunday after ,trinity4 #a ,cor4 #c1 #aa-ae #bfi ,eighteenth ,sunday after ,trinity4 #a ,kings #ah1 #ba #bgd ,nineteenth ,sunday after ,trinity4 ,john #e1 #a-i #bhj ,twentieth ,sunday after ,trinity4 ,luke #ab1 #ed-ef #bhf ,twenty-first ,sunday after ,trinity4 ,luke #ad1 #bh-cj #bib ,twenty-second ,sunday after ,trinity4 ,gal4 #f1 #a #big ,twenty-third ,sunday after ,trinity4 ,mark #ab1 #da-dd #cjc ,humiliation and ,prayer ,sunday4 ,dan4 #e1 #bg #cji ,reformation4 ,ps4 #hg1 #a-c #cad ,,first ,,sunday ,,in ,,advent4 ,come thou and all thy house into the ark4--,gen4 #g1 #a4 ,the ,bible1 from beginning to end1 is a series of object lessons4 ,god sets before us certain persons1 things1 events1 and bids us look at and learn from them1 just as the teacher at school draws a diagram on the blackboard1 and tells the children to look at and learn from it4 ,no word1 or single incident1 recorded in the ,bible1 is wasted or useless2 what may1 at first glance1 sometimes appear trifling and unimportant to us1 may1 on closer examination1 mean very much1 like the decimal point in arithmetic or the accent on a word4 ,so it is with the words of the text just quoted4 ,they may seem insignificant1 yet are they most important4 ,the present season1 beginning with this ,sunday1 is called ,advent4 ,we are accustomed1 in the four weeks before ,christmas1 to direct our minds to ,christ's advent or coming4 ,this advent1 we say1 is threefold3 ,first1 there is ,christ's coming in the flesh1 when as a little babe ,he lay in the manger at ,bethlehem1 taking upon ,himself the form of ,abraham1 made in the likeness of human flesh1 and performing the pilgrimage of an earthly life that ,he might thus save man4 ,again1 we distinguish ,his second coming1 i4 e41 ,his return1 as we confess in the ,creed1 to judge the quick and the dead1 when1 arrayed in all the power and majesty of ,almightiness1 ,he shall come to execute vengeance upon the evildoers1 vindicate and take home with ,himself those who believed in ,him4 ,and between these two comings lies a third1 which we are wont to designate ,his spiritual coming1 by which we mean ,his coming and knocking at the door of our hearts for admission4 ,this coming is not visible1 however1 as the other two1 but invisible1 yet none the less real on that account1 and it is carried on by means of ,his ,word and sacraments1 through the instrumentality of the preaching of the ,gospel and the administration of ,holy ,baptism and the ,lord's ,supper1 for the execution of which ,he has founded a divine institution called the ,church4 ,to that ,church ,he has entrusted the work of ,gospel preaching and sacramental giving4 ,she1 if true to her calling and message1 is the conservatory of ,his truth1 the disseminator of ,his kingdom upon earth4 ,it is within her pales that ,he dispenses salvation4 ,outside of the ,church ,he does not promise to bestow forgiveness of sin and the blessings of ,his grace4 ,how these preliminary remarks bear upon the selection and consideration of our text1 what precious and instructive lessons we may gather from the comparison1 that let us see1 and may we be wise and heed4 ,come thou and all thy house into the ark1 reads the command of ,god4 ,we immediately perceive with what account of ancient history that connects4 ,the people of the ,old ,world1 the antediluvians1 as they are generally called1 had become so corrupt in morals and life that ,god determined their destruction and said3 ,the end of all flesh is come before me1 for the earth is filled with violence1 yet1 to show ,his desire to save them1 ,he appointed ,his servant ,noah to preach righteousness to them1 and directed him to build an ark as an evidence that ,he was minded to carry out ,his purpose1 and as a means of safety for ,noah4 ,few1 however1 none1 in fact1 except ,noah and his immediate family1 eight souls in all1 took the warning to heart4 ,many a one of that perverse generation1 we may surmise1 even assisted in the construction of the ark1 and the patriarchal minister would exhort them to forsake their sins and worship ,god1 only to be sneered at for his credulity and ridiculed for his nonsensical eccentricity of building such a boathouse4 ,but the hundred and twenty years given for probation expired1 and ,noah receives directions to embark4 ,come thou1 is the command1 into the ark4 ,just one week is allowed to bring into the ark all his family1 and the birds and beasts to be preserved1 and then--what an unusual sound it must have been--the door was shut1 not by ,noah's1 or any human hand1 but by the hand of ,jehovah2 for it is written3 ,and the ,lord shut him in1 and now1 amid the war of heaven's artillery and the shaking of the earth1 the fountains of the deep burst open1 and the windows of the skies break loose1 and the greatest and most terrible calamity ,revelation records is on4 ,imagination cannot portray the scenes that must have then been enacted1--how1 forgetful of everything but self-preservation1 they fled towards the singular building1 which but a little before they had insolently defied2 how1 perhaps laboring in their distraction to scramble up its huge sides1 the angry tide of waters keeps them down1 and with a cry of despair they dash into the watery abyss2 how some1 climbing up to the loftiest pinnacle and summit of the mountains1 in the hope that perhaps at the end the door may be opened to receive a few more1 they see the wondrous ship dashing along1 gallant and safe1 and hear that gurgling sound1 the death requiem of their race1 rising higher and higher4 ,oh6 who can describe the anguish1 the woe1 the cursing of self4 ,but it was now too late1 and yet1 whose fault was it8 ,provision had been made1 probation time had been granted them2 there was none to blame but themselves4 ,god's warnings are not empty sounds1 ,his institutions not for ridicule and rejection4 ,and now1 more generally1 for the application4 ,we1 too1 have an ark1 a ,new ,testament ,ark4 ,god1 ,himself1 as the divine architect and artificer1 has built it2 ,he devised the plans1 ,he selected the material1 and employs the ,noahs in its construction2 daily do we see before our eyes its towers and walls1 hear regularly and pleadingly the bells sending out the invitation3 ,come thou into the ark4 ,you know what this ark is1--it's the ,holy ,christian ,church1 that divine structure which by ,him has been finished these #aijj years4 ,there1 in the midst of a world of sin and depravity1 upon which ,god has pronounced ,his righteous judgments as clearly as upon the race of antediluvians1 it stands1--the great1 the capacious ,gospel ,ark1 a refuge of safety2 come whatever ,jehovah may commission upon our guilty world1 it is certain to ride safely above the tumultuous tempest and bring us gallantly to the celestial mountain1 the ,ararat of ,heaven4 ,my dear hearer1 have you entered into that ark8 ,is your name enrolled among the list of passengers8 ,and why not8 ,make known the reason of your backwardness4 ,in other words1 without figure1 lay before you the question3 ,why are you not a church-member8 ,why do you stand aloof from the church8 ,why do you not join8 ,i shall listen to a few of your reasons1 and then tell you why you ought to join4 ,perhaps you are laboring under the fear that there is not room enough for you in the ark1 that you are not invited among them to whom the gracious offer is tendered4 ,banish that thought instantly from your mind4 ,not room enough in the ark6 ,not wanted6 ,come thou and thy house into the ark4 ,you know the beautiful parable of the ,great ,supper1 to which all and sundry were invited1 and after everything had been precisely done as the master had commanded1 the servant comes and tells the master of the house3 ,yet there is room4 ,a striking truth6 ,those words reveal that the ,christian ,ark is not yet fully tenanted1 that1 as the invitation is still out1 you are yet in time4 ,not room--not wanted6 ,god forbid that such a thought should in your breasts be found4 ,come unto me1 declared your ,savior1 come thou into the ark4 ,but you say3 ,i do belong to the church1 the so-called ',big ,church1' i4 e41 to the number of those who still profess to be ,christians1 who uphold ,christian principles and live good moral lives1 who aim at what is right1 and ,i am just as good and honest as any in the church4 ,perhaps so1 my dear friend1 perhaps more so1 for not all that profess to be church-members are such2 some are slimy and wily hypocrites4 ,but you1 as an honorable and professing ,christian1 ought to be a church-member1 for you know that ,christ does not acknowledge the ,big ,church of which you are speaking4 ,you cannot put asunder what ,christ has joined together4 ,he has joined these two things together1 ,himself and the ,church2 outside of ,his ark ,he promises no salvation1 and you have no right to expect it4 ,for what is the ,church8 ,it is ,christ's provision for the salvation of man1--how8 ,by the preaching of ,his holy ,word and the administration of ,his sacraments1 as we heard4 ,is the ,word of ,god preached in the ,big ,church8 ,is ,baptism administered1 the ,lord's ,communion received8 ,how can faith in the ,savior then be wrought1 maintained1 forgiveness of sins secured1 hope and salvation8 ,faith cometh by hearing1 and hearing by the ,word of ,god1 says the ,bible4 ,if ye continue in my ,word1 then are ye my disciples1 indeed1 says the ,savior4 ,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved4 ,except ye eat the flesh of the ,son of ,man and drink ,his blood1 ye have no life in you4 ,i doubt not that many of the antediluvians did not despise the ark outright4 ,who knows but what they might have thought there was something to it1--when the great calamity comes we shall be all right1--and that they told the preacher of righteousness3 ,never mind about us1 ,noah1 our record is still good4 ,but salvation was in the ark1 and there it is to-day2 you cannot separate ,christ from ,his ,church1 ,christliness from ,churchliness1 for the ,church is ,christ's1 and ,christ is in ,his ,church2 and ,i know not1 from the study of ,god's ,word1 the ,bible1 what right any man has to stand aloof from the ,christian ,church and call himself a ,christian4 ,the ,big ,church is a big delusion4 ,yes1 ,i recognize that ,i ought to belong to the ,church1 but ,i do not like to bind myself1 pleads another4 ,bind yourself8 ,to what8 ,to a life of godliness1 to a conduct becoming a ,christian1 to the duties incumbent upon a member8 ,why1 if you are a ,christian at all1 you are bound by these things already4 ,the further few hours occasionally given to the deliberation of congregational affairs ought not to deter you4 ,you are bound already1 why speak about binding yourself8 ,and you certainly do not want to be unbound1--for in the ark alone is your safety4 ,there are yet other reasons why some do not join the ,church4 ,in our materialistic age1 there are hundreds whom the love of money keeps out of the house of ,god4 ,it costs something1 and they shun costs1 no matter for what purpose--ever so noble4 ,they hold connections which the ,church cannot sanction1 belong to organizations against which it finds itself compelled to testify1 and because people cannot bear to have their connections reproved1 and do not stop to weigh and consider what the ,church has to say1 they immediately1 without any further ado1 break off all relation with the ,church1 and raise the cry against it of being too strict1 and stay away from the preaching and the sacraments1 none of which have been denied them1 and to which they are warmly invited and heartily welcomed4 ,they will once have to answer for it4 ,the invitation remains3 ,come thou and all thy house into the ark4-- ,and now1 having listened to why some people do not belong to the ,church1 let us regard a few reasons why each and every ,christian ought to be a church-member4 ,first1 there is the positive command of ,god4 ,the ,lord said unto ,noah--commanded1 directed him3 ,come thou and all thy house into the ark4 ,his directions to us and ours are not less specific4 ,his ,third ,commandment reads3 ,thou shalt sanctify the holyday4 ,where does the sanctification of that day take place but in ,his ,church1 in the observance of its institutions8 ,he warns3 ,not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together1 as the manner of some is4 ,again1 take all such clear passages in which ,he commands us to profess piety as this3 ,i say unto you1 ,whosoever shall confess me before men1 him will ,i also confess before my ,father which is in heaven1 which1 if it means anything1 certainly means that we must either be publicly and openly rated among ,his confessors1 or ,he will not consent to acknowledge us among ,his saints4 ,how can a man be a proper child of ,god who will not so much as give ,his name as a believer8 ,what guarantee has he to count securely on salvation if he refuses to say before men whether he takes ,christ as his ,redeemer1 or not8 ,it is true3 ,with the heart man believeth unto righteousness1 but it is equally true3 ,with the mouth confession is made unto salvation4 ,church-membership is not optional2 it is imperative1 it is based upon ,god's command4 ,another reason for church-membership is1 that a ,christian must advance his ,master's cause4 ,if you are at liberty to decline connection with ,christ's ,church1 then ,i am2 if one is1 all are1 and how1 then1 can there be the maintenance of the ministry1 the furtherance of the manifest kingdom of ,god8 ,we pray daily3 ,hallowed be ,thy name2 ,thy kingdom come2 ,thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven4 ,when is ,god's name hallowed8 ,when does ,his kingdom come8 ,and by what influences and agencies is ,his will done on earth but by this organization established by ,himself for that purpose1--,his holy ,church8 ,who keeps up the work of the ministry with its schools of education1 who maintains the propagation of the faith by the support of missions1 and all those other efforts essential to the preservation and spreading of ,christ's kingdom1 and you1 as a disciple of ,christ1 should be found standing aloof from it1 not helping along yourself1 yea1 by your passive indifference and non-cooperation setting a bad example unto others8 ,your duty in this respect is as plain as ,noah's1--you should get into the ark4 ,and1 reason last4 ,it promotes your own good4 ,aside from what we have already emphasized1 there is something in the simple matter of being known and feeling committed as a member of a ,church which strengthens and helps a man4 ,it restrains where otherwise there would be no restraint4 ,it induces to arouse a livelier sense of religious obligations1 stimulates to stricter fidelity in the observance of things which otherwise are easily neglected1 secures the watch and oversight of experienced ,christians1 and1 withal1 gives a force and quickening which comes from conviction that one is rated as a disciple of ,christ and looked to for example in faith1 in word1 and in deeds4 ,it brings spiritual things and ,christian duty closer home4 ,if conscientiously attended to1 it is a blessing to you1 and it makes you a blessing to others4 ,let this suffice on this subject at this time4 ,let those who have held and are holding membership draw a rule from what has been said for the regulation of their conduct4 ,so divine and essential a cause enlists their endeavors4 ,let them make it their business to honor it1 to widen and extend its influences by being punctual at the services1 by being particular in the observance of its sacraments1 by being uncompromising in the belief and defense of its faith1 by being active in encouraging all efforts necessary to its life and success4 ,and those who have hitherto stood aloof from the ,church1 or who are mere lingerers about its gates1 let them also learn from this the unsatisfactoriness of their position1 and be admonished of the duty and necessity that is upon them if they would find ,god and salvation4 ,come thou and thy family into the ark1--what time could be more opportune than this first day of another year of ,god's grace8 ,consider the matter1 and may it lead you to lay your vow upon ,god's altar and have your name recorded on the roster of the ,church4 ,amen4 ,,second ,,sunday ,,in ,,advent4 ,and ,i saw a great white throne1 and ,him that sat on it4 ,and ,i saw the dead1 small and great1 stand before ,god2 and the books were opened2 and another book was opened which is the book of life2 and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books1 according to their works2 and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire4--,rev4 #bj1 #aa4 #ab4 #ae4 ,we are all acquainted1 my beloved1 with the verdict that was once pronounced upon ,king ,belshazzar of ,babylon1--how1 seated one night at a royal banquet1 with his princes1 his wives and concubines1 eating1 drinking1 and making merry1 there suddenly appeared upon the wall of his palace the ghostly fingers of a man's hand tracing in clear and distinct letters the words3 ,mene1 ,mene1 ,tekel1 ,upharsin4 ,when the king saw the mysterious script and surmised its probable meaning1 his countenance was changed1 the joints of his loins were loosed1 and his knees smote one against another4 ,the wisest man in his realm was sent for1 one ,daniel1 the ,lord's prophet1 interprets the words and tells him3 ,mene3 ,god has numbered thy kingdom and finished it4 ,tekel3 ,thou art weighed in the balance and found wanting4 ,upharsin3 ,thy kingdom is divided and given to the ,medes and ,persians4 ,nor was it the space of two hours before the verdict met its fulfillment4 ,darius1 the king of the ,medes1 by a subterranean passage1 dug under the city's walls1 broke into the city4 ,belshazzar was slain that night1 and his mighty empire shattered like chaff before the wind4 ,mene1 ,mene1 ,tekel1 ,upharsin1 that is the handwriting which one might appropriately inscribe over the portals of this day4 ,loving and warning as was the picture which we contemplated on the last ,lord's ,day1 where we observed our ,savior riding in royal state1 in the ,city of ,david1 and heard the prophet's prediction3 ,tell ye the daughter of ,sion1 ,behold1 thy ,king cometh unto thee1 meek and sitting upon a colt1 just as tremendous and awfully solemn is the account in to-day's ,gospel1 which presents to us that selfsame ,king transformed into a judge1 ,his meekness into righteous display1 ,his offers of salvation into sentences of sharpness1 justice1 and retribution1 parceling out to every one1 as ,he did unto ,belshazzar at ,babylon1 the just verdict of his deed4 ,it is ,christ's ,second ,advent1 ,his coming to judge the quick and the dead1 that forms the topic of our present contemplation1 and taking up the account read from ,revelations1 step by step1 may ,god's ,holy ,spirit make our consideration of it a blessing to your souls4 ,four things enlist our devotion3 ,i4 ,the ,judge2 ,,ii4 the judged2 ,,iii4 the books2 ,,iv4 the results4 ,the first thing that arrested the ,apostle's eye was the throne4 ,and ,i saw a great white throne1 he tells us4 ,thrones are the seats of kings and sovereigns1 and they are always associated with the idea of regal splendor and magnificence4 ,just so the meaning is1 that when the blessed and only ,potentate1 the ,king of kings and ,lord of lords1 appears in the clouds of heaven1 ,he will be surrounded with the manifestations of grandeur1 majesty1 and dominion1 as the ,gospel indicates when it says3 ,then shall ye see the ,son of ,man coming in great glory1 and things are particularly specified1 too1 regarding this throne4 ,it is a great throne1 like the one which ,isaiah1 the prophet1 saw in one of his visions high and lifted up1 so that the millions and myriads of earth can easily discern it as the spot where they shall hear their eternal destiny read out4 ,and it was also a white throne4 ,white1 in the language of the ,bible and of all nations1 is the mark of purity and holiness1 and when1 accordingly1 the throne is designated as being white1 it means that white decisions will be rendered there1 stainless judgment1 unspotted by the least prejudice1 crookedness1 partiality1 or mistakes2 none will think of questioning their equity1 or dream of appealing to any higher court4 ,their verdict will be final and fair4 ,the next object that attracted the ,apostle's eye was the ,judge ,himself3 ,and ,i saw ,him that sat on it4 ,no further description of the personal appearance of the ,judge is given4 ,john simply says3 ,i saw ,him1 whence it follows that ,he can be seen1 and1 accordingly1 it could not have been the absolute1 invisible ,god1 who cannot be seen4 ,who1 then1 was it8 ,it was none other than ,jesus ,christ1 of whom we confess in the ,second ,article that ,he was born of the ,virgin ,mary1 was crucified1 dead and buried1 and the third day rose again1 and1 ascending into heaven1 shall come again to judge the quick and the dead4 ,this is the plain teaching of ,scripture throughout4 ,christ ,jesus1 the ,son of ,man1 wearing the very nature of those whom ,he judges1 will be the ,judge4 ,god hath appointed a day in which ,he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom ,he hath ordained4 ,but not any longer as the gentle1 compassionate ,savior1 as the ,lamb of ,god that taketh away the sin of the world1 but as the ,lion of the tribe of ,judah1 as the ,judge from whose face the earth and the heavens will flee away1 and the unrighteous call out in despair3 ,ye mountains1 fall upon us1 and ye hills1 hide us from ,him that sitteth on the throne4 ,and think not1 we would here add1 that we are describing matters of imagination1 such as poets and painters may dwell upon4 ,we are describing things that will really happen4 ,john saw these things in vision4 ,you and ,i shall one day see these things in reality4 ,behold1 ,he cometh with clouds1 and every eye shall see ,him4 ,where shall be our place1 what our portion at that time1 in that day8 ,this we learn from the next point of consideration3 ,who shall be the judged8 ,and ,i saw the dead1 small and great1 stand before ,god4 ,by the dead here are meant all mankind1 the entire family of earth1 all of woman born1 from ,adam down to the last offspring of human race1--they must all appear before the judgment-seat of ,christ4 ,it is computed that there are more than eighty millions of inhabitants in our land4 ,this is about one-twentieth part of the entire population of the globe1 which1 at this time1 is calculated at one billion five hundred millions4 ,these one billion five hundred millions will be all gathered together into one thronging assemblage1 and not they only1 but also1 in addition1 the two hundred generations of men who have preceded us1 and those generations--how many we know not1 ,god knoweth--that will still live in the earth between these days and the last general judgment4 ,these all1 which no man can number1 shall be judged4 ,it says3 ,the great and small4 ,there will be no distinction of age1 size1 color1 or nation1 condition or rank1 those of high degree and those of low estate1 the rich and the poor1 the sovereign and his subjects1 the man of silvery hair and the infant of a span long1 the distinguished scholar and the untutored savage1 husband and wife1 pastor and people1 apostles and sinners1--all shall stand before ,god4 ,all the dead1 whose bodies were once consigned by loving hands to quiet resting-chambers beneath mother earth1 those whose bones lie bleached upon the desert's sands or ,alpine mountains1 those whose corpse was lowered down into watery depths1--immaterial how1 when1 or where dead1--these all shall yield up their tents when the trumpet of the archangel sounds to gather the children of men unto judgment4 ,and with the parties thus arrayed at the bar1 we proceed to the judgment itself4 ,and the books were opened1 and another book was opened which is the book of life4 ,and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books4 ,two sets of books are here spoken of3 first1 two books1 and then another book4 ,other passages in ,god's ,word also speak of books in connection with the ,judgment4 ,what the character of these books spoken of is we are not at a loss to determine2 the one is the book of ,god's remembrance1 and the other is the book of ,god's ,word4 ,not as if ,god in reality employs books to make ,his entries2 the all-knowing ,king needs no such helps to remind ,him of men's actions4 ,his all-capacious mind knows all things and forgets nothing4 ,the idea is3 ,just as men1 in their manifold dealings1 do not trust to their memories1 but use memoranda and records in order to be able to refer to them as occasion requires1 just so1 in condescension to our way of thinking1 figuratively speaking1 ,god represents ,himself as keeping a book in which ,he has an exact record of what has been done by any creature1 past1 present1 and future4 ,and an exact record it will be1 accurate in the minutest detail4 ,not only man's general character1 the sum total of his life1 whether 7taken altogether7 he was1 on the whole1 a worldly or a pious man1 or the like1 will be taken into account1 but every trifling act1 good or bad1 of which his entire life was composed4 ,the word is3 ,god shall bring every work into judgment1 with every secret thing1 whether it be good1 or whether it be evil4 ,everything4 ,nothing shall be kept back1 nothing will be overlooked4 ,that thought that passed so rapidly through your mind as hardly to be noticed1 that word that so hastily escaped your lips1 all the deliberate and determined actions which have left their stain upon your life1 all these1 down to the secret sin that you have been so successful in hiding from the sight of man1 all1 whether done in childhood1 youth1 manhood1 or old age1 all that has been committed or omitted1 will be opened out to public view by the all-seeing1 all-remembering ,judge4 ,this is the first book1 the ,book of ,remembrance4 ,and the divine ,arbiter opens another book4 ,we have no difficulty in recognizing it at once4 ,it is to us a familiar volume1--,the word that ,i have spoken1 the same shall judge you in the last day1 is the language of the ,judge ,himself4 ,that book1 we contend1 is the guide and rule of our faith and actions in this life2 it is also the statute-book of heaven1 the touchstone by which our hearts and lives are to be tried in the life hereafter4 ,plain enough are the directions that book tells you4 ,thou shalt love the ,lord1 thy ,god1 with all thy heart1 with all thy soul1 and with all thy mind1 and thy neighbor as thyself4 ,plainly does it speak to you and to all of heaven1 of judgment1 of eternity1 of faith1 of holiness1 and of the new birth and conversion2 plainly does it inform you of ,him who redeemed us from the curse of the ,law1 being made a curse for us1 that he that believeth in the ,son hath eternal life1 and he that believeth not the ,son shall not see life1 but the wrath of ,god abideth on him4 ,in brief1 according to that opened ,bible man shall be justified or condemned4 ,here is the standard1 the rule4 ,how important1 my beloved1 that we should see on what terms we stand with our ,bibles now--whether they justify us1 or whether they condemn us4 ,oh1 for that oft-neglected divine ,book6 ,but there is a third book to be opened4 ,that is the book of life1 and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire4 ,it was a custom generally observed at the courts of princes to keep a list of the persons employed in their service1 of the officers of their armies1 and sometimes even the names of the soldiers2 and when it is said in the ,bible that a person's name is written in the book of life1 it means that he particularly belongs to ,god1 is enrolled among ,his friends and followers4 ,it is also probable that the early ,christian churches1 like our churches now1 kept lists of their members1 and that this term book of life was derived from such a custom1 it being regarded that any one on the list was also an assured member of heaven4 ,and how may ,i know whether my name is inscribed in this book of life8 ,he that believeth in the ,son hath eternal life1 and he that believeth not in the ,son1 shall not see life1 but the wrath of ,god abideth on him4 ,what determines our eternal destiny1 our acceptance or rejection by the ,judge1 is our personal belief and faith in ,jesus ,christ2 on that depends our salvation1 our being enrolled or canceled from the book of life4 ,jesus1 ,thy blood and righteousness1 my jewels are1 my glorious dress2 in these before my ,god ,i'll stand when summoned to ,his own right hand4 ,nothing else will avail but faith in ,jesus ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 our ,redeemer4 ,that places our name in the book of life2 with that men will stand or fall4 ,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved1 but he that believeth not shall be damned4 ,but does not the ,record here1 verse #ab1 and the ,bible elsewhere1 emphasize that we will be judged according to our works1 according to what we have done8 ,indeed1 but this does not contradict salvation by faith in ,christ ,jesus2 our faith1 to prove itself genuine1 must work and does work4 ,if there are no works1 we may rest assured there is no faith4 ,at the last day our works will be inquired into to ascertain the nature of our faith4 ,if there is no love toward the brethren of ,jesus1 no manifestation of ,christ's ,spirit toward ,christ's suffering members1 we may take it for granted that faith is dead4 ,our works come into account as fruits of our faith2 but faith in ,christ ,jesus is the principle on which all stand or fall1 for--what will the outcome of that final judgment be8 ,and they shall go away into everlasting punishment1 but the righteous into life eternal4 ,the ,bible everywhere speaks1 in connection with the ,day of ,judgment1 of mankind being separated into two distinct portions4 ,now the wheat and tares grow together4 ,there is a difference between them1 even at the present1 which the skilled eye in many instances can detect1 but1 as yet1 they run together1 and there is no severance of them into separate fields or pastures4 ,it will not always be so4 ,infidels and ,christians will one day cease to live under the same roof1 or believers and unbelievers to be unequally yoked together1 or the children of the devil and the children of ,god to be intermingled in the same families1 firms1 and societies4 ,when men come to appear before their ,judge1 the record is3 ,he shall separate them one from another1 and shall set the good as sheep on ,his right hand1 but the goats on the left4 ,in ancient times the left and right hand of a judge meant much4 ,to be placed on the right hand signified acceptance1 acquittal2 on the left hand1 condemnation1 rejection4 ,and ,he shall say to them on ,his right hand3 ,come1 ye blessed of my ,father1 inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world4 ,and1 addressing ,himself to the other1 there break from the lips of the ,judge the dark1 desolating words3 ,depart from me1 ye cursed1 into everlasting fire1 prepared for the devil and his angels4 ,one shudders to speak them1 but here are the words from the lips of the almighty ,judge ,himself4 ,who can alter them8 ,on the one side is an inheritance1 a realm of divine blessedness1 a kingdom which knows no evil1 a life which knows no death4 ,on the other side gapes a lake of unquenchable fire1 never1 indeed1 meant or made for men4 ,punishments are there1 and tears that ever fall1 and flames that ever burn1 and miseries that never exhaust4 ,exactly what it is ,i cannot tell1 and wish that none may ascertain4 ,i can only rehearse the expressions of ,god's ,word upon the subject1--blackness of darkness1 worm that dieth not1 weeping and gnashing of teeth2 and no representation is more awful than the one employed in the text1 a lake of fire1 seething1 sweltering1 weltering fire1 that shall never be quenched1 everlasting burning4 ,and why1 brethren1 bring before you these solemn truths8 ,is it to torment you before the time8 ,no1 indeed1 but as ,he ,himself in to-day's ,gospel declares1 that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass1 and to stand before the ,son of ,man1 that you be sincere believers and worshipers here on earth1 diligent in good works1 and on that day be rated among those who shall inherit their ,father's kingdom1 and to that end3 ,king of ,majesty1 tremendous1 ,who dost free salvation send us1 ,fount of pity1 then befriend us1 ,with the favored sheep1 ,o place us6 ,nor amid the goats abase us1 ,to ,thine own right hand upraise us6 ,amen4 ,,third ,,sunday ,,in ,,advent4 ,they are the messengers of the churches4--#b ,cor4 #h1 #bc4 ,st4 ,paul the ,apostle was laboring in ,macedonia4 ,he had there learned that through the famine which then prevailed the pious converts in ,judea were in pecuniary straits4 ,he had applied for aid in their behalf to the brethren in ,macedonia1 and they1 considering their poverty1 had responded in the most liberal manner to his appeal4 ,he informs the church of ,corinth of this large benevolence1 and states his conviction that the ,corinthian believers1 who were so much richer than those of ,macedonia1 would not allow themselves to be outdone in the extent of their bounty4 ,not satisfied with having informed them by letter1 he also sends to them ,titus and other ,christian ministers to explain to them fully the wants of their suffering brethren and to raise the necessary supplies4 ,now1 it appeared requisite for the information of those who were not sufficiently acquainted with the men sent that they should carry with them some introduction1 some credentials4 ,st4 ,paul1 therefore1 accredits them in the words of the text3 ,whether any do inquire of ,titus or of our brethren1 they are the messengers of the churches and the glory of ,christ4 ,it is not my intention1 on the present occasion1 to dwell upon the circumstances to which our text most immediately refers4 ,my object is to impress upon your minds the solemn character of the ministerial office as explained by the expression3 messengers of the churches4 ,the epistle of this ,sunday suggests this1 and the fact that it is the ----th anniversary of my ministry among you lends it a personal coloring4 ,two chief items commend our thoughts3 ,i4 ,the office of ,christ's ministers1 ,,ii4 the duty of ,christ's people1--what is it8 ,the office of ,christ's ministers1--what is it8 ,announces ,paul in the text3 ,they are the messengers of the churches4 ,we all know the office of a messenger4 ,it is to bear a message from one person to another person4 ,this figure is frequently made use of in the ,bible to illustrate the intercourse between ,god and man4 ,thus it is employed in reference to the ,lord ,himself4 ,from all eternity ,he had been in the bosom of the ,father1 and when the fullness of time was come1 ,he appeared in the form of a man1 to make known1 to declare1 the message of the ,father4 ,that message was the unfolding of the everlasting covenant whereby ,god might be just and yet pardon and save the sinner4 ,hence1 the ,prophet ,malachi predicts ,christ's coming under this very name of ,messenger3 ,the ,lord whom ye seek1 shall suddenly come to ,his temple1 even the ,messenger of the ,covenant1 whom ye delight in4 ,our blessed ,lord1 accordingly1 was a messenger4 ,the angels1 also1 have often been employed to bring messages from ,god to man4 ,they1 likewise1 are spoken of under this title4 ,the ,greek word which we translate angel means messenger4 ,the vision which ,jacob saw at ,bethel1 the angels of ,god ascending and descending upon the ladder1 aptly represents the services of those heavenly beings who are continually descending and ascending with tidings respecting the business which is being transacted between heaven and earth4 ,hence1 the angel1 or messenger1 who appeared to ,zacharias and told the purpose of his visit from the courts above3 ,i am ,gabriel1 said he1 that stand in the presence of ,god1 and am sent to speak unto thee and to show thee these glad tidings4 ,but1 besides the ,lord ,jesus and the angels1 it has pleased ,god in ,his mercy and condescension to make use of men as ,his messengers to the human race1 and so they are described in the ,word of ,god4 ,we read3 ,thus spake ,haggai1 the ,lord's messenger1 and ,st4 ,paul1 in writing to the ,philippians1 respecting their minister1 says3 ,i supposed it necessary to send unto you ,epaphroditus1 my brother and companion in labor1 but your messenger4 ,but1 alas1 through the corruption of our common nature1 everything human is liable to be perverted4 ,there are many who profess to be the ,lord's messengers1 who are not such4 ,it is1 accordingly1 intimated in the ,scripture1 for the warning of ,lord's people1 that there are two classes of messengers1 the evil and the good4 ,in the history and prophecies of the ,old ,testament we read of false prophets who were not sent1 and yet they ran and taught the people perverse doctrines and led many away from the true service of the living ,god4 ,in the days of ,israel in the wilderness there were ,korah1 ,dathan and ,abiram1 who1 contrary to the spirit of ,god1 taught the people to rebel against ,moses and ,aaron4 ,the ,prophet ,jeremiah speaks of a very busy set of false prophets who did not stand in the ,lord's counsel and misled ,his people4 ,and in the ,new ,testament they are not missing1--there were the ,pharisees1 ,judas1 ,hymenaeus1 and ,alexander4 ,st4 ,paul bitterly complains about some who1 to gain their own selfish purposes1 pretended to be apostles1 but who were not4 ,our ,lord admonishes that1 at all times of the ,christian dispensation1 we may expect false prophets wearing the clothing of sheep4 ,now1 how are we to distinguish between the real and pretended messengers of ,christ8 ,the ,lord ,himself has told us3 ,by their fruits ye shall know them4 ,if1 therefore1 a minister does not bring forth the proper fruits1 say what he will to the contrary1 he is not accredited by ,christ1--he is not the ,lord's messenger4 ,one chief point by which we may judge is the fruits of the lips4 ,what message does he deliver8 ,is it the ,lord's message1 or is it some conceit of his own8 ,the popish priest1 who preaches salvation by works1 the intercession of the ,virgin1 the lying delusion of purgatory1 delivers not the ,lord's message4 ,the ,unitarian minister1 who talks of the virtues of humanity1 who denies the ,trinity1 the atonement of the ,redeemer1 the converting and sanctifying operations of the ,holy ,spirit1 he1 too1 certainly does not deliver the ,lord's message4 ,and to come nearer to ourselves1 he who professes to be a ,lutheran minister1 and who yet denies the doctrine of ,justification by ,faith only1 who does not preach the regenerating power of the ,holy ,sacrament of ,baptism1 and the real presence of ,christ's body and blood in the ,lord's ,supper1 he1 likewise1 whatever may be his profession to the contrary1 does not deliver the ,lord's message4 ,what is the ,lord's message8 ,the voice said3 ,cry1 and the faithful messenger said3 ,what shall ,i cry8 ,all flesh is grass4 ,the grass withereth1 the flower fadeth1 but the ,word of our ,god shall stand forever4 ,the prophet that hath a dream1 let him tell a dream2 and he that hath my ,word1 let him speak my ,word faithfully4 ,preach the ,word1 was ,st4 ,paul's advice to ,timothy4 ,preach the ,word2 be instant with that word in season and out of season2 in the pulpit and out of the pulpit2 in the schoolroom and on the platform2 in the sick chamber and in the abodes of health2 in the highways and in the byways4 ,only one-half of a minister's duty is done when the services of the sanctuary are over1 and the marriages1 funerals1 and baptisms are performed4 ,the minister1 one has remarked1 is a physician4 ,he has a vast field before him4 ,he has to study a variety of constitutions4 ,he has to furnish himself with the knowledge of the whole system of remedies4 ,he is to be a man of skill and expediency4 ,if one thing fails1 he must know how to apply another4 ,he must be able to speak a word in season1 to deliver the ,lord's message to the saint and to the sinner1 to the heavy-laden and to the presumptuous1 to the contrite and to the inquirer1--to all1 in short1 that come4 ,for the priest's lips1 says ,malachi1 should keep knowledge1 and they should seek the ,law at his mouth4 ,for this reason1 he will unceasingly be on the lookout for tidings4 ,he will not1 indeed1 originate new things4 ,he will not speak anything which comes into his own head1 but he will diligently study what the ,word of the ,lord says1 and that will he1 no matter who may be present in the congregation1 boldly and unreservedly deliver4 ,he will deliver the whole counsel of ,god4 ,he will be zealous for the truth1 and neither teach nor tolerate any manner or degree of error2 but1 above all1 he will preach1 as the most important part of his message1 ,christ ,jesus4 ,other preaching may inform the head and please the ear1 but it is the setting forth of ,christ in all ,his willingness to pardon1 ,christ in all ,his mightiness to save1 which alone can storm the outworks and force the citadel of the heart4 ,it is not the flowery language and the rounded period1 embellished with sparkling figures and brilliant metaphors1 that will of itself win souls to the ,lord4 ,no1 it is the discriminating1 earnest1 and affectionate preaching of ,christ1 whether in the polished language of the scholar or in the ruder accents of a less accomplished zeal1--it is this preaching alone which is worthy of the name4 ,the minister of ,christ has a much more important matter in hand than some imagine4 ,as a faithful messenger1 he is to deliver1 not information about political issues1 lectures on morals1 literature1 and topics of the day1 but he is to give hearers a full exhibition of ,christ as ,he is revealed in the ,bible and ought to be imprinted on every human heart1--the sinner's ,hope1 the sinner's ,refuge1 the sinner's ,surety and ,substitute1 the sinner's ,high ,priest and ,advocate1 the sinner's ,all and in all4 ,this1 dear members and hearers1 is the message4 ,and oh1 what a blessing such a message is6 ,how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth these good tidings2 that publisheth peace2 that bringeth these good tidings of good2 that publisheth salvation4 ,as refreshing rain upon the dry1 parched soil1 so is such a faithful message to them that hear him4 ,and this is the character which he who now addresses you is anxious to sustain1 as minister of this congregation4 ,for ---- years have ,i preached this message of redemption among you4 ,most graciously have you received it at my lips1 which leads me to thank ,god and take courage1 asking for the ,spirit's influence to make that message effectual4 ,this1 then1 is the duty of ,christ's ministers4 ,what1 to come to the next consideration1 is the duty of ,christ's people8 ,if it is the duty of ,christ's ministers to declare ,his message1 it is equally the duty of ,christ's people to receive that message4 ,now1 it is well to note that1 according to ,god's ,word1 our message is twofold4 ,it is ,law1 and it is ,gospel4 ,both we are to proclaim1--the ,law1 which demands1 threatens1 and condemns in its sharpness and terror1 and shows us our sin and the wrath of ,god2 and the ,gospel1 which shows us our ,savior and the grace of ,god1 and offers forgiveness1 life1 and salvation in its sweetness and comfort4 ,can you bear to be thus slain by the ,law8 ,can you bear to speak with the lesson of this ,sunday--the ministry of ,john the ,baptist1 the man girt about with a leathern girdle1 expressing himself in the language of bold reproof1 and declaring that even now the ax is laid unto the root of the trees1 and that every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire8 ,can you bear to be told that1 virtuous as many of you may be1 you must seek salvation as sinners8 ,can you bear to be told that1 if any man will be ,christ's disciple1 he must deny himself daily1 and take up his cross1 and follow his ,lord wherever ,he may lead8 ,can you bear to have it forced upon you3 ,be not conformed to this world8 ,these things belong to the message1 and we would not be ministers of the ,gospel of ,christ without telling you them4 ,and remember1 too1 that you must receive them not with your ears only1 but with your hearts4 ,believe me1 it is not enough to come hither and to attend these messages1 and as you quit the sanctuary to say you are pleased with the sermons you hear4 ,highly as we1 that are ministers1 value your kind regard and affectionate esteem1 we miss our object if that is all we accomplish4 ,no1 beloved1 we seek not your praise1 but you4 ,we want your eye to pass on from the servant to his ,master1 from the messenger to ,him that sent ,him4 ,like ,john1 we are but ,his voice1 the voice of one that crieth amid this wilderness and waste4 ,he that cometh is ,christ4 ,we are but the tube1 or trumpet1 through which ,he speaks4 ,forget thus the messenger1 shut your eyes upon the preacher1 and think of the ,savior4 ,hear ,his voice1 let that go to your heart4 ,one more duty1--assist the messenger4 ,various are the means and channels in which that may be done4 ,we have in our midst a willing band of ,sunday-school teachers2 what are they doing but helping to bring the message to the hearts of our youth8 ,we have those who are not ashamed or afraid to invite others to come and hear the message spoken in public1 those who encourage some to go and hear it in private1 in catechetical instruction4 ,then1 too1 are our church societies laboring usefully in the ,lord4 ,many are the means and ways in which these messengers may be assisted in the performance of their duty1 and to so assist in the duty of all4 ,my dear members1 may ,god continue to bless1 as ,he has visibly and bountifully blessed1 these past years1 ,his message and ,his messengers and those that hear it6 ,the ,lord hear and answer this our petition for our ,great ,redeemer's sake6 ,amen4 ,,fourth ,,sunday ,,in ,,advent4 ,the ,dayspring from on high hath visited us4--,luke #a1 #gh4 ,in directing our attention to this text1 we would regard1 ,i4 by whom the words were spoken1 and ,,ii4 of whom they were spoken4 ,at the time of our ,savior's birth the spiritual conditions in the land of ,israel were distressingly sad2 religious life had become very degenerate and corrupt2 all manner of sects1 like the ,pharisees and ,sadducees1 with their stiff and ossified formalism1 ceremonialism1 materialism1 had caused a dark eclipse to come over the once living faith of ,god's chosen people4 ,things were droughty and dead4 ,but no period is ever so desperate1 the ,church of ,god never so forlorn and miserable as not to have in it some true children of faith1 yea1 when things are at the worst1 divine ,goodness is sure to interfere to bring about a change for the better2 and so it was in these desolate days of ,judaism4 ,residing in the hill country of ,judea was an aged couple2 they had lived long together without being blessed with offspring4 ,this1 with the ,jews1 was not only a defect in matrimonial happiness1 but a positive reproach4 ,the name of this pair was ,zacharias and ,elizabeth4 ,zacharias was a priest1 and ,elizabeth was of the daughters of ,aaron1 and the testimony given of their character in ,holy ,scripture is that they were both righteous before ,god1 walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the ,lord blameless--a devout and honorable pair4 ,one day1 so runs the story in the beginning verses of the ,gospel of ,st4 ,luke1 while he was engaged in his ministry1 offering incense in the temple1 there appeared unto ,zacharias at the right-hand side of the altar an angel of ,god1 and told him that his prayers were answered and that he would receive a son1 whom he should call ,john4 ,zacharias startled at the heavenly apparition1 and quite forgetful of the birth of an ,isaac and ,samson and ,samuel1 and that what happened of old might again happen1 since nothing is impossible with ,god1 he skeptically asked for a sign as the proof of the angel's message1 whereupon the angel replied3 ,i am ,gabriel1 that stand in the presence of ,god1 and am sent to speak unto thee and show thee these glad tidings4 ,and1 behold1 thou shalt be dumb1 and not able to speak1 until the day that these things shall be performed1 because thou believest not my words1 which shall be fulfilled in their season4 ,when ,zacharias came out of the temple to the multitude of worshipers that had been impatiently waiting for his return1 he beckoned to the people with his hand1 and they perceived that he had seen a vision4 ,nine months had elapsed after that miraculous visitation and annunciation of the angel1 when the details in the paragraph immediately preceding our text came to pass4 ,elizabeth1 having received the fulfillment of the heavenly message1 and a company of her neighbors and relatives having gathered for the circumcision of the child1 a question of friendly contention arose over the name1 the most of them being in favor of calling him after the name of his father1 ,zacharias4 ,zacharias1 being consulted and asking for a slate whereupon to write his opinion1 wrote the name ,john4 ,by this writing he showed that he consented in the name of the child according to the angel's direction1 and it says3 ,his mouth was immediately opened and his tongue loosed1 and he spake and praised ,god in a song of blessing and joy4 ,this song of ,zacharias1 which is called the ,benedictus1 because it begins with the word ,benedictus or ,blessed1 is one of the treasured songs of the ,church4 ,significant--as we read that song it is that his own circumstances largely are overlooked or disregarded4 ,two grand and miraculous events had just happened to him1 the birth of a son and the recovery of speech4 ,these1 it may be supposed1 would have primarily employed his mind and called forth his praise and adoration to ,god2 but whilst he does speak a few words of exultation over his son1 a great1 more transporting1 and august theme fills his breast2 he thinks in pious rapture of the prophecies that have gone before1 the promises of ,god by the mouth of ,his inspired servants1 that ,he would send a mighty ,savior to deliver ,his people4 ,now that his own son1 who was to be the forerunner of the ,lord and messenger1 was born1 he sees the incarnation of this almighty ,deliverer begun2 under prophetic inspiration he proclaims what first happened six months after3 ,blessed be the ,lord ,god of ,israel2 for ,he hath visited and redeemed ,his people1 and none among us are less interested in this propitious event than ,zacharias was4 ,we have before us the same prophecies that ,zacharias had2 we have the same need of this ,savior1 and we desire the same blessings from ,him which he did4 ,why1 then1 should it not be the rapture of our hearts1 the topic of our triumphant song1 as it was of his8 ,with pious joy let us hail the glorious festival that shall be upon us in a few days1 and in this may our reflection on our text aid us4 ,the ,dayspring from on high hath visited us4 ,it is interesting to note how to one whose heart is wrapped up in ,christ every object becomes a preacher1 a memorial4 ,that beautiful star1 last in the train of night and first in the forehead of morning1 sings of ,him who is the bright ,morning ,star4 ,that orb in the skies1 shedding the benignant rays over the earth1 tells of ,him who is the ,sun of ,righteousness with healing in ,his wings4 ,the bread which ,i eat becomes to me a symbol of ,him who is the ,bread of ,life2 the water which ,i drink reminds me of the living water whereof who drinks shall never thirst again4 ,in brief1 ,christ is seen in everything1 in every object of external nature1 and so with the figure employed by ,zacharias in these words3 the ,dayspring1 or1 as we would say--the dawn of the morning4 ,beautiful is dawn4 ,the ancient poets have represented it as a lovely maiden rising from the waters of the ,east 7casting aside the gloomy veil of night71 and hastening forward on the foremost rays of light1 to open the gates of day1 whilst her rosy fingers scatter abroad the drops of sparkling dew4 ,zacharias employs the same illustration only to a subject more noble4 ,he sees ,messiah near at hand1 breaking on the world just like the approach of dawn4 ,yes1 the vision of ,his coming is so clear that he says not1 ,the ,dayspring shall visit us1 but1 ,the ,dayspring hath visited us4 ,let us spend a few moments in considering1 not every1 but a few features that connect with this description of our ,lord as the ,dayspring from on high4 ,and here1 to begin with1 we have a significant thought4 ,the ,dayspring from on high suggests ,his origin4 ,the day-dawn comes from the heaven2 it is not of man's ordering and making1 but of ,god's2 it bears the imprint of the ,creator's hand1 and for this reason the ,bible styles ,him the ,father of lights1 and says3 ,every good and every perfect gift is from above1 and cometh down from the ,father of lights4 ,so with this ,dayspring1 ,christ1--,he is from on high4 ,his origin and ,his coming are divine4 ,we sing3 ,true ,son of the ,father1 ,he comes from the skies1 ,to be born of a virgin ,he does not despise4 ,this earth is not ,his home1 as it says3 ,the ,dayspring from on high hath visited us4 ,he came from elsewhere and ,he departed again elsewhere4 ,from eternity ,he lay in the bosom of the ,father1 and when the fullness of time was come1 ,he descended upon this earth and tabernacled among us thirty and three years1 and then returned to the glory whence ,he came forth4 ,it was1 indeed1 a transcendent sojourn1 a visit that spells everything1 that connects with salvation and blessedness4 ,yes1 it was only a visit2 ,he was from on high4 ,to use the words of the ,nicene ,creed3 ,christ is true ,god1 begotten of the ,father from eternity1 ,god of ,god1 ,light of ,light 7note that expression as in accordance with the figure in the text71 very ,god of very ,god1 begotten1 not made2 being of one substance with the ,father1 who for us men and for our salvation1 came down from heaven and was incarnate by the ,holy ,ghost of the ,virgin ,mary1 and was made man4 ,verily1 ,he was the ,dayspring from on high4 ,again1 observe the manner of ,his coming1--how like the day-dawn4 ,what so gentle as the light of morning1 rising mutely in the brightening east and pouring the light so softly that never a leaf is stirred2 noiselessly1 peacefully does it make its approach4 ,so when the ,savior was born1 ,he came into the world silently and unobtrusively4 ,all heaven was moved and followed ,him down to the threshold of earth2 but few on earth were aware of it4 ,one solitary star pointed to the humble birthplace1 and the hymn that sang of it was heard only at night by a few watching shepherds1 and ,his whole life partook of the same character4 ,for which reason we sing in one of our favorite hymns3 ,as ,his coming was in peace1 ,noiseless1 full of gentleness1 ,let the same mind be in me ,that was ever found in ,thee4 ,he came like the dawn in its soft and silent approach4 ,then1 also1 in another manner4 ,not suddenly1 nor all at once4 ,the sun's rising is a gradual and progressive thing4 ,first1 there is but a faint gray twilight1 softening the darkness and heralding what is to come1 then a few dim purple streaks spread upon the far eastern horizon1 followed shortly by the golden tips of the great luminary lifting the gates of the morning4 ,so with our divine ,dayspring4 ,from all eternity it was determined that this ,dayspring should come4 ,adam1 going weeping from a paradise lost1 and after him ,seth and ,enoch and ,noah and ,shem and ,abraham beheld from afar the early dawn1 the dim and vague streaks4 ,the types and holy sacrifices offered in the temple after that1 the psalms and prophecies given by ,god's inspired servants1 gave still nearer and clearer views of what was to come4 ,zacharias exults as he sees the tips1 as it were1 beginning to appear4 ,and we1 with the whole ,christian world1 are hastening these days in spirit to see the sun rising over the hills of ,judea in ,bethlehem's town4 ,how in its promises and preparations--its gradual development--was the coming of ,christ like the day-spring1 the rising dawn4 ,nor can we afford to overlook one other feature in the manner of ,christ's visit as the ,dayspring4 ,the sun comes every morning1 shining for all and singling out none4 ,there is a universality of kindness about it4 ,the poorest man and the richest1 all classes and all things1 have the same access to its undivided radiance4 ,how much is this like ,christ's coming6 ,god so loved the world that ,he gave ,his only-begotten ,son4 ,behold1 was the angelic proclamation on ,christmas night1 ,i bring you glad tidings of great joy which shall be to all people4 ,the ,christmas story enters into the world with the broad universal look of daylight4 ,it is as wide and open to all as is this earth4 ,it singles out none1 it excludes none1 it wishes to bless a whole guilty world with the same impartiality as the sun4 ,the ,christmas message is unlimited in its invitation3 ,come hither1 ye faithful1 ,o come1 one and all4 ,silently1 gradually1 universally1 hath and doth the ,dayspring from on high visit us4 ,and why--that is the concluding feature of our contemplation1 why has it visited us8 ,what is its object in doing so8 ,the sun is the dispenser of the world's light and warmth and fruitfulness4 ,without the day-dawn everything would be chilliness1 darkness1 desolation1 and death4 ,let the sun arise1 shoot forth his cheering and enlivening rays1--the dormant germs start up1 the buds swell1 the birds sing1 and man goes forth to ply the occupation of his hands4 ,christ is the same to the human race4 ,he rose above the darkness of ,judaism and over the night of heathenism4 ,he declared3 ,i am the ,light of the world4 ,when once ,thou visitest the heart1 the truth begins to shine4 ,new life1 new energy1 new understanding takes hold upon the dormant and dead soul1 and the fruits of righteousness spring up4 ,to quote the text and language of ,zacharias3 ,to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death1 to guide our feet into the way of peace4 ,there is not the least exaggeration about it2 wherever ,christ is preached1 the darkness flees as night flies before the sun1 the clouds of ignorance and superstition pass away4 ,pardon of sin1 purity of morals1 comfort in affliction1 triumph in death1--these are a portion of what follows4 ,do these things not constitute the light of life of man8 ,what else does8 ,is1 to conclude1 ,christ such a light to you8 ,would you permit this season to pass without diligently inquiring whether the ,dayspring from on high has visited your souls8 ,do you rejoice at ,his coming with holy joy8 ,invigorating1 inspiring is the sight of a morning dawn2 are you so welcoming again the ,dayspring from on high about to send its healing beams1 its cheering1 holy splendor upon our world8 ,open your hearts to receive and to realize the significance and blessedness of this ,dayspring from on high1 which by the tender mercy of our ,god hath visited us4 ,amen4 ,,christmas4 ,thanks be unto ,god for ,his unspeakable ,gift4--#b ,cor4 #i1 #ae4 ,joy to the world1--the ,lord is come1 ,let earth receive her ,king1 ,let every heart prepare ,him room1 ,and heaven and nature sing4 ,with these words of exultation would ,i greet you on this festival morn4 ,joy to the world1 the ,lord is come2 the ,king1 ,messiah1 after weeks of preparation1 is making ,his triumphal entry into the habitation of men4 ,indeed1 the long expected guest1 with whom our thoughts1 songs1 and services in the past season of ,advent were occupied1 has at length arrived4 ,how shall we receive ,him8 ,when ,he first came1 nineteen hundred and ---- years ago1 in ,bethlehem's town1 there was a stir and commotion4 ,wise men suspended their studies and speculations and followed the sign in the firmament which conducted them to the place where the young ,child lay2 an angel from heaven was sent as a herald to proclaim the glad tidings of great joy1 while the multitude of the heavenly host eagerly descended to congratulate men and made the celestial heights resound with their seraphic acclamation3 ,glory to ,god in the highest1 and on earth peace1 good will toward men4 ,and1 taking up that chant3 ,our heart from very joy doth leap1 our lips no more can silence keep4 ,dull like the ground he walks upon must be the man who1 amongst the holy demonstration that is upon the social world1 the cheerful merrymaking that is in earth's homes1 the radiations of festivities and greetings of cordiality and good will1 will not feel a pulsation of that cheer and brightness in his own heart4 ,how this fact of our ,christian faith1 our ,savior's birth1 ,god's assumption of mutual flesh1 the coming of the ,most ,high to tabernacle among men1 has been more than any other an occasion of universal rejoicing1 the center of earth's noblest and holiest joy in family and in the sanctuary6 ,is it not fitting that it should be so8 ,merry ,christmas1 happy ,christmas1 blessed ,christmas1 we bid thee welcome6 ,we rejoice that in the rounds of the calendar it has come again4 ,and how shall we observe it8 ,how receive its spiritual and highest blessedness unto ourselves8 ,by lighting up a few candles on our trees8 ,decorating our windows and walls with some sprigs of garlands and green8 ,by attending a few services during which we are present in body1 but largely absent in spirit8 ,the quiet contemplation1 the sinking of our minds into the great mystery of godliness3 ,god manifested in the flesh1 the realization as it comes from pious meditation of what it all means to us and to all mankind1 and that when the external glamor and motion shall have passed over1 it shall have left us benefited and blessed in soul1 beloved1 is not this1 after all1 for us ,christians1 the true significance of this holiday time8 ,and it is in harmony with this1 that we would bring to our minds the words of the text4 ,let us devoutly1 with concentrated and holy thoughts1 regard ,god's gift1 for thus reads the text3 ,thanks be unto ,god for ,his unspeakable ,gift4 ,i4 ,which is this gift8 ,,ii4 ,note what is said about it4 ,,iii4 ,our conduct respecting it4 ,which is it8 ,god1 my beloved hearers1 is always good4 ,his very name1 ,god1 which means good1 bespeaks that4 ,continually is ,he bestowing gifts and favors upon us4 ,his constant mercies1 declares the psalmist1 are new to us every morning4 ,what is there which we possess that ,he has not given us8--clothing and shoes1 meat and drink1 house and home1 wife and children1 fields1 cattle1 and all my goods4 ,but there is one gift that excels and outstrips them all4 ,our children1 in the course of the year1 are being constantly provided with all that they need to support their bodies and lives1 articles of food and dress and mind1 and yet the best donations we afford them1 those which cause their youthful hearts to skip as the lambs1 are invariably given in the days of ,christmas festivity4 ,so with the beneficent ,parent on high1--always good and gracious1 yet ,his foremost and most excellent gift ,he bestows at this time4 ,and which is it8 ,yonder1 in ,bethlehem's manger1 it lies4 ,insignificant enough as you gaze upon it with outward eyes3 how tiny1 unpretentious1 judged by the standard of men2 what lowly quarters1 what unfavorable circumstances1 what socially unassuming people2 that woman watching over the ,child1 those shepherds hastening thither from their humble toil1--certainly nothing there to impress one4 ,and this is ,heaven's foremost and precious gift1 the gift of all gifts4 ,is that the best that ,god can give us8 ,yes4 ,for various reasons4 ,in determining the value of earthly donations1 different considerations weigh and prevail4 ,for once1 it is the sentiment that prompted that gift2 it frequently is not so much the mercantile value of the gift as it is the considerations1 the spirit1 the sentiment1 and affection that go along with it2 and there1 after all1 rests its real power and beauty4 ,regard ,god's ,christmas gift4 ,the ,apostle calls it unspeakable2 he declares that it towers in its value and majesty beyond the reach of language and beyond the power of human expression4 ',tis truly so4 ,what sentiment prompted it8 ,god so loved the world that ,he gave ,his only-begotten ,son4 ,there we have the motive1 ,his love4 ,and why did ,he love man8 ,because he was so lovable8 ,nay1 man had rebelled against ,him1 had raised himself up in disobedience against ,him and ,his holy commandments and was at enmity with ,him1 and still ,god loved him1 loved the child that had forsaken and sinned against ,him1 and so loved him that ,he spared not ,his dearest and ,his best1 but delivered ,him up for us all4 ,oh6 the greatness of that charity1 that love divine1 all love excelling1 love that passed all knowledge and understanding and expression too1--that supplied the ,gift unspeakable1 says the ,apostle4 ,again1 when we are the recipients of gifts1 we examine them1 we give them careful scrutiny1 we desire to know3 ,what is that which we have received8 ,apply that to ,god's ,christmas gift4 ,what is it8 ,he tells us3 ,unto you is born this day a ,savior1 which is ,christ1 the ,lord4 ,not a star1 not a world1 not any created thing1 but ,christ1 the ,lord4 ,veiled in flesh the ,godhead see1 ,hail th' incarnate ,deity4 ,pleased as man with man to dwell1 ,jesus1 our ,emmanuel4 ,o the mystery1 the impenetrable mystery of the gift6 ,as you sit down and meditate upon it1 as you reflect and gaze upon that divine ,child1 reason is confounded1 thought is pushed to confusion1 faith stands in profound contemplation on the brink of this sea1 too deep for human intelligence to fathom1 too broad for man's mind to encircle1 and yet1 let us not stagger at the wonderful fact4 ,we are standing to-day1 my beloved1 in the presence of the greatest miracle of time4 ,we behold here no ordinary child4 ,it's ,deity in humanity1 ,divinity in infancy4 ,in this little body is bound up ,god's immensity1 in this ,babe's weakness is enclosed heaven's almightiness4 ,this child resting at ,his mother's breast 7who can grasp it87 is the ,lord of glory1 the worshipful ,creator of the universe1 ,god blest forevermore4 ,such is the nature of the gift--unspeakable1 as the ,apostle declares4 ,again1 we consider the purpose of the gift4 ,there are every variety and quality of gifts bestowed at this season3 ornamental ones1 serving the purpose of decoration and embellishment1 beautiful for the eye to behold2 useful ones1 administering to the necessity and the comforts of their recipients4 ,how about ,god's ,christmas gift8 ,ah6 for human lips to speak out its value4 ,again we lisp1 ,unspeakable4 ,what illustrations might ,i employ8 ,you lift up your eyes and encounter the bright rays of the sun2 what would this world be without the light and warmth that comes from its radiant face8 ,you feel the drops of rain falling in gentle showers2 what would the soil be without these rivulets and streams that fructify its acres8 ,yet all such illustrations are too improper to express what this world would spiritually be without ,christ4 ,said the angel3 ,unto you is born this day1 in the city of ,david1 a ,savior4 ,in that word you have the key of ,christmas and the purpose of ,god's ,christmas gift4 ,a ,savior--what a chapter that opens before us6 ,back to the days of ,paradise does it conduct us1 when man was dwelling in innocence1 fell and falling1 carrying himself and all his posterity to universal and eternal destruction4 ,sin1 that most terrible of all evils upon the soul1 thorns and thistles upon the ground1 misery and sickness and death upon the body1 the whole creation groaning and travailing in pain1--this was the sorry consequence1 and this is the sad1 sad story as it is read in the history of every man's life and of the world at large4 ,and whence was deliverance to come8 ,from man8 ,helpless1 powerless1 hopeless creature1 how could he cancel the curse that rested upon soul and body and ailing earth8 ,a more powerful one held him at his mercy2 and what could he do to pluck out the sting of death beneath whose dominion he had completely fallen8 ,a more dismal condition could never exist4 ,what man needed was a ,savior1 a ,deliverer mightier than the forces that held him bound1 and such a one ,god had promised man4 ,adam and ,eve1 leaving ,paradise1 were consoled by the prediction of the ,seed of the ,woman that should bruise the head of the serpent--the ,savior1 ,abraham1 ,seth1 ,enoch1 ,noah1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob looked forward to that ,deliverer and were sustained by the hope3 ,ah1 that the ,savior soon would come to break our bondage and lead us home6 ,succeeding saints and prophets took up the pleading strain1 and sang and prophesied of ,his advent1 and finally1 when the fullness of time was come1 ,he arrived2 and what did ,he bring8 ,the supply of man's foremost and chief requisite--what is that8 ,wealth1 affluence of estate8 ,support of body8 ,not so4 ,this is not man's foremost need4 ,education of mind1 culture of intellect8 ,neither that4 ,what is it8 ,deliverance from sin1 death1 and the power of the devil1 and the salvation of man's immortal soul2 for what is a man profited though he should gain the whole world1 and possess all treasures and mines of knowledge1 and possess not and know not how to save his soul8 ,beloved1 when you reflect what this world would be without this divine ,christmas gift1 then we might well ask1 ,would life be worth living without ,him8 ,it would1 indeed1 be a dark chapter1 a barren and gloomy prison cell4 ,and so1 having regarded these various particulars1 we almost instinctively give voice to the ,apostle's declaration3 ,thanks be unto ,god for ,his unspeakable gift4 ,that brings us to the concluding part of our consideration4 ,a donation so transcendent calls for some corresponding attitude4 ,what would we think of a child accepting its holiday gifts without showing appreciation1 and speaking not a word of acknowledging thanks8 ,nothing is more rude than ingratitude4 ,that spoils it all4 ,look at the interest the heavenly inhabitants took in that unspeakable gift4 ,they came down with gracious messages concerning it4 ,they were all present and sang their highest songs when the ,savior was born4 ,their conduct was just such as we may expect from beings so pure1 so intelligent1 and yet it was not to them1 nor for them4 ,unto us a ,child is born1 unto us this ,son is given4 ,it is for us and for our salvation that the ,lord of glory came and was made man4 ,here is a thought that ought to stir us to a higher pitch of emotion and gratitude4 ,people have capacities to appreciate favors1 to acknowledge good1 to feel the worth of help when great and pressing need is upon them2 why not over against this amazing goodness of ,god8 ,oh6 that any human heart should be found weighted down by such leaden dullness that it should fail in its adoring thankfulness to ,god for ,his unspeakable gift4 ,far better such had never been born6 ,and thankfulness and rejoicing1 if genuine1 is never selfish4 ,observe our children at this time4 ,when they have received their gifts1 they do not selfishly hug them to themselves1 place them in a corner1 and strive to keep others from seeing them2 they run about displaying what kindness has bestowed1 shout and make commotion1 nor feel happier than when others--their playmates and companions--come to share in their merriment4 ,it is not different with ,god's ,christmas gift2 it is designed to be the occasion of universal joy4 ,i bring you glad tidings of great joy1 which shall be to all people4 ,god so loved the world that ,he gave ,his only-begotten ,son4 ,a certain ancient writer remarks3 ,were some explorer to discover the real elixir of life by which life and health and youth might be made perpetual1 with what shouts of triumph and songs of joy would the discovery be heralded forth6 ,friend would rush to bear the glad tidings to friend1 over hill and mountain2 across valley and plain would the joyful tidings roll1 until there were no solitary inhabitant1 be his dwelling ever so remote or concealed1 but would have found it out4 ,beloved1 here is the true elixir of life1 in ,bethlehem's manger2 there is the fountain of perpetual health and youth4 ,let the glorious truth1 then1 receive universal proclamation2 let the tawny ,african in his dark jungle1 the ,eskimo in his icy1 squalid hut1 the dweller in the most distant isle1 and the man1 woman1 and child that lives with you and next to you1--let one and all hear the glad news that ,god's unspeakable gift has come to earth4 ,yes1 let this blessed truth spread till every sinful and sorrowing brother may rejoice with us1 and that from earth and sky may echo forth in grateful refrain3 ,thanks be unto ,god for ,his unspeakable ,gift1 now on these present ,christmas festivals1 and then when these earthly celebrations will have passed over into the celebration of heaven1 we shall see and adore ,him who was once a babe in ,bethlehem1 but now sitteth upon the throne1 ,god blessed forevermore4 ,amen4 ,,last ,,sunday ,,in ,,the ,,year4 ,we all do fade as a leaf4--,isaiah #fd1 #f4 ,there is perhaps no truth which is more generally admitted and which is more frequently referred to than that life is short and time is fleeting1 that--man born of a woman1 as ,job expresses it1 is of few days and full of trouble4 ,he cometh forth like a flower and is cut down4 ,every tolling knell that resounds its muffled voice from the church's spire1 every painful sickness that casts us upon a weary and dreary couch1 every change of season in nature's annual round and tearing off one leaf after the other from the calendar1 until the present date1 the #cast day of its last messenger1 bids us discard the whole1--all these are just so many solemn and constant monitors reminding us of the brevity1 the rapidity of time's flight4 ,and yet1 with all these numerous and unmistakable evidences of the transitoriness of all earthly things1 how little of an abiding impression they produce6 ,who of us1 in thoughtful reflection1 does not admit the necessity of asking in this matter for divine instruction and of preparing ourselves for the time when time shall be no more1 and when we shall be called upon to give account of how we have used our earthly days1 and to leave this world and all its concerns8 ,it is to this that ,i would invite your thoughts on this day which marks the concluding day of another chapter of life's calendar4 ,may ,god's ,holy ,spirit teach us to number our days1 that we may apply our hearts to wisdom1 as ,i endeavor to explain and apply the words of our text4 ,human life1 man's natural existence1 is most aptly represented by the figure before employed1 the fading of a leaf4 ,more than two thousand years ago did the inspired penman1 the ,prophet ,isaiah1 write these lines1 and yet its truth is preached to us with unfailing regularity and solemnity in every recurring autumn4 ,as we go out into the woods towards the close of each successive summer1 we observe a gradual change in the appearance of the trees4 ,we see the leaves1 first one and then another1 and then by degrees all of them alike1 changing their green for a brown and yellow hue1 at length1 till1 shriveling at the edges and loosening their hold to their native boughs1 the wet and the cold and the wind cause them to fall to the ground with a sound so soft that it is almost silence and there1 by the action of the elements1 they soon decay and mingle with the earth1 out of which they were first produced4 ,just so1 my brethren1 it is with ourselves4 ,as soon as we begin to live1 we begin to die4 ,our hearts like muffled drums are beating funeral marches to the grave4 ,if we succeed in adhering to the tree of life during the spring and summer of man's allotted years1 autumn and winter of old age will certainly overtake us1 and we shall sink away as surely and as silently as the descending leaves in fall1 our spirits returning to ,god1 who gave them1 and our bodies mingling with the dust from which they were taken4 ,we look over the annals of the world1--where are those mighty conquerors1 a ,hannibal1 a ,csar1 an ,alexander1 a ,napoleon1 who once made whole nations tremble and kingdoms fall8 ,where are those brilliant statesmen1 a ,bismarck1 a ,webster1 a ,calhoun1 and a ,clay1 upon whose lips admiring senates hung with wonder and delight8 ,where are the poets1 the historians1 the warriors1 the divines1 who1 each in his day and generation1 were the theme of general conversation1 and were lauded with the tribute of a nation's praise8 ,like the baseless fabric of a vision1--gone4 ,it is related of ,xerxes1 the powerful ,king of ,persia1 that when about to cross from ,asia over to conquer ,greece1 he ordered a review to be made of all his forces on the shores of the ,hellespont4 ,a magnificent throne was erected upon a lofty peak4 ,seated on this pinnacle of gold1 he gazed upon the unnumbered millions below him on ship and shore4 ,no sight could have been more dazzling or more august4 ,the hillsides were white with tents1 the sea with ships4 ,gay banners floating in the sun1 glittering with gold and silver1 weakened the eye by their brightness and beauty2 whatever unbounded wealth and intense love of display could produce or suggest was there1 and in the midst of such transcendent glory and deepest homage1 where multitudinous nobles were urging to kiss the hem of his garment and worshiped him as a god1 the great king1 ,xerxes1 wept4 ,amazed at such an act1 expressive of feelings so contrary to those in which they were indulging1 they reverently inquired the cause of his tears4 ,alas1 said he1 of all this vast multitude not one will be left upon the earth a hundred years hence4 ,that was said more than two thousand years ago4 ,how many generations have followed that1 over which he wept and uttered this sad truth6 ,we occupy their places now for a few days1 and then we shall lie beside them4 ,of the congregation that is looking up into my face this morning1 twenty1 thirty1 fifty years1 where shall it be8 ,the church bell will be rung out1 ,i hope1 from its steeple1 but it shall be rung by other hands1 and for other worshipers4 ,this pulpit will be filled by another preacher and the pews by other listeners4 ,as you would pass in your way home from its door1 in your family and social circles1 how you would miss the old and once familiar forms1 yea1 perhaps our very homes will be occupied by strangers4 ,as the prophet says3 ,we all do fade as a leaf4 ,lest our subject should be rendered useless by being too general1 ,i will proceed1 without further delay1 to apply our text and this by addressing the various classes of persons among you1 so that all1 by the baptism of the ,holy ,ghost1 may derive some spiritual benefit4 ,that our text refers not to one class1 but to every1 is evident from the word all1--,we all do fade as a leaf4 ,it applies itself1 then1 first to the young4 ,not only in autumn and winter1 but even in the spring and early months of the year1 leaves are seen to fall4 ,and similarly1 as the inscriptions upon the many tombstones in our last resting-places will testify1 so many of the human family disappear in infancy and youth4 ,it is a mournful sight to see them thus carried off in the vigor and tenderness of opening bloom1 but it's one that ought to convey solemn teaching to those of youthful years4 ,and what teaching8 ,wise ,king ,solomon has expressed it in these words3 ,remember thy ,creator in the days of thy youth4 ,and why8 ,because it is the most favorable time1 the most ,god-honoring time1 the most profitable4 ,at no other time is the soul so capable of deep and abiding impressions1 are the affections more easily touched and moved1 are we more accessible to the influences of emotions and truth4 ,it is preeminently the choosing time1 the valley of decision1 in which at almost every step we do or leave undone something which has its effect1 for good or ill1 upon one's future habits and character and eternity2 and you can only be prepared to determine matters that call for decision when you have made the great decision2 you can choose and act safely and wisely in all the other departments of life1 the social1 the intellectual1 the moral1 only when you have taken a decisive stand upon the subject of religion4 ,hence1 our ,savior urgently entreats young people3 ,seek ye first1 first in point of importance and first in point of years1 the kingdom of heaven4 ,ah1 my young members1 if the sun does not dispel the mists pretty early in the morning1 you may look with reasonable certainty for a foggy day1 and so if the ,sun of ,righteousness1 ,christ ,jesus1 does not early in the day of your lives dispel the mists of unbelief and sin1 the chances are that it will be more or less gloomy obstruction the rest of your lives4 ,you will never be such ,christians as you would have been2 there will not be the development of character as if you had started at the right time1 and there will always be a feeling of regret in your heart4 ,note1 then1 that this is the time to begin to serve ,god2 now is the time to put the yoke of ,christ upon your necks and to break yourselves in for lives of usefulness4 ,and what is more ,god-honoring8 ,religion is always an ornament1 it decorates the silvery locks and the wrinkled brow1 but it looks exquisitely attractive and suitable when worn by youth4 ,god accepts the sinner at all times1 even when he comes with tottering footsteps and with stooped back2 but is it right to do service to another and make ,him suspend ,his claim as your rightful ,lord to satisfy the world and the flesh1 ,his degrading rivals1 to sow wild oats in the springtime of your years and send ,him forth to gather among the stubbles the gleanings of life1 after the enemy has secured the harvest8 ,nay1 to ,him belong the first-born of your days1 the first-fruits of your season1 the price of your love and devotion1--give them4 ,you will never regret it4 ,incalculable are the benefits of early piety1 beneficial for body and business1 for character and connections1 for mind and morals1 for after-life and life after death2 for1 as our text inculcates1 your earthly existence hangs but on a slender1 frail1 and feeble fiber4 ,do you know of none in your circle of acquaintances swept low by the grim reaper whom we call death8 ,and what assurance have you1 my youthful hearers1 that you may not be among his victims in the succeeding year8 ,glory not1 then1 in your health and strength4 ,pride yourself not on anything which is so feeble and frail1 but seek those solid blessings which are to be found in ,christ ,jesus1 and make true preparation against the time when you shall go hence and be no more4 ,remember thy ,creator1 thy ,redeemer1 thy ,sanctifier1 in the days of thy youth4 ,again1 the text addresses itself to the middle-aged4 ,scarcely a summer passes over our heads but some tempests1 lightning1 hail1 rain1 and thunder1 rage in the sky1 and these commotions of the elements drive myriads of leaves1 although then firmly grown and filled with sap1 from their branches to the ground1 and there1 like those that fall later1 they fade away4 ,it is so with man4 ,in the midst of all his hustling industry and matured vigor1 when1 as ,job says1 his bones are moistened with marrow1 he is liable to be carried off by various diseases and casualties4 ,absalom died before his father4 ,the list of orphans in the ,bible is not small1 and among us those attired in sable garments1 because of those whose sun has gone down at noon1 are not few4 ,a tender leaf1 which the first strong wind1 the first descending shower loosens in its hold1--that is man in the strength of his days4 ,and what does that teach those of maturer years8 ,that they presume not on their sturdiness1 and that they forget not1 amidst the distractions of all manner of connection for what life has been given1 and correspondingly rightly improve it4 ,life has been given us for a high and noble purpose2 it is not only a time of preparation and of probation for the world to come1 it is a time of activity1 of usefulness in the service of ,god and fellow-man1 and he most lives who thinks the most1 feels the noblest1 acts the best4 ,there are those who live a mere animal life1 whose sublimest principle and purpose is embodied in the motto3 ,let us eat and drink1 for to-morrow we shall be dead4 ,as for ,god1 heaven1 and eternity1 there is none4 ,there are those who live a mere worldly life2 gaining a livelihood and property1 acquiring a social standing and a position1 perhaps a ribbon or a medal1--that's their life's chief object and design4 ,there are those who lead bad lives1 diabolical lives1 making society miserable and families wretched2 and there are those who lead good lives1 morally and socially1 providing things honestly in the sight of all men4 ,but there is one class that1 according to ,scripture1 lives a right life1 a life that will bear the sight of the ,judge eternal and receive ,his heavenly plaudit3 ,well done1 thou good and faithful servant1 and that is the man and the woman who lives a ,christian life1 a life in ,christ ,jesus1 who1 while believing in ,him as their only ,lord and ,savior1 are seeking to imitate ,his precepts2 who live to ,his glory1 with the furtherance of ,his kingdom constantly in mind2 who make everything that they undertake and do conducive to the praise and honor of their ,god2 who delight to render their time1 talents1 and means in such a service4 ,any other kind of a life but that is a life of ,god's grace neglected1 of moments wasted in selfishness1 in indolence1 in sensuality often1 in wickedness1 and it fails of the purpose for which time has been given4 ,let us be careful1 then1 how we employ it2 never live a week in vain2 having something at the close of it for the reviewing eye to fix upon2 something for ,god1 for your fellow-creatures1 for yourself4 ,live for ,christ1 and thus best live while you live1 and be best prepared when you are called upon to die1 for as you live1 thus will you die1 and thus will you be judged4 ,there remains1 however1 one more class to which our text refers with great propriety1 and that is the aged4 ,if the young and middle-aged may fall1 the old must2 there is no remedy or human skill1 or physician's antidote against the wrinkled brow1 the failing memory1 and the stiffening of the joints4 ,the days of our years1 says the ,psalmist1 are threescore years and ten1 and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years1 yet is their strength labor and sorrow2 for it is soon cut off1 and we fly away4 ,how soon this may take place1 who can declare8 ,what attitude1 then1 becomes those who have upon them declining years8 ,i know no better answer than to gaze upon that patriarchal couple in to-day's ,gospel1 ,simeon and ,anna2 what a beautiful picture of declining life as it is calmed and brightened by the comforts of religion and the hope of nearing heaven4 ,how impressive to see them meet in the temple of ,god1 and taking upon their arms the blessed object of their faith and prayer for all those long rolling years1 speaking of ,him1 as it says1 unto all them that looked for redemption in ,jerusalem1 finally singing their ,lord1 now lettest ,thou ,thy servant depart in peace1 for mine eyes have seen ,thy salvation4 ,the hoary head is a crown of glory1 says ,solomon1 if it be found in the way of righteousness4 ,let the aged saints1 then1 among us use their advancing years to speak1 as years' and hearts' experience alone can speak1 of ,him who is their ,salvation and ,consolation2 let them1 by the respect due them1 cause us to more greatly respect ,him whom they have learned to know1 and by their lives be an example to the younger generations how to live4 ,having1 then1 regarded our text3 ,we all do fade as a leaf1 let us have learned1 as these years pass away1 how to receive the crown1 incorruptible1 and undefiled1 and which passeth not away4 ,amen4 ,,new ,,year',s ,,day4 ,our ,father which art in heaven4--,matt4 #f1 #i4 ,dr4 ,luther1 after his inimitable fashion1 once remarked3 ,the ,lord's ,prayer is the greatest martyr upon earth4 ,it is a pity above all pity that such a prayer by such a ,master should be so terribly abused in all the earth4 ,many pray the ,lord's ,prayer a thousand times a year1 and though they prayed it a thousand years1 yet have they not properly prayed one letter thereof4 ,it is a sweeping and striking assertion4 ,the truth of his remarks1 however1 who would wish to contest8 ,take1 in evidence1 the words of the text4 ,the opening words of that divine prayer taught by the ,lord ,himself are indeed familiar words1--no service but we recite them1 no day but a ,christian ought to recite them2 yet1 have we ever regarded the deep significance that is contained1 the inspiration that is hidden1 in them8 ,a little reflection will prove how appropriate they are for this day1 the beginning of a new year in civil life4 ,our ,father1--that expresses1 ,i4 trust in ,god1 ,,ii4 obedience in duty1 ,,iii4 submission in affliction4 ,all these we need for our encouragement and spiritual profit to-day4 ,what sacred associations cluster around the word father6 ,the thought of him1 if he was a father indeed1 was inwoven into all our youthful plans and early ambitions4 ,we knew no worldly care when we dwelt beneath his sheltering roof2 as we grew in years1 we increased also in confidence in him4 ,he was our adviser in doubt1 our protector in danger1 our supporter in perplexity4 ,a true father is the best earthly friend while he is alive1 and after he is gone1 there gathers around his memory a halo of tender remembrance4 ,all that is generous1 manly1 noble1 and wise is to a loving son treasured up in the word father4 ,but the earthly significance1 the human fatherhood1 does not exhaust the meaning of this blessed name2 it is but a mere pattern and shadow of that relationship which ,god sustains to ,his people4 ,he is a ,father2 we1 then1 are ,his children by nature and adoption1 by creation and redemption1 and1 as children1 we may go to ,him1 and with all confidence and boldness ask ,him as dear children ask their dear father4 ,and such confidence1 such trustful looking up in faith and reliance to ,him as our ,father1 is a becoming attitude to-day4 ,we stand upon the shores of another year1 as it lifts itself1 veiled in mist1 from the great ocean of the future4 ,futurity means uncertainty1 and uncertainty suggests anxiety4 ,say not that it is not so4 ,as ,god created man1 he is forecasting in his thoughts4 ,it is as easy and natural for us to have regard to what is before us as it is for the waters of the ,mississippi to flow towards the ,gulf4 ,nor does ,god forbid it4 ,says wise ,king ,solomon3 ,a wise man deviseth his way4 ,he forms his plans1 he frames his resolutions1 he has his ambitions1 his object in life that he wishes to attain4 ,it is not a sign of sanity or of ,christianity to walk into the future blindfolded1 irresolutely1 improvidently4 ,the business man who at this time looks over his stock and ledger and strikes a balance of profit and loss1 so as to make prudent arrangement for the business of the incoming year1 the man of family who gazes upon the members seated about his table1 and1 considering demands and expenditures1 weighs his income and ability to make ends meet1 or whatever situation you may be in1 or relation you may sustain1 an intelligent1 provident1 weighing1 considering1 looking into the future is legitimate1 wise1 proper4 ,but that is one thing2 another thing1 and not an uncommon thing1 rather too prevalent1 is to look into the future with fear1 trembling of heart1 and anxiety of mind4 ,oh1 how shall we ever get through2 it's been none too rosy in the past1 income scant1 debts1 some yet to pay1 children growing up1 health not to boast of1--what a dreadful nightmare these considerations are to many people at the start of a new year2 how it crushes out all good cheer1 happiness1 the very thing men are wishing each other6 ',tis foolish1 'tis needless1 and godless6 ,a man bending and staggering along the road under the weight of a heavy load met a passing wagon2 he was invited to get in4 ,he did so1 but he still kept the load on his back4 ,foolish man6 ,yet that's the common attitude4 ,god's chariot drives up to us this morning1 overtaking us on life's way4 ,get in1 traveler1 ,i will bear thee along1 is the invitation4 ,cast all your cares upon me4 ,i will care for you4 ,thank you1 kind ,lord1 but ,i prefer to bear the load myself4 ,there is a ,being that has brought us into this world1--,father1 we call ,him4 ,he is a resourceful ,father1 having all forces and agencies of sky1 land1 and sea1 all the operations of men1 angels1 and beasts at ,his command2 ,he is a loving ,father2 ,he has pleasure in the children after ,his heart4 ,silly child1 you say1 that will start to cry and make a great ado because it has conceived the notion that its wealthy father cannot feed and clothe it any longer4 ,is it not just as incongruous1 my dear ,christian1 for you to perplex yourself with thoughts of anguish that ,god cannot provide for you any more8 ,he that spared not ,his own ,son1 but delivered ,him up for us all1 how shall ,he not with ,him freely give us all things8 ,he should neglect ,his loving providence1 leave and forsake thee this year8 ,o ye of little faith6 ,in one of the books handed to our children at ,christmas time is the history of a familiar and beautiful ,german hymn4 ,reduced by financial straits to sell his only means of support1 his violin1 a poor musician took it to the pawnshop of a ,jew4 ,as he gave it up1 he looked lovingly at it1 and tearfully asked the ,jew if he might play one more tune upon it4 ,you don't know1 he said1 how hard it is to part with it4 ,for ten years it has been my companion2 if ,i had nothing else1 ,i had it4 ,of all the sad hearts that have left your door1 there has been none so sad as mine4 ,whereupon1 pausing for a moment1 he seized the instrument and commenced a tune so exquisitely soft that even the ,jew listened1 in spite of himself4 ,then1 laying aside the instrument1 he said1 ,as ,god will1 and rushed from the shop1 only to be stopped at the door by a stranger1 who1 having listened1 said to him1 ,could you tell me where ,i could obtain a copy of that song8 ,i would willingly give a florin for it4 ,i will give it to you without the florin4 ,the stranger happened to be the ,swedish ambassador1 and when he heard the poor man's story1 his troubles ended then and there4 ,redeeming the instrument1 he called his landlady and his friends1 and sang1 to his own accompaniment1 his own sweet hymn1 ,no4 #cej in our hymn-book1 of which this is the first stanza3 ,leave ,god to order all thy ways1 ,and hope in ,him1 whate'er betide1 ,thou'lt find ,him1 in the evil days1 ,thine all-sufficient strength and guide4 ,who trusts in ,god's unchanging love ,builds on a rock that naught can move4 ,this is the first reflection that lies in these introductory words1 ,our ,father4 ,it expresses trustful looking up to ,him at the beginning of the year4 ,and1 again1 it supplies obedience in duty4 ,it is a part of the father's relation to direct and control1 as well as provide1 for his children4 ,he has a rightful authority over his household1 the right to tell them what to do and how to do4 ,none other with our heavenly ,father4 ,the new year means new activities1 new problems1 new duties4 ,with the morrow the tradesman1 the mechanic1 and the clerk will return to the work of his calling1 the student to his books1 and the housewife will be as busy as ever before4 ,the great machinery of secular life will all clatter and hum in all its complexity and parts4 ,and in the church1 there will not1 as there dare not be1 a standstill4 ,much still remains to be done4 ,how shall we face it8 ,in our own strength8 ,with might of ours can naught be done1 soon were our loss effected4 ,after our own plans1 doing things to suit our own selves8 ,is that the way it is in a well-regulated household8 ,there is one whose law obtains1 whose word determines1 whose wish regulates it all4 ,so ought it be with our life's duties4 ,no matter what may be the occupation of your head and of your hands1 whether you be a physician ministering to the alleviation of human ills1 or a carpenter constructing the earthly home for man to dwell therein1 our blessed ,lord was both1 physician and carpenter4 ,whether life's work finds you busy with the pen1 like ,matthew1 the publican1 sitting at the receipt of custom1 or1 like ,martha1 cumbered and concerned about many things1 one reigning principle ought to be governing it all1 as it governed the life of ,him who was our example in all things1 this3 ,my work is to do the will of ,him that sent me4 ,begin your work with ,him1 consecrate it to ,him1 conduct it with ,him4 ,serve ,him in it4 ,there are two ways of doing everything--with ,god and without ,god4 ,you may go to your work on ,monday morning with ,god or without ,god2 you may discharge its thousand and one different details with ,god or without ,god2 your fellow-workman and companions may not know the difference1 and yet1 my dear hearer1 it makes all the difference in the world1 and a difference even for the world to come1 whether you do your work with a glance of the eye upward and a spirit that says1 ,our ,father4 ,work without ,god is drudgery1 duty cold and stern2 it lacks inspiration1 warmth1 joyful energy4 ,it is done because it must4 ,it makes the worker a slave4 ,that is not the way ,god would have us perform it1 and it is not the work--neither in family1 nor shop1 nor church1 that brings grand results4 ,whenever you feel your service becoming irksome or your duties degenerating1 done with little conscientiousness and still less joy1 then speak1 ,our ,father2 and when you saunter forth knowing that you are going to perform your ,father's business1 then the direst and most uninteresting things of daily life will acquire a new importance in your eyes1 and will be done with a spring of elasticity and gladsomeness4 ,let me ask you to try this heavenly specific1 and you will find that bending over your toil1 with these thoughts1 it will be lit up with radiance and significance hitherto inexperienced and duty will be merged into delight4 ,this is the second consideration1 when we can truly and intelligently say1 ,our ,father1 life's work becomes transfigured with a new meaning and joy4 ,in such a spirit go hence to this year's employments4 ,do them with ,god4 ,one other phase of human experience remains to be touched upon at this time4 ,the ,lord ,himself hath said by the mouth of ,solomon3 ,he that spareth the rod hateth the child1 and ,he is too wise a ,father to think of training ,his children without discipline4 ,it is by sending them trials that ,he leads them to bethink themselves and to return when they have been backsliding1 develops them in character1 and prepares them for the discharge of arduous and important duties4 ,whatever we may regard this method of dealing with us1 this is ,his method1 and it will be no different with the incoming year4 ,what shape that trial will take1 this none can say in advance2 it may bring sickness to ourselves or to our near and dear ones2 pain of body1 feverish tossing1 restless nights1 weary days2 it may bring reverses in fortune2 the position we thought so secure may pass into the hands of another2 our income may decrease1 trade languish1 accidents and expenses multiply2 it may be that the grim visitor will invade our homes1 a casket1 little or large1 be placed into our rooms to remind us that in the midst of life we are in death4 ,god alone1 who knows the future1 knows4 ,and when these ordeals occur1 it is well to keep before us a few things4 ,in the first place1 we must recognize that1 however strange and unwelcome these experiences are1 'tis ,he who sends them1 and gives them just because ,he deals with us as ,his children4 ,discipline is a privilege that a father reserves for ,his own children4 ,one does not get himself to correct the faults of all the young people in the neighborhood4 ,you direct your efforts along that line to your own1 and only because of your affectionate interest in them do you visit them with correction4 ,even so it is with ,god1 and when we are suffering from ,his hands1 instead of thinking that ,he has forgotten us1 we ought to see in the chastisement a new evidence of ,his continued regard for us4 ,the trials sent us1 my dear hearers1 are the tokens of a heavenly ,father's affection1 and happy art thou if in life's salutary discipline you have learned to look up and say1 ,thy will be done4 ,then1 knowing from whom it proceeds--to mention the second consideration1--you will be wonderfully sustained4 ,to illustrate1 a story from my holiday reading3 ,a little girl sent on an errand had to cross a wide but shallow stream1 but there were firm and tried stepping-stones all the way over4 ,oh6 ,i'm afraid1 said the child to a lady who was passing4 ,why are you afraid1 there are stones all the way over4 ,see how easily ,i can cross it4 ,very timidly the little girl began to cross4 ,just one step at a time is all you have to take1 said the kind guide4 ,so one step followed another--the first few were the hardest to take1--and soon she was safe on the other shore1 smiling at her fears4 ,it is not so hard after all1 she remarked1 just one step at a time brought us over4 ,beloved1 when troubles come1--they are sure to1 in this year also1--do not look so much at the waters before you1 but at the stepping-stones the ,father has placed for your feet4 ,here is a strong1 firm stepping-stone that has often sustained me3 ,as thy days1 so shall thy strength be4 ,here is another3 ,the ,lord is my ,shepherd1 ,i shall not want4 ,have a few such stepping-stones1 select one in particular for this year4 ,this1 perhaps1 will do1 small1 but weighty1 ,our ,father4 ,amen4 ,,epiphany ,,sunday4 ,i am the ,light of the world4--,john #h1 #ab4 ,underneath ,rome1 the ancient capital of the world1 and extending for miles and miles between the ,river ,tiber and the ,mediterranean ,sea1 are those mysterious passages called the catacombs4 ,how far they go1 whither they lead1 at what exact point they terminate1 no living man can tell4 ,from the examinations of the learned who have explored them for some little distance1 at some few points1 we know that they are long and narrow quarries in the rock2 underground roads mined out of the soft volcanic tufa1 or stone1 on both sides of which the early ,christians1 who would not burn1 but insisted on burying their dead1 would deposit their departed1 and where during these fierce persecutions they would also assemble for worship4 ,these passages are but high enough to walk upright through them2 they are so narrow in width that you can touch the sides on either hand1 as you grope along1 and they are unutterably silent and dark4 ,if you strain your eye forward1 you see nothing beyond the few feet which the feeble torch or flickering candle illumines2 if you look up1 the rock is there2 if you gaze to the right or to the left1 you see the shallow niches1 like shelves1 one over another1 where are strewn the bones of the dead1 crumbling into dust and ashes2 and gazing behind you1 you feel a choking sensation at the heart1 that if your light should go out1 or your guide should forsake you1 you would never find your way back1--as it is a well-known fact that many too curious in their researches have disappeared4 ,such1 then1 are the catacombs1 a subterranean home of death1 a place of impenetrable darkness4 ,and1 my beloved1 what better emblem could be found to illustrate what this world is like1 without the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 than the hopeless labyrinths of darkness underneath the ,city of ,rome8 ,take the time when our ,savior pronounced these words of our text1 or when1 as ,epiphany suggests to us1 those wise men came from the ,east1 following the star1--what darkness was spread over the earth6 ,with the exception of the one people1 numbering only a few millions at most1 and these sunk away in general apostasy1 aside from the little wax lights of the ,jews1 there was universal gloom4 ,around them1 to the farthest limit of the earth1 including enlightened and refined ,greece and ,rome1 the whole world of man lay in heathenism and idolatry1 feeling after ,god1 but knowing ,him not1 worshiping and serving creatures rather than the ever-blessed ,creator4 ,think of ,egypt's adoration of bulls1 rams1 cats1 bugs1 birds1 and crocodiles6 ,think of the ,assyrian's worship1 or of any of those people of antiquity1 rendering to beasts or to heroes and the spirits of dead men1 like the ,chinese and ,japanese and ,hindoos of this day1 the homage due unto the living ,god6 ,add to this the attendant miseries1 shameless debaucheries1 cruelties1 revolting abominations1 practiced all over in the name and belief of honoring ,god and meriting the favor of heaven1 and it may well be said1 the world was darkness1 pitch black darkness4 ,and it is so even to this present day where ,christianity has not yet shed its redeeming light4 ,it is so with every human soul2 the darkness of ignorance1 of sin1 of misery is upon it4 ,the man whose understanding has not yet been enlightened by the beams of spiritual truth is just like a tourist groping along1 and stumbling among1 the bones and dust of the catacombs4 ,he knows not what he is living for1 as little as the underground passenger knows whither he is going4 ,whenever misfortune and sorrow comes1 there is none to turn to for consolation4 ,whenever conscience is troubled and agitated with a sense of its guilt1 and there are times when the spectral hand of conscience1 like in the case of ,king ,belshazzar1 writes bitter things against them1 there is no remedy or peace4 ,when death comes1 it is all gloom1 spiritual night1 a prison-house1 a catacomb4 ,all our knowledge1 sense1 and sight ,lie in deepest darkness shrouded1 ,till ,god's brightness breaks our night ,by the beams of truth unclouded4 ,and that is the lesson of this season1 which means manifestation1 that is the message of ,christ to the world of man and to each soul4 ,he is the ,light4 ,as ,god at the beginning of the world1 when it was a huge mass of confused matter1 wrapped in unpenetrable darkness1 spake the word3 ,let there be light1 and there was light1 so1 when humanity at the beginning of these ---- years was spiritual darkness1 the ,word was made flesh and dwelt among us1 and men saw ,his glory1 the glory of the ,only-begotten of the ,father1 full of grace and truth4 ,addressing ourselves to our text1 let us ,i4 trace some points of resemblance between ,christ and light2 ,,ii4 note the conduct which becomes us toward this ,light4 ,the purest and most untarnishable thing in this world is light4 ,snow is pure1 so is ice1 water1 and air1 but each of these will admit of defilement1 may be marred and polluted4 ,it is not so with light4 ,man's hand cannot soil it4 ,no corruption can infest or cleave to it4 ,nothing can defile its rays or attach pollution to its beams4 ,and such is ,christ4 ,all creatures have shown themselves liable to sin and moral taint1 but ,christ passed through the world of sin as a sunbeam through a house of filth and disease1 and came forth as pure and blessed as ,he sprang from ,god ,himself4 ,he took on ,him sin's form1 that ,he might endure sin's due1 but sin's stain ,he never knew4 ,in ,bethlehem's manger1 ,he was the holy ,child4 ,he lived a human life1 oppressed with all its cares and temptations1 grew up among its corrupt children1 suffered its coarseness1 its rebuffs1 and its villainies1 but with all this ,he did no sin1 neither was guile found in ,his mouth4 ,he was the spotless ,lamb of ,god1 pure2 for ,he was the ,light4 ,again1 light is as bright as it is pure4 ,things are bright in proportion as they are full of light4 ,the day is bright when no clouds shut out the sun4 ,the scenery is bright when illumined by the greatest number of rays4 ,the hope is bright when it is freest from gloomy forebodings and fullest of the light of promise4 ,and such is ,christ4 ,he is brightness1 the brightness of the ,father's glory1 and ,his office is to dispense brightness4 ,that is the brightest time in the soul when there is most of ,christ in it4 ,that is the brightest page on which most of ,christ is found4 ,that is the brightest sermon in which most of ,christ is heard4 ,that is the brightest life in which most of ,christ is seen4 ,that is the brightest world in which ,christ is most fully received2 and that heart1 that home1 that church is but confusion and darkness where ,christ is not4 ,light1 likewise1 is free4 ,it comes without cost1 and it comes everywhere4 ,no poverty is so great as to debar from its blessing1 nor is there an open crevice1 a nook or corner in all this wide world into which it is unwilling to enter1 or where it fails to throw its heavenlike smiles4 ,the halls of the great and the huts of the humble does it gild alike1 and that without money and without price4 ,as related1 it is free1 and so is ,christ4 ,the command is3 ,go ye into all the world1 and preach the ,gospel to every creature4 ,there is no place nor spot where its beams are not to be diffused1 no heart into which it does not struggle for entrance4 ,to the poor as well as to the rich1 to ,jews as well as to ,gentiles is ,christ offered equally freely1 and on the same terms of free grace to each and all willing to accept ,him4 ,he is the true ,light1 ready to lighten every man that cometh into the world4 ,another quality that pertains to the nature of light is that it is revealing4 ,darkness obscures4 ,where it is not light1 a pit may gape at our feet1 a murderer may be waiting in our path1 a dagger aimed at our heart2 we do not see and know1 our vision is held4 ,it requires light to perceive these things4 ,and so in the spiritual world1 ,christ is the great ,revealer4 ,by ,him we come to know ,god and our true selves4 ,by ,him we learn who and where we are1 what our needs are1 and how to relieve them4 ,one of the hardest things in the world is to make people believe that they are guilty and lost beings4 ,the reason is1 they are in the dark4 ,they need the light to show them themselves4 ,and that light is ,christ4 ,only let a man examine himself in the light of ,christ's life and teaching1 and it will not be long until he sees that self of his to be a mere mass of guilt1 and things appearing quite differently in this world of imperfection and sin4 ,and to mention the final feature1 light is life-giving4 ,without light the world is dead4 ,where the sun rarely shines1 or not at all1 there is barrenness1 dreariness1 perpetual winter1 desolation4 ,it is the warming light of spring that starts the dormant germs1 that swells the buds1 and clothes the vineyards1 the field1 and the woods with vegetation1 fragrance1 and plenty4 ,so with the spiritual ,light4 ,where ,christ is not1 life is not1 there is spiritual barrenness1 winter upon the soul4 ,but when ,his beams shine in upon the soul1 the seeds of virtue put forth1 the tree of faith lifts up its fragrant bloom1 and the fruits and flowers of love and grace spring and bud4 ,thus1 by a few comparisons with the material1 natural light1 have we sought to explain in what sense ,christ is called1 or rather calls ,himself1 the ,light4 ,let us inquire how we ought to conduct ourselves toward ,him4 ,first of all1 if you would enjoy the blessings of this ,light1 you must receive the ,light2 the outward illumination must be followed by a corresponding inward one4 ,what good does the light do the man who1 when its morning rays shine into his room1 will pull down the shades and close the shutters and pull the cover of his couch over his head8 ,it's only the worse for the man4 ,the thing is to receive it1 to throw open the shutters of your heart1 and to let its radiant sunbeams burst into its every corner and crevice4 ,that is what it is for1 and we fail of its purpose and benefit if we fail to so treat it4 ,what if the incoming rays do show us the dust that lies upon furniture and floor8 ,should we therefore dislike it1 reject it1 or should we cleanse the furniture and the floor8 ,what if the spiritual ,sun reveals to us our darling sins and ignorances8 ,should we therefore avoid it and dislike it8 ,it is extremely sorry to see the attitude of the most of mankind1 how they will cling like bats and owls to darkness who fly away to some dismal haunts1 and there sit and blink whenever a ray of spiritual sunlight reaches them4 ,christ ,himself said3 ,men love darkness rather than light4 ,let it not be so to us4 ,let us accept and profess it1 take its blessed rays into our souls4 ,and1 again1 let us reflect it4 ,the ,bible directs us not only to be radiant and luminous ourselves1 but to give light and shining so as to enlighten others1 just like the moon and the planets1 who1 borrowing their light from the sun1 are directed to do service in their way and sphere4 ,so1 borrowing from the ,sun of ,righteousness1 we must shine forth1 each in his respective sphere4 ,let your light so shine before men1 says our ,savior1 that they may see your good works4 ,and be it understood this pertains to every ,christian1 to be a lamp and light-dispensing orb4 ,parents are called to a large share in this office4 ,young men and young women in the ,sunday-school partake in the same commission4 ,the officers to be installed this morning1 every man1 woman1 and child in the church have a large and responsible share1 and charged to let his or her light shine in carrying light to the souls of others4 ,with this opening of the new year let us be reminded of our ,christian duty4 ,having seen the ,sun of ,righteousness rising over the hilltops of ,bethlehem1 and rejoicing in its spiritual splendors1 see that the benefits be of lasting impression4 ,ask yourselves1 at the outset1 where its ,sundays will find you4 ,and know they are the rays of brightening and illumination in sacred thoughts and improvements1 the days in which the divine ,word shines forth in its radiancy and the gracious ,light of salvation flashes in its glory2 then1 how can you be children of light and yet forsake the assembling of yourselves together where the light is8 ,how can you thus be light-bearers1 according to ,god's direction8 ,and so in every particular4 ,taking on the brightness of the true ,light1 may it exhibit itself in your energies and activities4 ,no man lighteth a candle and putteth it under a bushel or under a bed1 but on a candlestick1 that it may give light to all that are in the house4 ,let it be in your houses1 and if in the past year the candle of your faith and devotion has been flickering low1 it's an opportune time to trim the wick afresh and to brighten the flame4 ,we have seen that ,christ is the true and only ,light4 ,let us believe in ,him and walk in ,him1 now in this day of ,gospel brightness and salvation1--so that we may become partakers of that still more stupendous ,epiphany1 that glorious manifestation1 when the ,son of ,man shall appear in full splendor of ,his glory to take us home to the inheritance of the saints in light4 ,amen4 ,,first ,,sunday ,,after ,,epiphany4 ,remember now thy ,creator in the days of thy youth4--,eccl4 #ab1 #a4 ,there is no idea1 my beloved1 more common among men than this1 that not childhood1 nor youth1 nor manhood1 but old age is the most suitable period for becoming religious4 ,the argument in support of this idea runs thus3 ,in old age we have less to do with the affairs of this world1 and consequently shall have more time and leisure for those of the next2 then this world will afford us little enjoyment and pleasure1 and with our passions quenched1 with hair turning gray1 hands palsied1 limbs tottering1 can we fail to recognize these as the heralds of the grim king and hear his voice that says3 ,be ready1 the ,judge is at the door8 ,as a vessel1 rocked by storms and falling to pieces1 makes all haste to get to port1 so will we4 ,so runs the argument4 ,prevalent as this idea is1 it's a wild fancy1 a mocking and baseless delusion4 ,for various reasons3 ,at no time is change of heart more difficult than in old age4 ,not as if ,god's grace were less powerful then1 but because the difficulties of conversion increase with years2 the heart grows more callous1 the sinful habits stronger4 ,take a sapling1 for instance2 it bends to your hand1 turning this way or that1 as you will4 ,when seventy springs have clothed it with leaves and the sun of seventy summers has added to its breadth and height1 it scorns1 not yours only1 but a giant's strength4 ,every year of the seventy1 adding fiber to its body and firmness to the fibers1 has increased the difficulty of bending it4 ,in the matter of our everlasting welfare it is much the same4 ,advancing time hardens the fibers of man's heart4 ,of all tasks we know1 there is none so difficult as to touch the feelings and rouse the conscience of godless old age4 ,moreover1 it is an extremely doubtful matter whether we shall ever reach old age4 ,few do1 and the probability is that we shall not4 ,of all our race1 nearly half die in infancy4 ,another large proportion sinks into the grave ere the summer of life is past4 ,ask that aged man with stooping form and slow gait1 where the playmates are of his childhood2 where the boys that sat by him at the desk in school2 where the youths1 flushed with health and full of hope1 with whom he started in the race of life2 where his fellow-workmen or partners in business4 ,with one blow of ,his hand1 one sentence of ,his lips1 ,god may dash all our expectations of threescore years and ten to pieces4 ,this night thy soul shall be required of thee1 and then think of the folly that suggests that old age is the best for getting an interest in ,christ1 peace with ,god1 and a meetness for the kingdom of heaven4 ,do men act with such infatuation in other and far less important matters8 ,here is a man who insures his life1--why8 ,because1 he will tell you1 life is uncertain1 because nothing is more uncertain1 because the chances are he may not live to be old2 and if ,i would be cut off suddenly1 what is to become of my family8 ,men regard this worldly prudence4 ,but1 oh1 that man would reason as soundly and act as wisely where high interests are at stake6 ,let me change but a little the terms of that question3 ,if you should be cut off suddenly and early1 what is to become of your family1 and ask3 ,if you should die suddenly and early1 what is to become of your soul8 ,let me this morning1 prompted by the ,gospel-lesson of this ,sunday1 which presents to us the youthful ,savior in the temple1 ask you1 especially my young hearers1 to ponder with me the words of our text3 ,remember now thy ,creator in the days of thy youth4 ,we shall consider1 ,i4 that youth is the most favorable season in which to begin a religious course2 ,,ii4 point out some of the beneficial results of early piety2 ,,iii4 conclude with a word of general application4 ,youth1 my beloved1 is the most favorable time to begin a religious course1 because1 we would say1 in the first place1 it's the critical time of a person's life4 ,childhood receives impressions easily1 but these impressions1 while lively1 are not deep or abiding4 ,how soon the infant forgets its mother and transfers its love to another1 and the children that stood so pitiful at a parent's casket1 a few weeks afterward are as buoyant and gay at their play as the happiest of their playmates4 ,manhood1 again1 on the other hand1 like the solid rock1 retains impressions once made1 but does not easily receive them2 what the intellect has gained in ripeness1 the heart has lost in tenderness2 and impressibility1 lying between these two periods1 is youth2 then it is that our minds1 like the wax to which the seal1 or the clay to which the mold is applied1 possess both the power of receiving impressions and the power of retaining them4 ,then the character is fixed2 then the turn is taken either for ,god or for the world2 then the road is entered which determines our future destiny4 ,it is an old and trite saying1 found in another tongue1 ,what the boy does not learn1 the man does not know4 ,in youth the powers are more volatile1 the memory is receptive and tenacious4 ,the mind is lively and vigorous1 the affections are more easily touched and moved1 we are more accessible to the influence of joy and sorrow1 hope and fear1 we engage in an enterprise with more expectation1 ardor1 and zeal4--,moreover1 the season of youth will be found to contain the fewest obstacles1 and is most free from the troubles which afterward embitter1 cares which afterward perplex1 and the schemes which engross1 and engagements which hinder one in more advanced and connected life4 ,and1 hence1 it has been the advice of the wise men3 ,in the morning sow thy seed4 ,it is the young and tender root that penetrates the soil2 it is when the fibers are delicate that1 entering the fissures1 it passes into the heart of the rock2 and the earlier the mind is brought in contact with religion and becomes acquainted with its great and immense objects1 the more thoroughly in after life will it comprehend and1 like a root wrapped around the rock1 the more firmly hold to it4 ,it is the young recruits that become the best soldiers1 and young apprentices the best mechanics1 and the best ,christians1 in like manner1 are those who have been so early4 ,run1 in evidence of that1 over the list of names which ,god so honorably distinguished in history1 ,joseph1 ,samuel1 ,david1 ,solomon1 ,jonah1 ,timothy1 ,john1--and you will observe that in almost all cases they are examples of early piety4 ,and if we come to later times and read the biographies of those that have been eminent in ,god's kingdom1 like our great reformer1 ,dr4 ,luther1 and his colaborers1 of ,dr4 ,walther1 and scores and hundreds of others1 the ,almighty seems to have acted almost invariably by the same rule1 and appears to have seldom conferred distinguished honor1 with very few exceptions1 except on early piety4 ,they were all men that feared the ,lord in their youth4 ,how important and reasonable1 then1 is youth to begin a religious course4 ,and1 again1 we would remark1 it is1 of all others1 the most honorable period in which to begin a course of godliness4 ,religion is an ornament4 ,piety in any situation or age is pleasing to the ,most ,high4 ,it is well1 when the world cannot fill our hearts1 to turn our trembling steps from its broken cisterns to the fountain of living waters4 ,it is a grand testimony to religion to see a gray and bent old man standing by the door of mercy and with loud and urging knocking imploring ,god to open and let him in2 but it's exquisitely more attractive and noble to see a youth in the beauty and dew of his age giving himself to ,christ and a life of high and holy virtues4 ,would you thank any one to offer you the shell without the kernel1 or the stalk without the flower1 or a purse without the money8 ,and think you ,god is pleased with the dregs of the cup1 the refuse and few declining years of a man's life8 ,is it fair and reasonable that men should employ their time and talents1 their health and their strength1 and their genius to serve ,satan1 the world1 and the flesh1 ,god's degrading rivals1 and then ask ,him to gather among the stubble of life after the enemy has secured the harvest8 ,in the ,old ,testament ,god commanded that green ears had to be offered2 the first had to be chosen for ,his services3 the first-born of man1 the first-born of beasts1 the first fruits of the field4 ,it was an honor becoming the ,lord they worshiped to serve ,him first4 ,and1 correspondingly1 it is your duty in the ,new ,testament that you should give ,him the first-born of your days1 the first fruits of your reason1 the prime of your affections4 ,it is with such sacrifices that ,god is well pleased4 ,the ,apostle ,john was the youngest disciple2 he was called the disciple whom ,jesus loved4 ,it's the most suitable and honorable1 and it is the most profitable and advantageous4 ,it has its reward4 ,that is our second consideration1 viz41 the beneficial results of early piety4 ,here we would note1 as the first advantage1 that to serve ,god in youth is a safeguard1 a defense against vice and temptations4 ,no age1 indeed1 is secure4 ,till we arrive in heaven and have laid off this body of sin and infirmities we are never safe4 ,here1 like travelers in the mountains1 where a coating of snow hides the treacherous ice1 and one false step may prove the ,christian's ruin1 we walk in slippery places1 and have need to lean on an arm stronger than our own4 ,still youth is of all ages the most dangerous4 ,with its ardent temper1 its inexperience1 its credulity1 taking appearances for realities1 its impatience of restraint1 its unbroken passions1 and feeble hands to control and guide them1 it requires the utmost care and vigilance4 ,lead us not into temptation1 should be its daily1 constant1 earnest prayer4 ,we read at times in our public prints of the wrecks that happen on the shores of our great lakes or the ocean1 of vessels gone down in disaster and storms4 ,what is that list of wrecked vessels to the number of men and women who year by year are wrecked in their youth on the dangers and vices of our towns1--our town8 ,what a graveyard of virtue1 honor1 and honesty6 ,let the places of business where employers show no regard to the welfare1 but only to the work of those in their service2 let the houses where no friendly interest is taken in their domestics2 let the halls of public amusement1 the haunts of drunkenness1 and the hells of vice1 give up their secrets1 as the sea does the drowned cast upon the beach1 and we should have a roll like the prophet's1 written without and within with lamentations1 mourning1 and woe1 as shocking1 if not more so1 as the field of battle1 covered with the carnage of war4 ,and out upon the scene1 from the virtuous influence of home and school1 steps the unsophisticated youth1 a thousand avenues of seduction opening around him and a siren voice singing at the entrance of each4 ,evil companions surround him1 erroneous publications ensnare his eye1 means and opportunities of temptation and sin4 ,he may flatter himself that his own good sense and moral feelings will render him secure1 but as the wise ,king ,solomon says3 ,he that trusteth in his own heart is a fool4 ,the force of examples1 the influence of circumstances1 the voice of railing and ridicule1 the fascinations of the pleasure party1 stifle the finest resolutions1 and often render us an astonishment to ourselves1 as the old proverb says3 ,give the devil an inch1 and he will take an ell4 ,no1 depend upon it1 there is nothing that will do to keep you virtuous1 noble1 and happy but a hearty consecration of soul and body to the ,god that loves you1 and the ,savior that redeemed you1 nothing else than the restraints which that ,god inspires in ,his holy ,law1 and the helps that ,he provides in the rules and ordinances of ,his ,church4 ,let a young ,christian love the habitation of ,his house1 the place where ,his honor dwelleth1 and let ,him follow the ,savior's direction to watch and pray1 and he will retain an undefiled soul in an undefiled body4 ,nor only thus before ,god1 but as it says of the youthful ,savior in to-day's ,gospel4 ,he increased in favor with ,god and man4 ,early piety is honored1 commands the respect of every right thinking person in this world4 ,you will remember how the sterling piety of the youthful ,joseph was honored by ,potiphar and afterwards by the ,king of ,egypt himself4 ,nor need ,i remind you how ,daniel and the other three ,hebrew youths1 because of the excellent spirit of piety that was in them1 was promoted to the highest post of dignity and responsibility in the ,chaldean empire1 and whilst ,god does not promise you that if you seek ,him in your youth1 you will be advanced to sit among princes and to rule kingdoms1 ,he promises you honor and respect1 in whatever station you may be placed4 ,the most worldly people and religiously careless people would rather have the godly lad in their employ1 the young man who is loyal to his conscience and of genuine integrity of character1 who will do his duty1 not with eye-service1 but in singleness of heart1 as unto the ,lord1 than any other kind4 ,in brief1 as the ,apostle says1 you will find that ,godliness is profitable for all things1 having the promise of the life that now is1 and of that which is to come4 ,let me1 then1 in conclusion1 charge you1 my dear hearers1 to consecrate to the ,lord the first fruits of your days4 ,remember1 says our text1 thy ,creator in the days of thy youth4 ,what though frivolous men and thoughtless women ridicule your devotion1 and scoff at your churchgoing and professions6 ,what though some shallow-minded companions charge you with fanaticism or singularity1 hypocrisy or pride6 ,the day is fast coming when they will be compelled to justify your conduct1 to confess that you have chosen the better part1 and to mourn that they neglected to seek the ,savior in the morning of their existence4 ,and to those among you who have feared the ,lord from your youth1 and are now glorifying your ,redeemer in the maturity of life1 ,i would say3 ,go on1 earnestly pursue the glorious course which you have begun2 be not weary in your religious life1 grow in grace as you advance in years1 be illustrations and stimulating examples unto others1 and thus spend your life usefully for ,god and man1 before the evil days come and the years draw nigh1 when you will say3 ,i have no pleasure in them1 when eternity stands at the door1 and you will face your ,maker4 ,god strengthen you in this determination for ,christ's sake4 ,amen4 ,,second ,,sunday ,,after ,,epiphany4 ,marriage is honorable in all4--,hebr4 #ac1 #d4 ,and ,god saw everything that ,he had made1 and1 behold1 it was very good4 ,these words of ,holy ,scripture immediately following the statement3 ,and ,god created man in ,his image1 male and female created ,he them1 contain the divine verdict regarding the social relation that we call matrimony or marriage4 ,declared the all-wise ,god3 ,it was very good4 ,that1 however1 was in the holy and happy days of ,paradise1 in the midst of righteousness1 purity1 and bliss4 ,sin entered1 and things changed2 the image of the divine ,maker was forfeited1 that purity effaced1 over that bliss was written in indelible letters3 ,paradise ,lost4 ,what1 then1 became of the marriage relation8 ,was it1 too1 dissolved1 forfeited1 lost8 ,wonderful ,providence6 ,from that universal wreck1--of the few things which ,god permitted man to carry with him1 remains1 to insure him happiness and welfare in the midst of a world otherwise steeped in misery and tears1 the marriage estate4 ,it was not lost4 ,the ,gospel-lesson of to-day presents the ,savior as being present at a marriage feast1 and records that on that occasion ,he changed water into wine and manifested forth ,his glory4 ,by ,his presence and by that miracle ,he also manifested forth1 endorsed1 sanctioned1 and placed ,his divine approbation upon matrimony1 as ,he once did amid the scenes of ,eden's creation and loveliness4 ,nothing could be more significant than that1 when the ,god-man came to found ,his kingdom upon earth1 and entered upon ,his ,messianic work1 ,his first work should have been wrought in honor of the wedding tie4 ,and so ,god's ,word speaks of marriage throughout4 ,when the ,apostle desires a comparison to set forth the holy and pure relation between ,christ and ,his ,church1 he knows none more sublime and noble than the union that exists between man and woman in wedlock1 for which reason the ,church is called ,christ's bride--,christ is called her ,bridegroom4 ,to raise one's tongue or pen in impiety or censure against marriage is to raise them against heaven and ,christ4 ,to set up in its place the teaching and practice of celibacy1 by which men and women are divested1 in the name of religion1 from the ties and duties of family2 to turn away1 or in any manner to advocate what may break down the proper relation between the sexes1 is casting reproach upon ,god's institution1 and a perversion of true religion1 as it is of nature's laws4 ,to speak depreciatingly1 disparagingly of marriage1 to arch the brow1 to puck the lips up in a smile1 when it is called holy matrimony1 and in any way to entertain light and derogatory views concerning it and family life1 is to get oneself into conflict with1 and to invite the ill favor of1 ,him who has thrown a sacred hedge around the institution1 when on ,sinai's mountain1 in ,his ,ten ,commandments1 ,he commanded how we should regard this estate4 ,marriage1 says the ,apostle in our text1 is honorable in all4 ,there is nothing concerning it that is unworthy1 unholy1 hindersome to piety and salvation4 ,the ,son of ,god would not have graced with ,his presence and miracle those ,galilean nuptials if it had not been holy throughout4 ,concerning the honorableness of that estate would ,i speak at this time a few words of plainness and truth4 ,may ,he who is called the ,god of families bless them to our instruction6 ,among the views concerning matrimony1 there is also this one1 taught by men sitting in professors' chairs and senselessly repeated by the ungodly multitude1 that1 as man has evolved from a lower to a higher form of existence1 so morality and also matrimony have only gradually1 in the course of many centuries1 yes1 thousands of years1 evolved to what it now is4 ,originally man knew as little of matrimony as the beasts of the field4 ,little by little1 pride and self-interest induced especially strong men to take unto themselves1 and keep with themselves1 one or a few of the other sex1 and so it eventually grew into a custom and rule that one man and one woman should form a union for life1 and in evidence of that they will even point to the ,bible1 the instance of ,abraham1 who beside his wife1 ,sarah1 had her maid1 ,hagar1 and ,jacob had two1 really four wives1 and ,david1 ,solomon1 in fact1 all the ,jews among the ,old ,testament kings practiced polygamy1--it was only with the introduction of ,christianity that monogamy1 the union of one man and one woman1 and the indissolubleness of the marriage-tie1 became general rule4 ,what folly of folly1 contrary to all sacred and secular story6 ,without entering too explicitly upon this subject1 do we not read in the chapters of ,genesis that when ,pharaoh of ,egypt had cast his eyes upon ,sarah1 thinking she was ,abraham's sister1 that after he had been rightly informed1 he at once desisted from his advances and made explanation8 ,and did not ,abimelech1 when about to fall into a like error1 offer apology and make restitution8 ,is it not plain from these cases that they well knew that the marriage relation was not to be broken1 that one man was not to take another man's wife8 ,moreover1 it never occurred to ,abraham1 or any of the patriarchs1 to put away from themselves their wives1 for any reasons1 and these men lived nearly two thousand years before ,christ4 ,how absurd the contention that men originally lived without a knowledge of the sanctity of marriage6 ,turning to secular history1 we have record of the same4 ,rome1 for instance1 was founded in the eighth century before ,christ4 ,its first citizens were robbers1 and such as had been banished for gross offenses from other cities of ,italy4 ,but concerning the marriage relation--they did not live as brutes4 ,every physically able inhabitant was legally required to wed1 and for several centuries not a solitary case of divorce occurred4 ,such a thing was regarded simply impossible4 ,it was not until late centuries1 when effeminacy had taken hold upon the city1 that we hear of those social abominations4 ,the same may be said of our heathen forefathers1 the ,german and ,teutonic tribes2 marriage1 with them1 was held in highest respect4 ,this1 then1 is the true view according to ,bible and history4 ,god instituted marriage at creation1 and ,god ordained that it should be a union between one man and one woman1 and that this union is indissoluble and inseparable4 ,as everything else1 however1 suffered by the fall of man into sin1 so also this divine regulation4 ,the corruption at the time of the flood was such that ,god destroyed the world on that very account4 ,they took them wives of all that they chose1 is the sacred account4 ,it is with regret that we read of men like ,abraham1 ,jacob1 ,david1 who were not found strong enough to resist the common corruption1 but were deplorably drawn into looseness of the marriage ties4 ,how was it at the time of the ,savior8 ,the teaching of the synagogue was1 that whosoever shall put away his wife1 let him give her a writing of divorcement4 ,when it entered a man's mind to get rid of his wife1 all he needed to do was to write upon a piece of parchment3 ,i divorce myself from my wife1 have it signed by two or three witnesses1 and the wife had to go2 or if it occurred to a woman to sever herself from her husband1 she demanded a writing of divorcement from him1 and if he refused1 life became miserable1 or she would simply run away1 as ,herodias did from her husband1 ,philip1 and married her husband's brother1 ,herod ,antipas4 ,and these occurrences were not done with blushing reserve1 those guilty of it boasted of it4 ,beloved1 are we not rapidly falling upon such times8 ,the miserable revelations that come from our courts are veritable cesspools reeking with stench and bestial filth4 ,as one eminent jurist has expressed it3 ,broken marriages are as common as broken window-panes4 ,divorce1 what is it practically1 in effect1 but enabling men and women to live in successive polygamy8 ,now1 over against this and all like influences and evils that would break down the honor of marriage1 our ,lord clearly and emphatically laid down ,god's ,law4 ,here it is3 ,they are no more twain1 but one flesh4 ,what1 therefore1 ,god has joined together1 let not man put asunder1 and again1 ,whosoever shall put away his wife and marry another1 committeth adultery1 and whosoever marrieth her that is put away committeth adultery4 ,these words are as clear as language can be4 ,only one exception does ,christ give to the rule1 ,matt4 #e1 #cb3 ,whosoever shall put away his wife1 saving for the cause of fornication4 ,fornication means unfaithfulness to each other in the marriage relation4 ,illicit intercourse with another person1 that is given as the exception1 as a just cause for severance4 ,as for other causes1 the ,bible recognizes not one4 ,and even in cases of fornication it does not demand a divorce4 ,that1 then1 is the position of the ,scripture and of our church4 ,this is the practice of her clergy4 ,again1 another particular that tends to the honorableness of the marriage state1 as pointed out in the text1 is the high purpose which it is intended to serve according to the will of ,god4 ,the family life is the foundation of human society4 ,married life1 without seeking to fulfill its first purpose1 the perpetuating of the human race and the bringing up of one's offspring in the proper manner1 is to undermine1 frustrate1 that foundation of the state4 ,this leads me to refer to an evil which ,i hardly know how to speak of1 which should be named in the blackest of evils1--,i mean the willful intention and resolve to defeat the first of those purposes for which matrimony was instituted by ,god4 ,it comes looming up on the view of this generation as a great1 a growing1 an almost national crime4 ,the foundation of a home is the first thing intended in matrimony4 ,but some deliberately resolve that there shall be no home1 or at least that it shall be as narrow1 as limited1 as possible4 ,be it to avoid pain1 be it to shrink the duty of the parent1 be it to remain free to enjoy the world1--arts base and black1 devices which in the ,old ,testament were punished by death1 are used to carry out these ungodly and absurd resolves2 ungodly1 because it would not be possible more grossly to outrage ,god's law than in this way2 absurd1 because a marriage contracted with that understanding and intention is a contradiction1 a misnomer1 a fraud on society and on the ,church4 ,and so ,i say1 as ,god's minister and in ,his name1 as we who must speak fearlessly1 that this act of deliberately preventing the formation of a home is a crime1 and one which brings down curses from a ,god of justice1 who knows and who rewards according to our deeds4 ,marriage1 be it noted1 is honorable in all2 it is a holy and pure estate1 and holiness must prevail therein4 ,and now let us regard the other part of our discourse3 ,if marriage is a holy estate1 then it must be entered honorably and must be continued honorably4 ,marriage ought to be entered honorably4 ,there is something appalling in the thoughtlessness1 the irresponsibility with which young people will contract marriage2 there seems to be often no apparent sense of the gravity of the act1 no reflection upon what is involved4 ,a pleasant face1 captivating demeanor1 money1 or position are not infrequently the flimsy threads that tie the conjugal knot4 ,but how can any one who is a ,christian enter upon that relation which1 more than any other1 affects the whole life1 without consulting and seeking the blessing of the divine ,author8 ,yet it is done1 and alas6 done only too often by those who ought to know better4 ,some contract acquaintanceship1 keep company1 and have an interchange of hearts1 and never think of their ,god and ,savior in connection with it4 ,religion1 in fact1 seems unwelcome and out of place to many at such a time1 whilst one heart-felt prayer to ,him in connection with such an acquaintance would in thousands of cases have prevented anguish of souls from which there is no refuge but the grave4 ,in other words1 whether you will be happy or unhappy in the marriage life depends largely upon the companion of your choice4 ,therefore1 when choosing a life's companion1 ask ,god for ,his counsel to give you the spouse of ,his choice2 and when you marry1 marry honorably4 ,the contracting parties in to-day's ,gospel-lesson were not a runaway couple1 or ,jesus would not have honored their wedding feast with ,his presence4 ,nor did they marry from sheer necessity to hide the results of sin4 ,their relatives and friends1 and1 if still living1 their parents were there2 they had asked for and received the honest and unqualified consent of the latter4 ,it is not an idle service or the mere acknowledgment of a civil contract1 but a proper and significant ,christian act to have marriage solemnized by a religious ceremony1 conducted by a minister of the church1 and blessed in the name of the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost4 ,no ,christian man or woman should ever think of contracting a marriage alliance at which a servant of ,god is not present to invoke the ,savior's blessing4 ,marriage should be entered into reverently1 discreetly1 and in the fear of ,god4 ,nor can ,i in this connection refrain from calling attention to the good old church custom called in ,english publishing the banns1 the persons asking for the prayer of a ,christian congregation upon their union4 ,thus1 in the ways indicated1 does a ,christian enter upon marriage honorably4 ,and having entered upon it thus1 it ought to be so continued4 ,there is one thing that married couples ought ever to remember1 this3 that they are both sinners4 ,if they bear that in mind1 they will not look for imaginary perfections in their life's partner1 and will1 conscious of their own shortcomings1 bear with the shortcomings of the other4 ,and where there is this conviction that both are sinners1 they will find their balance in the ,savior of sinners4 ,it is well enough to bring into married life an amiable disposition1 the happy faculty of controlling one's temper1 but1 believe me1 the best thing to bring along1 the most effective safeguard against discord and estrangement1 is the fear of the ,lord1 the mutual respect for ,god's law and authority4 ,temporary differences1 quarrels even1 may arise in that home1 but cannot remain4 ,the husband has been hard and unkind1 but will be prompt to make amends4 ,if the wife has been contrary1 quarrelsome1 or has in other ways angered her husband1 the love of ,christ will not let her rest1 but to acknowledge and seek reconciliation4 ,there is nothing like genuine religion to regulate the household1 to take off the frictions of daily life1 to educate us in self-denial1 in bearing and forbearing with one another4 ,let us1 then1 keep before us the dignity of the estate1 and conduct ourselves honorably therein1 until ,god shall summon us from this earthly relation to the marriage feast of the ,lamb on high4 ,amen4 ,,third ,,sunday ,,after ,,epiphany4 ,whosoever drinketh of the water that ,i shall give him shall never thirst2 but the water that ,i shall give him shall be a well of water springing up into everlasting life4 ,the woman saith unto ,him1 ,sir1 give me this water4--,john #d1 #ad4 #ae4 ,our blessed ,lord1 having provoked by ,his preaching and by ,his miracles the enmity of the ,pharisees1 they began to plot ,his destruction4 ,to escape their persecutions1 ,his hour having not yet come1 ,he departed for ,galilee1 between which territory and ,judea lay the province of ,samaria1 through which1 accordingly1 as the holy writer expresses it1 ,he must needs go4 ,the first place at which he stopped was ,sychar1 one of the cities of ,samaria4 ,in its vicinity was a well1 called ,jacob's well1 in all probability because the patriarch ,jacob had caused it to be dug4 ,arriving there about the sixth hour1 or noon1 fatigued with the toils of the day1 ,he seated ,himself1 while ,his disciples went into the city to purchase food4 ,he could easily have relieved ,his wants by a miracle1 but ,his miracles ,he employed only for the relief of others4 ,while thus resting and alone1 there cometh a woman of ,samaria to draw water4 ,our ,lord at once resolved to benefit her4 ,he was one who sowed by all waters1 and with ,him one hearer was enough to justify the finest sermon4 ,he introduced ,himself to her by asking a favor1 the best way that could have been selected4 ,it must be spoken to the credit of our poor humanity that a request for a favor is always regarded as allowable4 ,there are men and women whom you would not dare speak to on the street1 without expecting to be reproachfully treated1 but whom you may with perfect confidence ask a small favor of1 such as the time of day1 a drink of water1 or the like4 ,jesus saith to her3 ,give me to drink4 ,the woman is astonished1 for she saw1 by ,his features and ,his dress1 that ,he was a ,jew4 ,then saith the woman of ,samaria unto ,him3 ,how is it that thou1 being a ,jew1 askest drink of me1 which am a woman of ,samaria8 ,it was a very natural question4 ,the ,jews regarded contact with a ,samaritan disreputable4 ,their touch was pollution2 to spend the night at the house of one of them was to reproach a family for generations4 ,a ,jew would not speak to a ,samaritan1 much less ask a favor of one4 ,but the mind of ,jesus knew nothing of this narrow bigotry1 this odious illiberality4 ,his object was to benefit all1 and ,he1 therefore1 freely conversed with all4 ,his answer was3 ,if thou knewest the gift of ,god1 and who it is that saith to thee1 ,give me to drink2 thou wouldest have asked of ,him1 and ,he would have given thee living water4 ,the ,savior1 as you will have noted from your ,bible reading1 often seizes upon incidents and objects before the eyes of ,his hearers to shadow forth spiritual truths4 ,thus1 when ,he had fed the multitude with bread1 ,he spoke of ,himself as the bread which cometh from heaven and giveth eternal life4 ,being at ,jerusalem at the ,feast of ,tabernacles1 when the people in crowds drew water from the pool of ,siloam1 ,he cried with a loud voice3 ,if any man thirst1 let him come unto me and drink4 ,so here ,he takes occasion to elevate this woman's thoughts from the earthly water to the heavenly4 ,still supposing1 however1 that ,jesus referred to common water1 she objects to ,him3 ,sir1 ,thou hast nothing to draw with1 and the well is deep2 from whence1 then1 hast ,thou this living water8 ,and to suppose that ,he could find better water elsewhere would imply that ,he was greater than ,jacob1 who esteemed this the best in all the territory1 and so she adds3 ,art ,thou greater than our father ,jacob1 which gave us the well1 and drank thereof himself1 and his children and his cattle8 ,jesus1 pitying her ignorance1 and bearing with her weakness1 began more fully to explain the properties of that water of which ,he spoke4 ,he said to her3 ,whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again1 but whosoever drinketh of the water that ,i shall give him shall never thirst2 but the water that ,i shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life4 ,the woman1 still taking the words in a natural sense1 was disposed to turn them into ridicule1 and she begged the ,savior by all means to give her some of that excellent water which would prevent her from ever thirsting again and would render it unnecessary for her to come so far and draw water4 ,she says3 ,sir1 give me this water1 that ,i thirst not1 neither come hither to draw4 ,to check her impatience1 ,jesus shows that ,he was perfectly acquainted with her character4 ,he bids her call her husband4 ,the woman replied3 ,i have no husband4 ,then came the crushing exposure2 ,jesus said to her3 ,thou hast well said1 ,i have no husband2 for thou hast had five husbands1 and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband3 in that saidst thou truly4 ,she1 at once convinced of ,jesus' prophetic character1 adroitly changes the subject4 ,said she3 ,our fathers worshiped in this mountain1 and ye say that in ,jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship4 ,this was opening up an interesting topic4 ,when the ,jews returned after the ,babylonian captivity1 they went to rebuild the temple at ,jerusalem4 ,the ,samaritans proposed to bear part of the expense1 and to worship with them1 as they accepted some of the ,jewish laws and ceremonies4 ,the ,jews rejected their offer1 and would have nothing to do with them4 ,the ,samaritans then built a temple of their own on ,mount ,gerizim4 ,hence1 the woman wished to be informed by this prophet which was the right place1 ,mount ,gerizim or ,jerusalem4 ,the reply of ,jesus was full of instruction2 with great stateliness and dignity ,he said3 ,woman1 believe me1 the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain nor yet at ,jerusalem worship the ,father4 ,ye worship ye know not what3 we know what we worship2 for salvation is of the ,jews4 ,but the hour cometh1 and now is1 when the true worshipers shall worship the ,father in spirit and in truth2 for the ,father seeketh such to worship4 ,god is a ,spirit2 and they that worship ,him must worship ,him in spirit and in truth4 ,the woman1 hearing these instructions1 without disputing with ,jesus1 but also without approving entirely of what ,he said1 refers the entire decision of the question to the coming of the ,messiah4 ,i know that ,messiah cometh1 which is called ,christ2 when ,he is come1 ,he will tell us all things1 to which ,jesus replies3 ,i that speak unto thee am he4 ,here the disciples1 returning from the city1 interrupted the conversation4 ,the woman went back to the city and told the people of the wonderful stranger4 ,full of curiosity1 they came out to see ,jesus1 and prevailed on ,him to stay two days with them1 and many1 records the sacred writer1 of the ,samaritans of that city believed on ,him4 ,there are a number of important lessons that we may profitably dwell upon from this interview between ,christ and that woman of ,samaria4 ,we shall restrict ourselves to the most outstanding one4 ,our ,lord teaches us here the nature of salvation2 ,he compares it to water4 ,it is noteworthy and most suggestive that whatever in the material world is most useful and highly valuable to man is also the most common and most abundant4 ,things which can1 without serious loss and injury to any one1 be dispensed with1 or which serve merely or mainly to give pleasure1 such as gold1 diamonds1 and jewels1 exquisite foreign fruit1 these alone are rare1 the property of a few4 ,but what all men need1 and most largely ministers to their comfort and enjoyment1--the wholesome food1 the pure1 refreshing water1 the air1 and the light1--these are spread out in free1 unstinted store before rich and poor1 young and old1 one and all4--,but besides this material world there is another with which we have to do1 an unseen spiritual world1 in which our souls are living and breathing1 and there the same law obtains4 ,god has abundantly supplied us with what we need4 ,two-thirds of the earth's surface is covered with water4 ,you find water all over and everywhere1 in oceans1 rivers1 springs1 wells1 sufficient to supply all the wants of man4 ,so1 too1 there is not a meager quantity1 but an abundance of living water4 ,if all the human beings who have ever lived upon this earth could come to this heavenly ,fountain in a body1 there would be water enough and to spare1 and it is everywhere and for everybody4 ,it is for ,americans1 for ,europeans1 for the inhabitants of ,asia1 ,africa and the islands of the sea4 ,there never will be a diminution of its vast and boundless supply4 ,nor will ,god permit any barrier to hedge it in4 ,like the water in your homes1 salvation is being brought to your doors2 it is gushing forth like a stream at your feet now1 and it flows through the very aisles of this church1 and filters into every pew4 ,and like natural water1 ,christ's water of salvation possesses like qualities4 ,to mention the particular ,he dwells upon in this text1 ,jesus answered and said to her1 ,whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again2 but whosoever drinketh of the water that ,i shall give him shall never thirst2 but the water that ,i shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life4 ,the soul has its desires1 its yearnings1 its appetites1 as well as the body1 and it is miserable until that thirst is satisfied4 ,and how is this done8 ,certainly not by anything of man's provision4 ,the various schools of man's wisdom1 philosophy1 have tried it1 and we have their confession that they failed to find what they sought4 ,the same may truly be said of this world's pleasures1 possessions1 and honors4 ,these things1 being earthly1 leave the soul as thirsty as before1 yea1 even worse1 like sailors in distress who drink the ocean's brine2 it will but increase their thirst a hundredfold4 ,but whosoever drinketh of the water that ,i shall give him shall never thirst4 ,christ's water1 alone1 is able to satisfy the thirst of the human soul4--,the reason is very apparent4 ,man's happiness depends1 first of all1 upon a right relation to his ,god2 as long as that is severed or strained1 satisfaction and peace of heart are out of the question4 ,and it is only ,he1 that divine person1 who sat upon ,jacob's well1 that has this supply of living water4 ,we are made for ,god1 and our hearts remain thirsty and restless until they find satisfaction and repose in ,him4 ,but1 you will note1 it says3 ,whosoever drinketh of the water that ,i give him4 ,christ gives it1 but there is something1 accordingly1 for the thirsty soul to do4 ,water cannot quench the thirst unless it is taken2 not all the water in the river at the foot of our city can save a man that does not partake of it4 ,nor can ,christ's water of life assuage the thirst of a soul that declines it4 ,there must be personal appropriation1 or it fails of the blessed effects4 ,not as if there is anything meritorious in that1 any more than it is a merit for one to drink a glass of water to allay his physical thirst4 ,and yet1 it is only thus that one becomes partaker of it2 and the only reason why so many fail of its blessed effects is1--they do not drink it4 ,it is told of a ship that its supply of fresh water was exhausted4 ,the passengers and crew on board were at the point of perishing4 ,for several days they had lacked water1 and were almost frenzied4 ,at last a vessel was sighted in the distance4 ,they raised their cry3 ,give us water1 water2 we are dying for water6 ,the reply came back1 ,let down your buckets6 ,you are in the mouth of the ,amazon6 ,you have fresh water all around you4 ,they had been floating three days in fresh water and knew it not4 ,it is so spiritually4 ,ignorance is what keeps many from salvation4 ,the churches1 like vast reservoirs and pumping stations1 are seeking to supply the masses with the knowledge of ,christ and ,his ,gospel4 ,they are actually floating like these perishing souls in the midst of religion1 and yet they dip not their buckets to fill4 ,with some it is because they are too indifferent1 and with others1 because of sheer stupidity they care not to give such matters concern4 ,it is positively surprising to see how many otherwise intelligent and wide-awake men and women will be found altogether destitute of the first things1 the ,a ,b ,c of ,christian teaching and principles4 ,ask them to select the real things of man's life1 to tell you the true purpose of existence1 touch on matters of eternity1 soul and ,god1 and they are as ignorant of those things as children of the value of currency1 who will tear to pieces a five-dollar bill and cling to their five-cent picture-book1 or who will at any time take in exchange for a ten-dollar gold piece a large1 glittering ball of ,christmas tinsel4 ,they know not1 and so they value not1 and allow the treasures of heaven1 the gift of ,god1 as our ,savior called it1 the blessed water of life1 to flow by undrunk and unimproved4 ,to this first reason1 ignorance1 may be rightfully added another1--prejudice4 ,there is a vast amount of that against ,christ's religion4 ,in fact1 there is in every material heart a feeling of aversion against the whole thing1 and1 strange enough1 those who might be expected to be most favorably inclined toward salvation1 the outwardly good1 honest1 and honored1 are1 as a rule1 set against it4 ,their self-sufficiency is in the way4 ,take the case before us4 ,it was a most unpromising one1 this woman4 ,the reproof openly given by a stranger1 a ,jew at that1 would have irritated many a one4 ,some would have replied by abusive language4 ,others would have denied the charge1 especially as it did not appear probable that this unknown person could uphold them4 ,but the ,samaritan had different sentiments1 and bears out the statement of our ,lord that the publicans and sinners were nearer the kingdom of heaven than the ,pharisees1 who were so devout in their outward appearances4 ,some of the most unpromising characters prove the most promising1 and those whom we should have regarded as giving ,christ cordial welcome1 the religionists of ,his time1 were offended at ,him4 ,so to-day1 there are numbers of those who regard themselves good enough or not worse than many others and these very church people1 and so are never seen in a house of ,christian worship1 except to see some one married1 or buried2 who will read anything and everything1 and who are ready to meet with you and talk with you on every topic except one1 and that is religion4 ,prejudice1 my beloved1 prejudice1 short-sighted1 cruel1 unreasonable4 ,but1 to conclude2 to us1 my dear hearers1 as to this woman of ,sychar1 has the ,savior come4 ,he is sitting not only1 as of old1 on ,jacob's well1 ,he is sitting aside you in the pew1 ,he is offering you the same water of life4 ,why not take and drink it8 ,people will go far and spend much to drink of earthly springs for bodily invigoration and health4 ,here is the life-water1 which alone can give health to the soul1 and which springs up into eternal life4 ,oh6 that some of its life-giving drops may fall upon your hearts in these moments to soften them into penitence and holy resolve3 ,sir1 give me of this water4 ,i heard the voice of ,jesus say1 ,behold1 ,i freely give ,the living water2 thirsty one1 ,stoop down1 and drink and live4 ,i came to ,jesus and ,i drank ,of that life-giving stream2 ,my thirst was quenched1 my soul revived1 ,and now ,i live in ,him4 ,amen4 ,,fourth ,,sunday ,,after ,,epiphany4 ,and straightway ,jesus constrained ,his disciples to get into a ship1 and to go before ,him unto the other side1 while ,he sent the multitudes away4 ,and when ,he had sent the multitudes away1 ,he went up into a mountain apart to pray3 and when the evening was come1 ,he was there alone4 ,but the ship was now in the midst of the sea1 tossed with waves2 for the wind was contrary4 ,and in the fourth watch of the night1 ,jesus went unto them1 walking on the sea4 ,and when the disciples saw ,him walking on the sea1 they were troubled1 saying1 ,it is a spirit2 and they cried out in fear4 ,but straightway ,jesus spake unto them1 saying1 ,be of good cheer2 it is ,i2 be not afraid4--,matt4 #ad1 #bb-bg4 ,our blessed ,lord was both1 ,he was true ,god and ,he was true man4 ,to-day's ,gospel-lesson presents ,him to us in the fishermen's boat1 weary and sleeping on a pillow4 ,there is humanity2 for of ,god it says3 ,behold1 ,he shall neither slumber nor sleep4 ,again1 the same story presents ,him as commanding the winds and the waves4 ,there is ,godship2 for of ,god alone can it be said3 ,thou rulest the raging of the sea2 when the waves thereof arise1 ,thou stillest them4 ,and this remarkable contrast you will find running through all ,his earthly history4 ,you enter the stable at ,bethlehem4 ,you see a babe slumbering on its mother's lap4 ,you say1 ,this is ,mary's child4 ,presently a company of shepherds enter1 and tell what they heard and saw while keeping watch over their flocks by night4 ,scarcely have they finished their description1 when wise men from the ,east appear1 alleging that they have been guided thither by a star1 and worshiping the ,child with costly offerings4 ,you stand on ,jordan's bank and mingle with the thousands who have come to hear the word and submit to the ,baptism of ,john4 ,you behold one1 ,jesus of ,nazareth1 going down to be baptized1 but you think little of it1 for ,he differs1 apparently1 in nothing from those by whom ,he is surrounded4 ,but as ,he comes up from the water1 the heavens are opened1 and the ,spirit of ,god descends like a dove1 and lights upon ,him1 while from the celestial heights comes a voice1 ,this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased4 ,you accompany ,him to the grave of ,lazarus1 and you see the tears trickle down ,his cheeks1 and you realize that ,he is a man2 for neither ,deity nor angels weep4 ,but soon you behold ,lazarus come forth from his sepulcher in answer to ,his word of power1 and once more you ask in wonder verging on adoration3 ,what manner of man is this8 ,and so till you see ,him on the cross1 ,his back lacerated with the scourge1 and ,his brow bleeding from the pressure of the crown of thorns4 ,you hear the words1 ,it is finished1 and see the pale cast of death settle on ,his countenance4 ,but on the third day after1 you meet ,him in the upper room at evening1 extending ,his hand in resurrection greeting3 ,peace be unto you4 ,now1 what shall we make of this wonderful dualism1 as we may call it8 ,there remains nothing for us to do but to accept that ,christ was true ,god and true man4 ,no other interpretation or explanation will do4 ,our church1 in the standard ,confession1 in the ,third ,article of the ,augsburg ,confession1 thus voices its belief1 and to that we subscribe4 ,we teach that ,god the ,son became man and was born of the ,virgin ,mary2 that the two natures1 the human and the divine1 inseparably united in one person1 are one ,christ1 who is true ,god and man4 ,so much as to the great doctrinal truth taught in the ,scripture-reading of to-day4 ,it contains also a very instructive and comforting practical truth4 ,we shall regard as our topic3-- ,the experience of ,christ's disciples on the ,sea of ,galilee a picture of ,christ's people on the sea of life1 noting1 ,i4 their adversity1 ,,ii4 their security4 ,the poet has said that human life is ,bits of gladness and of sorrow1 ,strangely crossed and interlaid2 ,bits of cloud belt and of rainbow1 ,in deep alternation braid2 ,bits of storm when winds are warring1 ,bits of calm when blasts are stay'd1 ,bits of silence and of uproar1 ,bits of sunlight and of shade4 ,and it's more than poetic fancy2 it is stern reality4 ,like that ,sea of ,galilee1 the sea of life is sometimes calm and sometimes stormy1 sometimes reposing under the soft smiles of a sunshiny sky1 and sometimes ruffled and whipped by the restless gales4 ,wearied from the toils and turmoils of the day1 our ,lord constrains ,his disciples to get into a ship1 and to go before ,him to the other side1 while ,he sent the multitude away4 ,when ,he had done this1 ,he retired4 ,whither8 ,into a neighboring mountain4 ,for what8 ,to pray4 ,he wished to be alone2 ,his heart yearned for communication with ,his ,father2 ,he also needed strength and preparation for the work and conflicts of the morrow4 ,how could ,he secure it8 ,by prayer4 ,how suggestive and instructive for us4 ,our ,lord needed thus to strengthen and prepare ,himself for life's difficulties and battles4 ,let us learn a lesson from ,him1--discover where the secret of our power lies4 ,but while thus engaged1 ,his disciples were in danger upon the sea4 ,a fearful storm1 one of those sudden1 violent squalls1 peculiar to the ,sea of ,galilee1 had arisen1 and was lashing the sea with violent fury4 ,try as they might1 and they were accustomed to the sails and oars1 they were perfectly helpless1 and the greatest misfortune was that the ,master was not with them4 ,had ,he been there1 even though asleep1 they might have roused and brought ,him to their rescue4 ,but1 alas6 ,he was far away4 ,consternation and despair seized hold upon them1 when1 at a sudden1 they discern in the distance the form of a man walking on the foaming crests of the waters4 ,what8 ,could it be ,he8 ,indeed1 there ,he was1 and ,he speaks to them4 ,no sooner did ,he set ,his foot on the ship than the tossing waters sank down to their quiet bed4 ,there was a great calm4 ,beloved1 these stories of the ,bible have not been written for entertainment1 but as the ,apostle declares3 ,whatever was written aforetime was written for our learning1 that we through patience and comfort of the ,scriptures might have hope4 ,life has its times of prosperities1 and it has its times when the wind is contrary and wave dashes fast upon wave4 ,the occasion of this storm may be various4 ,sometimes it is the matter of livelihood4 ,circumstances over which we have no control overwhelm us1 embarrass us4 ,try as hard as we may1 like these disciples1 who made only thirty furlongs1 we can make no headway2 yes1 in spite of our willingness and energy1 we go backward2 reverses set in1 loss is ours4 ,we are mightily tossed by the waves1 and the clouds look dreadfully frowning and dark4 ,sometimes it is bodily ailment2 suffering of one sort or another comes over us like a destructive wave2 we are called to battle with disease1 the probabilities and improbabilities of ever becoming strong again1--it is bitter experience4 ,or it may be the wave of bereavement4 ,like this little fisherman's craft1 we are carried down into the depths of heart-rending sorrow2 our eyes are wet with tears2 before us closes the grave upon one whom we would have given the whole world to retain4 ,contrary winds6 ,dashing billows6 ,rolling1 tossing sea6 ,and imagine not that by believing the ,gospel1 your being a ,christian1 will make you exempt from these storms4 ,we are sometimes told3 ,do what is right1 and you will not suffer4 ,it sounds very plausible1 but it is not true1--very unfrequently otherwise4 ,why was ,joseph cast into prison8 ,he did that which was right4 ,why were the martyrs put to death8 ,these disciples in the path of duty when the storm came upon them were doing what had been commanded by the ,lord4 ,you may not infrequently be exposed to fierce blasts by being a ,christian consistent1 consecrated in life and duties4 ,it matters not what your profession or portion in life may be1 whether you are a ,christian or not1 godly or ungodly1 rich or poor1 famous or obscure1 the storms of life will certainly1 with more or less violence1 overtake you4 ,there is no exemption1 no escape from them4 ,now1 what shall we think1 what say1 to sustain ourselves amid experiences like that8 ,it may be well enough to note the experience of those disciples yonder on the ,sea of ,galilee4 ,and when the disciples saw ,him walking on the sea1 they were troubled1 saying1 ,it is a spirit2 and they cried out for fear4 ,what could it be1 that moving form8 ,a man8 ,no1 impossible6 ,how could a man tread upon the waters8 ,then it must be a ghost1 an apparition1 a grim visitor from the other worlds4 ,and as this idea forced itself upon them1 they could not refrain from crying out with terror4 ,thus1 my dear hearers1 ,god's people are sometimes perplexed1 when scenes of distress appear1 and bereavement1 humiliation1 and sorrow appear upon life's sea4 ,they are sometimes disposed to cry out with terror1 ,what can it mean8--these dark and threatening forms4 ,surely1 a loving and beneficent ,god would not alarm ,his children1 and add still greater anxiety and anguish to their already fierce battling with the waves and the elements4 ,my beloved1 that is just what ,god does1 and wisdom on our part1 our sustaining strength1 and the comfort consists in this1 that we recognize that form1 nor1 mistaking it1 cry out in terror4 ,that storm on the ,galilean ,sea was not an accident1 it did not come by chance1 it was sent by and with the permission of the ,governor of the winds and the waves2 and when the billows were rolling fiercest and fastest1 ,his hand was there guiding and controlling4 ,none less so with the streams of life4 ,these are not accidental1 but intentional4 ,they do not come by chance1 but are sent by1 and with the permission of1 the ,governor of the universe1 and when the billows are rolling fast1 ,his hand is guiding and controlling our afflictions4 ,perplexing as they may be1 they are part of ,god's grand and sovereign system of dealing with us4 ,it is ,he1 ,his ,providence1 ,his divine appointment and arrangement1 not some strange1 unmerciful power1 which people call ,fate1 ,chance1 ,nature1 but the divine form of our blessed ,savior4 ,that is the first thing we must bear in mind amid life's storms4 ,but straightway ,jesus spoke unto them1 saying1 ,be of good cheer2 it is ,i2 be not afraid4 ,human lips cannot describe the effect which these words uttered by that familiar voice must have had upon them4 ,in a moment the whole truth flashed upon their minds1--the apparition so much dreaded was no other than ,he whom1 above all others1 they longed to see4 ,there is a common expression in ,english1 which speaks of blessings in disguise4 ,such are all of life's untoward happenings to a ,christian--blessings in disguise4 ,that ,galilean experience in the night and storm gave to these disciples enlarged ideas of the ,master and ,his power1 it developed their faith and trust in ,him4 ,not for all the toil and terrors would they have foregone it4 ,they never forgot it4 ,beloved1 the time will come when you will look back upon that experience that wrenched your soul1 that household cross that proved so heavy1 that disheartening reverse that caused a big black mark to be drawn through your life's prospects and plans1 those hours of dread and darkness1 as the very occasions of your highest blessings1 the making of yourselves4 ,the evils of life--speak not thus--are blessings in disguise4 ,nearer1 my ,god1 to ,thee1 nearer to ,thee1 e'en though it be a cross that raiseth me4 ,have you ever seen anything but a cross raise men8 ,the smiles of prosperity1 the sunshiny sky1 the even waves of the sea of life are not the means calculated to raise a soul nearer to ,god2 that takes the buffetings1 the storms1 and the rising billows 7blessings in disguise71 sent by a wise ,god in loving purpose4 ,and one more4 ,when the disciples recognized and realized that it was their ,master1 their fear vanished4 ,let the winds blow1 the ship toss1 and the waves run high1 they felt secure1--,he was with them4 ,it is a simple thought1 yet it constitutes the whole of religion1 the essence of faith1 our comfort in life1 our hope in death1 our all in all1 this one thought3 ,he is with us1 ,jesus1 the ,master4 ,i am thinking this moment of a man1--his eyesight impaired1 sickness upon his body1 his head bending low with age1 striving hard to live1 afraid to die4 ,the religion of ,christ was never his1 and he desires none of it now4 ,a more melancholy lot never was man's as he is tossed about with many a conflict and many a doubt1 fightings and fears within1 without1 dissatisfied1 unhappy4 ,i am thinking of another1--his eyes have not seen the light of day for eight years2 his once powerful frame is now as delicate as a child's1 his hair is gray from much weariness and pain2 but none was ever more cheerful1 submissive1 hopeful1 and happy4 ,the difference8 ,the one has recognized the divine form walking on the surging billows1 and has taken ,him into his life's boat2 the other has not1 and will not do so4 ,with the one it is a great calm1 stillness1 joy4 ,with the other1 tumult1 danger1 and despair4 ,that is the difference1--what a difference6 ,so1 whether it be sickness1 or that the world goes against us1 or that we are straitened in our means of living1 or experiencing the loss of the dearest and nearest2 not from them has ,christ and ,christianity promised to save us1 but in them1 trusting in ,him1 it has promised1 and that we shall feel safe4 ,and that is the one great practical lesson of the day's texts1 that is why they are recorded in the ,bible1 that we may have this faith1 this comfort and hope4 ,then in the day of trouble we shall think of something more than the mere earthly and temporal look of the trouble2 we should all think of ,god in it1 of ,god guiding it1 and of ,his sheltering and sustaining hand in it4 ,then when we are sick1 our thoughts would not be so taken up with the mere pains and annoyances we suffer1 the probabilities or the improbabilities of our getting back to health and strength again2 but whether we get better or not1 the remembrance of the ,hand of our ,savior in it will make us feel easy1 submissive1 and patient under it1 as no other strength can4 ,and so with all other trouble4 ,amid the waves of the sea of life1 which is seldom calm1 and often swells into mountainous billows1 let us heed the voice of the ,savior1 ,be of good cheer1 it is ,i4 ,let us toil on4 ,no contrary wind can last forever4 ,after a time we shall reach the other shore1 and when we touch that1 we shall be done with these storms4 ,then will there be a great calm4 ,amen4 ,,fifth ,,sunday ,,after ,,epiphany4 ,the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea1 and gathered of every kind3 which1 when it was full1 they drew to the shore1 and sat down1 and gathered the good into vessels1 but cast the bad away4--,matt4 #ac1 #dg4 #dh4 ,a number of our ,lord's discourses were addressed to those who were engaged in agriculture4 ,to such were uttered the parables of the sower1 of the wicked husbandmen1 of the mustard seed1 and to-day's ,gospel of the wheat and tares4 ,others of these discourses were spoken more immediately to ,his own disciples1 the most of whom had been fishermen on the ,lake of ,galilee1 and to them mightily appealed an illustration like that which we are about to consider4 ,they had often experienced what our ,lord so simply describes4 ,they had gone forth in their boats to fish1 and after they had drawn their nets to shore1 they had made an examination of what they contained1 and out of the meshes they had gathered the good into vessels1 for sale or for use1 and that which was worthless they had thrown away4 ,a very simple figure setting forth a very affecting and awakening truth4 ,may the ,holy ,ghost solemnize our minds and write some abiding impressions on all our hearts6 ,the subject divides itself into two parts4 ,it shows us1 ,i4 ,the present mixed character of the churches2 ,,ii4 the future separation4 ,the ,kingdom of ,heaven1 that is1 the ,church1 is likened by our ,lord to a net cast into the sea4 ,the net spoken of is not the ordinary casting-net1 but a seine1 or hauling-net1 which was sometimes half a mile in length1 leaded below that it might drag the bottom of the sea1 and kept above the water with large corks4 ,a net of such dimensions will naturally enclose fish of all sizes and kinds1 some bad and others good1 some valuable and others worthless1 some in the best condition1 others out of season1 dead1 or putrid1 and unfit for human food4 ,and so it is with the net of the ,gospel4 ,it is a large1 capacious draw-net2 it is not merely let down into one stream or river1 but it sweeps the ocean1 the wide and open sea of the world1 and its threads are so strong1 so well knitted together that scarcely a single fish can escape4 ,in other words1 we have here a picture of the all-embracing ,church of ,christ1 the preaching of the ,gospel to every nation4 ,but as the divine fishermen1 the ministers of ,christ1 cast their net into this universal sea and enclose an abundance of human fishes1 not all are of the same quality2 it's a mixed and motley multitude4 ,in the visible ,church there is a deal of trash and rubbish1 refuse1 and vermin1 as well as fish1 says an old commentator4 ,in this our own blessed country1 where the ,gospel is preached in nearly #b1jjj1jjj sermons every year1 and where churches and chapels rear their spires on the right hand and on the left1 there are many professed ,christians1 and those who belong to the visible ,church1 but they are not alike4 ,they were baptized in infancy1 and many of them renewed their solemn covenant at ,god's altar in ,confirmation4 ,but there their religion ends4 ,they never seek ,god's face in private prayer4 ,they profane and desecrate ,god's holy day4 ,they neglect ,god's sanctuary4 ,they never read ,god's ,word4 ,they are daily supported by ,god's bounty1 but they cherish no more gratitude to the ,author of all their blessings than if they were sticks or stones4 ,what are such baptized ,christians in reality but vile refuse in the net4 ,others1 again1 are not so pronounced in their conduct2 they do observe to some extent the proprieties of a religious life2 they are seen now and then inside of ,god's house1 and have their names enrolled upon the communicant or membership list of some church1 send their children to ,sunday-school1 and withhold not at times a charitable hand4 ,but1 then1 that is the whole of their religion4 ,they do not believe in always running to church1 in being so awfully sanctimonious2 a person can be a ,christian1 read his ,bible1 and pray at home just as well4--,that's the type of many4 ,it is the form without the power4 ,the virgin's lamp of profession is there1 the oil of ,god's ,spirit is not there1 or very1 very low4 ,and1 in addition to these various classes1 there is a remnant1 as the ,apostle calls it1 in many places a very small remnant1 according to the election of grace4 ,these are they1 and some such are now hearing me who have received the truth for the love of it1 and who have embraced the ,gospel as it has embraced them4 ,they belong not to them that are good enough1 and if ,god accepts any one1 ,he cannot pass them by1 but being convinced by the ,holy ,ghost that they are poor1 soul-sick sinners1 they seek ,christ's blood as their only remedy and ,christ's righteousness as their only ground of acceptance1 and flee to ,christ's cross as their only hope1 and seek to adorn this doctrine by a consistent and holy life and a diligent and conscientious attendance upon the ,word and ,sacraments4 ,these1 my beloved1 are some of the various classes of the mixed and motley multitude that are now being gathered into the net1 the outward church1 and yet it is sheer impossibility to distinguish between them4 ,they are so closely mixed together2 people may live in the same houses1 walk together the same street1 sit side by side in the same pew1 listen to the same preacher1 kneel at the same sacramental altar1 and at last lie down1 amid sacred ceremony1 in the same burial plot1 and yet may be inwardly utterly dissimilar1 the one from the other1 the one genuine1 the other spurious2 the one be finally saved1 the other ultimately lost4--,this is something which we cannot determine1 which our natural1 material eye cannot discern4 ,but that is the teaching of our text1--there will come a time when this will be made manifest4 ,as in the drag-net1 first of every sort are gathered together in the same enclosure only for a little while1 till the nets are drawn in to the shore1 so in the spiritual net1 the outward ,church of ,christ on earth1 the opposite descriptions of mankind are equally enclosed1 but only for a season1 a brief season2 they will presently be divided4 ,says our parable3 ,the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea1 and gathered of every kind2 which1 when it was full1 they drew to the shore1 and sat down1 and gathered the good into vessels1 but cast the bad away4 ,when the net shall be full1 when the last saved of the number of ,god's elect shall be gathered in1 the examination will be made1 and the separation will take place4 ,there is a time set in ,god's everlasting purposes1--we know not when1 indeed1 that time will be according to the measurement of our years1 but we know that it will be when the ,gospel shall have fulfilled that which it has been sent for2 for1 according to the ,master-,fisher1 it must not return void and empty1 but full4 ,and so the net is now filling1 faster at some times than at others1 all along continuing to be filled until it will be drawn to shore1 the shore of eternity2 and then will the dividing process take place4 ,from this parable1 and from the corresponding one of the wheat and the tares1 we see what a mistake we make if we expect to find anywhere a perfect ,church upon earth4 ,to expect the ,church to be a community of perfect saints is to expect more than its divine ,founder ever expected1 according to the words of ,his own parables4 ,there was a ,balaam among the prophets of ,god1 and ,achan in the camp of ,israel1 a ,judas numbered with the twelve apostles1 an ,ananias and ,sapphira connected with the first little flock in ,jerusalem4 ,in the ,corinthian1 ,galatian1 and ,ephesian ,churches1 planted and superintended by ,st4 ,paul1 there arose bad ministers and disreputable private ,christians4 ,no wonder1 then1 that in our church and charges there should be found reprehensible and undesirable material1 and no preaching1 however powerful and faithful1 no discipline1 however strict and prudent1 no watchfulness1 however careful and ready1 can ever make it otherwise4 ,even to the end of the world the goats will mingle with the sheep1 the tares grow up with the wheat1 whilst the nets are being filled1 the bad fish will be gathered with the good4 ,perfection is not to be found this side of heaven4 ,the second error pointed out by this part of our subject is this1 that we must not seek1 by force or persecution1 to get rid of what we may call putrid or unprofitable fish4 ,church discipline is1 indeed1 enjoined in the ,scripture in regard to doctrine and in regard to practice4 ,when ,paul writes to ,titus3 ,rebuke them sharply1 that they may be sound in the faith1 and advises the ,corinthians concerning the man guilty of incest1 ,put away from among yourselves that wicked person1--when a person has become manifest as an outspoken disbeliever or as an open transgressor of ,god's ,law1 flagrant in his morals1 then it becomes incumbent upon a congregation to admonish1 to discipline1 for the saving of his soul1 that person4 ,church discipline is not intended to cast away1 but to bring back to proper belief and proper conduct1 to save a person's soul1 to keep him in the net1 by removing his error and inducing him to live a decent life4 ,however1 if such a one obstinately persists in his wickedness1 then it commends itself to every one that he can no longer be admitted to fellowship4 ,but it is not this quality of fish that our parable speaks about4 ,in fact1 such1 to make it plainer1 are no fish at all2 they are vermin1 lizards1 or whatever species of reptile you wish to name them4 ,a man that is outspoken in unbelief and profligate in his morals is not within the ,gospel net4 ,christ in this parable is speaking of such people as wished to be recognized as ,christians1 confess themselves as spiritual and converted children of the ,kingdom1 and as long as they do that1 we may have our serious doubts as to their sincerity2 we may1 as we see their faults and obliqueness of conduct1 consider their ,christianity of a rather dubious specimen or type--hypocritical is the common term4 ,but it's not for us to read them out of the membership of the saints1 much less dare the ,church deny them access to the house of ,god1 or resort to external force1 police or military measures to enforce her teachings and persecute those who differ from her4 ,has that ever been done1 you question8 ,my dear hearers1 the robes of the professing ,church are red with the blood of saints1 because it has failed to heed the parables of our consideration to-day4 ,we think of a ,john ,huss1 a forerunner of the ,reformation1 taken to the stake at ,constance1 burned as an arch-heretic2 of the ,albigenses and ,waldenses1 persecuted1 slaughtered by the so-called holy ,christian ,church1 banished for no other cause but adherence to their ,bibles4 ,we call to our remembrance the scenes of the ,inquisition1 the horrible treatments and tortures1 when ,rome undertook to separate the bad from the good1 and destroyed thousands of ,christians better than herself1 #ah1jjj in the ,netherlands1 #fj1jjj in ,france4 ,we can still hear the bells tolling on that fatal day1 ,august #bd1 #aegb1 called ,st4 ,bartholomew's ,day1 when the signal for a massacre was given that cost #cj1jjj ,huguenots their lives in the streets of ,paris4 ,time fails us to speak of ,england and ,germany with their gruesome thirty years of religious war1 of the countries where fanaticism1 armed with the sword1 wished to root out what it thought was tares1 and cast away the bad fish2 and let us mark that the ,pope resides not only in ,rome1 but there are a multitude of little popes everywhere1 judging and pronouncing on one another1 with all the stringency and self-confidence of their colossal type in ,rome1 their anathemas1 and who would1 if they could1 quickly and radically empty the net4 ,but1 says the ,savior1 let them be gathered together until the day of separation4 ,and by whom1 to continue the parable1 will the separation be made8 ,not by the fishermen1 the ministers2 for they are liable to make great and fatal mistakes4 ,ministers cannot see people's hearts4 ,they may often think1 ,these are ,god's elect1 when ,god says1 ,i know them not1 and the reverse4 ,no1 my brethren1 ministers will be sifted like the rest1 themselves be classed either with the wicked or the just1 and1 strange as it may sound1 those who have cast the nets1 may themselves be cast away4 ,god will1 therefore1 according to the parable1 employ brighter agents for this important work4 ,the angels1 it says1 shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just4 ,the same is told in the parable of the tares4 ,the reapers are the angels2 and they will do their work with perfect accuracy4 ,they will make no mistakes4 ,the angel that passed over the houses in ,egypt committed no error4 ,every house on whose door-posts was the blood he spared1 while in every house where the blood was not seen he left a first-born dead4 ,so1 in the separation on the final day1 these celestial reapers will see at a glance who have been justified by the ,lord and sanctified by the ,spirit1 and who have not4 ,not one will escape their discerning eye4 ,oh6 what a separation that will be4 ,there will be no haste1 no precipitation2 all will be calm and judicial4 ,the angels will sit down1 as the term is1 to denote the calm inquiry and the patient investigation of each member of the visible ,church2 and the good they will then gather into vessels1 into the mansions above2 but the bad will they cast away into a furnace of fire1 where there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth4 ,methinks that these concluding words of our ,lord are the most terrible that can be anywhere found1 and yet1 withal1 they are the words of a loving ,savior1 graciously telling us beforehand what the result of the final separation will be4 ,well may we heed for our instruction the solemn appeal3 ,who hath ears to hear1 let him hear4 ,there only remains now for me1 to rivet these lessons upon your minds1 two further remarks3 ,first1 be not offended2 secondly1 be not deceived4 ,too often do we hear the remark1 ,there are too many hypocrites in the ,church1 ,i don't care to associate with such people4 ,you are right1 my dear friend2 but such a clear-sighted person as you are will certainly not judge a ,christian ,church by the faulty character of some of its members4 ,have you remained unmarried because some people have proved failures in marriage8 ,or do you keep your children from being educated because some educated people are great rascals8 ,is this the fault of marriage or education8 ,and will you contend that the ,word of ,god and the water of ,holy ,baptism make those who hear and receive it hypocrites and spiritual counterfeits8 ,what hollowness of reasoning6 ,you would not spurn the gold because it is embedded in quartz1 or discard the diamond because it lies buried in sand1 or refuse the daylight because there is a spot on the sun4 ,you know too well that a cause must be judged by its principles1 its teachings1 and not by the faults and failures of its adherents4 ,and so when the question arises as to your connection with the ,church of ,christ1 it is for you to consider the principles and doctrine of that1 and act accordingly4 ,again1 be not deceived4 ,we are all of us1 in a sense1 in the net2 and in the net are to be found of every kind1 good and bad4 ,which are we8 ,christ tells us that many--not a few--many at the last day1 will cry to ,him1 saying1 ,lord1 we have heard ,thy ministers preach1 and by them ,thou hast taught us in our churches2 but ,he will say3 ,depart from me2 ,i never knew you4 ,do you1 then1 belong among the good8 i4 e41 those who have their souls appareled in the garments of ,christ's goodness8 ,in other words1 are you a sincere and simple believer in ,christ ,jesus8 ,then shall you be cast into the vessels4 ,may ,god grant us a favorable judgment when the drag-net of the ,gospel is drawn to the everlasting shore6 ,amen4 ,,septuagesima ,,sunday4 ,is thine eye evil because ,i am good8--,matt4 #bj1 #ae4 ,such was the question put by the householder1 in the parable1 to the laborers that murmured against him4 ,he had gone forth early in the morning to hire men for his vineyard4 ,he discovers that those engaged at first were not enough1 so he continues to go forth at different times during the day to the market-place to employ others4 ,with those first hired he had made a stipulated contract1 fixing the wages at so much2 with those later hired no such fixed agreement was made1 but merely the general promise given that he would pay them whatever was fair and just4 ,in the evening1 when the work was over1 and the steward ready to pay off the men1 he directed to give them all one and the same coin2 each was to receive a penny1 the value of which1 considering all things1 was about #a4ej in our present-day currency1 a common laborer's wage4 ,whereupon1 relates the parable1 those who had been in the vineyard all the day thought themselves hardly1 unjustly treated4 ,they said1 ,these last have wrought but one hour1 and thou hast made them equal with us which have borne the burden of the day4 ,so ,i have1 said the master of the vineyard to one of those murmurers2 ,i have paid you alike1 but have you not received your just due1 the sum you agreed for8 ,take that thine is1 and go thy way4 ,have ,i not the right to do as ,i like with my own money8 ,and so1 if ,i choose to remunerate these men after the manner that ,i have1 what hurt or worry is that to thee8 ,is thine eye evil because ,i am good8 ,let us regard for our study and profit this morning this one particular1 the evil eye1 noting ,i4 its nature1 ,,ii4 its cure4 ,and may ,god bless ,his ,word6 ,what1 to begin with1 is meant by an evil eye8 ,it may in different places of the ,bible mean different things4 ,what is meant in the text is clear enough4 ,the evil eye here is such an eye as the laborers in the vineyard had when they looked askance at their neighbor's good fortune4 ,an evil eye1 therefore1 is a grudging1 an envious eye4 ,to say of any one in this sense that he has an evil eye1 is the same as saying that he is of a grudging1 an envious turn of mind4 ,now1 this particular turn of mind is far more common than it ought to be4 ,the divine ,householder still has occasion to ask1 ,is thine eye evil8 ,it is a spirit very general1 in truth1 it is the moral epidemic of the world1 it is found everywhere1 and more or less in everybody1 yourself1 my dear hearers1 myself not excepted4 ,we open our ,bibles1 and we read of ,ahab1 ,king of ,israel1 dwelling in the midst of affluence and of plenty1 yet he goes to his royal palace1 heavy and displeased1 and lays himself down on his bed and will not eat1--why8 ,his evil eye grudged a poor vineyard which ,naboth would not surrender4 ,haman was the favorite of ,king ,ahasuerus1 the mighty ruler of ,babylon4 ,all the princes of ,persia pay him respect and riches are his2 the evil eye has stung his heart1 and he says1 ,all this availeth me nothing1 so long as ,i see ,mordecai1 the ,jew1 sitting at the king's gate1 who will not bow to me4 ,nor is it confined to the rich1 this grudging cast of mind4 ,coming down the ladder of life1 who were the people that murmured against the owner of the vineyard8 ,were they not common laborers1 who had been hired to work for the day1 day laborers8 ,and the disease is prevalent among them yet to-day4 ,the disposition to grumble and tease themselves into dissatisfaction and discontent over the good estate of their more favored and fortunate fellow-men1 is not this the fundamental heresy of ,socialism1 the evil eye8 ,again1 coming from the various classes of men to the different spheres of life1 in the private and social sphere1 what mean those jealousies and rivalries that are ever dividing a neighbor from a neighbor1 friend from friend1 relatives from relatives8 ,because the one possesses more of this world's money or goods1 because one is more attractive and amiable in person1 has greater intellectual endowments1 is more popular1 eloquent1 skilled1 holds a position superior1 he becomes the occasion for a brother or a sister or a neighbor to envy him1 and the butt of all sorts of petty and annoying uncharitableness on the part of relatives4 ,example3 ,because he was beloved by his father and had dreamed a dream which showed him superior to them1 ,joseph was hated by his brothers1 and they could not speak peaceably to him4 ,no1 let us beware of flattering ourselves that this malignant eye is not in the ,church4 ,the vineyard of the parable symbolizes the ,church4 ,the minister of the ,gospel who looks askance with green-eyed jealousy at another whose efforts are crowned with greater success than his own2 the ,sunday-school teacher who throws up the work in wounded self-love because some one else occupies the place and prestige he or she covets2 the over-sensitive member who smarts under the feeling that his or her talents are not sufficiently recognized1 their efforts duly respected and flattered1 and so withdraws altogether from every kind of cooperation and enterprise1 may all look into1 and carefully examine1 their spiritual eyesight in the light of this text4 ,and having regarded the prevalency of the evil eye1 what shall we say to it8 ,it is something foolish4 ,it shows a want of thought4 ,people are envied for their superiority in fortune and estate1 but the distinction between the gifts of ,god to man are not so wide as you may think4 ,the rich man has his park1 the poor man can look at it and enjoy it without the expense of maintaining it4 ,some people live in a stately mansion1 but they have to pay very heavily for the privilege4 ,the rich man has his valuable picture gallery2 but to see the sun rise in the morning and set in golden splendor in the evening is a picture such as no human artist can paint4 ,the poor man possesses not1 it is true1 some of the conveniences and delights of the better favored1 but1 in return1 he is free from the many embarrassments to which they are subject4 ,by the simplicity and uniformity of his life he is delivered from a variety of cares4 ,his plain meal eaten with relish and appetite is more delicious than the luxurious banquet4 ,you are acquainted with the story that tells of the king who invited a dissatisfied subject of his realm to visit him in his palace4 ,he put a rich spread before him in his banquet hall1 and asked him to indulge heartily4 ,but the man instantly turned pale1 and his appetite was gone1 as1 accidentally looking up1 he beheld a sharp sword suspended by a tiny thread over his head4 ,then why envy the man whom ,god has gifted with talents of mind and tongue8 ,greater gifts entail greater responsibilities1 toil1 study1 and more arduous duties4 ,foolish6 ,moreover1 what does all this envy of a fellow-man's better fortune avail8 ,for me to pine over my neighbor's better fortune1 for me to covet his superior talents of mind or beauty of person1 will not make me more attractive and talented4 ,what folly1 then1 because you are not so fortunate as another to make yourself miserable over it6 ,envy1 says a certain writer1 is the source of endless vexation1 an instrument of self-torture1 a rottenness in the bones1 a burning1 festering ulcer of the soul4 ,but the evil eye is not only foolish1 it is more1 it is positively sinful1 and to indulge in such a spirit leads into all sorts of misery and woe4 ,because she was envious1 ,mother ,eve stretched out her hand1 and1 eating1 brought a blight on ,paradise and a curse over ,god's creation4 ,because envy filled his heart1 the first child born into this world rose up and slew his innocent brother4 ,because of envy ,joseph was cast into the pit by his brothers4 ,why was ,david persecuted by ,king ,saul8 ,why did ,ahab shed the blood of ,naboth8 ,why did the high priests1 the scribes and ,pharisees seek the death of the ,holiest and ,best that ever trod this earth1 and did not rest till they fastened their eyes upon ,his agonizing form on the cross8 ,what was it8 ,envy4 ,it has ever been the mother of every evil work and vice4 ,and its workings are to-day no different than then4 ,in how many thousand ugly shapes does it show itself6 ,now1 this is the most important part1 how may it be overcome8 ,what is the remedy1 or the remedies1 that might be suggested8 ,the laborers had been called into the vineyard1 the householder was under no obligation to hire them2 that he did so was by his own free choice4 ,in a much higher sense1 the heavenly ,householder has placed us into this world4 ,he has given us certain things1 certain talents2 some of us have received more1 some less1 but all that all of us have in body1 mind1 and estate we have from ,him4 ,what hast thou that thou hast not received8 ,by the grace of ,god ,i am what ,i am4 ,whatever we have we have from ,god4 ,seeing this1 and that all alike are but the recipients of ,god's gifts1 for me to be envious of another1 whom ,god has given more1 argues dissatisfaction1 discontent with ,god's will and ways4 ,god well knows how to distribute ,his gifts1 and why ,he distributes them as ,he does2 and so let no one of us arraign ,his providence4 ,you have and receive just what is fair1 and just that you should receive1 and so learn to be content with that4 ,take that thine is1 and go thy way4 ,that would ,i suggest as the first remedy against envy1--contentment1 a sense of the conviction that what we have is given us all by grace1 ,god's kind favor1 and that ,he gives us just what is proper and right4 ,the second remedy is this1 that we bear in mind that envy is the spirit of the devil4 ,heaven and heavenly creatures are never envious2 hell and its occupants are aflame with it4 ,envy is against the ,fifth ,commandment1 which reads3 ,thou shalt not kill1 a disposition of the heart that lusteth unto murder4 ,st4 ,paul classifies it among the works of the flesh1 putting it in such company as adultery1 fornication1 idolatry1 murder1 drunkenness1 and the like1 and over and against such things and associations a ,christian's mind and conduct is plain4 ,we must fight it and avoid it4 ,not the evil spirit1 but the ,spirit1 the ,holy ,spirit1 is to rule in our hearts1 and ,christ's ,spirit is a ,spirit of love1 not the evil eye1 but the good eye1 the eye that wishes good and rejoices in the good of his neighbor4 ,since we cannot have both an evil and a good eye1 it is for us to consult the heavenly ,oculist4 ,let us pray ,god to help us against this murderous spirit2 it is a work of the flesh2 in a word1 ask ,him for the good eye1 and use it4 ,that is1 cultivate the spirit of rejoicing over the good fortune and success of another1 giving due recognition to his talents and his endeavors1 thanking ,god that1 if one cannot himself do it so well1 there is another whom ,he has given the means and ability to serve ,him4 ,remedy second1 then3 root it out with ,god's help4 ,he can do that1 and ,he will do that1 if we ask ,him4 ,and to come back to the parable1 it is only the workman who puts aside the evil eye that is acceptable in the ,lord's vineyard and does ,his work well4 ,the person that is always bent on his own honor1 dignity1 and self-consciousness is easily offended1 and easily draws back4 ,the superiority or success of another unnerves him1 and not infrequently he acts like a balking horse4 ,not so the person who has been with the ,divine ,oculist1 and has received in the place of the evil the good eye4 ,he is willing to pluck grapes in a corner of the ,lord's vineyard where they are not so plentiful and luscious4 ,what if there was a ,st4 ,paul and an ,augustine and a ,luther and a ,walther1 and if to-day we have men in the ministry who quite overshadow me8 ,shall ,i for that reason keep my hands from filling grapes into my church basket8 ,nevermore4 ,should you1 because you are no church officer or esteemed pillar in the sanctuary8 ,even if you cannot pluck some grapes1 you may at least hold the basket4 ,the ,church has a place for everybody2 five times did the householder go out to hire laborers4 ,it has a place for you2 but when you come1 leave behind you the evil eye4 ,for that the ,church has no place4 ,let every one think seriously over the text1 examine his eyesight1 ask ,god's forgiveness1 for ,christ's sake1 for the sins he has committed in this respect1 and help with ,his divine help to overcome it1 so that he may be found an approved laborer in ,god's vineyard4 ,amen4 ,,sexagesima ,,sunday4 ,search the ,scriptures2 for in them ye think ye have eternal life3 and they are they which testify of me4--,john #e1 #ci4 ,this year marks an event of more than passing interest to the ,english-speaking world1 viz41 the tercentenary or #cjjth birthday of the translation of the ,bible4 ,it was in #afaa1 early in the summer1 when1 after seven years of the most painstaking labors1 the most scholarly men of that time completed and turned over for publication their manuscripts4 ,it was styled the ,king ,james ,version or ,translation1 because it was with the help and patronage of that monarch of ,england1 ,king ,james1 that it was issued2 and so as the ,germans speak of ,dr4 ,luther's ,bible translation1 the ,english speak of ,king ,james' ,version4 ,it is this translation of ,god's ,word that lies before us1 for though in the past three centuries there have been more than a score of worthy revisions1 none has dislodged this from its place of supremacy1 and so it is fitting that grateful mention should be made of the glorious work1 the blessings of which continue to flow out to us whenever we open the holy pages4 ,it must be remembered that the ,bible1 prior to these translations1 was a sealed book4 ,one seal was the tyrannical policy of the ,church of ,rome1 that forbade the people to read it for themselves4 ,chained to the altar of some cathedral or to the wall of some library1 like that which ,luther discovered in the ,university at ,erfurt1 it was securely clasped and locked4 ,the only persons who had anything to do with it were the monks1 who in their dark and obscure cells would spend their days mechanically copying the sacred parchments4 ,it was in this respect1 indeed1 a sealed book4 ,another seal were the languages in which it was written1 so that1 even if the people had possessed a copy1 they would for that reason have been unable to read it2 ,hebrew1 ,greek1 and ,latin were things they could not understand and read4 ,and to this might be added another seal1 viz41 that the ,church of ,rome had well seen to it that the majority of the people could not read at all4 ,ignorance among the masses was profound4 ,now1 thank ,god1 no such seals exist4 ,there is no prohibition of ,bible reading in this land4 ,there are to-day more ,bibles than ever2 it is the very best seller of all books1 and no one dares forbid us to read ,god's ,word as freely as we please4 ,we also have the ,scriptures in our own tongue1 and never has there been a time in the world's history when people were as universally able to read4 ,and yet1 glorious as this all is1 is it not true that the ,bible is a book that is shut and sealed8 ,which is that seal8 ,that seal1 my dear hearers1 is one of the people's own making1 one that they themselves place upon it1--it is a lack of genuine study of it4 ,they do not go and search the ,scriptures that they may learn the wonderful things it has to teach them4 ,if1 then1 ,i shall succeed in a measure to break that seal1 and to stimulate you to ,bible study1 ,i shall consider that ,god has blessed the humble effort of ,his servant4 ,we shall regard this morning3 ,i4 ,why you should read your ,bibles4 ,,ii4 ,how you should read them4 ,why you should read them4 ,because ,god says so4 ,search the ,scriptures1 is ,his plain and authoritative command4 ,we are well enough acquainted with the arguments of ,rome that would tell us it is a great mistake to let every layman read the ,bible4 ,see what confusion it has caused4 ,whence came all these hundred and one different sects1 these endless conflicting opinions1 this skepticism among you ,protestants8 ,is it not because you permit every one1 without distinction and discrimination1 to read the ,bible8 ,to which we answer3 ,by no means4 ,that is not the fault of the ,bible4 ,that some have wrested the ,scripture to their own harm1 misused it1 does not do away with its proper use4 ,god has beautifully made this world1 and it is full of ,his blessing2 that some1 in selfishness and sinfulness1 abuse it1 is not ,his fault nor that of ,his gifts4 ,he has given man ,his only-begotten ,son for their salvation2 the fact that hundred thousands do not accept and believe in ,him is not ,god's fault1 nor ,his ,son's1 nor ,his ,gospel's1 nor ,his ,church's fault4 ,just as destitute of all sound reason it is to place the abuses which some have made with the ,bible to the ,bible itself4 ,no1 clearly1 distinctly1 positively rings out ,god's command3 ,search the ,scriptures4 ,he bids us do it4 ,he points to each and every one of us1 as if to say1 ,thou do it4 ,does it not lie in the very nature of the ,book8 ,for whom did ,he cause it to be written8 ,for the clergy1 that the ministers might have some texts to preach on8 ,no more so than ,he gave the ,ten ,commandments only to the clergy4 ,they are the universal possession1 they are for all the laity as well as the clergy4 ,and to whom1 as you examine the ,inspired ,volume1 are most of its contents directed8 ,there are the fourteen letters1 or epistles1 of ,st4 ,paul4 ,a few of them1 like those to ,timothy and ,titus1 are addressed to a clergyman1 but the greater majority are addressed to the congregations at ,rome1 at ,ephesus1 at ,philippi1 at ,thessalonica1 and so forth1 to the members accordingly4 ,moreover1 the direction in many places is1 that the hearers should examine what the preachers say1 lest they preach something contrary to the ,scriptures4 ,how could the hearers do this if they were prohibited from reading the ,bible8 ,away1 then1 with this opinion that is gaining ground1 that the ,bible is a professional clergyman's text-book1 and let the personal application strike home in your own case1 ,thou shalt search the ,scriptures4 ,and one other reason does ,god furnish us in the text why we should read it4 ,he says1 ,for in them ye think ye have eternal life2 and they are they which testify of me4 ,those are deep1 wonderful words2 they tell what ,bible reading benefits1 brings us1 viz41 eternal life4 ,that this present life is not all there is to life1 that there is a life besides and after this1 that all men in all ages and in all countries have conjectured2 that life is dependent upon a right relation to ,god1 this1 too1 an inward monitor1 called conscience1 however unwelcome may be its voice1 tells every one with greater or less distinctness2 but how man is to get into right relations with his ,god1 to that problem one book1 the ,bible1 and it alone1 holds the key4 ,what is that key8 ,the text says it3 ,search the ,scriptures2 for in them ye think we have eternal life1 and they are they which testify of me4 ,me1 is the speaker1 ,jesus ,christ1 and doing what the text directs1 we find that everywhere does it link life with ,christ4 ,i1 says ,jesus1 am the ,way1 and the ,truth1 and the ,life4 ,i am the ,resurrection and the ,life4 ,i am come that ye might have life4 ,the writings of the ,apostles are full of the same thought3 ,in ,him was life4 ,he that hath the ,son hath life4 ,he that believeth not the ,son shall not see life4 ,this is life eternal to know ,thee1 the only true ,god1 and ,jesus ,christ1 whom ,thou hast sent4 ,would we1 then1 have life1 life that is life indeed1 spiritual life1 life that passes over into eternal life1 then must we find it in ,christ1 and this is the teaching of the text1 and its application to us2 to find ,christ you must read your ,bible4 ,outside of what the ,bible tells us there is no salvation1 no hope1 no life4 ,let that thought1 ,i pray you1 sink down indelibly into your minds4 ,there are some certain truths which men may know without the ,bible1--that there is a ,god2 that this ,god has certain attributes2 that ,he is almighty1 all-knowing1 holy1 just1 gracious2 for it is only an almighty ,being that could have created1 only an all-wise ,being that could so adequately have fitted up this universe4 ,men also know without the ,bible that there is a difference between good and evil1 and that the one is to be done and the other left undone4 ,likewise they have a strong notion that man is immortal1 and that there is a future state4 ,these few things men may know without the ,scriptures1 and these few even only imperfectly4 ,but when it comes to the questions3 ,who is ,god8 ,what is ,his will8 ,what ,his purposes toward us men1 purposes of damnation for offenses and sins committed against ,his holiness8 ,what guarantee have you that there is a life beyond this8 ,and what sort of a life is it8 ,who has ever brought us information regarding it8 ,what can afford me peace against a conscience that convicts me of wrong and offense against the holy ,god8 ,when1 as stated1 it comes to deal with such and innumerable other questions1 there is only one source of information1 one book that can enlighten and instruct us1 and that is this ,book which ,god ,himself has inspired to be written2 in which ,he has revealed ,himself1 according to ,his person and ,his attributes2 in which ,he proclaims ,his plan of salvation for the sinful and condemned race of men1 and opens out to them with divine assurance the gates of immortality and life4 ,there is none equal to it1 nothing like it1 it stands in a class all to itself1--it is not man's book1 but ,god's4 ,wouldst thou1 then1 my dear hearer1 know these things that affect thy soul1 thy salvation1 thy everlasting destiny1 then take this volume and read4 ,so much as to the first concern1 why we should read it4 ,because ,god commands it4 ,because of what it brings us4 ,and now let us regard3 ,how should we read it8 ,here ,i would say1 first1 regularly1 with pious consistency4 ,it is well enough for a person to come to church on ,sunday4 ,as long as he does that1 and attends to what is going on there1 his soul is not left altogether without spiritual nourishment4 ,but church comes only once a week1 and if the soul gets no spiritual food beyond what it may pick up there1 ,i leave you to judge whether it is likely to shoot up into a strong and healthy growth of godliness4 ,the ,first ,psalm describes the godly man as delighting in the ,law of the ,lord1 and in ,his ,law doth he meditate both day and night4 ,time1 indeed1 for the most of us may be very limited2 but none of us--,i say that without fear of challenge--but can1 if he wishes and so wills1 find a few minutes to read a verse or two when he comes home in the evening1 or before he goes to work in the morning1 or while going to work1 and a couple of verses well thought over will do a person more good than whole chapters swallowed without thought4 ,resolve to do but this little1 my dear hearers1 and ,god1 who judges us according to our means1 and who looked with greater favor on the two mites of the poor widow than on all the golden offerings of the rich1 will accept your two verses and enable your souls to grow and gain strength by this their daily food4 ,the doctors tell us that our health is largely determined by the regularity of our habits1 and this is as true of our spiritual health as of our bodily4 ,there is none of us who fails to take a glance at the daily paper1--why not at the ,bible8 ,be regular4 ,then1 again1 as you have time1 read it carefully4 ,that is the direction of the text4 ,the word search in the original is a very strong one1 much stronger than read4 ,it may be rendered ransack4 ,turn up and down1--bring all your industry to bear upon the quest4 ,one trouble with our hearers is that they imagine that they are pretty well familiar with all the ,bible has to tell them1 and the result is that they miss the wealth of its hidden treasures4 ,but there is no royal road to ,bible knowledge4 ,it calls for thought1 earnest research1 and thorough investigation4 ,for that reason every one1 to become right practical1 every member of the family should have a ,bible of his or her own1 of clear type and good paper1 and of substantial binding4 ,on the margin that ,bible ought to have the marginal references of which ,i spoke to you at length in a former service4 ,in the rear of your ,bible have a concordance2 there you will find a large number of passages on a certain topic1 for instance1 prayer4 ,look them up in your ,bible1 compare them1 and you will learn what the ,bible has to say regarding prayer4 ,so of other subjects1 such as faith1 charity1 redemption1 and the like4 ,it is profitable and delightful work4 ,it is like digging out gold4 ,you will not mind the labor in the fascinating charm it has for you4 ,and to this you may add as a most helpful guide a good commentary written by some sincere lover of ,god's ,word4 ,what other devout and learned students of ,god's ,word have written it is well for us to profit by in our understanding of the precious volume4 ,not a charm or an ornament to keep on our shelves or to lock up in our closets1 not a story-book to read for amusement1 is the ,bible1 but1 as the text tells us1 the means of giving us eternal life in ,christ ,jesus2 and so we ought to make use of it4 ,there1 then1 it is--,holy ,bible1 ,book ,divine1 our chief treasure in this sin-darkened world1 giving strength1 comfort1 and salvation4 ,ah6 who should not prize it1 read it1 search it8 ,god make us ministers and our members ,bible students2 how much better ministers1 how much better members we would then be6 ,may ,god bless the words of our lips and the meditation of our hearts6 ,amen4 ,,quinquagesima ,,sunday4 ,for all have sinned1 and come short of the glory of ,god4--,rom4 #c1 #bc4 ,a few days more1 and we shall have entered upon ,lent4 ,what is ,lent8 ,lent is a time of several weeks which for ages has been set apart among ,christians for a period of more than usual seriousness4 ,as observed in our ,church1 it is a time marked out from the rest of the year as more especially devoted to the contemplation of those vital truths on which our ,christian religion is founded4 ,to be brief1 ,lenten time with us is ,passion time4 ,passion1 in simple ,english1 means suffering1 more particularly1 the suffering of ,christ4 ,accordingly1 ,passion time1 or ,passion tide1 is the season when we are more especially called upon to commemorate1 and call to mind1 and ponder1 and think over the suffering of our ,savior1 ,christ1 those scenes announced in the ,gospel when ,he was betrayed into the hands of wicked men1 and by them was falsely accused1 reviled1 mocked1 scourged1 crowned with thorns1 and at last crucified4 ,in order that we might do that in the proper manner1 as we ought to do1 the ,church1 from the earliest period1 has appointed the forty days of ,lent1 just as it has appointed the four ,sundays in ,advent1 to be a preparation for ,christmas4 ,for there are two great seasons in the year which it behooves every ,christian to conscientiously observe1 if he wishes to pay dutiful honor to his ,savior4 ,the first season is ,christmas1 in memory of ,his loving kindness in coming down from heaven1 putting on the nature of man4 ,the other season is ,lent1 to commemorate ,his dying love4 ,both these seasons are so important1 of such moment to the welfare of the soul1 that the ,church has set apart the four ,sundays which come before ,christmas and the forty days which come before ,easter as a time of preparation4 ,the wisdom of such an arrangement no one can doubt4 ,just like the early bell on ,sunday is meant to call us to get ready for church1 the service of ,god's house1 so ,advent and ,lent call us to get ready for ,christmas and ,good ,friday4 ,when a musical instrument has been laid by for a while1 it needs tuning1 or it will make but sorry music4 ,the minds and hearts of most ,christians1 too1 require to be gotten into tune before they can bear their part fitly and harmoniously in the services by which the ,church commemorates the death and resurrection of her ,lord4 ,and how8 ,what is the best way to prepare for a profitable and advantageous ,lent8 ,that is conditioned by another question3 ,what was it that delivered our blessed ,lord into the hands of those wicked men1 that caused ,him that shameful treatment1 mockery1 and finally nailed ,him to the cross8 ,the malice of the chief priest1 the treachery of ,judas1 the cowardice of ,pontius ,pilate8 ,deeper1 my beloved1 deeper2 they were but the instrumental1 not the procuring cause4 ,the real cause1 you know it1 was something else1--sin4 ,to do away with1 to secure the pardon of that1 ,christ died4 ,then it is plain1 that in order to understand the value of ,his suffering1 to observe that season aright1 we must begin with being convinced of the evil1 of the exceeding hatefulness and danger of sin4 ,here is the first elementary truth which meets us at the threshold of ,lent1 without which it will be of no more value to you than a lock without a key1 a mine without a shaft2 herein consists its best preparation1 to secure a right conviction of sin4 ,that1 ,god blessing the effort1 shall be the intent of our sermon4 ,when the ostrich1 scouring along the sandy desert1 finds that it cannot escape the huntsman1 it is said to thrust its head into a bush1 and fancying that the danger which it ceases to see has ceased to exist1 it remains there1 quite tranquil1 to receive the death-blow of the huntsman4 ,poor1 senseless1 stupid bird6 ,yet not one degree more so than is the folly of many who are not birds1 but possessed of reason and soul4 ,plenty there are who1 shutting their eyes to the evil1 burrowing their heads in the sand-heap of excuses and false peace1 thus hide until the fatal stroke of death puts an end to their earthly career1 and opening their eyes in a place where there is no repentance1 as the rich man in the parable1 they realize that it is too late4 ,if we turn to the ,bible1 it teaches that there are two great classes or kinds of sin2 and if we turn to the witness within and the evidence without1 we shall find what the ,bible tells us everywhere corroborated and borne out4 ,the one kind of sin is the ,original or ,birth ,sin1 that all men are naturally engendered1 are conceived and born in sin2 that is1 they are all1 from their mother's womb1 full of evil desires and propensities1 and that this is the fountainhead of all other1 or actual1 sins1 such as evil thoughts1 words1 and deeds4 ,there are many who reject this doctrine2 they contend that when man is born into this world1 his soul is as pure as the snow that comes down in beautiful flurries from the sky1 and as perfect as the vessel that passes from the potter's hand2 they tell us that we are ,god's favorite creatures1 that ,he has made us lords of the creation and heirs of eternal life1 and that1 therefore1 it is quite impossible that we should be so prone to sin1 as our ,church1 setting forth the doctrine of the ,bible in her confession1 declares us to be4 ,but they are willfully ignorant4 ,the question whether we are prone to sin from our cradles upward is a mere question of fact4 ,one has only to look into one's own heart1 and what do you find there1 good or evil8 ,you will say1 a little of both4 ,be it so2 but tell me1 or rather tell yourselves1 honestly and truly1 which of the two cost you the most trouble to learn1 and which of the two comes the easier8 ,is there a doubt8 ,does one contract good habits easier than bad1 or the reverse8 ,is it easier for a sober man to become a drunkard than for a poor1 miserable1 besotted drunkard to trace his steps back and to become sober8 ,or1 another point of view4 ,ask mothers1 accustomed to watch their children from earliest infancy1 whether every child that has come under their observation had not something to learn that was good1 and something to unlearn that was evil4 ,now1 whence did this evil come from8 ,it cannot have been taught to the child1 for the evil showed itself at a time before all teaching2 it had it naturally4 ,and so it is in other things4 ,the good wheat must be sown and looked after1 or it will never amount to much4 ,the weeds sprout up and spread of themselves1 and it is as great a labor to keep them down as to get the good wheat up4 ,the truth is1 ,like begetteth like4 ,in ,adam's fall we sinned all4 ,the fountain was polluted1 so is the stream2 sin is born in the bone1 as it were1 and without ,god's help we can no more mend it than a sick man can mend and cure himself without the help of a physician4 ,but this original sin is not the only kind4 ,though men deny that1 they cannot deny the other1 what our ,catechism calls ,actual ,sin4 ,like trees in the forest does it surround them4 ,where is the man that dares affirm that he has never been guilty of doing what he should never have done1 or guilty of not doing what he should have done8 ,lives there a person so happy as to look back on the past and feel no remorse1 or forward to the future and feel no fear8 ,what8 ,is there no page of your history that you would obliterate1 no leaf that1 with ,god's permission1 you would tear from the book of life's story8 ,to ,david's prayer1 ,lord1 remember not the sins of my youth1 nor my transgressions1 have you no solemn and hearty ,amen8 ,if you could be carried back to the starting-post1 and stood again at your mother's knee1 and sat again at the old school desk with companions that are now changed1 or scattered1 or dead1 or gone1 were you to begin life anew1 would you run the selfsame course1 would you live over the selfsame life8 ,is there no speech to unsay1 no act to undo1 no day1 ,sunday1 or evening to spend better8 ,no one among those with whom you are now living or among those that have gone before--to whom you would bear yourself otherwise than you have done8 ,where is there a breathing man that can say3 ,i am pure in my heart4 ,i am clear from all sin8 ,if he does1 he deceives himself1 the truth is not in him4 ,as well deny your existence as deny the existence of actual sin4 ,but what men will not deny they will seek to excuse4 ,it were amusing1 if it were not a matter so serious1 to observe with what palliation and apologies defenses are thrown up by which1 after all1 men's sins do not look so exceedingly sinful4 ,thus there be those who say3 ,if we are naturally born to evil1 as the ,bible says and our experience testifies1 we cannot help it1 and how can it be a fault of ours if we do wrong8 ,and how can ,god blame and punish us for not being better than ,he made us8 ,it is thus that ,scotland's famous poet1 ,burns1 sings3 ,thou knowest that ,thou hast formed me ,with passions wild and strong1 ,and listening to their witching voice ,has often led me wrong4 ,in other words1 ,i am a sinner1 but the fault is not mine1 but ,god's4 ,or1 again1 they ascribe the blame to the power of temptation4 ,the serpent beguiled me1 was the excuse of the first sinner2 it is still1 in a more or less measure1 the excuse of every sinner4 ,temptation came upon them so suddenly and with such stealth and vehemence that it swept them off their feet before they were aware of it4 ,or 7once more71 like the original sinner1 they lay their blame upon their fellow-man4 ,the woman that ,thou gavest to be with me1 she gave me of the tree1 and ,i did eat4 ,what parent or mother has not discovered1 in correcting a disobedient boy1 that he is uniformly punishing the wrong one8 ,it was always the other boy who brought about the evil act1 and so1 invariably1 it is the bad company1 evil influences1 peculiar surroundings1 locality1 that make people to sin4 ,whatever the palliatives and excuses1 my beloved hearers1 the thing will not do2 it is vain and ignoble1 and1 in part1 what has been said is blasphemy4 ,in the first place1 whatever prompted1 tempted the act1 the act was done by the sinner himself1 and not by another2 he knew of it1 he consented to it1 he gave his members and body to it4 ,it is also useless to say that he was swept away by temptation4 ,the same excuse might the suicide plead who seeks the river1 stands on its brink1 and1 leaping in1 is swept off to his watery grave4 ,we go down like ,samson to ,delilah2 we stand in the way of sinners1 we frequent the places of guilty pleasures1 and then1 falling1 complain about the strength of temptation4 ,away with all such subterfuges and opiates that simply drug the conscience6 ,what is sin8 ,sin1 says ,god's ,word1 is the transgression of the ,law1 the most terrible and abominable thing in this world4 ,sin is that which drove man out of ,paradise garden1 robbed him of the divine image1 severed the happy relation between him and his ,creator1 and plunged him into accursedness and misery4 ,sin is a disease which turns all moral beauty into rottenness1 causes all grief and distress1 breaks hearts1 and fills our cemeteries1 man's worst1 man's most ruinous and most formidable enemy1 that dogs his every footstep in this life1 and calls down upon his body and soul the wrath and eternal damnation from a ,god who hates and who punishes sin4 ,what greater comfort1 then1 than to know how and where to receive deliverance and remedy from it4 ,it has been stated before among the excuses that man is born a sinner1 and because born so1 he cannot be blamed for sinning1 any more than a sick person for dying4 ,he cannot help it4 ,that seems very plausible1 indeed4 ,it would be very unjust to blame a sick person for dying1 provided there were no remedies2 but in a country where there are plenty of physicians and the sick have only to send for them1--if in such a country a sick man is obstinate1 and will not send for a physician1 nor take the means of being made well1 he is to blame1 and if he dies1 he is guilty of his own death4 ,and suppose now that the physician does not wait to be sent for1 that he comes of his own accord to the sick man's bedside1 that he brings a medicine of rare herbs in his hand1 and says to the sick man3 ,my friend1 ,i heard you were very sick1 and so ,i came to see you and fetch you a medicine which is a certain cure if you take it4 ,never mind your poverty1 ,i ask no payment4 ,but the sick man refuses it2 he does not like its look1 or he finds it is bitter to take1 or a neighbor has told him not to heed the physician1 and he dies4 ,who is to blame8 ,that's our case precisely4 ,we have a soul's sickness4 ,but a great ,physician is come to us4 ,he has a dear remedy1 a specific1 made of the most precious ingredients1 viz41 ,his holy1 precious blood and ,his innocent suffering and death4 ,he brings that medicine to our doors4 ,shall we refuse to take it8 ,shall we say that we will have none of it8 ,we may do so2 there is no compulsion2 this heavenly ,physician foists ,himself on none4 ,but whose shall be the blame1 who be the loser8 ,be wise1 then4 ,lenten time is repenting time4 ,may we1 as it says in the ,collect1 so pass through this holy time of our ,lord that we may obtain the pardon of our sins4 ,may we enter this incoming season with a solemn earnestness toward spiritual things1 with a resolve to spend its days in sacred devotion under the cross1 and with sorrow over our past failures set ourselves to a better and more consecrated life4 ,and to this may the good ,lord graciously incline the hearts of every one of us6 ,amen4 ,,first ,,sunday ,,in ,,lent4 ,then came ,amalek1 and fought with ,israel in ,rephidim4 ,and ,moses said unto ,joshua1 ,choose us out men1 and go out1 fight with ,amalek2 to-morrow ,i will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of ,god in mine hand4 ,so ,joshua did as ,moses had said to him and fought with ,amalek2 ,and ,moses1 ,aaron1 and ,hur went up to the top of the hill4 ,and it came to pass1 when ,moses held up his hand1 that ,israel prevailed2 and when he let down his hand1 ,amalek prevailed4 ,but ,moses' hands were heavy2 and they took a stone and put it under him1 and he sat thereon3 and ,aaron and ,hur stayed up his hands1 the one on the one side1 and the other on the other side3 ,and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun4 ,and ,joshua discomfited ,amalek and his people with the edge of the sword4--,exodus #ag1 #h-ac4 ,an impressive picture of modern art is that which has for its scene the ,evil ,one1 the devil1 sitting at a table playing a game of chess4 ,bending over the board1 with the self-possession of a master1 reclines the adversary of man4 ,at the opposite side is a young man4 ,there is a look of diabolical glee upon the dark brow of ,satan1 whilst the features of his playmate wear the signs of deepest agony2 for1 alas6 that which the youth has staked on the results of the game seems hopelessly lost--his immortal soul4 ,back of the young man1 unseen by him1 the artist has painted a calm1 benignant figure4 ,it is his guardian angel1 or better still1 the ,angel of the ,covenant1 the ,lord1 whose heavenly skill at last checkmates the destroyer4 ,this is not merely poetic and artist's fancy4 ,it is with no cloudy vagueness that the existence of a ,spirit of ,evil is revealed in the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,there are many these days who are disposed to laugh at the account which tells us of man's temptation and fall in the ,garden as a myth1 an ,oriental hyperbole1 and to characterize the closing chapters of ,revelation1 which inform us of the ,tempter's fall and fate1 as allegory and romance4 ,but there still remains scattered throughout the ,bible1 in connection with every prominent ,bible character and ,bible event1 mention of a personal agent of evil1 the foe of ,god and the foe of man1 bent with restless activity and mastery of deceit upon the destruction of souls and the corruption of the creation of ,god4 ,not a matter of speculation is this belief in the existence and power of the chief of fallen angels1 and far wiser and prudent were it if1 in place of talking of1 people1 in humble acceptation of ,god's ,word1 would recognize their foe1 and seek the strength and means to contend with him4 ,what we need against the arch-enemy of our souls is the simple faith and the bold defiance that breathes forth in the life1 the words1 and the hymns of our great ,reformer1 a spirit which prompted him to do--what is perhaps only a tradition1 yet fully characterizes the man--viz41 that when his mighty imagination had conjured up before him the very form and face of the ,wicked ,one1 he took his inkstand and hurled it at him1 leaving behind1 as memento1 an ugly spot upon the wall of his study4 ,it is of this conflict with the ,prince of ,darkness that the text speaks4 ,three particulars would we note3 ,i4 ,the foe to be encountered2 ,,ii4 the weapons employed2 ,,iii4 the victory achieved1 and as ,moses was distinctly bidden by ,god in the #adth verse of the chapter from which our text has been taken3 ,write these for a memorial in a book1 let us write the words spoken for a memorial on the tablet of our hearts4 ,we meet the people of ,god in ,rephidim engaged in a fierce encounter with the ,amalekites4 ,no doubt1 the ,lord could have led ,his people safely through the wilderness without any such conflicts if ,he had chosen to do so1 but ,he had ,his own1 wise designs in permitting them4 ,and so with ,satan's workings and attacks people may argue and speculate4 ,why did ,god ever permit such a dangerous foe to exert his malicious power and tempt mankind8 ,suffice it to answer3 ,it thus seemed good unto ,him1 and is in perfect accordance with ,his almightiness and wisdom4 ,the ,amalekites1 the people with whom the ,israelites were in conflict1 were the descendants of ,esau1 ,amalek having been his grandson1 and as is wont to be with relatives1 unfortunately1 the hatred which ,esau entertained toward his brother ,jacob had become transplanted upon his children1 yea1 seems to have grown the more bitter1 deeper1 and malignant as time progressed4 ,and the offspring of both multiplied into a great and prosperous people4 ,the ,amalekites at this time occupied a large tract of land extending from the confines of ,idumea to the shores of the ,red ,sea4 ,when1 therefore1 ,israel crossed over and encamped at the ,mount of ,sinai1 they were close upon their borders2 but they offered them no injury nor provocation1 and far from invading their territory1 they were turning rapidly away from it when ,amalek assaulted them1 and that in a most dastardly manner2 for1 not daring to engage them in front1 they smote the hindmost of them1 even all that were faint and weary1 who had lagged behind and were alike incapable of resistance or flight4 ,when ,moses became aware of the enemy1 he issues command unto ,joshua1 the military leader3 ,choose us out men1 and go out1 and fight with ,amalek2 to-morrow ,i will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of ,god in mine hand4 ,so ,joshua did as ,moses had said to him1 and fought with ,amalek2 and ,moses1 ,aaron1 and ,hur went up to the top of the hill4 ,and whilst the battle was raging in the valley1 whilst the swords were clashing1 the warriors grappling1 the wounded groaning1 and the fighting masses surging to and fro in fierce and bloody encounter1 ,moses was stationed upon the brow of ,mount ,sinai1 lifting up his hands in prayer and intercession to the ,god of ,battles4 ,an encouraging sight6 ,from that ancient battle-ground1 a picture and pattern1 we would direct our eyes unto ourselves4 ,like as of old1 we are warriors of the ,lord1 soldiers of ,jesus ,christ4 ,we have our ,amalek1 the old evil ,foe1 who means deadly woe4 ,let us take our stand by the side of ,moses in the mountain1 and for a few moments look at the enemy4 ,foremost1 the leader of the host1 is that original tempter1 deceiver1 destroyer1 and murderer1 that ,wicked ,one1 the ,father of ,lies1 the ,prince of ,darkness1 the roaring lion that goes about seeking whom he may destroy4 ,marshaled around him1 as their mighty captain1 are legions of lesser spirit-beings which arithmetic cannot begin to calculate4 ,scripture tells us that ,satan could spare seven devils to torment one poor sinner4 ,what1 then1 must their number be8 ,and as the ,amalekites1 they hate us with a perfect hatred4 ,having by their bad ambition and pride lost heaven and being hurled to the bottomless pit1 they are now most bitterly and irreconcilably opposed to everything that stands in connection with the ,redeemer and ,his redeemed4 ,to think that we1 who are equally fallen into sin1 should be restored to grace1 accepted to the very thrones they have lost1 is more than their envy can endure4 ,for this reason they pursue us through life1 dog our every step1 and press us to the very gate of death4 ,what tactics does this spiritual enemy employ8 ,as the enemy in the field1 by false signals1 feigned movements1 masked batteries1 and every strategic art1 seeks to conceal his position1 disguises his plan of attack1 just so our spiritual enemies seek to beguile by a thousand stratagems and schemes to mislead the unwary and inexperienced and bring to fall the strongest4 ,as in the case of the ,amalekites1 they attack you in your most vulnerable points and at a time when you are faint and weakest2 and they are as vigilant as they are cunning4 ,always and everywhere they are on the watch for souls4 ,if you come to the house of ,god1 they are here before you2 if you enter your room in prayer1 you cannot shut them out4 ,by day they compass your path1 by night they surround your pillow4 ,wherever you are they are2 whatever you say1 they hear it2 whatever you do1 they perceive it4 ,from our birth to our burial--a frightful thought6--we are perpetually watched by myriads of malignant eyes1 unclean and accursed spirits1 ready to avail themselves of every opportunity to do us harm and ruin all our hopes4 ,or need we any examples for what harm they have done8 ,behold that lovely pair fresh from the ,creator's hand walking the groves of ,eden1 and behold again the outcasts--we know the cause4 ,observe ,job1 that perfect man of ,uz1 robbed of his property and his children1 and smitten in body with a sore disease4 ,who was it that instigated ,judas to betray the ,lord1 ,peter to deny ,him1 all ,jerusalem to clamor for ,his blood1 the ,roman governor to condemn ,him to the cross8 ,st4 ,john said in his day that the whole world was lying in the bosom of the ,evil ,one1 and it is much the same to this present day4 ,all men are more or less subject to his influences1 and two-thirds of the human race controlled by this evil genius4 ,this1 then1 is the foe with whom we are obliged to contend4 ,but how can the lamb cope with the lion8 ,how can we expect to conquer that enemy who conquered our first parents in the strength of their original purity8 ,truly1 ,with might of ours can naught be done1 soon were our loss effected4 ,and yet we have nothing to fear4 ,we have a precious ally1 we battle under a valiant1 an unconquerable ,leader4 ,the ,lord of ,hosts is with us1 just so we are firm in the strife and rightly use the weapons ,he has furnished us4 ,and which are these8 ,reading the #acth verse of our text1 we find it distinctly mentioned3 ,and ,joshua discomfited ,amalek and his people with the edge of the sword4 ,and which is our spiritual sword8 ,for our enemy being spiritual1 it is evident our weapon must be likewise4 ,saint ,paul gives answer when he says in ,ephesians3 ,take the sword of the ,spirit1 which is the ,word of ,god4 ,here1 then1 ,christian warrior1 is a weapon1 better than ,damascus blades4 ,with this our ,lord defeated ,satan in the wilderness2 with this ,st4 ,peter pierced the hearts of thousands on ,pentecost2 with this ,st4 ,paul made ,felix tremble1 and ,agrippa1 as he confessed to ,paul1 was almost persuaded by him to become a ,christian2 with this ,martin ,luther prevailed against the son of ,belial and his besotted minions4 ,grasp it firmly1 wield it vigorously4 ,or do you claim you do not know how8 ,then permit me to give you a few general directions4 ,you are all familiar with the story of ,david and ,goliath1--how the great champion of the ,philistines daily came forth1 cursing and challenging the people of ,god1 until one day a shepherd lad of ,bethlehem comes into the camp and with a stone from his sling stretches the huge form of the giant flat upon the ground4 ,you1 my beloved1 are spiritual ,davids2 the smooth pebbles you have gathered up from the brook of ,god's ,word are the holy ,ten ,commandments2 learn to sling these aright1 and you are invincible4 ,are you1 for instance1 tempted to speak the ,lord's name irreverently1 then place pebble1 called the second1 in your spiritual sling1 which says3 ,thou shalt not take the name of the ,lord1 thy ,god1 in vain1 and your tempter will fall flat like ,philistia's giant4 ,are you tempted to negligence1 indifference in regard to the ,lord's day and the ,lord's house1 take ,no4 #c4 ,would ,satan tempt a young ,christian to disobedience1 to indecency1 or an old ,christian to dishonesty1 intemperance1 coveteousness1--whatever the sin may be1 select the proper pebble1 and victory is yours4 ,this world's prince may still scowl fierce as he will1 he can harm us none1 he's judged1 the deed is done1 one little word can fell him4 ,then1 too1 let us remember that we are more than conquerors through ,him that loves us4 ,in ,his strength let us battle4 ,when the devil would deceive us1 or seduce us into misbelief1 despair1 and other great shame and vice1 let us cast ourselves upon ,him who vanquished the ,evil ,foe4 ,his cross is our strength4 ,let us hold that up before him1 and he will skulk away in sullen retreat4 ,the precious ,gospel of ,christ will quench all the fiery darts of doubt1 unbelief1 and despair which the hellish enemy would shoot into our hearts4 ,thus with the ,law and the ,gospel we can conquer him4 ,nor is this all4 ,another powerful weapon is placed at our command4 ,most graphically does our text describe it when it says3 ,and ,moses1 ,aaron1 and ,hur went up to the top of the hill4 ,and it came to pass1 when ,moses held up his hand1 that ,israel prevailed2 and when he let down his hand1 ,amalek prevailed4 ,the ,israelites would not have conquered had they not fought4 ,but the other is equally as true3 they would not have conquered had ,moses not prayed4 ,the real decision in the matter seemed not so much in the conflict in the valley as with the man of prayer1 the suppliant on the mountain4 ,and here1 my dear ,christian1 still rests your power4 ,much as people may sneer at prayer in these atheistic and skeptic times1 prayer is the hand that moves the world4 ,satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees4 ,our ,lord warning ,peter addresses him1 ,simon ,peter1 behold1 ,satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat2 but ,i have prayed for thee2 and ,his constant exhortation in the sore hour of ,gethsemane was1 ,watch and pray lest ye fall into temptation4 ,how many a one when he asks himself1 ,how was it possible that ,i should have fallen so deeply and strayed so far from my ,god8 will hear his conscience whisper3 ,you had grown indifferent1 neglectful in your devotion and your prayers1 and hence came your failure4 ,prayer must be incessant and mutual4 ,two are better than one1 and a threefold cord is not quickly broken4 ,moses1 ,aaron1 and ,hur1 together they prevailed4 ,where man and wife join in sacred communion to the ,god of families1 ,his blessing will rest upon them1 and the ,evil ,one be kept at bay4 ,where a congregation is strong in devout and earnest looking to ,god1 it can accomplish wonders against the ,prince of ,darkness and the wickedness of the world4 ,when the day closed and the sun had sunk beneath the battle-ground in ,rephidim1 the victory was won2 ,amalek was defeated4 ,it was ,israel's first achievement1 but not their last4 ,amalek continued to harass them1 and even ,saul and ,david had to take up arms against them4 ,nor is it different with us4 ,the spiritual campaign lasts until we draw our fleeting breath1 till our eyelids close in death2 hence1 from strength to strength go on1 wrestle1 and fight1 and pray1 tread all the powers of darkness down1 and win the well-fought day4 ,and if at times your hands would grow weary and your knees weak amidst the conflict in the valley1 then look up like ,israel of old to the mountain from whence cometh your help1 to that blessed knoll where hangs our divine ,moses with his arms extended1--look up to the cross4 ,amen4 ,,second ,,sunday ,,in ,,lent4 ,demas hath forsaken me1 having loved this present world4--#b ,tim4 #d1 #aj4 ,there is nothing sadder1 my beloved hearers1 nothing more calculated to strike dread into the heart1 than the punishment of a deserter in the army4 ,the offender is led before his regiment1 and after the rehearsal of his disgrace to his fellow-soldiers1 his arms are pinioned1 his eyes bandaged1 and an open coffin stands ready to receive his lifeless body4 ,the file of soldiers aim at the one fluttering heart1 and the lightning-like death ends the dreadful scene4 ,and why is a deserter's doom made so awful8 ,simply because the crime of desertion is so great1 its demoralizing effect which it would have on the army so fatal1 that it must be punished in the most telling and fearful manner4 ,history1 both sacred and secular1 has put no deeper brand of infamy than on deserters4 ,benedict ,arnold stands forth as an instance of the one1 ,judas ,iscariot as an instance of the other4 ,american history holds up the one before us1 bandaged1 pinioned1 shot through with the bullets of a nation's abhorrence and malediction1 whilst the other1 ,judas1 is a name detested as far as the ,bible is read and to the day of doom4 ,in our text we read of another deserter4 ,his name is ,demas1 and the ,apostle ,paul has set the mark of infamy upon him4 ,who1 we question1 was this man ,demas8 ,and what was the nature of his offense8 ,we know very little of his early career1 but that little is most favorable4 ,he had been an associate of ,st4 ,paul in the ranks of ,christ's followers4 ,paul more than once makes honorable mention of his name4 ,when he wrote his letter to the ,church at ,colossae1 he coupled the name of ,demas with that of ,st4 ,luke4 ,he thus writes3 ,luke1 the beloved physician1 and ,demas greet you1 which shows that he must have been favorably known in the ,church1 and that his greetings must have been highly thought of1 else would the apostle not have forwarded them through his own letter4 ,and one more fact do we know of him4 ,he not only professed love toward ,christ1 but he had once suffered for his ,christian profession4 ,he most likely had worn the honorable mark of prison chains in the name and for the sake of ,christ4 ,in his letter to ,philemon1 ,st4 ,paul1 remembering his companions in suffering1 writes3 ,there salute thee ,epaphras1 my fellow-prisoner in ,christ ,jesus2 ,marcus1 ,aristarchus1 ,demas1 and ,lucas1 my fellow-laborers4 ,so the apostle once wrote from a ,roman prison of ,demas1 and it was from the same prison that he afterwards sadly penned these painful words3 ,demas hath forsaken me4 ,and why8 ,did his health fail8 ,did he go to labor elsewhere8 ,paul tells us3 ,demas hath forsaken me1 having loved this present world4 ,there we have the reason1 and it is one that we shall more clearly regard in our instruction these moments4 ,on the previous ,lord's day we considered the first great enemy of our soul1 ,satan4 ,to-day we come to the second1 the world1 reserving the third1 the flesh1 ,god willing1 for next ,sunday4 ,to deal practically and directly with the matter1 let us ask the questions3 ,i4 ,what is worldliness1 and how can ,i tell whether ,i am worldly or not8 ,,ii4 ,how can ,i overcome my worldliness8 ,and may ,god's wisdom and blessing attend our meditation6 ,if we read our ,bible carefully1 my beloved1 we shall be impressed1 overwhelmed by the number of ,scripture passages which refer to ,god's people and their relation to this world4 ,these passages are found in the ,old ,testament and in the ,new1 and they are plain-spoken1 their own interpretation4 ,in the ,old ,testament they are such as these3 ,deliver my soul from men of the world1 who have their portion in this life4 ,and ye shall be holy unto me1 for ,i1 the ,lord1 am holy1 and have severed you from other people1 that ye should be mine4 ,in the ,new ,testament we find the passages still more explicit and manifold4 ,to begin with1 there is nothing that ,jesus teaches with greater frequency or with greater positiveness than this fact1 that we are to be unworldly in our ,christian life4 ,ye are not of the world1 ,he declares1 for ,i have chosen you out of the world4 ,ye cannot serve ,god and mammon4 ,what shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul8 ,and as the ,master1 so ,his apostles4 ,be not conformed1 exhorts ,paul1 to this world4 ,be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers4 ,come out from among them1 and be ye separate4 ,james writes3 ,the friendship of the world is enmity with ,god4 ,whosoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of ,god4 ,true religion before ,god is to keep oneself unspotted from the world4 ,and to finish our quotations with the words of ,st4 ,john3 ,love not the world1 neither the things that are in the world4 ,if any one love the world1 the love of the ,father is not in him4 ,there is nothing uncertain about these statements4 ,their teaching is clear4 ,they declare that there is a broad and ineffaceable line of demarcation between the people of ,god and the world4 ,they are so far apart that no man can belong to both at the same time4 ,to try to do so produces an absurd piety and a sham1 is as foolish as trying to mix light and darkness1 oil and water4 ,they refuse to mix4 ,it means either--or1 one or the other4 ,either ,christianity will have the sway1 and it will conquer and eradicate the world1 or the world will have the sway1 and it will efface ,christianity4 ,the world proposes a compromise1 it is true1 but the compromise always means death2 that is why it proposes it4 ,how imperative1 then1 that we should analyze what worldliness is and plant an interrogation in our heart3 ,am ,i worldly8 ,what1 then1 is worldliness8 ,there are some who have no difficulty whatever in defining it4 ,worldliness1 why1 that's easily explained2 going to races1 theaters1 balls1 playing euchre and dressing flashily--that's it4 ,no doubt it is2 but worldliness does not confine itself merely to theaters and balls1 cards and dress4 ,there are hundreds of people who have never been inside of a ballroom1 rarely or never attended a theater1 and yet they may be intensely worldly for all that4 ,worldliness implies something vastly more and deeper4 ,it is something which affects not only the external acts of a person1 but the heart2 something which is determined by the spirit with which we do things1 and not so much by the things with which we have to do4 ,it is not the earth1 the objects and the people that fill this earth1 that we may not love1 but the way in which we love these objects and people that constitute the world4 ,worldliness1 ,i answer1 is a condition of the heart4 ,let us look into this a little closer4 ,it has to do with the inner spirit of the man or the woman4 ,demas' mistake was that he loved the world4 ,did not ,paul love the world8 ,did he not love it when he renounced ease1 gain1 promotion1 and station1 and threw his whole soul into the holy effort of saving a poor lost world for ,christ8 ,do we not read that ,god so loved the world that ,he gave ,his only-begotten ,son8 ,and that only-begotten ,son1 did ,he not love the world when ,he gave ,his heart's blood to redeem it8 ,yes1 they loved it and showed their love by lifting it out of its sinful and guilty condition4 ,in the same way you and ,i may love the world that we may do it good1 and so give more of our time1 money1 talents1 and energy to win it back to ,god4 ,but that was not the love that brought ,demas to fall1 and against which we are warned4 ,no1 something quite different1--the world's ways1 maxims1 aims1 ease1 pleasures1 and fascinations4 ,tradition tells us that ,demas afterwards became a priest in a heathen temple4 ,if so1 it was no doubt because he found more gain in silver and gold than in the service of ,christ4 ,how do you regard the things of the world in your heart1 and how do you regard the people of the world8 ,that is what determines worldliness4 ,if you love pleasure better than your prayers1 any book better than your ,bible1 any house better than ,god's1 any person better than your ,savior1 you are worldly4 ,you are surrounded by people who do not fear ,god1 who do not keep ,his commandments1 who have no treasure in heaven1 no plans or purposes which extend beyond the grave1 minus faith1 minus hope1 minus all spiritual life1--what is your attitude toward such8 ,do you make your choice of friends from these professed worldly men and women8 ,if so1 you are worldly4 ,i assure you some of our worst foes are our ungodly friends4 ,then1 you may reply1 we cannot go into society at all1 we must live secluded lives4 ,the ,bible does not say that4 ,what it says is that1 when we go into society1 we ought to take our ,christianity with us4 ,our ,lord went into society1 and wherever ,he went1 they felt the sacredness which was about ,him4 ,you go into society1 what is the result8 ,do you influence it1 or are you influenced by it8 ,what effect has it upon your religious life and professions8 ,does it secularize you and make you unfit for prayer8 ,does it silence your testimony of ,christ1 and cool down your interest and enthusiasm for the ,church8 ,know1 then1 that it is making you worldly4 ,a woman who cannot be recognized in society as a ,christian by her modest dress and her pure ways1 and the tone and topic of her conversation1 is a worldling4 ,the man who can do business1 and not be known as a ,christian by his business scruples and methods and spirit1 is a worldling4 ,if a worldling can truthfully say of you1 ,he is no better than ,i am1 you are a worldling4 ,if you live as a worldling1 you are a worldling4 ,that needs no argument4 ,but1 after all1 be it noted that1 however it manifests itself in manner1 dress1 social companionship1 and conduct1 worldliness primarily is a temper1 spirit1 and disposition of the heart4 ,as a man thinketh in his heart1 so is he4 ,the world would have done ,demas no harm if he had not loved it4 ,it will do us no harm as long as we keep it out of our hearts4 ,but here is where lurks the very danger1--it so easily1 so silently1 and very gradually insinuates itself into the heart4 ,to use an illustration3 ,in olden times the sailors1 a race given to superstition1 used to tell that somewhere in the ,indian ,ocean there was a magnetic rock that rose from the deep with power of attraction4 ,silently a ship was drawn towards this rock1 nearer and nearer1 and gradually one by one the bolts were drawn out of the vessel's side by the magnetic power4 ,the end was that1 when the doomed vessel had drawn so near that every bolt and clamp was unloosed1 the whole fabric fell apart1 and the crew and cargo would sink down into the waters4 ,so stands the magnetic rock of worldliness1 enchantments1 and fascinations4 ,its attraction is slow1 silent1 and yet powerfully it draws the soul that comes within its range4 ,under its spell1 bolt after bolt of good resolutions1 clamp after clamp of ,christian duty are drawn out1 until at length the whole structure of ,christian profession falls together1 a pitiable wreck4 ,attracted by the things of time and sense1 the affections become chilled1 the mind step by step full of the world4 ,o for the poor victims1 thousands of them1 equally as promising1 that have foundered like this unfortunate ,demas6 ,we can see them floating everywhere on the surface of society1 like spiritual driftwood1 alas6 see them in the church keeping up a little outward appearance and forms of religion1 but generally found absent from their pew and taking little or no interest in matters of the ,church4 ,and in what way1 coming to the second consideration1 may we overcome this dangerous evil1 worldliness8 ,the ,bible does not leave us without answer4 ,as worldliness is a disposition of heart1 it first aims at that4 ,we are not to spend our time in saying this is worldly and that in formulating absolute and universal rules and binding church-members to them4 ,it is not so much a matter of correct outward conduct as of correct inward principles4 ,if the blood is in good condition1 the complexion will be4 ,if the heart is right1 the conduct will be1 and so the ,apostle1 getting at the root of the cause1 says3 ,be not conformed to this world1 but be ye transformed1 by the renewing of your minds4 ,christianity is a spiritual power4 ,when the soul opens to it1 the ,holy ,spirit resets and new-creates the spirit of the man1 so that he looks away from earth to heaven1 and from the things of this world to the things of ,god and eternity4 ,another bent is given to his feelings and his aims4 ,he walks in the light of a new sun4 ,he feels the presence of a new law drawing him in a different direction4 ,he sees with other eyes1 estimates things by another rule1 and is moved by other principles4 ,and as he yields to this new graft upon his nature1 he instinctively realizes what is contrary to it4 ,he does not need outward rules1 it is plainly told him from within4 ,the written ,word is at hand to direct in many cases1 and in questions of doubt the honest consultation of his own moral sense1 the life of faith in the soul1 will tell him where the line is to be drawn between him and the world4 ,and to mention one other way4 ,if you would overcome worldliness1 look after your associations4 ,the ,bible is full of admonitions and illustrations to that effect1 but one perhaps stands out in boldest type1 the story of ,lot4 ,he moved out of his simple patriarchal life into ,sodom1 the world center of his age1 and the result you know4 ,his family became hopelessly worldly1 he himself without influence and power among men1 and the end was destruction of his estate and judgment upon his unfortunate wife4 ,if not quite as disastrous1 the result is always the same in character4 ,keep godly associations and connections1 attend to the house of ,god4 ,we need the fellowship of ,god's people to respiritualize and recharge our depressed ,christian lives4 ,it should be a place of strengthening to you4 ,make its people your special companions and confidants2 have some from among its membership with whom you are on terms of intimacy and friendship4 ,it is wonderful how much we are influenced by our environment and fellowship2 let us1 then1 be careful to live with ,god and with ,god's people4 ,to conclude1--,god help us by ,his grace and ,holy ,spirit so to live in this world as to live above it and look beyond it1 diligently use the means ,he has given us for strength and fidelity1 and preserve us from the deadly snare of that great enemy of our soul1 the godless1 ,christless world4 ,nor1 let us ever remember1 can we successfully meet this enemy without looking for strength to that divine source upon which our eyes are centered at this season1 the cross of our adorable ,savior4 ,he that kneels in devotion at the foot of the cross1 that has the love of ,him that suffered and died for us upon that cross spread abroad in his heart1 cannot divide that heart with his rival1 and enemy1 and obtain force and power to combat against his assaults4 ,without ,him we can do nothing4 ,with ,him we can prevail4 ,grant that ,i ,thy passion view ,with repentant grieving1 ,nor ,thee crucify anew ,by unholy living4 ,how could ,i refuse to shun ,every sinful pleasure1 ,since for me ,god's only ,son ,suffered without measure8 ,amen4 ,,third ,,sunday ,,in ,,lent4 ,now when the ,pharisee which had bidden ,him saw it1 he spake within himself1 saying1 ,this man1 if ,he were a prophet1 would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth ,him2 for she is a sinner4--,luke #g1 #ci4 ,our ,lord was reclining at a social meal in the house of ,simon the ,pharisee1 when1 unbidden1 a woman enters the room1 and1 standing at the feet of ,jesus1 bursts into tears4 ,she had not come for that purpose1 but stationed aside of the ,lord1 she was so overcome that she could not restrain her emotion1 and as the tears fall thick and fast upon the feet of her ,lord1 she wipes them with her hair1 and kissing them1 anoints them with costly ointment4 ,the whole transaction is so simple and touching that we feel at once interested in the stranger4 ,it is a question much discussed by ,bible students who this woman was4 ,it has been said it was ,mary ,magdalene1 but that is a mistake2 nor was it ,mary1 the sister of ,martha and ,lazarus of ,bethany4 ,her name1 for wise and kind reasons1 is withheld from the ,church4 ,but we are not left entirely in suspense about her history4 ,from several incidents in this chapter we infer that she lived in the ,city of ,nain where our ,lord raised up the widow's son4 ,furthermore1 we are told that she was a sinner2 that means here1 she had abandoned herself to a life of sin and impurity1 and finally1 it seems quite probable1 judging from the precious quality of the ointment used1 that she was a person of some wealth and fortune4 ,what fixes our attention most is that she was a sinner1 and a penitent sinner at that4 ,what was the precise character of her transgression we are not told2 but whether she had been an adulteress1 or1 being unmarried1 had yielded to her depraved dispositions1 and was leading a life of criminal voluptuousness1 one thing is certain1 she had reason to weep and lament4 ,if she was guilty of the former1--adultery1 unfaithfulness to her own spouse1--what opinion must a woman form of herself that has committed this offense8 ,and if she was guilty of the last-named transgression1 prostitution1 no tears could have been too bitter4 ,human words fail to describe the condition of a woman who has arrived at such a depth of dissoluteness as to eradicate every degree of modesty1 hand herself over to infamy that overthrows the whole social life1 and converts mankind into a state of putrefaction and decay4 ,if there is one offense that is calculated to become a perpetual source of sorrow1 piercing the heart with thousand arrows of sad reflection and remorse1 fixing daggers in the souls of loving parents1 and covering one's family with public disgrace1 it is the offense which defiles the most sacred and inviolable relation of human life4 ,and however it may be done1 we ought never to speak of such crime in the way of extenuation4 ,holy ,scripture characterizes such not as pitiable1 but as criminal1 not as imposed upon1 but as deceiving1 not as corrupt1 but as corrupters1 the only course for whom is to do as this penitent1 prostrate themselves in tears at the feet of ,him who will not break the bruised reed1 nor quench the smoking flax4 ,these introductory remarks point to us the topic which shall employ our further contemplation this morning4 ,we have considered the first great enemy of our souls1 the devil1 that wicked spirit who walketh about seeking whom he may devour1 and the second1 the world1 and now we come to the third1 the flesh1 in contemplating which we shall note a few of the most prevalent forms in which it manifests itself1 and secondly1 how we may overcome it4 ,may ,god grant ,his divine blessing6 ,there are topics1 my beloved1 which if a minister treats of them1 he will be regarded indelicate and forward1 and which if he does not treat of them1 he will be charged with timidity and neglect of duty4 ,his course1 however1 is clear4 ,as a faithful steward of divine truth1 he must declare the whole counsel of ,god1 irrespective of criticism and fear1 lest any man's soul be required at his hands4 ,no diligent attendant of ,god's house will have failed to have marked the reigning note in the ,epistle readings of the last ,sundays4 ,that note is a call to purity and sanctity of life4 ,abstain from fornication1--,but fornication and all uncleanness1 let it not be once named among you1 as becometh saints1 for ye know that no whoremonger nor unclean person hath any inheritance in the kingdom of ,christ and of ,god1--solemn words1 and not superfluous words either1 as little now as then1 or since the beginning of man's sinful career4 ,we turn to the pages of ,holy ,writ1--what is it that brought on that most terrible calamity1 all except eight persons going down in the waters of a universal flood8 ,the sacred volume answers3 ,when man began to multiply on the face of the earth1 the sons of ,god saw the daughters of men that they were fair1 and took them wives of all which they chose4 ,then it repented the ,lord that ,he had made man1 and the judgment was let loose for destruction4 ,what was it that caused ,sodom and ,gomorrah1 the cities of the plain1 to go down in fire and brimstone8 ,the still gurgling sea of salt and death gives back the answer of its brutality and uncleanness4 ,what caused the twenty and three thousand to perish in one day1 their white carcasses to strew the wilderness sand8 ,moses tells us3 fornication1 sensuality1 and impurity4 ,and who is not bent with grief as he reads of ,david and of ,solomon8 ,and the hearts of mankind are as full of impurity now as then1 in thoughts1 words1 deeds1 and dress4 ,there are spectacles to be seen in places of amusement1 there are reports to be read in our public prints1 which indicate little or no improvement1 though decking themselves with the name of ,christian and moral4 ,what ,st4 ,paul wrote3 ,it is a shame even to speak of these things which are done of them in secret1 is still true and too true1 alas6 of some professed ,christians4 ,fire1 my beloved1 is a most valuable1 an indispensable agent of the human race4 ,what would we do without it8 ,but fire must remain within bounds4 ,woe if it overleaps them6 ,then it becomes a terrible and destructive power6 ,man's body1 likewise1 is a great and noble instrument1 a fine handiwork of ,god1 with powers for good2 but it must remain within its bounds1 it must always be kept as a servant in subjection4 ,woe to man's happiness and the welfare of others when it overleaps its legitimate bounds1 and the servant becomes the master1 a tyrant1 and a destroyer6 ,i keep under my body and bring it into subjection1 says ,paul4 ,our great business as ,christians is to learn to control our body1 its lusts and desires2 to subdue and master it1 to bring it into a pure and honorable service1 above and beyond its own miserable gratification4 ,dearly beloved1 writes ,st4 ,peter1 ,i beseech you as strangers and pilgrims1 abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul4 ,yes1 back in the days of ,mount ,sinai1 ,god voiced ,his will in words of fire and thunder on stony tablets3 ,thou shalt not commit adultery1 which means we are to lead a chaste and decent life in word and deed1 and each curb1 guard1 and control the sinful desires of the flesh4 ,nor is this unchastity1 the overstepping of the proper relation between the sexes1 the sinful indulgence of man's lower nature1 the only temptation that comes from the flesh4 ,from the long list enumerated by the ,apostle in his letters we shall select one other4 ,that is intemperance1 the too free indulgence in stimulating drinks4 ,nor can it be questioned that a word in this respect is occasionally in place4 ,the history of strong drink is the history of ruin1 of tears1 and of blood4 ,it is perhaps the greatest curse that ever scourged the earth4 ,other evils have slain their thousands1 but this has slain its tens of thousands4 ,it is simply impossible to picture the crime of which it is the cause4 ,it is the ,mississippi among the rivers of wretchedness4 ,it is an evil which is limited to no age1 no nation1 no sex1 no period and call of life4 ,it has taken the poor man at his toil and the rich man in his palace1 the statesman in the halls of legislature1 and the workingman on the street1 the preacher in the pulpit1 and the layman in the pew1 and plunged them into a common ruin4 ,since the time that ,noah came out of the ark and planted vineyards and drank of their wines1 nearly five thousand years ago1 we see the foul and murderous track1 destroying some of the mightiest intellects1 some of the happiest homes1 some of the noblest specimens of man4 ,it has supplied every jail1 penitentiary1 almshouse1 and charity hospital with inmates1 and flooded every city with bestiality and crime4 ,it empties the pockets1 disgraces the character1 brutalizes the affections1 brings disease to the body and poison to the intellect4 ,it does infinitely worse1--it bars the soul out of heaven2 for thus it is written3 ,no drunkard shall enter the kingdom of heaven4 ,such is the result of appetites indulged1 what it means when the flesh gains the supremacy1 when a person turns himself over to become a slave of his lusts and excesses4 ,nor let any one say as he looks upon such a miserable victim of this vice3 ,i shall never be like him4 ,god grant that we may not1 but let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall4 ,the drunkard once thought the same4 ,no one can be certain that he will not yet fill a drunkard's grave1 unless he learn and employ the lessons which ,god has given us to overcome this enemy1 the flesh4 ,and which are these lessons1 and how may this enemy be overcome8 ,we shall mention two4 ,the first is this3 ,keep thy heart with all diligence4 ,our enemies are not only without1 they are within4 ,it is our ,savior who remarks3 ,out of the heart proceed evil thoughts1 murders1 adultery1 fornication1 and other shameful sins4 ,and the enemies within are the more dangerous1 just as a traitor in our city is worse than the enemy without the walls4 ,so1 then1 our first attention must be given to that4 ,keep1 i4 e41 watch1 garrison the heart4 ,how8 ,keep from thoughts and purposes of sin4 ,as long as we live in this sinful body1 in the midst of a perverse generation and unchastisement1 our eyes will behold scenes1 our ears hear language1 our imagination suggest pictures that are impure and lewd1 but it's for the ,christian to watch that such gazes of the eye do not become purposeful1 not to permit the imagination loose reins and range1 that unvirtuous thoughts are not indulged in1 but repressed2 as ,dr4 ,luther expresses it3 ,you cannot prevent the devil from shooting arrows of evil thoughts into your heart1 but take care that you do not let such arrows stick and grow there4 ,the young ,christian1 who buys a ticket to the average theater1 with its abounding sensualities1 has no right to complain if his imagination is impure4 ,can any one take coals of fire into his bosom and not be burned1 handle pitch and not be soiled8 ,the man and woman who delight in reading lewd books1 sensational1 spicy newspaper reports1 who gaze upon indecent pictures1 suggestive sights as they are euphemistically termed1 who listen to smutty stories1 evil communications1 foolish jestings1 as ,st4 ,paul calls them2 the woman who mixes in loose company1 dresses indecently1 and allows the thoughts to dwell upon any subjects which connect with such sin1 need not wonder if the heart is invaded and influenced with unholy sentiments1 and fleshly appetites run riot4 ,guard your heart1 what transpires therein1 and what enters in1 with all diligence4 ,it was a wise man1 in fact1 the wisest of all men1 one who1 speaking from own sad experience1 gave this advice4 ,heed it1 my dear hearer1 heed it6 ,and1 again1 the second lesson furnished by the holy ,apostle is this3 ,walk in the spirit1 and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh4 ,there is a mine of wisdom in that4 ,our religion not only tells us what not to do1 it also tells us what to do2 it is not only negative1 it is positive4 ,there are two ways of dealing with temptation4 ,the one way is negative1 the other is positive4 ,thou shalt not commit adultery1 that is negative4 ,we are to eradicate vice1 that is positive4 ,the effectual safeguard against drink is not prohibition4 ,neither the most cunningly devised laws1 nor the most unrelenting persecution of liquor dealers1 nor any other device of man can arrest this terrible evil4 ,to successfully combat it1 to make the poor victim a worthy and honored member of society1 requires some stronger and firmer basis1 some more controlling motive than mere earthly considerations4 ,put on the ,lord ,jesus1 is ,st4 ,paul's plain direction1 and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof4 ,the eye that has gazed upon the cross of ,calvary with penitence and faith1 the heart that has been regenerated by the washing of the ,holy ,ghost1 and in whose soul is diffused the ,spirit of ,god1 and who strives to walk in the ,spirit1 he1 and only he1 can escape the temptations of the dreaded serpent of intemperance4 ,and so1 whatever the habit1 you cannot wrestle successfully with a vicious habit1 unless you cultivate a higher and different taste1 a love for the things of ,god's ,spirit4 ,life1 to be safe1 must stand for something1 not simply against something1 must express itself in the spirit1 not simply suppress itself in the lust of the flesh4 ,from away back in the past comes to us a voice1 the voice of a young man who1 when tempted by the dark-eyed adulteress in ,egypt1 said3 ,how1 then1 can ,i do this great wickedness and sin against ,god8 ,oh1 that the young and the old would let these words of ,joseph incessantly ring in their ears6 ,a positive attachment1 devotion to ,god will prompt us to be and to do what ,he wants you to be and to do1 and as it inspires you to do what is right1 it keeps you from doing that which is wrong4 ,and here again1 to conclude1 in our combat against this enemy of our soul we cannot stand upright unless we have some mightier power to sustain us4 ,we know as ,lenten ,christians whence this power flows4 ,how can any one who has looked up to that divine ,sufferer in faith crucify ,him anew by unholy living8 ,the thought of what ,he has done for us1 the love that prompted ,him to shed ,his holy1 precious blood for our sins1 will restrain us from falling a victim to this insidious and wicked enemy4 ,the ,lord grant us repentance over past falls1 gracious forgiveness1 and strength6 ,plenteous grace with ,thee is found1 ,grace to cover all my sin2 ,let the healing streams abound1 ,make and keep me pure within4 ,amen4 ,,fourth ,,sunday ,,in ,,lent4 ,woe unto the world because of offenses6 ,for it must needs be that offenses come2 but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh6--,matt4 #ah1 #g4 ,it has grown a custom with us to regard on this particular ,sunday some particular phase of sin4 ,now there is a sin which very many people think little about2 that is the sin of making others sin4 ,they feel that they are accountable for their own sins1 the sins of their hands1 tongues1 and thoughts1 but as to responsibility for what others have done1 they feel no guilt that belongs exclusively to them4 ,and yet1 when one reflects on the matter2 when we consider how we are all bound up with one another1 what influence we exert1 what our words and deeds cause others to do1 how1 without our knowing it1 others have taken our example to encourage themselves in what is wrong1 thinking they could not go wrong if following in our steps2 when we reflect that the first sin committed in the world was the sin of making others sin1 that of the devil tempting ,eve to disobey ,god1 and that the first evil consequence of man's fall was that ,eve1 when she had sinned herself1 was to make her husband sin also1--we begin to realize that it is a real sin1 and a common sin1 the sin of making others do wrong2 nor can there be any doubt or mistake as to our ,lord's judgment concerning it4 ,our blessed ,savior1 in the course of ,his ministry1 denounced woes upon other sins4 ,he said3 ,woe unto thee1 ,chorazin6 ,woe unto thee1 ,bethsaida6 ,woe unto you1 scribes and ,pharisees1 hypocrites6 ,woe unto that man by whom the ,son of ,man is betrayed6 ,but when ,he said3 ,woe unto the world because of offenses6 ,he qualifies it2 ,he bitterly adds3 ,for it must needs be that offenses come2 but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh6 ,it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck1 and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea4 ,it could have been no ordinary occasion1 it can be no common sin that could have drawn from the merciful lips of our ,redeemer1 that could have wrung from ,his loving heart1 so tremendous a condemnation4 ,let us regard1 then1 ,i4 ,in what way we may cause others to sin4 ,,ii4 ,how we may prevent it4 ,may ,god's ,spirit make the words spoken profitable and instructive to every one of you6 ,causing others to sin may be done in two ways3 by direct temptation and by evil example4 ,sin loves companionship2 having done wrong themselves1 men look for others to do wrong with them4 ,there are but few sins that men can do alone4 ,they require some one to sin with them4 ,there is nothing an infidel loves so much as when he can gain the ear of some unsophisticated person to fill his mind with ungodliness and infamy4 ,the vile libertine never gloats more in fiendish glee than when he can1 by flattery or love of dress and amusement1 make some innocent girl the tool of his debauched sensuality4 ,it seems the delight of some to teach others the habit of taking ,god's name in vain4 ,what shall we say of those foul brothels that1 like poisonous mushrooms1 pollute our cities1 leading men's steps down to the house of the strange woman2 what of the conventional drinking-houses and pool-rooms and gambling dens1 the haunts of profanity1 intemperance1 and profligacy2 what of the playhouses with their usual performances1 beautifying vice and placing a low estimate on marriage and morals8 ,what are those but just so many places and occasions of direct temptation to sin8 ,and those who conduct and foster them are under the condemnation of this text4 ,what are they but vultures that feed on the carrion of sin1 making men's lusts and depraved animal passions a source of ungodly gain8 ,no words would be a more truthful sign to place over the entrance of such places than these of ,matt4 #ah1 #g3 ,woe unto the world because of offenses6 ,for it must needs be that offenses come2 but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh6 ,but this is not the only way in which men may transgress this text4 ,there are1 be it said to the credit of our race1 men who have not much scruple about doing wrong themselves1 but who have not so far lost nobleness and generosity of mind as not to shrink from directly tempting others who are as yet free from guilt4 ,they think little of the sin themselves1 still they would not have others share their bad experience4 ,however1 though they would not like to bring on their souls the sin of directly tempting others1 they forget what judgment they are heaping on themselves by their evil example4 ,and here it is that we are all more or less concerned4 ,it may be well to observe that in the paragraph preceding our text the ,lord is speaking of little children1 and so1 we may consider1 first1 the responsibility of parents4 ,there are but few parents who do not desire to bring up their children well1 and to this end are careful to teach them to be truthful and honest1 pure1 gentle1 and unselfish4 ,but of how little avail to teach these things as theories and principles when the example which parents set is precisely the opposite to their teaching6 ,when the head of the family commands his children to attend divine service1 but himself does not1 what1 in fact1 is he teaching but to stay away8 ,or does he think for one moment that the children are so foolish as not to reason thus3 ,if it were really my duty to go to church1 would not my father go himself8 ,why do what my father fails to do8 ,or if the wife and mother is seen by her offspring to practice deception in little things1 resorts readily to untruth1 is not in when she is in1 and the like1 how quick they are to notice it1 and grow up to think that truth and honesty are to be held as theories1 rather than practiced as virtues4 ,nor need we restrict it merely to the home sphere1 it applies to every other1 school1 college1 workshop1 friendship4 ,without limit is the effect of unconscious example4 ,we uttered it as a mere joke1 or what we styled as a harmless way of getting out of a difficulty1 but the falsehood we uttered has stuck1 and taken root in some one's mind near us1 and blossomed into a full-blown way of lying1 which he says he learned from us1 and defends by our example4 ,because when we were young1 we looked up and trusted and admired some one1 a teacher1 a friend1 on account of their attractiveness1 or brilliancy1 or personal magnetism1 we imitated them1 and that1 perhaps1 in things not at all commendable4 ,and what we have done and do1 others in time do with us4 ,the minister who will tell his members and catechumens1 ,you must mind only what ,i preach and not what ,i do1 is a caricature and disgrace to his office4 ,the religious teacher of the ,sunday-school who goes to places of frolic1 and is seen by his or her pupils1 or by the grown sisters and brothers of these pupils1 who then defend their presence there because they1 the teachers of religion1 were there1--such teachers are dropping evil seed which strengthens others in wickedness1 and do well to examine their conduct and character under the sharp lens of this text4 ,the young man or1 for all that1 he1 too1 of advanced years1 who is seen seeking his couch in the late hours of night1 or the small hours of morn1 apart from his family and the companionship of reputable associates1 may also reflect how this is likely to affect the honor and peace of the home1 and serve as an example for others4 ,enough has been said1 ,i take it1 to make plain what is meant4 ,and is this a sin to think little of8 ,let us awake to our responsibility6 ,no man liveth to himself4 ,the moral impulse1 the influence we exert1 the example we set1 ,god holds us answerable for them4 ,what1 then1 to come to the next particular1 shall we do if we have become guilty in this respect8 ,i was once told of a man who on his deathbed had something on his conscience which greatly disturbed him4 ,he had not been a bad man1 from the world's standpoint1 and it was only a boyish freak4 ,what he related was this3 ,i was going across a common one day1 and ,i saw a sign-post at the crossroads1 pointing the way to two different places4 ,the post was old1 the sign easily removed1 and so for fun ,i took down the arms and changed them1 so as to make them point to the wrong roads4 ,it was a foolish thing1 but of late years it has continually haunted me4 ,and now on my deathbed it greatly troubles me to think how many a poor1 weary man crossing that common ,i have sent on the wrong road4 ,beloved1 this is a parable of life1 nor leave it till you are on your deathbed4 ,think if by your example you have ever sent any poor fellow-creature toiling across the common of this life on the wrong road1 the road which leads to destruction1 instead of the narrow way which leads to heaven6 ,think if by any example of yours you have removed the guiding post which would have led the man aright had you not pointed out the wrong way1 and if your conscience accuse you of this1 repent of your guilt and ask ,god honestly and humbly for ,his forgiveness4 ,that is the first thing we ought to do4 ,and1 in the second place1 we must give most careful heed to ourselves4 ,one thing we must never forget3 we are ,christians1 ,christ's disciples1 and concerning ,his disciples1 ,christ says3 ,ye are the salt of the earth1 ye are the light of the world4 ,that is their distinctive property1 their mission4 ,salt is an active principle2 it works1 and purifies1 and diffuses its saltiness4 ,so1 too1 it behooves us1 by speech and pen1 by example and influence1 by suffrage and legislation1 by every agency in our power1 to set ourselves against the social sins of our land and age1--intemperance1 ,lord's day desecration1 uncharitableness1 lewdness1 insubordination1 which1 like cancers1 have fastened themselves upon the moral and religious life of our nation1 and are fast destroying its vitality4 ,we are to be a salt1 a savor of moral health to all who come into contact with us1 and a light1 so the ,savior directs4 ,let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your ,father which is in heaven4 ,we had respect to the evil example of parents1--why1 correspondingly1 should it not make for good8 ,we find not uncommonly that the child catches the words1 nay1 even the tone of voice which he has heard his father use4 ,will he not be still more likely to catch his other habits8--to be mild and kind1 sober and industrious1 if the manner and behavior of his father are marked by mildness1 kindness1 sobriety1 and diligence8 ,and so in all deportments4 ,they are familiar lines1 fraught with deep thought3 ,lives of great men all remind us1 ,we can make our lives sublime1 ,and departing1 leave behind us ,footprints on the sands of time4 ,let's leave some such footprints1 some stimulating1 ennobling influence and example1 around and behind us4 ,these1 then1 are the truths presented by the text4 ,let them be seriously and deeply considered4 ,may ,god by ,his grace deliver us from the bitter woe of having given offense1 causing others to sin1 and grant us wisdom and power to turn many into the right way through faith in ,christ ,jesus1 the ,savior of sinners4 ,amen4 ,,fifth ,,sunday ,,in ,,lent4 ,when ,i see the blood1 ,i will pass over you4--,exodus #ab1 #ac4 ,the one grand theme1 the central1 all-pervading subject of the ,bible1 from beginning to end1 is redemption by the blood of ,christ4 ,it matters not who held the pen1 whether ,moses in the land of ,midian1 or ,david in the mountains of ,israel1 or ,daniel in the court of ,babylon1 ,paul1 a prisoner at ,rome1 or ,john amid the bleak rocks of the ,isle of ,patmos1--one golden thread runs through all their records4 ,just as in an orchestra the various notes and chords of the musicians' instruments express the one central idea of the composition they are rendering1 so whatever chords are touched by the hands of the holy writers in ,god's ,book1 one keynote vibrates1 that is1 salvation through the blood of the ,lamb4 ,the blood of ,jesus ,christ1 ,god's ,son1 cleanses us from all sin1 is the testimony of ,st4 ,john4 ,ye know that ye were redeemed by the precious blood of ,christ1 is the plea of ,saint ,peter4 ,justified by ,his blood1 is the ,gospel of ,st4 ,paul4 ,and the voices of heaven blend with those of earth1 for thus is the saints' eternal song3 ,worthy is the ,lamb that was slain and hath redeemed us to ,god by ,his blood4 ,and this is the ,church's theme on this particular ,sunday1 as it reads in the ,epistle3 ,christ by ,his blood hath obtained eternal redemption for us4 ,the past ,sundays in ,lent have we been seeking to learn what sin is and what sin does2 how could we more appropriately spend this service than to consider how we may be saved from sin1 and in that may the ,scripture selected profitably aid us4 ,eight times had ,pharaoh's hardened heart brought sorrow upon the people of ,egypt4 ,as one calamity after another was fulfilled1 he seemed softened for a while and willing to comply with ,god's command to let ,his people ,israel go1 but no sooner was the pressing plague removed than he again defied the ,lord of heaven4 ,and now the tenth1 the last and most dreadful and desolating of visitations1 was to be sent4 ,the king and his people are informed that1 if ,israel were not allowed straightway to depart1 the first-born in every home shall1 at one and the same hour1 be slain4 ,but before the destroying angel started on his sorrowful mission1 the ,israelites were directed to kill a lamb1 to take its blood and besprinkle therewith the headpiece and the two sideposts of their dwellings4 ,this was ,god's sacred mark4 ,wherever that crimson sign would appear1 the messenger of judgment was to pass over and spare4 ,it was as told4 ,at the hour of midnight the avenging angel swept over the land4 ,all the first-born were slain4 ,not a house where there was not one dead4 ,in ,pharaoh's palace and in the pauper's hovel1 stricken hearts bewailed the countenance of their eldest suddenly darkened by death4 ,only in the houses of the ,hebrews there was security and peace1 because the blood was on their doors4 ,such is the simple historical event connected with our text1 designed by ,god to foreshadow a far greater and more important event1 an event that was to bear upon the whole race of man wherever1 whenever1 and however found4 ,three leading thoughts are suggested thereby3 ,i4 ,all men1 like the inhabitants of ,egypt1 are exposed to the destruction and penalty of death4 ,,ii4 ,a means of escape has been supplied4 ,,iii4 ,one condition that connects with that escape4 ,and may ,god's ,holy ,spirit work enlightenment and conviction6 ,that man1 to take up the first point1 is exposed to destruction and death1 is the clear and abundant testimony of ,scripture1 and it tells why4 ,all have sinned1 it says1 and1 ,the wages of sin is death4 ,the soul that sinneth1 it shall die4 ,and is there a single heart among the sons and daughters of ,adam that dare offer remonstrance8 ,since the time that the first human pair1 smitten by the sense of guilt1 hid themselves from the presence of the ,lord ,god among the trees of the garden1 and their first-born son1 with his hands reddened by a brother's blood1 declared that his punishment was greater than he could bear1 down to the ignoble disciple who1 after selling the life of his ,master for filthy lucre1 unable to bear the upbraidings of conscience1 went and hanged himself1 the consciousness of having broken ,god's ,law and exposed one's self to the righteous displeasure of the great ,lawgiver1 has haunted and pained man everywhere and at all times1 and filled him with a fear which all his own efforts and every human appliance is powerless to remove4 ,why go farther than our own selves8 ,is there a person here who can declare that never for a moment has his soul's surface been disturbed by feelings of regret1 who can truthfully affirm that he has never known what it means to experience remorse for duty neglected1 for wrong spoken or done8 ,we have sought on previous ,sundays to drive home to your conscience the terrors of the law on matters of the ,sixth1 ,seventh1 and ,eighth ,commandments2 and do you mean to say that in a review of your past life you have no slightest pain of self-reproach along these lines8 ,if not1 then your spirit has been cast in a different mold from all others1 or your memory and conscience are both fast asleep4 ,i take it that all are ready to acknowledge not only that there is a law1 a law written in ,god's ,word1 as well as in your own hearts1 but that we have also broken that law time and again1 and thereby--to quote the familiar words of our ,catechism--have we exposed ourselves to ,god's wrath and displeasure1 temporal death1 and eternal damnation4 ,this is the ,a ,b ,c of ,christianity4 ,and is there a way of escape1 as in the case of ,egypt's death and destruction8 no possibility of its being said3 ,i will pass over you8 ,ah1 it is here that we come to the heart and center of our holy religion1 its pith and core1 its ,holiest of ,holy4 ,sprinkled upon the headpieces and the two posts of their doors was the blood1 ,god's own sacred mark4 ,a lamb1 none over a year old1 none with the slightest taint or blemish upon it1 was made to yield up its life in sacrifice to secure that blood4 ,need ,i inform you what that typified1 of whom that lamb was a type and shadow8 ,that unblemished lamb of sacrifice referred to ,christ1 the ,lamb of ,god which taketh away the sin of the world4 ,that innocent blood which turned aside the angel of death foreshowed the blood of ,christ1 who through the ,spirit offered ,himself without spot to ,god4 ,yonder upon that post with its two beams1 reddened by crimson drops1 is the fulfillment1 the realization1 of it all4 ,simple1 is it not8 ,god1 by the application of a coat of blood upon its homes1 could redeem ,israel from the avenging stroke4 ,it was not for any among them to speculate about it1 to doubt and refuse it4 ,to do so would have meant disaster4 ,only in that blood was security1 safety1 and deliverance4 ,there are many these days who are offended at the blood doctrine of the cross2 they will have none of it2 it's puerile to them4 ,they know not whereof they speak4 ,it reflects ,heaven's profoundest wisdom2 it was thus1 and only thus1 that the authority and dignity of ,god's ,law could be maintained1 and yet the transgressor pass unpunished4 ,the supreme1 the perfect and sinless ,lawgiver ,himself1 even the eternal ,son1 bearing the penalty in the room of those by whom it had been incurred1 and on whom it must otherwise and most justly have fallen1--this is the only way in which peace could have been reinstated between ,god and man1 deliverance made possible4 ,and this1 even this1 is the great burden of the ,gospel message1 the only balm of peace to the troubled soul1 the only solid ground of hope for another life1--without which all in this world would be darkness1 disorder1 and despair4 ,imagine a prisoner under sentence of death in his lonely cell2 the last morning sun he ever expects to gaze on streaming through his grated window1 and the sound of busy hammers erecting his gallows ringing in his ears1 and1 then1 unbar the bolts of his prison1 and instead of leading him out to execution1 put into his hands the ,governor's pardon1 and bid him go forth and enjoy till life's latest time the best and sweetest it can offer4 ,or think of a crew of voyagers on a dark and stormy sea1 a fearful hurricane above1 all around perilous rocks and quicksand1 and the vessel threatening every moment to part asunder below1--think of them wafted all at once into a peaceful harbor and landed on a hospitable shore4 ,figure yourselves placed in such and kindred perilous circumstances1 and followed by a like happy deliverance1 and you will still have only a dim shadow of the glorious and blessed reality to which our text points4 ,far more terrible than bodily bondage1 more appalling than death of the body1 is the terror and the doom that attends a soul exposed to the extent of ,god's wrath and destruction1 and from that--deliverance1 safety1 and escape through the blood of the ,lamb4 ,there is1 however1 one point still that practically and to each of us is the most important of all4 ,it is not said simply3 ,i will pass over you1 but1 ,when ,i see the blood1 ,i will pass over you4 ,it was not enough that the paschal lamb had been slain4 ,nor was it sufficient that the ,most ,high ,lamb merely purpose to spare them as ,his chosen people4 ,if they would escape the calamity that was to fall upon their heathen oppressors1 they must sprinkle the blood of that lamb openly on the posts of their doors4 ,and even so it is not enough that ,god will have all men to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth2 not enough that the ,lamb of ,god was slain to take away the sins of a guilty world1 unless that blood is sprinkled by faith on the heart1 unless1 in other words1 ,christ is taken by each separately and individually as his or her ,savior4 ,it is faith which forms the grand connecting link between the priceless blessings of redemption and the perishing sinner's soul4 ,what avails it to the wretch who is being borne down by a rapid current nearer and nearer to the fatal cataract to throw him a rope if he will not grasp it8 ,or what to him whose dwelling is in flames1 to place a ladder for his rescue1 if he will not so much as step upon it8 ,even so1 what will it serve any of us1 but only fearfully to heighten our condemnation1 to be told of the great salvation1 and have that salvation pressed on us in almost every form of persuasive appeal1 as the only means of escape from death and destruction1 if we still refuse to it the homage of our hearts1 and deem ourselves perfectly safe without1 and treat it as an idle tale8 ,christ's blood has been shed1 but before it can work its wonders1 can stay the arm of divine ,justice uplifted to smite1 that blood must be sprinkled1 too2 and the reason why it is not sprinkled on some1 why it is not sprinkled on all who have heard of it1 why all such do not feel in their hearts and display in their lives its cleansing1 sanctifying power1 is1 and can only be1 their willful1 stubborn unbelief4 ,how it is with you whom ,i am now addressing it is not for me to say4 ,those only who are thus marked have any right to count themselves to the ,lord's people1 and to set themselves at the ,savior's table4 ,let us hold1 not as a dry doctrine1 but as a blessed truth1 that apart from ,christ's blood there is no salvation4 ,let us fix our hearts with deeper and more prayerful love on ,him2 let it be ours with a glow of spiritual fervor1 a joy with which nothing else will compare1 to confess3 ,my hope is built on nothing less ,than ,jesus' blood and righteousness4 ,amen4 ,,palm ,,sunday4 ,and ,god said unto ,jacob1 ,arise1 go up to ,bethel1 and dwell there1 and make there an altar unto ,god that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of ,esau1 thy brother4 ,then ,jacob said unto his household1 and to all that were with him1 ,put away the strange gods that are among you1 and be clean1 and change your garments4 ,and let us arise1 and go up to ,bethel2 and ,i will make there an altar unto ,god1 who answered me in the day of my distress1 and was with me in the way which ,i went4--,gen4 #ce1 #a-c4 ,the passage before us refers to a very interesting part in the history of ,jacob4 ,to escape the fury of his brother1 ,esau1 whom he had deprived of the patriarchal blessing1 ,jacob1 at the proposal of his mother1 ,rebecca1 flees to the house of his uncle1 ,laban4 ,on the first night of his journey he dreamed he saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven1 angels ascending and descending upon it1 ,god standing at the top2 and ,god also speaks to the poor pilgrim resting on a stone beneath4 ,he assures ,jacob that ,he was the ,lord ,god of ,abraham1 thy father1 and the ,god of ,isaac4 ,he promises to give the land of ,canaan to his seed1 to render his offspring illustrious and innumerable as the stars of heaven1 and finally1 in one of his descendants1 to bless all the families of the earth2 and to accommodate ,himself still more to the condition in which ,jacob then was1 ,he added3 ,and behold1 ,i am with thee1 and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest1 and will bring thee again into this land2 for ,i will not leave thee until ,i have done that which ,i have spoken to thee of4 ,deeply impressed with this vision of ,god's presence1 ,jacob arose4 ,but before he proceeded upon his journey1 he vowed a vow1 saying3 ,if ,god will be with me and will keep me in this way that ,i go1 and will give me bread to eat and raiment to put on1 so that ,i come again to my father's house in peace1 then shall the ,lord be my ,god1 and this stone which ,i have set for a pillar shall be ,god's house1 and of all that ,thou shalt give me ,i will surely give the tenth unto ,thee4 ,twenty years had passed since that occasion1 years of hard service and vexation1 when ,jacob resolves to return home4 ,he crosses the ,ford of ,jabbok1 where he wrestled with the ,angel1 and comes to ,shalem4 ,here he buys a piece of ground1 builds an altar1 and lingers for seven or eight years2 he was now enjoying the delights1 the comforts of home and of plenty4 ,god had fulfilled ,his engagement with him to the letter1--,he had been with him and defended him1 led him back to his country in peace and prospered him1 who had had nothing but a staff in his hand when he fled before the face of his brother1 until he was now two bands4 ,but where is now his vow1 where his altar1 where the tenth of all his possessions1 as he had promised8 ,nor does he show the least disposition to redeem1 to perform it2 and so it becomes necessary for ,god ,himself to stir him up2 and thus reads the first verse of the text3 ,and ,god said unto ,jacob1 ,arise1 go up to ,bethel1 and dwell there1 and make there an altar unto ,god that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of ,esau1 thy brother4 ,from this little piece of history let us seek to derive some instructive observations1 and pertinent with this ,sunday1 the character of which is well known to you4 ,first1 we may note how soon the influence of impressive scenes wears away1 how quickly we lose the sense of ,god's mercies1 and the religious feelings they produce4 ,if a person had seen ,jacob on the morning after his vision1 when he was leaving the spot made sacred by his experience there1 and had said to him3 ,god will accomplish all thy desires2 ,he will guide and keep thee1 and bring thee back enriched and multiplied1 but thou wilt live year after year unmindful of thy vow1 he would have exclaimed1 ,what6 is thy servant a dog1 that he should do this thing8 ,how were the ,israelites affected when ,god appeared at the ,red ,sea8 ,they sang ,his praise1 they resolved to distrust ,him no more4 ,they said1 ,all that the ,lord commandeth us will we do4 ,but they soon forgot ,his words and the wonders ,he had shown them4 ,they murmured1 and they rebelled time and again2 all their vows and promises were written in the sand1 and the first returning wave of trouble washed them out4 ,if some kind of spiritual device1 after the manner of our present day1 could be invented to secure our feelings in certain periods and conditions of life1 so that we might afterwards review them and compare ourselves1 what revelations it would disclose6 ,like a sieve1 full while lowered1 but1 when raised up1 empty and dripping1 or like water1 which has a natural tendency to be cold1 if it has not a perpetual fire below to keep it warm1 so do we constantly need means and helps2 so necessary is it to have our minds stirred up by way of remembrance2 and as we learn from our text1 ,god also does that4 ,he reminds ,his people of forgotten duties4 ,various are ,his ways of doing so4 ,one of ,his principal designs are afflictions4 ,when difficulties are upon us1 it is then that we remember former deliverances and vows1 and our ingratitude in not keeping them4 ,another such witness and monitor is man's conscience1 which accuses the transgressor1 and often presses a thorn into man's side4 ,ministers of the ,gospel are also ,god's remembrancers4 ,their business is1 not to bring strange things to your ears1 to entertain you with novelties or speculation1 but their calling is to remind you of things you already know4 ,as ,st4 ,peter writes3 ,i will therefore put you in remembrance of these things1 though ye once knew them1 and ,st4 ,paul says3 ,if thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things1 thou shalt be a good minister of ,jesus ,christ4 ,and our text furthermore shows us that good and pious characters give heed to these reminders4 ,there is where we perceive a difference between ,christians and others4 ,christians1 it is true1 are encompassed with faults and infirmities1 they may err2 they may fall1 but there is in them a principle which secures their rising again4 ,a man who is only asleep is easily distinguished from one who is dead2 the difference will appear as soon as you try to wake them2 the one remains motionless1 the other stirs and springs up4 ,the branch of a tree may bend down to the earth under a pressure1 but remove the load1 and it is upright again4 ,when our ,lord looked only upon ,peter1 he went out and wept bitterly4 ,jacob here does not argue the matter with the ,lord4 ,he does not seek to excuse himself4 ,thus reads the second verse3 ,then ,jacob said unto his household1 and to all that were with him1 ,put away the strange gods that are among you1 and be clean1 and change your garments4 ,here we may stop a moment to emphasize the truth that there may be wickedness in a religious family4 ,we find strange gods even in ,jacob's1 the patriarch's1 household1 and we may view such a condition in two ways1--first1 as a good man's affliction1 and also as a good man's own fault4 ,an affliction it certainly is to behold wickedness in one's family4 ,it is bad enough to have bodily sickness and ailment in the house1 but it is immensely worse to have sin1 the plague and pestilence of the soul4 ,but1 could we see things as ,god sees them1 could we trace back effects to their cause1 we would ofttimes not be surprised at the disorder and wickedness which prevails4 ,how many masters of families resemble ,eli1 whose sons made themselves vile1 and he restrained them not1--or ,david1 who had never displeased ,adonijah at any time in saying1 ,why hast thou done so8 ,others1 again1 have provoked them to anger1 till they are discouraged2 while they preach humility and meekness in words1 they practice pride and passion by example2 while they send them to receive the nurture and admonition of the ,lord at the hands of others1 they rarely or ever recommend religion by their own personal behavior1--and they then wonder at irregularities in their households4 ,rather ought they wonder at their own folly in seeking to gather grapes of thorns and figs of thistles4 ,observe ,jacob here1 he would not go alone1 but calls upon his family1 and all that are with him2 everybody must attend4 ,and thus our religious interest should not be confined to ourselves alone1 we must bring our families along with us to the exercise of devotion4 ,in our own families we possess authority and influence1 and this authority and influence we are to employ for religious as well as civil purposes4 ,god holds us answerable for it4 ,there is nothing more lovely than the members of a family going to the house of ,god in company4 ,such families are nurseries of their churches1 and it is with delight that a minister addresses a hopeful audience made up of a number of amiable1 orderly1 serious-minded families4 ,but oh6 how it pains one to see you separated1 and coming in alone1--the wife without the husband1 the father without the son1 the mother without the daughter4 ,reflect on these things1 my beloved4 ,it is sometimes said that so few of those who make their confirmation vow remain loyal4 ,to me it is inspiring that so many do remain loyal when you consider the influence and the atmosphere in the homes they come from4 ,never a ,christian word escapes the lips of the mother2 all kinds of political1 secular newspapers and books are daily read1 never a line of ,god's ,word or a church-paper4 ,all sorts of time set aside for visits and trivialities on ,god's day1 never for divine service4 ,there remains yet the third and last verse3 ,and let us arise and go up to ,bethel2 and ,i will make there an altar unto ,god1 who answered me in the day of my distress1 and was with me in the way which ,i went4 ,jacob arrives at ,bethel1 he looks around1 he discovers the stone1 now covered with moss1 which1 twenty-eight years ago1 had served as his pillow4 ,what feelings must have throbbed through his soul6 what shame6 what joy6 ,and he fulfills his vow1 erects an altar1 does ,god honor and service1 and gives the tenth to ,him of all he possesses4 ,the application of all this8 ,to you who have this day laid down upon ,god's altar your vow of allegiance1 let ,jacob be to you an example of warning4 ,god greatly disapproved of ,jacob's delay1 his forgetting and breaking of promise1 and1 as we heard1 he himself suffered by it1--wickedness1 strange gods1 had gotten into his household4 ,vastly more noble than his conduct was that of the woman who one day appeared in the temple leading by the hand a lad1 and1 presenting him to the high priest1 said3 ,for this child ,i prayed1 and the ,lord hath given me my petition which ,i asked of ,him4 ,therefore1 also1 ,i have lent him to the ,lord2 as long as he liveth1 he shall be lent to the ,lord4 ,you know who he was--,samuel1 afterwards ,israel's high priest and judge4 ,may you prove to be ,samuels brought hither to the temple1 become useful members4 ,it is only thus you may glorify ,god4 ,or1 those who1 perchance like ,jacob1 have neglected their vows1 who blush to recall them1 let them take this episode to heart1 strive with the aid of that ,god who called ,jacob's vow to remembrance to fulfill their engagements2 following the patriarch1 may they say3 ,let us go up to ,bethel1 that means1 to the house of ,god4 ,the ,lord grant you ,christian courage and determination6 ,amen4 ,,easter4 ,marvel not at this1 for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear ,his voice1 and shall come forth2 they that have done good unto the resurrection of life2 and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation4--,john #e1 #bh4 #bi4 ,earth to earth1 ashes to ashes1 dust to dust1 in hope of the resurrection to eternal life1 through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,these solemn words1 pronounced at the most solemn time1 at the close of man's earthly career1 are familiar words1 and each ,lord's day do we confess in words equally as familiar3 ,i believe in the resurrection of the body4 ,in that committal and confession we say much4 ,we voice a belief that is peculiarly1 distinctively ,christian4 ,natural reason1 assisted by some light lingering in tradition and borrowed from the ,jews1 was able to spell out the immortality of the soul2 but that the body should rise again1 that there should be another life for this corporeal frame1 was a hope which has been brought to light by revelation only4 ,when natural man hears the doctrine the first time1 the mere natural mind marvels4 ,the next thing it does1 as the philosophers at ,athens1 when ,paul preached it unto them1--it mocks4 ,can these dry bones live8 is still the unbeliever's sneer4 ,the doctrine of the resurrection is a lamp kindled by a hand which once was pierced4 ,it is linked with the resurrection of our blessed ,lord1 and is one of the brightest gems in ,his crown4 ,throughout the writings of the holy apostles do we find them giving great prominence to this truth4 ,the ,apostle ,paul1 as he describes the ,gospel by which true believers are saved1 says3 ,i deliver unto you first of all that which ,i received1--how that ,christ died for our sins according to the ,scriptures1 and that ,he was buried1 and that ,he rose again the third day1 according to the ,scriptures1 and argues that1 if ,christ be not raised1 both your faith and our preaching are in vain4 ,in the early ,church the doctrine of the resurrection was the main battle-ax and weapon of war4 ,wherever the first missionaries went1 they made this prominent that the dead would rise again to be judged by the ,man ,christ1 according to the ,gospel4 ,it is1 indeed1 the keystone of the ,christian arch4 ,let us1 then1 to the honor of ,christ ,jesus1 the ,risen ,one1 regard this article of our faith so prominent in the ,easter thought of man1 observing ,i4 ,the certainty of the resurrection1 ,,ii4 its results4 ,the hour is coming1 saith the ,savior4 ,those words spoken by the ,mouth of ,truth express certainty4 ,there are some events which may or may not be4 ,kingdoms and the great powers of the earth may stand or they may fall1 their throne broken into dust and their might wither like autumn leaves4 ,events which we suppose inevitable may never come to pass1 another wheel in the machinery of ,providence may make things revolve in quite another fashion from what our puny wisdom would foretell4 ,there is nothing certain on this earth1 in fact1 but uncertainty4 ,but the resurrection is certain1 whatever else may be contingent or doubtful4 ,the hour cometh1 it surely cometh4 ,in the divine decree it has been so unchangeably fixed4 ,the hour1 saith ,christ4 ,i suppose ,he calls it an hour to intimate how very near it is in ,his esteem1 since we do not begin to look at an exact hour of an event when it is extremely remote4 ,an event which will not occur for hundreds of years is at first looked for and noted by the year1 and only when we are reasonably near it1 do men talk of the day of the month1 and we are coming very near it when we look for the precise hour4 ,christ intimates to us that1 whether we think so or not1 in ,god's thoughts the day of resurrection is very near4 ,he would have us think ,god's thought about it1 not reckon any time too distantly and the event far away4 ,this1 too1 is practical wisdom1 to bring close up to us that which is inevitable1 and to act towards it after a manner as though it were but to-morrow when the trumpet might sound4 ,and most significantly does our ,lord speak of that hour4 ,he calls it the hour4 ,we read of hours that have been big with the fate of nations2 hours in which the welfare of millions trembled in the balances2 hours in which the die was cast for peace or for war2 hours that have been called crises in history4 ,but here is the culminating crisis of all1 the master1 the royal1 the august hour that is coming4 ,every second1 every swing of the pendulum1 every beat of the heart of time is bringing it nearer2 silently1 surely1 we are drifting along the river of time to the ocean of eternity1 and there is nothing to stop the constant flight4 ,we pass on4 ,marvel not at this2 for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear ,his voice4 ,all that are in the graves1--by this term is meant1 not only all whose bodies are actually in the grave at this time1 but all who ever were buried1 though their bones may have mingled with the elements1 been scattered by the winds1 dissolved in the waves1 or merged into vegetable forms1 all who have lived and have died--all these4 ,all6 ,what a numberless number6 ,think of the inhabitants of this world at the time of the flood1 more numerous then than now when men's numbers are so terribly thinned out by death6 ,think from the time of the flood onward1 of ,adam's vast offspring6 ,nineveh1 ,babylon1 and ,chaldea1 and ,persia1 and ,greece1 and ,rome were enormous empires of antiquity4 ,the ,parthians and ,scythians1 and ,tartars1 and ,goths1 and ,huns in the ,middle ,ages1 what teeming hives of humanity2 and our present communities and nations1 what a numberless band6 ,think of ,ethiopia and the whole continent of ,africa2 remember ,india and ,japan and the land of the setting sun2 in all lands great tribes of men have come and have gone to rest in their sepulchers4 ,what millions upon millions lie buried in ,china this day1 a country of #djj millions4 ,what innumerable hosts are slumbering in the land of the pyramids1 embalmed in ,egypt of old4 ,and every one1 all who have ever lived of woman born1--not one shall be left in the tomb4 ,all1--all the righteous and the wicked2 all that were engulfed in the sea2 all that slumber in the lap of the earth2 all the great and the humble1 all the children of luxury and the sons of toil2 all the wise and all the foolish2 all the beloved and the despised4 ,there shall not be one single individual omitted1 nor you1 my dear hearer4 ,as surely as you sit here this morning1 so surely shall you stand before the ,son of ,man4 ,you shall not be forgotten2 your departed spirit shall have its appointed place1 and your body1 which once contained it1 shall have its place1 till1 by the power of ,god1 it shall be restored to your spirit again at the sounding of the last trumpet4 ,it is a wondrous truth1 and yet1 as the ,savior directs1 marvel not at this1 so as to doubt it1 though you may marvel at it and adore the ,lord1 who shall bring it to pass4 ,and so it continues3 ,all that are in the graves shall hear ,his voice4 ,yes1 that ear that was buried a thousand years ago1 and of which there was not the slightest relic left1 that ear so long lost in silence1 it shall hear--hear the almighty voice of that ,god who made man's ear at the beginning1 who makes the ear of the newborn babe now1 and is able1 according to the working whereby ,he is able to do all things1 to renew and refashion the ear1 and hearing it shall start up1 as the next words say1 shall come forth4 ,it is not in the power of man's speech or imagination to conceive what a spectacle it shall be when1 as the heavens are passing with a great noise1 and the elements are burning with furnace heat1 the angels are sounding the arrival of the great day of ,judgment1 we shall see the multitudes in the valleys of the dead rising up from land and sea1 from mountain top and deep ravines1 swarming up a great and countless number before the bar of their ,judge4 ,ah1 what a sight it will be6 ,what a wonder6 ,and how will they look8 you may naturally inquire4 ,in answer ,i would say on the basis of ,god's ,word3 ,like themselves4 ,to each one will be given his own body4 ,our resurrected body1 whatever it may exactly be and however different and superior it will undoubtedly be to our present body1 will yet in some way be identical with our present body1 and it will so far retain the appearance and individuality of our present body that in that future resurrected body we shall easily be recognized by those who knew us1 and will be known as the same distinct personalities which we are now known to be in our present body4 ,though after my skin worms destroy this body1 yet in my flesh shall ,i see ,god4 ,we pass on to weigh the results4 ,the text goes on to say3 ,and shall come forth1 they that have done good unto the resurrection of life1 and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation4 ,from this we gather that the whole family will be divided as it is even now1 indeed1 into two1 and only two1 classes of characters3 ,they that have done good1 and they that have done evil4 ,who are those who have done good8 ,by nature no one is good4 ,we are all sinners4 ,there is none righteous1 no1 not one4 ,the best of us are unprofitable servants4 ,we can only be good in our way1 and that is by having the goodness of another1 the goodness of ,christ set down to our account4 ,then1 when we are thus joined to ,christ by faith in ,him1 we shall1 from principle1 strive to do good4 ,good1 my beloved1 is a word that may be measured according to those who use it4 ,the evil man1 the unpardoned sinner1 may do good in his sense and the sense of the world1--good to you1 to his child1 his wife1 his friend1 but he has no care for ,god1 no reverence1 no esteem for the great ,lawgiver4 ,therefore1 that which may be good to you may be ill to ,god1 because done for no right motive1 even perhaps done with a wrong motive4 ,it depends upon what position ,i occupy towards my ,god and ,christ that determines on the ,day of ,resurrection1 and that position is either for or against ,him2 there is no middle1 mixed1 or mingled character4 ,i am either a pardoned sinner or an unpardoned sinner1 and my destiny will be accordingly4 ,and what will that destiny be8 ,either life or damnation4 ,life does not mean here mere existence2 for both will exist1 and exist forever1 the evil and the good4 ,but life means happiness1 joy1 rapture1 bliss2 in fact1 it is a term so comprehensive that it needs no small time to express all that it means4 ,as for the other1 theirs shall be a resurrection to damnation2 their bodies and souls will come under the condemnation of ,god1--to use our ,savior's word1 shall be damned4 ,we are shocked at the very sound of the word4 ,we may well be so2 we should be ten thousand-fold more shocked1 if we really knew what the word fully means4 ,it is vain for us to describe it1 and we are loath to describe it4 ,it were better for such that they had never been born1 never awakened4 ,from so terrible a portion1 from ,thy wrath and from evil damnation1 good ,lord1 deliver us6 ,we have thus seen1 first1 the certainty of resurrection1 and secondly1 the results4 ,it remains1 in conclusion1 to draw one or two lessons from the text4 ,the first is a lesson of consolation4 ,we are frequently called upon to stand beside opened graves2 some of you have stood there lately4 ,what comfort for our wounded spirits is such meditation3 to never mourn with regard to the souls of the righteous because they are forever with the ,lord4 ,the only mourning that we permit among ,christians concerns the body1 and here ,god's ,word offers us the assurance3 ,weep not as though you had cast your treasure into the sea1 where you will never find it again4 ,you have only laid it by in a casket1 whence you shall receive it again brighter and more beautiful than before4 ,thou shalt look again with thine own eyes into those eyes which have spoken love to thee so often4 ,thy child shall see thee again4 ,that departed friend and father and mother1 having loved his ,lord as thou dost1 shall once rejoice with thee in the land where they die no more4 ,it is but a short parting2 it will be an eternal meeting4 ,forever with the ,lord1 we shall also be forever with each other4 ,let us comfort one another1 says the apostle1 with these words4 ,the other lesson is that of self-examination4 ,if we are to rise1 some to rewards and some to punishments1 what--let each conscience ask--what shall be my position8 ,where shall ,i stand8 ,that depends upon what your life and your life's principles have been4 ,what has it been8 ,to amass wealth8 ,to procure honor8 ,to provide for your family8 ,if so1 it has been deficient4 ,life's object and duty is to prepare for life1 for the resurrection unto life4 ,and to prepare for that1 you must undergo a resurrection right now4 ,there is as great a difference between men now as there will be hereafter4 ,at present we have all living bodies1 but in those living bodies1 what is the state of the soul8 ,there are in some living bodies living souls4 ,there are in other living bodies souls that are dead4 ,and that dead soul must be resurrected to life1 or salvation is out of question2 and that resurrection must take place now2 it is too late hereafter4 ,it takes place when you now give heed to that same divine voice that shall start the dead into life1 the voice of ,christ ,jesus in ,his ,gospel and ,church4 ,he that believeth on ,him hath life1 and shall not come into condemnation1 but is passed from death unto life4 ,easter calls for a rising up to spiritual life now1 that it may be a resurrection unto eternal life1 when all the dead shall come forth from the grave at the voice of ,him who this day so gloriously arose from the tomb4 ,may we be partakers of both6 ,amen4 ,,first ,,sunday ,,after ,,easter4 ,but when the morning was now come1 ,jesus stood on the shore2 but the disciples knew not that it was ,jesus4--,john #ba1 #d4 ,the last chapter of the ,gospel of ,st4 ,john takes us back to some of the scenes and circumstances of ,christ after ,his resurrection4 ,the immediate text portrays to us how seven men come slowly and thoughtfully down to the narrow beach1 enter a boat1 and push out a little way from the land4 ,they are clad in the coarse garb of ,galilean fishermen4 ,their faces are bronzed by exposure to the wind and the sun2 their hands calloused from dragging the dripping net and pulling the laboring oar4 ,but they are men destined to hold the highest mark among the great teachers of mankind4 ,foremost among them is ,simon ,peter1 fiery soul1 as ready to smite with the sword as to weep in sorrow at a look from his ,lord4 ,after him follows ,john1 the gentle and loving1 who leaned on ,his ,master's bosom at the ,passover4 ,then comes ,thomas1 the slow and distrustful1 so honest in his doubts and so yielding in his confession4 ,then ,james1 who was the first to seal his faith with the blood of martyrdom4 ,lastly ,nathanael is mentioned1 the upright and guileless1 whilst the names of two are withheld4 ,says ,simon ,peter to this number3 ,i go a-fishing4 ,the rest join in1 and soon the crew sets sail for the higher waters1 but with no success4 ,the long hours pass in fruitless toil2 day creeps into evening1 evening into night1 night into morning1 and still they cast and cast1 and catch nothing4 ,at earliest dawn a figure appears on the beach1 and a voice is heard speaking to them4 ,the text tells who it was4 ,for some reason1 as our text states1 they do not distinguish ,him4 ,perhaps it is because they are not expecting ,him1 and it is still morning twilight1 and they cannot see distinctly1 or1 what is more probable1 because some change has come over ,his risen body like that which on ,resurrection ,sunday had prevented ,mary ,magdalene and the two disciples journeying to ,emmaus from readily recognizing ,him4 ,taking ,him1 quite probably1 to be a fish-dealer1 one of those who daily came out at dawn from the town to meet the boats and make their purchase1 they hear a voice coming to them from the dim shore1 saluting them1--to translate the question into our ,english idiomatic equivalent1 ,boys1 what luck8 ,none1 answer the weary fishermen4 ,again the voice sings out to them1 ,cast4 ,no sooner done than their net was filled with fishes4 ,and then at once1 by a spiritual instinct1 rather than by the vision of his eyes1 ,john knew who this stranger was1 and said to the rest1 ,it is the ,lord4 ,whereupon1 ,when ,simon ,peter heard that it was the ,lord1 he girt his fisher's coat unto him1 7for he was naked17 and did cast himself into the sea4 ,it is this beautiful incident that we shall regard in a few phases1 in accordance with this season and practical life4 ,in the first place1 let us note that the resurrected ,lord revealed ,himself1 and still reveals ,himself to us in the midst of our daily work4 ,the ,lord came to these men while occupied with the toils and duties of their trade4 ,many are the instances in which it has pleased ,god to show ,his special favor to persons while earnestly occupied with their ordinary callings4 ,david was summoned from the care of his father's flock to be ,israel's king4 ,elisha was following the plow when called to be ,elijah's successor4 ,it was to faithful shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night that the angel choirs were sent to announce the birth of the ,prince of ,peace1 and here1 while the disciples were busily engaged in their familiar toils1 it was that ,jesus came and manifested ,himself to them4 ,was there not something very instructive in this appearance at such a time8 ,it showed that ,jesus ratified their decision to be up and doing4 ,it showed that ,he was present with them in the midst of all their work4 ,it showed1 too1 that upon ,his presence depended entirely the success of their labors1 for before ,his arrival they had caught nothing2 their nets were only filled with seaweeds4 ,it was through ,his direction and through ,his direction alone1 that their nets at last were filled with fish4 ,what a lesson this for all faithful toilers1 whether on sea or on shore1 the lesson that ,jesus is with us in our daily tasks1 whatever these tasks may be4 ,we know that ,jesus ,himself once stood in the ranks of the world's toil4 ,many a day1 for many a year1 ,he wrought in the sweat of ,his brow in the carpenter shop at ,nazareth4 ,he thus stamped with the approval of ,his own example the work of every toiler1 and showed the high dignity that belongs to all honest labor4 ,by this manifestation of the risen ,jesus to those fishermen of ,galilee ,he sanctified and glorified the work of ,his children4 ,like that dim figure on the shore of the ,sea of ,tiberias1 ,jesus stands over against us1 watching us with eyes of sympathy1 and waiting to bless us with ,his counsel and help4 ,he has not changed4 ,he is the same yesterday1 to-day1 and forever4 ,let us not forget this glorious truth as we bend over our desks1 or machines1 stand behind sale counters1 or move in household duties2 the thought3 ,jesus is looking on1 will shed its hallowed light upon the common task1 as it is styled1 fill us with courage and cheerfulness1 though our own work be irksome and hard1 and enable us to do it faithfully1 to quote the words of the apostle1 not with eye-service as men-pleasers1 but in singleness of heart1 as unto the ,lord1 who looketh on4 ,again1 we note1 ,jesus revealed ,himself to ,his disciples on this occasion1 not only in the midst of their daily work1 but in the hour of their failure and disappointment4 ,they had gone forth to catch fish2 but they had caught nothing4 ,they were wet and cold1 weary and hungry4 ,and it was to these tired and disappointed men that the ,lord appeared4 ,he filled their nets with fish2 ,he filled their hearts with the joy of ,his presence1 nor did ,he forget their bodily comfort and needs1 ,he kindled a fire upon the shore1 and provided for them a welcome meal of fish and bread4 ,and ,christ's methods1 my beloved1 have not altered with the years4 ,that scene on ,lake ,gennesaret is an allegory with a deep meaning for ourselves4 ,it reminds us that our schemes and plans and endeavors1 toil however hard we may1 not infrequently meet with disappointment4 ,we have perhaps all of us experienced what the poet says3 ,oh6 it is hard to work for ,god1 ,to rise and take ,his part2 ,upon this battle-field of earth1 ,and not sometimes lose heart4 ,he hides ,himself so wondrously ,as though there were no ,god1 ,he is least seen when all the powers ,of ill are most abroad4 ,or1 ,he deserts us at the hour2 ,the light is all but lost1 ,and seems to leave us to ourselves ,just when we need ,him most4 ,and yet1 to speak with the text1 though we may recognize ,him not1 ,he is tenderly watching us from the shore4 ,he has long since passed over to ,his glory4 ,but while ,his disciples are yet on these waters1 ,he keeps ,himself near the margin1 and looks down upon them in their toil4 ,his great heart is with us all in our disappointments1 difficulties1 and disheartening endeavors1 and in some way1 at the right time1 ,he will come1 just as yonder on the ,sea of ,galilee1 to help us4 ,let us believe that1 and go ahead with our present duties1 steadily1 bravely1 hopefully4 ,hopefully1 ,i repeat2 there is all the difference in the world between working with hope and without it4 ,the sailor on the raft sinks into despair as long as there is no vessel in sight1 but let a ship appear on the far horizon1 and immediately he is alert1 and seeks by every means in his power to attract the attention of those on board1 if1 haply1 he may be saved4 ,in the same way1 if we lose the hope of ,christ's help1 we shall give up and break down4 ,let us hold on1 no matter what we are required to contend against in the battle of life1 in the ,lord's cause1 and rest assured that at length ,christ will come to us with such strength and supply as will abundantly compensate us for the toil and worry4 ,let us believe that1 or we shall fail in our undertakings4 ,nor only1 to follow our text1 in the midst of work and disappointment1 but in the time of spiritual doubt and difficulty does ,jesus reveal ,himself4 ,in those days the hearts of the disciples were burdened with many regrets and uncertainties and fears4 ,in that stern of that very boat perchance their ,master had often reclined1 upon those same waters1 and as they sat throughout those long and weary hours with the sails idly flapping1 or plying the long1 heavy oars1 the waves splashing against the side of the boat1 how these various sights and sounds must have reminded them irresistibly of ,one who used to be beside them constantly1 and of the vanished happiness when they had been ,his pupils and ,his friends4 ,that life of close companionship was ended now4 ,their beloved ,master had been taken from them by wicked hands and crucified and slain4 ,and1 though since ,he had already appeared to them after ,his resurrection1 and assured them of ,his living presence and power1 yet ,he had appeared only to vanish away1 and they did not know exactly how they were to think of ,jesus1 or what ,he would have them do4 ,they were in a state of spiritual doubt and uncertainty1 full of regrets for the vanished past1 and with no clear outlook for the years to come4 ,jesus appears to them on this morning4 ,they learn more fully who ,he was1 and also what ,he would have them do4 ,immediately following this description is the interview ,he had with ,peter1 three times directing him1 ,feed my lambs1 feed my sheep4 ,he was teaching them all the while a valuable lesson4 ,up to this time they had been in visible companionship with the ,lord2 ,he was now educating them into the thought that1 though ,his visible form should be withdrawn1 ,his personal presence would be with them still4 ,in short1 ,he was preparing them to believe the great truth1 on which the very existence of the ,christian ,church depends1 and which ,he announced to them in the words of ,his parting promise3 ,lo1 ,i am with you alway1 even unto the ends of the world4 ,it is quite similar with believers now4 ,our faith is often sorely tried1 we are tossed about with many a conflict1 many a doubt4 ,we need those things2 the ,lord is thereby educating us1 teaching us some lesson or lessons1 so that our faith may become stronger1 purer1 and better4 ,doubt1 one has said who lived long ago1 doubt is the daughter of the devil4 ,there is that kind of a doubt which is the sign of an enlarging faith4 ,of that sort was ,thomas4 ,how gloriously it was removed1 and he the better for it6 ,so with these men here1 and so with us4 ,not seldom do we find a soul must be tossed all night upon a dark1 tempestuous sea of doubt and misgiving before ,jesus comes with the morning light to speak ,his word of peace1 and to make all things plain4 ,this leads to the last thought1 viz41 that ,jesus reveals ,himself to the eyes of those who love ,him4 ,we must not think that work1 or disappointment1 or religious doubt1 in themselves1 insure the vision of the ,lord4 ,on the contrary1 it may be these things precisely that veil ,him from our sight4 ,sometimes a man's work so absorbs his heart that he has no thoughts left for spiritual things4 ,and sometimes worldly disappointments only make a man hard1 bitter1 and cynical1 while spiritual doubt drives him into sheer unbelief and black despair4 ,a certain condition of heart is needful in order that these things become blessings1 the occasion of fresh revelations of the ,lord4 ,this narrative suggests which it is4 ,it was ,john who saw ,jesus first in the figure that stood on the shore1 and ,john1 as we know1 was the disciple who loved ,jesus most and best1 and there was a real connection between these two facts4 ,it was the love of ,john's heart1 rather than the sharpness of his eyes1 that enabled him to say1 ,it is the ,lord2 for love detects the loved one afar off1 and where others see only the indistinguishable figure of a man1 it cries3 ,nay1 it is he himself4 ,and love1 my beloved1 is still and always a great condition of spiritual knowledge4 ,he that loveth me1 said ,jesus1 shall be loved of my ,father1 and ,i will love ,him and will manifest ,myself to him4 ,often1 like those fishermen of ,galilee1 we have to face life's duties and burdens with a dull and heavy heart2 if there is love to ,christ1 ,he will appear to our faith1 if not to our sight1 filling our hearts with the joy of ,his presence and compelling us to say in wonder and delight3 ,it is the ,lord4 ,god grant that we may know ,him in this life1 so that when the morning of eternity dawns upon us1 we may see ,christ standing on the shore of heaven and hear ,his words of welcome4 ,amen4 ,,second ,,sunday ,,after ,,easter4 ,so when they had dined1 ,jesus saith to ,simon ,peter1 ,simon1 son of ,jonas1 lovest thou me more than these8 ,he saith unto ,him1 ,yea1 ,lord1 ,thou knowest that ,i love ,thee4 ,he saith unto him1 ,feed my lambs4 ,he saith to him the second time1 ,simon1 son of ,jonas1 lovest thou me8 ,he saith unto ,him1 ,yea1 ,lord1 ,thou knowest that ,i love ,thee4 ,he saith unto him1 ,feed my sheep4 ,he saith unto him the third time1 ,simon1 son of ,jonas1 lovest thou me8 ,peter was grieved because ,he said unto him the third time1 ,lovest thou me8 ,and he said unto ,him1 ,lord1 ,thou knowest all things2 ,thou knowest that ,i love ,thee4 ,jesus saith unto him1 ,feed my sheep4--,john #ba1 #ae-ag4 ,it was on the shore of the ,sea of ,galilee4 ,the first pale shafts of the rising sun were shooting across the eastern sky1 revealing seven fishermen out upon the water in a little boat4 ,all night they had been toiling1 rowing and letting down their nets1 but nothing had they caught4 ,disheartened by their fruitless toil1 they were just about to give up further attempt when a once familiar form is seen standing upon the beach1 and they hear a voice telling them to cast the net on the right side of the ship4 ,they heed the direction1 and the success which follows--a draught of one hundred and fifty-three fishes--confirms them in their belief that it was their risen ,master who had given the command4 ,thereupon they drag the boats to shore1 and find a fire of coals1 and fish laid thereon and bread1 whilst ,he whom all know to be the ,lord1 but whom none from holy awe dares ask1 ,who art ,thou8 bids them1 ,come and eat4 ,it is here that our text sets in--one of the most pathetic incidents in sacred story4 ,to understand it properly1 we go back in spirit to that scene in the high priest's palace when ,peter1 the bold and courageous1 whose impulsiveness had caused him to promise great things1 had shamefully and cowardly denied his ,master in the hour of distress4 ,thrice had he averred that he knew not the man of whom they spoke1 and aggravated his offense by denunciations and an oath4 ,it was a grievous1 a most terrible fall for the apostle1 one that virtually excluded him from the circle of his fellow-disciples and from his holy office2 and whilst it is true that he had wept in sorrowing repentance when the eye of his ,master had met his insignificant look1 yet the occurrence was such as to demand a personal heart-to-heart interview and setting aright4 ,this interview took place on the shores of the ,sea of ,galilee1 after the miraculous draught of fish4 ,everything tended to prepare the apostle for the holy scene4 ,it was just three years before1 at the same sea1 after a similar miracle1 that the ,lord had established him in his ministerial office4 ,the early hour reminded him of the morning watch1 that fire of coals answered to that fire of coals in the palace of ,caiaphas1--all of this must have touched ,peter's heart to the quick1 made him exquisitively sensitive to the scene that followed4 ,the particulars of that scene we shall now ponder1 regarding1 ,i4 ,the examination1 ,,ii4 the charge4 ,when they had finished their meal1 ,jesus said to ,simon ,peter1 ,simon1 son of ,jonas1 lovest thou me8 ,each designation is touchingly significant4 ,simon1 son of ,jonas4 ,why not ,peter1 the name ,he had ,himself once bestowed8 ,because he had proved himself anything but a ,peter1 a rock man4 ,it was not as ,peter1 as a rock1 but as ,simon1 son of flesh and blood1 that he had acted in denying his ,lord4 ,simon1 son of ,jonas1 lovest thou me8 ,remembering what had occurred1 how divine1 how unspeakably tender a word6 ,lovest thou me8 even ,him whom thou didst say and confirm with an oath1 ,i know not the man1 and more than these1 as thou didst boastfully claim3 ,although all should be offended because of ,thee1 yet will ,i never be offended4 ,truly1 a rigid examination if accompanied by the same look that once brought tears to his eyes1 calculated to cut down deep into his innermost soul4 ,moreover1 the ,lord repeats the inquiry three times1 evidently as a reminder of the thrice shameful denial4 ,and what does the disciple reply8 ,sad almost unto death1 he would prefer to turn aside and give vent to his feelings in silent tears4 ,but the ,lord has put a question to him1 and speak he must1 and so he responds with great tact and deep emotion1 ,yea1 ,lord1 ,thou knowest that ,i love ,thee4 ,and the last time1 with additional force1 ,lord1 ,thou knowest all things2 ,thou knowest that ,i love ,thee1 as though he said3 ,others may misjudge me1 these brethren and apostles1 those servants in the high priest's palace1 but ,thou1 ,lord1 the ,omniscient1 knowest that ,i love ,thee4 ,and we may believe that it was so4 ,on the day of ,pentecost1 when boldly confessing his ,master in the face of thousands1 until the day when1 pinned to the cross in ,rome1 he at last made good his promise1 ,though ,i should die with ,thee1 yet will ,i not deny ,thee1--in all this we have the evidence of that love thrice avowed4 ,and has that original scene on the shore of the ,sea of ,galilee and that question no concern and no application whatever for us8 ,no superfluous or unprofitable inquiry1 my dear hearers4 ,if the ,lord were to appear personally in our midst this morning1 look straight into your eyes1 and1 addressing you by your name1 say1 as ,he did to ,simon1 son of ,jonas3 ,lovest thou me8 could you answer as promptly1 as heartily as the ,apostle did1 ,yea1 ,lord1 ,thou knowest that ,i love ,thee8 ,or are there no tests by which to find out8 ,it was written by a pious man1 but it is poor1 unchristian theology3 ',tis a point ,i long to know1 ,oft it causes anxious thought1 ,do ,i love the ,lord or no8 ,am ,i ,his1 or am ,i not8 ,we need only settle down to a faithful and impartial scrutiny with ourselves to find out1 ,lovest thou me more than these8 ,what these8 ,love1 according to its object1 has been variously classified4 ,there is social affection1 or love of friends4 ,in spite of much that has been said about the fickleness of friends and friendships1 there is no darker lot and no gloomier epitaph could be inscribed upon the monument of any man than that3 ,he lived and died without a friend4 ,history gives us many noble testimonies of its strength and beauty4 ,we think of the ,bible account of ,david and ,jonathan4 ,again1 more beautiful and binding is the affection which subsists in the family circle4 ,the bond that ties together husband and wife1 that unites together brothers and sisters1 brought up around the same domestic hearths1 sharing in common joys and sorrows1 how strong and enduring it ought to be1 and especially that which exists between parents and the child4 ,the recollection of a noble parent1 of a devoted mother1 time nor place nor change can ever uproot the affection from the heart4 ,but1 asks the voice of our text3 ,lovest thou me more than these8 ,there is ,one toward whom we sustain a still nearer and holier relation1 ,one whose care surpasses that of an earthly parent1 and whose love is more deep and sublime and unfailing than a mother's1 even ,he who has created you1 redeemed you1 and who crowns not only your life1 but your whole eternity with ,his goodness4 ,it matters not what1 and hence you may embrace in that riches1 honor1 property1 possessions1 fame and name1 or even self1--there is ,one who requires that all these should be held in subordination to a still higher1 all-sustaining affection4 ,lovest thou me--is the question1 more than these1 and where is the evidence8 ,if you love a person1 you will delight in the fellowship and company of that person4 ,love finds its greatest happiness in the presence of the beloved4 ,the thought of a long absence is painful1 or hopeless separation1 intolerable4 ,it is so with ,him who asks ,lovest thou me8 ,every opportunity of communion with ,him the believer values as a privilege4 ,the ,word in which ,he speaks to him1 the place in which ,he meets with him1 the table which ,he spreads for him1 these are his greatest delight1 his favorite and fondest resort4 ,again1 if you love some one1 you will constantly aim to please that person4 ,you will be considerate of his feelings1 you will refrain from any conduct that might be displeasing1 and strive in every possible way to be of service and help to his interests4 ,it is none else with ,christ4 ,consideration for ,him and obedience to ,him1 and that as a pleasure and privilege1 is a criterion of our love to ,him2 and this alone you will find where there is true attachment4 ,the maiden that loves will think nothing of leaving a pleasant home to cast her lot with the man of her devotion4 ,the mother will spend herself1 unselfishly sacrifice her comfort1 strength1 and even life itself1 for the objects of her affection1 and this rule applies to the ,christian sphere4--,no man ever possessed true love for ,christ who was not willing to lay down in sacrifice what he cherished highly4 ,here1 then1 are a few criterions1 and now1 with all sincerity1 repeat the question once more1 ,lovest thou me8 ,lovest thou my ,word1 my house1 my sacraments8 ,is my service thy delight8 ,what sacrifice art thou bringing8 ,shall the ,savior say unto thee as ,delilah said unto ,samson3 ,how canst thou say1 ,i love thee1 when thy heart is not with me8 ,or are you able to say with the ,apostle1 ,lord1 ,thou knowest that ,i love ,thee8 ,may we all be brought to love and adore1 with our whole1 undivided heart1 ,him who loved us and gave ,himself for us1 and who is the ,model and ,source of all pure and ennobling lives4 ,but there is yet another consideration for us to weigh in the text4 ,peter1 making threefold confession of ,his attachment1 is three times1 after each answer1 commanded1 ,feed my lambs1 ,feed my sheep4 ,a desperate cause1 in this passage as in a few others1 wants to find a proof of ,peter's supremacy4 ,there is a certain pontiff who wears a triple crown--the tiara--upon his head1 styles himself ,peter's successor1 and seals his briefs and documents with the ,fisherman's ,ring1 and he affects to rule all ,christendom in virtue of the right conferred on that ,apostle by ,christ4 ,but in vain do we seek the scripture for any such reference1 and surely no such sense is implied here4 ,that scene on the shores of the ,sea of ,galilee can by no means be interpreted to mean that ,peter was being exalted above his fellow-apostles4 ,neither could we regard it as a reproof and abasement4 ,none other had so sorrowfully forfeited his charge as ,peter had1 and it was not necessary to reinstate them4 ,where1 then1 is the exaltation8 ,nor is there any such a sense implied in the words themselves4 ,feed my lambs1 is ,christ's direction4 ,romanism1 you will observe1 exalts the ruling2 you can see that in such words as pope1 cardinal1 primate1 bishop1 prelate1 diocesan1 throne1 and so forth4 ,protestantism emphasizes the feeding4 ,protestantism makes much of preaching1 ,rome but little4 ,rome exalts the clergy1 ,protestantism gives prominence to the congregation4 ,it is easy enough to decree and lord it over1 it is not so easy to feed4 ,and food is what a flock explicitly needs4 ,it can live without edicts1 it cannot live without food4 ,observe1 also1 the pronoun my sheep4 ,the flock was not ,peter's1 it was the flock of ,peter's ,lord4 ,the flock does not belong to the under-shepherd2 it belongs to the chief shepherd4 ,and did not ,peter himself--and that is one reason why his letters are never read in the ,romish ,church--very strongly denounce the very things which it is asserted that ,christ had invested him with3 lordship over the ,church1 a separate hierarchical priesthood1 and refuse such honors as are freely given to his successor8 ,as ,luther has well said3 ,popery never drew its doctrine from the ,bible1 but uses it as a means to thrust upon the world an audacious system which has its origin somewhere else4 ,nor can we leave entirely unnoticed the difference the ,lord makes between ,his people1--,feed my lambs1 and again1 ,feed my sheep4 ,some of ,christ's flock are lambs1 lambs in years4 ,perhaps there are more lambs than sheep1 more true members of ,christ in the nursery and in the ,sunday-school and in the ,christian day-school than in the assembly of the adults1 and these we are to feed1 and it becomes those who are invested with the sacred office1 and those who are supporting the sacred office1 to dispense to them wholesome and health-sustaining spiritual food4 ,our responsibilities in this respect are great1 and all the greater because the more secular knowledge would crowd out religious1 the many things that are now regarded needful1 and set aside the one thing needful4 ,feed my lambs1 and1 ,feed my sheep1 says the ,chief ,shepherd4 ,see that they get the proper food and get it in proper proportion4 ,and ,my sheep2 we are not always to remain lambs4 ,christian life is a growth4 ,first the blade1 then the ear1 and then the full corn in the ear4 ,first babes1 and then we need milk2 afterwards adults1 and then we need meat4 ,alas6 that1 like the writer of the letter to the ,hebrews1 we are sometimes constrained to complain that many of you who ought by this time be teachers1 are yet needing again that one teach them the first rudiments of the oracles of ,god1 having become such as have need of milk and not of solid food4 ,this was a crisis in ,peter's life4 ,hitherto he had been tended as a sheep1 henceforth he was to tend as a shepherd4 ,having been converted1 that is to say1 having been turned again to his ,master1 he is henceforth to strengthen his brethren4 ,what hinders us from doing likewise1 pastors and teachers1 educating1 tending1 and feeding the flock of ,god8 ,this is the privilege of the laity1 not less than of the ministry4 ,when the laity really do their work1 they1 too1 are really a ministry1 true shepherds4 ,but let us evermore keep in mind--which was the first part of our sermon--that the essential qualification1 the principle of such service1 as it is the only thing that will render your work delightful and carry you through all difficulties1 is love to ,christ1 ,lovest thou me more than these8--,feed my sheep4 ,amen4 ,,third ,,sunday ,,after ,,easter4 ,neither do men1 light a candle1 and put it under a bushel1 but on a candlestick2 and it giveth light unto all that are in the house4 ,let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works1 and glorify your ,father which is in heaven4--,matt4 #e1 #ae4 #af4 ,the religion of ,jesus ,christ is the religion of everyday life4 ,he touched the common things1 and1 like a magic wand1 they changed into the finest gold4 ,he went into the kitchen for a text1 and transfigured the meal1 the dough in the bread wrought into a parable of ,god's working grace4 ,he went into the garden or the woods1 and found a lesson in the springing seed and the flowers which carpeted the ground4 ,consider the lilies1 ,he said in ,his ,sermon on the ,mount4 ,he went on board the fishing boat1 and the nets become a picture of the kingdom of heaven4 ,here1 in this immediate verse1 our ,lord steps into an ,eastern or ,oriental house for a text and speaks under the illustration of an article which is to be found in every home1 of a candle1 or rather1 a lamp4 ,the ,apostle ,peter1 who was present at the original preaching1 must have carefully noted the comparison1 for he speaks in to-day's ,epistle-lesson in nearly the same language as ,his ,master when he admonishes his hearers to let people see their good works and thus glorify ,god4 ,may we do likewise as we shall now regard1 under ,god's blessing1 the ,christian's duty to let his light shine before men1 observing1 ,i4 ,how this is done2 ,,ii4 why it ought to be done4 ,be it noted1 my beloved1 at the outset1 that man1 in and of himself1 is not a light2 he is darkness4 ,says the ,apostle1 writing to the ,ephesians1 ,ye were sometimes darkness1 but now are ye a light in the ,lord4 ,how did they get light8 ,not by worldly science and learning4 ,many are very learned and literate1 and yet their souls are enwrapped in thick darkness and without hope in the world4 ,and there are those who are illiterate1 incompetent to read and write1 who rejoice in this light as the star of their hope4 ,in the eighth chapter of ,john the ,lord says3 ,i am the ,light of the world2 he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness1 but shall have the light of life4 ,jesus ,christ1 then1 and ,he alone1 is the one true ,light4 ,to have light1 light unto eternal life1 you must seek1 embrace ,him as your ,savior1 your ,righteousness1 the ,propitiation and ,reconciliation for your sins4 ,you must recognize in ,him the wisdom of ,god and the way to ,god4 ,here you have in what sense ,christians are lights1 viz41 by ,jesus ,christ4 ,the sun shines by its own inherent light1 the moon by borrowed light4 ,in itself a dark body the moon shines only because the light of the sun falls upon it and is reflected from it4 ,christ is the ,sun of ,righteousness1 resplendent in ,his own glory1 which ,he had before ever the world was4 ,we have our light from ,christ1 the true ,light1 which lights every man1 says the ,bible1 that cometh into the world4 ,and what dispensation is made of this light8 ,neither do men light a candle1 and put it under a bushel1 but on a candlestick1 and it giveth light unto all that are in the house4 ,a candle or lamp under a bushel would be of no advantage to any one4 ,a light locked up in a cupboard would leave the house in darkness4 ,correspondingly1 we ,christians are meant to be lights that can be seen4 ,a man cannot be a ,christian in secret4 ,it is a delusion if a person thinks he might be a ,christian privately for himself1 that he need not associate with1 join the church1 or make a public confession of his faith4 ,in the days of ,christ many of the chief rulers believed on ,him1 but because of the ,pharisees they did not confess ,him1 lest they should be put out of the synagogues4 ,it is said of them that they loved the praise of men more than the praise of ,god1 and had their reward4 ,we1 my brethren1 as ,christ's people1 must not keep our religion locked up or hidden2 we must not be ashamed of it1 and we must not be selfish about it4 ,if you believe in the truth of the ,gospel2 if you hold the doctrine of the ,church2 if you reverence the ,bible2 if you are given to prayer1--hang out the light1 let others know it1 put that precious lamp where others may share it4 ,what use is there to tell us that such and such a person is a burning and shining light in the religious world1 unless we can see his light shining before men8 ,they are no more helps as guides than a lighthouse whose lantern is gone out2 no one is the better for it4 ,and this light is twofold2 it is a light of warning1 and it is a light of holy example4--,a light of warning4 ,if you look at a great railway station at night1 you will see numbers of lamps1 some showing a red1 some a green1 some a white light4 ,these are all warnings to the many trains leaving or entering the station1 and upon them depends the safety of hundreds of lives4 ,if the signal man fails to show the red light when there is danger1 wholesale destruction follows4 ,dear hearers1 there are times when we are called upon to show the danger signal4 ,if we see a relative or friend deliberately going into danger1 taking a course which means ruin to his character1 ruin to his soul1 what is our duty8 ,are we to say1 ,i am very sorry1 and thus hide our light under a bushel8 ,no1 we must try to stop a brother from destruction2 we must say a word of warning1 kindly1 tactfully1 but firmly2 we must say1 ,for ,god's sake1 stop6 ,if you see an acquaintance imbibing too freely1 frequenting the place at the corner1 show him the danger1 hang out the red light4 ,if you see young people neglecting religious duties1 slinking about after dark in bad company1 going with those who bet and gamble1--let them go8 ,no2 try to turn them on a safe road2 hang out the red light1 the danger signal4 ,i once read of a man who was engaged as a laborer on a railway4 ,one stormy night1 when he returned to his cabin1 he found that a sudden landslide had occurred1 and that part of the track was blocked where the express would pass in a few moments4 ,would he remain quiet and let the accident happen8 ,what could he do to show the danger signal8 ,he had in his cabin an old lantern lighted by a piece of candle1 but that would not show the red light4 ,then1 when the roar of the advancing train was audible in the distance1 he seized a glass flask and with the broken neck cut into the veins of his wrist he let the blood color the lantern1 and the candle shone through it with a dim red light1 and this1 scarcely able to stand1 he held up on high1 just in time to stop the express at the edge of destruction4 ,take that illustration for what it is worth1 just so it impresses you with the importance of showing the red danger signal unto others4 ,and so it is also with the signal light that is clear and white1 the signal of holy example4 ,let that also shine4 ,as we look carefully at our text1 it would seem as if the ,master had two spheres in mind when ,he spoke these words4 ,we are told that when the lamp or candle is put in its proper place and doing its proper work1 it gives light to all in the house4 ,there is nothing like household religion4 ,sometimes professing ,christians are very bright and shining lights in public1 and quite dark in private1 in the home and family circle4 ,the right sort of ,christianity shows a pure1 clear light amid the troubles1 worries1 and anxieties of home4 ,it will not do for the wife to be a shining light in society or at the public meeting1 and at home be fretful and unkind to her husband1 a constant scold and a scare to her children1 perpetually complaining and quarreling4 ,it will not do for men to make brilliant speeches on the blessings and benefits of ,christianity1 if they show no example of it by the fireside4 ,take care of the home light2 let it shine clear there1 if anywhere4 ,but not only there6 ,a lady who was once asked to unite with a society of the church1 no circumstances or other considerations preventing1 declined1 replying that she had a society to look after with which none compared4 ,which is that8 ,that society is my family4 ,there was truth in that2 the family is the chief society4 ,parents are to exercise a ,christian example in the home4 ,christian discipleship1 like charity1 begins there4 ,but it does not end there1 nor is it restricted there4 ,no man liveth unto himself1 neither alone unto his family4 ,he belongs to his country1 to his church1 to the world1 to mankind at large1 and has duties toward them4 ,ye are the light of the world1 is the language of the ,savior4 ,what will men not do to gain followers for a party in politics and otherwise6 ,and in matters of salvation1 ,church1 ,gospel1 eternal life1 we should be timid1 silent1 diffident1 shy1 reluctant to open our mouths and assert our convictions1 stand aside1 and place our convictions under a bushel8 ,surely1 that's not letting the light shine4 ,so much as to the nature and mission of this spiritual light4 ,in conclusion1 a word as to the blessedness that attends it4 ,this blessedness1 in part1 affects ourselves4 ,blessing others1 we are blessed4 ,gaining others1 we gain4 ,i think here1 by way of illustration1 of the two travelers who1 plodding along through snow and bitter cold1 discovered a man lying by the roadside frozen and numbed4 ,said the one1 ,i cannot stay here to attend to this fellow1 ,i must take care of my own life4 ,the other1 like the good ,samaritan of old1 remarked1 ,i cannot pass on without having made some attempt to restore him1 whereupon he set about to rub him with all his might4 ,his efforts were rewarded2 after a little while the unfortunate man opened his eyes1 and1 arising1 went with his rescuer4 ,what surprise was theirs when1 passing along1 they saw the man who had selfishly and heartlessly continued his way1 lying frozen to death4 ,the good ,samaritan1 by his labor of love1 had stirred his blood into intense circulation1 and thereby saved his own life4 ,spiritually it is just that way4 ,seeking to win others for eternal life1 we win eternal life for ourselves4 ,our faith is strengthened1 charity increased1 we are blessed in our deed4 ,and this is the second consideration1--our ,father in heaven is glorified4 ,that is the great thing we must aim at in everything we do in religion4 ,in this center the lives of all our actions must meet4 ,we must not only endeavor to glorify ,god ourselves1 but must do all we can to bring others to glorify ,him4 ,we have considered a grand spiritual truth1 our exalted position and calling4 ,conscious of it1 may we shed forth the beams of illumination for the lightening and the brightening of a dark and gloomy world1 receiving supply from the true and only ,light1 ,christ ,jesus1 until we shall dwell in the world where ,god ,himself is the ,light and where we shall shine as the stars for ever and ever4 ,amen4 ,,fourth ,,sunday ,,after ,,easter4 ,teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs1 singing with grace in your hearts to the ,lord4--,col4 #c1 #af4 ,we read in the #bhth chapter of ,genesis that when ,jacob1 the patriarch1 was fleeing from the wrath of his brother ,esau into the land of ,mesopotamia1 while resting at night upon a stone for his pillow1 he had a wonderful dream4 ,a ladder extended from heaven to earth1 angels ascending and descending upon it1 and ,god1 standing at the top1 spoke to the heartsore traveler beneath4 ,that vision was highly typical4 ,the ladder was a symbol of the intimate connection that existed between him and the ,god of his fathers1 ,abraham and ,isaac2 the angels ascending and descending1 were a symbol that his prayers and sighs had come up before the heavenly throne1 whilst the words of the ,almighty were a guarantee that his journey would take a prosperous end1 and cheerfully1 we are told1 did the patriarch take up his pilgrim staff and resume his route in the morrow4 ,now as it is with all things we find written in the ,old ,testament1 so with this also4 ,we have the reality of what ,jacob experienced in dream only4 ,the ladder which now extends between heaven and earth1 connecting us pilgrims or strangers with our heavenly home1 that ladder is ,jesus ,christ1 man's ,mediator1 who declares1 ,i am the ,way2 no man cometh unto the ,father but by me4--,the word of the ,almighty1 then spoken1 we have1 greatly amplified1 in this divine revelation1 this holy volume before us2 nor are the angels1 these celestial messengers1 missing to carry on communication and intercourse between ,god and sinful man4 ,figuratively and symbolically speaking1 these angels stand for all those agencies1 exercises1 and accompaniments by which the soul is lifted up to heaven and ,god1 and by which we are spiritually helped and edified1 and it is one such holy agency and accompaniment of sacred truth that we wish to consider in these moments of devotion4 ,st4 ,paul speaks in our immediate text of teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs4 ,let us regard these words1 and may ours be the same confession as ,jacob's at ,bethel3 ,how venerable is this place6 ,this is none other but the house of ,god and this is the gate of heaven4 ,o sing unto the ,lord a new song1 for ,he hath done marvelous things4 ,make a joyful noise unto the ,lord1 sing forth the honor of ,his name1 with the harp1 with trumpets and the sound of cornet4 ,praise ye the ,lord4 ,these are the words of the #ihth ,psalm of ,david1 and it was with this ,psalm that the service began1 in the ancient ,church1 on the fourth ,sunday after ,easter4 ,the name of the ,sunday is ,cantate1 which means ,singing ,sunday1 and probably there is no time in the course of the civil church-year more appropriate to raise one's voice in rejoicing and heart-felt song4 ,in nature a new era of revival and tender growth has gone forth2 the earth is clothed with loveliness1 refreshed with energy1 and from birds and blades1 from flowering buds and a tender branch goes up a joyful melody and proclamation to their ,creator2 and when we come into ,his sanctuary1 the house of ,his ,word and ,his worship1 and reflect on the blessed ,easter scene from which we are just coming1 we have reason to tune our voices in strains of loudest and loveliest anthems1 and an appropriate and beautiful thing it certainly is to bring this noblest of human arts to the aid of the soul in its communication with ,god4 ,since time immemorial has the power of music been acknowledged over the heart of man4 ,let me make the songs of the people1 said a celebrated statesman1 and ,i care not who makes the laws4 ,an illustrious ,greek philosopher was not far wrong when he stated that the human soul was closely allied to rhythm and harmony1 and we know that the ,court of ,rome feared the sacred hymns of ,luther as much1 if not more1 than his publications and fiery eloquence4 ,turning to the ,holy ,scriptures1 we observe a constant recognition of music in the ,old ,testament and in the ,new4 ,standing on the shores of the ,red ,sea1 ,moses1 the man of ,god1 chants forth the gratitude of his people after their safe deliverance from ,egypt's bondage in song1 whilst ,miriam1 his sister1 responds with timbrel and dance4 ,david1 the anointed shepherd boy1 takes his harp and charms into tranquillity the ferocious spirit of ,saul4 ,elisha1 when he would prophesy1 calls for a minstrel1 and under his playing the prophet's heart grows warm and his lips eloquent with a message from ,god4 ,and where do we hear of more magnificent renderings than in the temple at ,jerusalem1 thousands of voices organized in costly choir to chant with accompaniment of complete orchestra1 the psalms written by their monarch1 ,david1 called the sweet singer of ,israel4 ,cherubim and ,seraphim are incessantly praising ,god in thrice ,holy to the ,god of ,sabaoth1 and angels' choirs filled the midnight stillness of ,bethlehem's plains4 ,add to this ,zacharias' ,benedictus and ,mary's ,magnificat1 which have lent their hallowed inspiration to ages since in the ,christian ,church1 and if there is one scene which impresses every reader of his ,bible1 and to which he looks forward with pure delight1 it is the worship of the ,lamb in ,revelation1 the joining of the celestial choir in hymns of endless melody4 ,desiring to bear our part in that tuneful service1 can our lips be silent on earth8 ,nay1 music is one of ,god's good and perfect gifts1 of which to-day's ,epistle speaks as coming down from above4 ,true1 like all other good gifts to man1 it has been seized upon and perverted for evil purpose by the enemy4 ,satan it is who has levied upon music and made sad havoc in the line of song4 ,but shall we abandon to him the territory8 ,shall we not make reprisal upon the enemy1 consecrate to the divine ,giver ,his first-fruits8 ,and unquestionably1 in the worship of our ,lutheran ,church1 hymnology has a larger and a more correct province than in any other body of ,christians4 ,i have listened to various music1 ,i have heard entranced the melting tones of the ,miserere in early mass at the ,catholic ,cathedral1 the sweetly attuned antiphons of a vested ,episcopal choir4 ,i have listened to solos and quartets1 accomplished tunes1 composed by masters2 but what do all these solos1 superbly rendered1 amount to when in ,god's worship the congregation itself sits mute in its pews1 deprived of every response1 as in the ,catholic ,church1 or too indolent to respond1 as in many others8 ,is it ,christian1 is it churchly1 is it consistent with our text or the spirit of true worship1 that ninety-nine tongues of a hundred be silent in the house of the ,lord8 ,when the minister turns to the people and says1 ,the ,lord be with you1 is he supposed to address only four singers and an organist8 ,no1 my dear hearers1 praise is the duty and privilege of all the people1 and to deny or stint them in a share in it is to wrong their souls and insult their ,maker4 ,a well-tuned solo is good1 the chorus of the choir is better1 but best of all is the response and song of the entire congregation1 sending up its confession and praise to the ,god of heaven4 ,there is nothing more solemn and pleasing to the ,lord of ,sabaoth than a singing congregation1 and nothing more dull and spiritless than singing wailed forth in melody calculated to freeze the last spark of holy fire upon the altar of the heart4 ,having emphasized which is the best form of songful worship1 that by the congregation1 let us regard it a little more closely4 ,the singing of a congregation of worshipers is1 as it were1 the preaching of the congregation1 is the confession which it renders on its part and in behalf of its faith1 is the ,amen which it places upon the words and utterances of the preacher4 ,the most important place1 it must ever be maintained1 in a truly evangelical service1 is the exposition1 the setting forth of ,god's ,word4 ,a worship consisting exclusively of singing1 commonly called a ,song ,service1 is an innovation in ,lutheran church life1 and a very questionable one at that4 ,the object of our attendance at church is not to hear sweet music1--this can be better answered at the concert or the oratorio1--honest ,christian people come to hear ,god's ,word1 to build up their souls in divine truth4 ,the sweetest tune sung by the lips of angels or of man cannot replace the least passage of the ,bible1 for it alone is the power of ,god unto salvation4 ,christianity is not rapturous ecstasy1 super-induced by fine melody1 not emotional feeling2 ,christianity means repentance and faith4 ,there is nothing1 no symphonies and oratorios1 no strains1 that can bring peace and rest to a sinner's heart1 but only and solely the simple words of the ,lord received and believed4 ,the sermon1 then1 occupies the central position of the worship1 just as the sun is the center of the solar system1 and1 in turn1 determines the true place of the song and music4 ,it is the noble handmaiden1 preceding and accompanying the preaching of the ,word1 the sweet odors which carry our devotion and sacrifice upward to heaven1 in harmony with the utterance of the speaker4 ,it is thus we value our hymns as the finest ornament of our evangelical worship1 and nothing is more significant than to find in your homes the ,christian hymn-book lying upon ,god's ,book4 ,and what does a careful survey of that hymn-book reveal to us8 ,we would not from any feeling of denominational pride detract any from the grandeur of hymns originated in dissenting bodies1 many of which are embodied in our hymnal1 but if there is one church whose voice swells out loudly among the hymnody of ,christendom1 that can look with satisfaction on its collection of sacred songs1 it is our beloved ,lutheran ,zion with its stately and majestic chorals1 its incomparable anthems4 ,there is about our hymns a spirit of divine power2 they are the expressions of our ,christian faith1 church-hymns in the fullest and best sense1 not only inspiring and devotional1 but educating and instructive1 designed to lead us in our way to salvation and heaven4 ,take1 for instance1 the various seasons of the church-year3 ,advent1 expectant and exultant over the coming of the ,savior of man2 ,christmas1 what hymns will compare with those of our church in childlike simplicity and depth of feeling8 ,passion-tide1 with its solemn lines3 ,o ,bleeding ,head and ,wounded1 ,o ,lamb of ,god ,most ,holy2 ,easter-tide1 with its stirring hallelujahs4 ,how doctrinally sound are our hymns of faith1 how cheering our hymns of praise1 how touching the melodies of penitence and death6 ,referring to our text1 we find the first requisite for a correct church-hymn is this3 to bring ,god's ,word closer to us4 ,the ,apostle says3 ,teaching4 ,our hymns will stand the test of this standard4 ,in the days of the ,reformation they were one of the most beneficial means of winning hearts and conquering lands for ,bible truth and ,bible ,church4 ,many a priest1 history records1 was sung down from the pulpit and out of the church by the congregation joining in a ,lutheran hymn1 and later1 in the dreary days of ,rationalism1 when man's folly was put in the place of ,god's wisdom1 it was these church-hymns which still afforded spiritual food to the children of ,god1 and till this day1 wherever those tried and heavenly true hymns resound1 we can cheerfully be persuaded that they assert their influence in making men wise unto salvation4 ,nor are they merely calculated to instruct1 but also to cheer and inspire4 ,there is scarcely another power that will ease the heart1 strengthen and sustain the lagging and downcast spirit1 as will a heartfelt ,commit whate'er may grieve thee1 and kindred hymns4 ,in the darkest moments of his life1 ,david tuned his harp and bade sorrow and grief flee4 ,in ,philippi's dungeon1 at the hour of midnight1 ,paul and ,silas raised their voices in melody of praise4 ,after days of bitter conflict and labor the ,reformer would produce his lute1 and sing unto the ,lord a pleasant song1 to the joy of the angels and the chagrin of the devil4 ,gustavus ,adolphus1 ,sweden's valiant hero of the faith1 who fought and died for religious liberty1 never entered a battle without prostrating himself with his army before the ,lord of heaven and singing1 ,a ,mighty ,fortress ,is ,our ,god1 ,fear ,not1 ,o ,little ,flock1 the ,foe4 ,sacred story tells us of ,saul1 that whenever the evil spirit came over him1 the king would send for ,david1 and under his tune find relief from his torments4 ,nor has the spiritual song lost any of this soothing element4 ,the singing of songs and hymns purifieth our thoughts1 says a church-father1 represses sensuality1 stirs the heart to pure emotions1 awakens a love and a longing for the beauty of holiness1 moves to holy contrition and godly sobriety4 ,no wonder that ,luther ranked music next to theology of pure religion1 effectual as it is in warding off ,satan's suggestions1 and aiding us in becoming better and more noble1 and hence1 in harmony with this ,sunday1 ,cantate1 we are justified in bringing this topic to your consideration1 especially in our times1 which are replete with so much vain and shoddy music1 senseless and overwrought travesties1 often set to tunes that are a perfect scandal and shame upon all divine worship1 and better suited for the opera than for the house of ,god4 ,let us rejoice in this good gift ,god has bestowed upon us1 and diligently use it in our churches and homes until it shall be our happy lot to join the multitudes of those who shall raise their voices to pour forth their everlasting song1 and cause the city of ,god to ring with anthems of perpetual worship4 ,amen4 ,,fifth ,,sunday ,,after ,,easter4 ,praying always with all prayer and supplication in the ,spirit1 and watching thereunto with all perseverance4--,eph4 #f1 #ah4 ,among the things that people believed in olden times was a certain stone1 called a touchstone4 ,by means of this stone it was claimed one could determine whether a gem or a precious piece of jewelry was genuine or not4 ,the sham diamond might glitter ever so brightly1 the sham gold externally deceive the eye1 let the touchstone be applied1 and its real character would at once appear4 ,spiritually1 in religion1 there is such a touchstone by which those who profess to serve ,god can discover whether they are genuine ,christians or not1 whether their religion is pure gold or inferior metal1 whether their faith is a gem of great price or only worthless imitation1 useless dross4 ,that touchstone of true spiritual life is prayer1 communion with his ,god1 for as a man communeth with his ,god1 so he is4 ,how1 then1 does this touchstone apply to you8 ,are you a man1 or woman1 of prayer8 ,what sort of ,christian are you8 ,nor can it be said that we need no instruction on this subject4 ,we must be taught to pray just as we must be taught how to write and talk correctly4 ,let us1 then1 in all simplicity1 with plainness of speech and practicalness of purpose1 consider4 ,i4 ,when1 ,,ii4 where1 and ,,iii4 how we should pray3 and may ,god's ,holy ,spirit1 the ,lord of ,prayer1 attend with ,his blessing our meditation4 ,there are many passages in ,holy ,scripture which seem to command impossibilities1 and we tacitly pass them by as not intended for us4 ,this cannot be a wise or safe thing to do1 for ,god does not command impossibilities4 ,so with the text1 ,praying always4 ,in other places we read1 ,pray without ceasing1 ,continue constant in prayer4 ,our first thought may be1 ,that's beyond us4 ,how1 in this busy life of ours1 shall we ever be able to give ourselves over to never-ceasing prayer8 ,a few minutes a day1 a special prayer occasionally at special seasons or special emergencies1 that's about all we can afford4 ,that is a mistaken notion of these texts of prayer4 ,it is a familiar expression3 ,prayer is the ,christian's vital breath1 the ,christian's native air4 ,we are always breathing4 ,ceasing to breathe means death4 ,so with the spiritual life4 ,for a person not to pray means spiritual death4 ,every one who is a ,christian prays2 not to pray stamps him as a non-,christian4 ,and yet1 as in the bodily sphere a distinction exists between breathing and using that breath for speaking1 so we must draw a distinction between prayer and saying prayers4 ,a ,christian1 as he is always breathing naturally1 so he is always breathing spiritually4 ,he lives a life of prayer2 he is always in such a state of faith and heart and spirit that he can lift up his heart in prayer4 ,even when we are silent1 we breathe2 even when a ,christian is not saying prayers1 engaged in forms of worship1 he is in a spiritual frame of mind1 and is living a life of prayer4 ,to pray always is to live as in ,god's presence1 to be constantly conscious of ,him4 ,and still1 true as it is that a ,christian is always living a life of prayer1 there must be times for prayer--times when we engage in saying prayers4 ,there is more in this matter of habit than many persons think4 ,it means regularity1 and makes it both easy and pleasant4 ,there is no absolute rule on this subject1 no technical limit4 ,each one must determine himself how often he ought to pray daily4 ,david1 in the ,psalm1 says1 ,evening and morning and at noon will ,i pray4 ,daniel was accustomed to kneel upon his knees three times a day4 ,there is1 if we may so speak1 a natural propriety in thus thrice addressing the throne of grace4 ,three times a day we are accustomed to feed our bodies1 and this very act may suggest to us that our souls need similar attention4 ,men shall not live by bread alone4 ,we have our blessed ,lord's example for it4 ,the holiest and most fruitful ,christian lives have been lived by men and women who thus prayed not less than three times a day4 ,the early ,christians were exemplary in the discharge of this duty4 ,what ,christian1 arising from his bed in the morning1 can neglect his prayer8 ,everything seems to invite him to lift up his heart unto ,god4 ,when we arise from our beds1 it is like a resurrection from the dead1 and it seems almost impossible for a pious mind not to view it in that divine light1 thanking ,god for his waking2 and as he sallies forth from his home1 not knowing what a day may bring forth1 and feeling his weakness and frailty and danger1 the temptation to which he is every moment exposed1 how can he do it without first raising his eyes and thoughts on high1 committing himself to the faithful ,creator1 and invoking ,his protection and strength8 ,moreover1 knowing that everything is resting upon ,his blessing1 he should invoke it upon the occupation of his mind and hands4 ,direct1 control1 suggest this day1 ,all ,i may deign1 or do1 or say1 ,that all my powers1 with all their might1 ,in ,thy sole glory may unite4 ,when we thus go forth into the world1 it is with an atmosphere of devotion around us4 ,and then again at night-time1 when we have given all our strength to the work of our calling1 tired and exhausted from the toil of the day1 and our couches invite us to repose1 who can look back on the blessings of the day without being moved to gratitude to ,him who kept us safely through it8 ,there was this and that of the day's transaction that deserves a calm retrospect in the sight of the ,lord1 confession of one's discrepancy and wrong-doing4 ,and who can resign himself to sleep1 the emblem of death1 and to his bed1 the type of his grave1 without saying a few words of ,christian committal8 ,and who1 during the day1 cannot find a few moments to lift up his thoughts on high8 ,nor1 beloved fellow-,christians and church-members1 neglect to speak grace at your table2 there are blessings1 direct and indirect1 which connect with that pious and time-honored custom which no household can afford to forego4 ,frequently the only time when the family meets during the day1 it forms a link of spirituality between its members4 ,it is no little means of keeping the devil out and bringing the dove of peace back4 ,permit not this grand old and well-tried custom to lapse into disuse2 hold fast to it as a sacred heirloom transmitted from your godly parents4 ,thus have your fixed1 established season of prayer4 ,and it is good not only to have stated times1 but also stated places for prayers4 ,this is our second consideration3 ,where8 ,you can pray anywhere4 ,you can hold audience with ,god at your own option4 ,the place is not essential to prayer4 ,peter prayed on the housetop1 ,paul in prison1 ,daniel in the lions' den1 ,jonah in the fish's belly4 ,the ,lord is everywhere1 and ,his ears are always open to the cries of ,his people4 ,but the law of association is the friend of religion4 ,as you speed to your labors in the morning1 as you sit for recuperation in the shade of one of our beautiful parks1 as you are busy with your duties in kitchen and workshop1 your heart can go out to ,god in devotion4 ,and so it is well to have a little nook somewhere1 a spot especially suggestive to us of prayer4 ,there is help in this4 ,daniel had his spot1 where1 when he came in from the excitement of the court1 he could kneel down and pray to his ,god4 ,his window opened towards ,jerusalem1 not accidentally1 but by special arrangement1 and his eyes swept over the western hills until vision was lost in the distance2 his imagination swept onward till he stood in the courts of the ,lord's house on ,zion's hill1 heard its holy songs1 and inhaled the incense that arose from its sacred altars4 ,there is something dear to us in such a spot4 ,our ,lord1 in ,his direction on prayer1 enjoins3 ,enter into thy closet and pray4 ,it was the custom of the ,jews to have certain private rooms on the flat top of their homes which they especially reserved for devotional purposes4 ,one such place you certainly ought to have4 ,god in ,his ,word calls our churches houses of prayer4 ,it is a significant title4 ,not only preaching ought to employ us in the holy place1 for what profit is there in preaching1 the best of preaching1 if there is no outgoing of the heart to ,god8 ,no singing1 no music that has not in it the element of devotion can make melody in ,his ear4 ,prayer is an essential part of our service1 at the altar and in the pulpit2 and it ought to be in the pew4 ,it is here at least1 in ,god's temple1 that the ,christian soul ought to find a spot1 and regularly1 where1 amid the distressing scenes of earth1 it can come to itself1 where it can feel and commune in the ear of ,god1 where1 lifting itself above the sordidness and the perversity of this earth1 it can bathe in the invigorating atmosphere of a nobler world1 and draw inspiration for the affairs of life1 in a few moments of communion with a ,higher ,power4 ,let1 ,i beseech you1 this house be to you a house of prayer1 and have a similar place in your own home4 ,there's wisdom and great help in that4 ,having answered the when and where1 let us now note the how4 ,by this we do not mean the posture in prayer1 whether we ought to pray standing or kneeling2 neither do we mean whether we ought to use a fixed prayer1 committed to memory1 or pray extempore1 out of the heart1 finding our own words4 ,i do not think it is wise to use no form as a rule4 ,extempore prayers are apt to lack both orderly arrangement and fullness1 and when weary or dull1 or our thoughts are wandering1 we cannot make prayers for ourselves1--we want to have a form of devout words put into our mouths4 ,those simple1 yet stately prayers of our ,catechism and hymn-book have been1 and are still1 the inspiration of thousands of the most devout of ,god's children4 ,and yet1 there is one danger4 ,using a regular form of prayer statedly may lead to listlessness and lifelessness4 ,it is not only the ,romanist who1 counting his beads and making his crossings and prostrations1 nor the ,mohammedan1 who at the priest's call from the mosque falls upon his knees1 who does not pray1 but the ,protestant may say or read his addresses to ,god1 and yet not pray4 ,there is a difference between saying prayer and praying4 ,prayer1 to be right1 must be offered up in the spirit of prayer1 and by the spirit of prayer is meant a devotional tone and temper of the mind and the heart4 ,reads our text3 ,praying always with all prayer and supplication in the ,spirit4 ,it is the heart that prays1 not the knees1 nor the hands1 nor the lips4 ,to hasten over the words heedlessly1 anxious to be done as quickly as possible1 to do it because it's a custom1 and perhaps with a superstitious fear that if we do not do it1 something might befall us1 is making a mockery of prayer4 ,we ought to pray1 but we must pray in earnest1 with faith1 reverence1 sincerity1 as if we meant it4 ,as it has been expressed3 ,god does not look at the arithmetic of our prayers1 how many there may be2 nor does ,he look at the logic of our prayers1 how methodical and nicely arranged they may be2 nor at the rhetoric1 how beautiful they may be4 ,what ,he looks at is the sincerity of our prayers1 how earnest they are4 ,and lose not the ,spirit in your prayers2 that is the one direction of to-day's text4 ,and the other is1 ,praying always with all perseverance1 i4 e41 prayer must be constant1 unceasing4 ,the ,apostle knew the defects of earth-born man1 and1 knowing1 bids them to beware of being tardy in their prayer4 ,there is a good reason why4 ,prayer is spiritual breath1 we said4 ,if a man's breathing is bad1 if it is hurried1 fitful1 some mortal mischief is at work4 ,even so spiritually4 ,if our prayers are hurried1 if they are irregular1 if we regard them as disagreeable duties1 if they are not the natural and necessary consequences of our spiritual life1 natural and necessary as breathing is to every living man1 then that life is sadly weak and diseased4 ,why are we so weak in ,christian faith8 why so wayward and sluggish in our ,christian life8 ,why have sinful habits such power over us8 ,it is because we breathe1 i4 e41 pray1 so badly4 ,how is it possible to work for ,god1 or fight for ,him1 if we are tardy in holding communion with ,him8 ,think it over1 my dear fellow-,christian1 and may it aid you in making you a man1 a woman1 of prayer6 ,for what is a man of prayer8 ,see yonder mountain4 ,below is its gigantic base2 then your eye runs up the mountain side1 and you see--what8 ,that the peak is lost in the clouds4 ,so is the man of prayer4 ,his feet stand upon the earth1 his heart is in the clouds2 there is a something that keeps him in constant communion with ,god4 ,there lies his strength4 ,we call it prayer4 ,amen4 ,,ascension4 ,so1 then1 after the ,lord had spoken unto them1 ,he was received up into heaven1 and sat on the right hand of ,god4--,mark #af1 #ai4 ,the ,christian ,church1 from the beginning1 has made the ascension of our ,lord the subject of a special annual festival and service1 and with excellent reason4 ,the ascension of ,christ ranks in importance with ,his birth1 ,his death1 and ,his resurrection4 ,strange to say1 however1 much less attention is given to it4 ,many are prompt and devout in noting and observing ,christmas1 ,good ,friday1 and ,easter1 but when it comes to the glorious ascension1 the heavenly enthronement of our blessed ,lord1 though furnishing equal cause for our gratitude and rejoicing1 few seem to so regard it1 and make little over its celebration4 ,this ought not to be4 ,christ's ascension into heaven is one of the great foundation truths of our ,christian faith1 a part of the fundamental ,creed4 ,he ascended into heaven1 and sitteth at the right hand of ,god the ,father ,almighty1 we recite in the ,apostles' ,confession4 ,the ancient prophets spoke repeatedly of it1 ,christ1 ,himself1 on several occasions foretold it1 and the apostles and evangelists1 most of whom were eye-witnesses of it1 testify to it1 and1 moreover1 it is also full of blessedness and precious consolation for those who enter into it with spirit and understanding1 as one of the sick1 after a sermon on ,christ's ascension1 preached by our missionary in the ,city ,hospital1 exclaimed1 ,thank ,god for this precious truth of ,christ's ascension6 ,the man was right4 ,it is a truth full of strength for a ,christian's faith1 hope1 and love1 that it well behooves us to regard it1 considering ,i4 ,its significance for ,him2 ,,ii4 its significance for us4 ,st4 ,paul1 summing up the history of our ,savior's life1 says3 ,without controversy great is the mystery of godliness3 ,god was manifest in the flesh1 justified in the ,spirit1 seen of angels1 preached unto the ,gentiles1 believed on in the world1 received up into glory4 ,that is the last item1 the capstone1 as it were1 of ,his life4 ,his work upon earth was completed1 the purpose for which ,he had come perfected2 there was nothing for ,him to do4 ,it is finished1 ,he had spoken upon the cross4 ,moreover1 ,he could not remain upon earth1 and eventually die again as a man1 for ,he had conquered death4 ,what1 then1 was left for ,him to do but to return where ,he had come forth1 to ascend on high8 ,this ascension was not a vanishing out of sight1 as1 for instance1 when ,christ vanished out of sight in the case of the disciples of ,emmaus2 nor was it a concealment of ,himself1 as ,he concealed ,himself from the ,jews in the ,temple when they lifted up stones to cast at ,him2 nor was it a transfiguration of ,his body1 as on ,mount ,tabor1 when ,his face shone as the sun and ,his garment was white with light4 ,by ,christ's ascension we mean that ,christ1 according to body and soul1 was taken up in a visible manner1 by a true and local motion ascending into the clouds1 so that now body and soul ,he is in heaven4 ,we shall not speculate1 throw up all manner of questions how this could be1 but accept the statement of trustworthy1 reliable witnesses1 men of unimpeachable veracity1 that so it was1 and we know that it was not the only case of such heavenly ascension4 ,the ,bible records two others2 the one occurred in the days before the ,flood1 when it states of ,enoch that ,god took him and he was seen no more2 and the other took place after the ,flood1 when ,elijah1 the prophet1 was conveyed in a fiery chariot into ethereal realms4 ,these ,old ,testament incidents were types of ,christ's ascension4 ,the ascension of our ,lord stands out as an indisputable fact1 witnessed by many4 ,the exact time1 place1 and circumstances are all minutely given4 ,thus1 what is the first particular of its significance for ,him1 it shows that ,he was the divine ,being which the ,bible states1 that ,he was divine ,god blessed forevermore4 ,and we rejoice at this elevation of ,his4 ,how delightful it is to-day to lift up our eyes and behold ,him who for our sakes became a babe in the poverty and humiliation of ,bethlehem's stall1 ,him whose life was one uninterrupted series of woes1 ,him who was despised and rejected of men1 whose head was pierced by the crown of thorns1 and in whose hand was placed the insulting rod1 who hung suspended from the cross1--how delightful to see ,him worshiped by the host of heaven1 conquering1 triumphing1 receiving the very honor that behooves ,him as the true ,god4 ,on this day we invite and unite with all ,christendom in bringing forth the royal diadem1 and crowning ,him ,lord of all4 ,as ,he once said to ,nicodemus3 ,no man ascendeth up into heaven but ,he that came down from heaven1 even the ,son of ,man1 which is in heaven4 ,the ascension of ,christ is evidence that ,he was the ,god-,man1 having come from heaven4 ,again1 ,christ's ascension shows that ,his work on earth was accomplished1 and that ,he had done that work well4 ,when our ,government sends an ambassador to effect a treaty with a foreign nation1 and on his return home this ambassador is received with public demonstrations of joy1 and is accorded a seat of honor in the national capitol1 this reception is proof that he has performed his mission well1 to the satisfaction of the ,government4 ,the event which we to-day commemorate1 this gladsome reception of ,christ into heaven1 this exaltation to the right hand of ,god the ,father1 prove conclusively that the work ,he had been sent to do was done and was done well1 to the complete satisfaction of the ,father4 ,this is implied already in the text by the word sat4 ,he sat down4 ,sitting is a posture1 an attitude of rest4 ,god rested on the seventh day1 after all ,his work of creation was finished4 ,christ now sits upon ,his throne1 at the right hand4 ,that is a mark of honor4 ,when we read that ,bathsheba1 the queen-mother1 went in to see ,solomon1 her royal son1 she was placed on a throne at the king's right hand1 in token of the respect he paid to her as his parent4 ,so when the same term is used in the case of our ,savior1 it means that ,christ1 in ,his human form1 as man1--for as ,god ,he needed not to be glorified1--that ,christ the ,man was lifted up into the exalted dignity of heaven1 high above all the powers and dignities of the angels1 that at the name of ,jesus every knee must bow and every tongue confess that ,he is ,lord1 to the glory of ,god the ,father4 ,the right hand also implies power4 ,our right hand1 as a rule1 is the stronger hand4 ,so when ,scripture speaks of ,god's right hand1 we are well aware that that is not to be taken literally1 since ,god is a spirit and has no parts of a man1 but is a figure of speech1 to imply ,his majesty and power4 ,christ's taking ,his seat at ,his right hand means that ,christ1 the ,god-man1 as our ,catechism says1 ruleth and reigneth with infinite1 eternal majesty and power over all creatures and works of ,god's hand4 ,to quote ,his own words1 expressed to ,his disciples at ,his departure1 ,all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth4 ,yes1 it is one of the great and glorious truths of our holy ,christian faith that ,he who was born in ,bethlehem1 crucified on ,calvary1 and buried in ,joseph's tomb1 is now enthroned as the ,lord of angels1 the ,head over all things1 and that ,he particularly takes care of ,his ,church4 ,that this is indeed the case we may learn from the experience of ,saul4 ,when ,saul was smitten down on the way to ,damascus1 he was asked by a heavenly voice1 ,saul1 ,saul1 why persecutest thou ,me8 ,saul was persecuting the ,christians1 but the voice says ,me4 ,jesus thus identifies ,himself with ,his people4 ,their interests are ,his interests1 their sufferings1 ,his sufferings4 ,they are the apple of ,his eye3 no harm can come to them but when ,he permits it4 ,what consolation this thought ought to afford to believers amidst all the sorrows of life6 ,but this leads us already to consider of what significance ,christ's ascension is to us4 ,we sing in one of our ,ascension hymns3 ,th' atoning work is done1 ,the victim's blood is shed1 ,and ,jesus now is gone ,his people's cause to plead4 ,he stands in heav'n1 their great ,high ,priest1 ,and bears their names upon ,his breast4 ,reference is here made to the great day of ,atonement1 when the ,jewish high priest1 bearing on his breast the plate upon which were inserted the twelve stones1 each stone of which was engraved with the name of one of the tribes of ,israel1 and having in his hand the blood of sacrifice1 would take it into the ,holy of ,holies1 and presenting it before the ,ark of the ,covenant1 would intercede1 ask forgiveness for the sins of the people whose representative he was4 ,so our great ,high ,priest1 having given ,his life a sacrifice for our sins1 passes into the ,holy of ,holies1 there to make intercession for us1 for which reason we speak of ,christ as our ,advocate1 our ,spokesman1 for instance1 when it says3 ,if any man sin1 we have an ,advocate with the ,father4 ,the best of us are continually coming short1 but there stands our mutilated and meritorious ,brother1 holding up the hands that felt the nails1 ever pleading in our behalf1 ever drawing down upon us the compassionate mercy of an offended ,god4 ,yes1 ,he stands in heav'n1 our great ,high ,priest1 and bears our names upon ,his breast4 ,and1 again1 in ,christ's ascension we have an earnest pledge of our own4 ,he is the ,head1 and1 ,where the ,head is1 we sing to-day1 well we know the members ,he has left below in time ,he surely gathers4 ,he is our ,forerunner1 and a forerunner means that others are on the same way to the same place4 ,his entering for us implies our entrance also4 ,christ did not only take our human nature upon ,him for thirty-three years1 while ,he dwelt upon earth among us1 then1 however1 discarding it as a worthless and worn-out garment1--,he took it along with ,him into heaven and glory1 and we are branches of the same vine1 joined with ,him in the same organism1 and thus ,his ascension is virtually our ascension1 the first-fruits of a like harvest to follow4 ,taking our stand to-day on ,mount ,olive and gazing on the blessed ,savior as ,he mysteriously mounts up into the high heavens1 we behold our ,lord clearing a way for us into that upper world1 and giving us an example of how all believers are to ascend at one time to the same heavenly realms4 ,in our blessed ,lord's ascension we by faith behold our own4 ,he has told us1 ,i go to prepare a place for you4 ,where ,i am1 there shall also my servants be4 ,how the ascension of ,christ confirms our faith1 animates our hope6 ,who can question that there is as much to awaken our grateful joy in our ,savior's ascension as in any other event of this marvelous destiny8 ,christmas joy is right1 and ,easter joy is right2 but there is no less reason to give due honor to the event of our devotion to-day1 so blessed1 so assuring1 so vital4 ,and if we have duly entered into the joyous truths of our faith1 the practical effect is plain4 ,the ,apostle directs us1 ,seek those things which are above1 where ,christ sitteth on the right hand of ,god4 ,set your affection on things above1 not on things on the earth4 ,where your treasure is1 the ,savior said1 there will your heart be also4 ,christ is the ,christian's treasure1 and since ,he has ascended into heaven1 there is a corresponding uplifting of our love to that home of blessedness whither ,he has gone1 and which ,he is making ready for ,his believing people4 ,these1 then1 are some of the chief thoughts which connect with the event we are commemorating to-day4 ,to this ascended ,savior let us anew render our devout homage4 ,anew let us give ,him our love1 our gratitude1 our faith1 our service4 ,let our lives1 down to their very close1 be spent in ,him and for ,him4 ,then1 too1 the day shall come when we also shall go up in triumph4 ,angels of ,god will then also escort us as conquerors to the skies1 and we shall be and reign forever with ,him4 ,grant us this1 ,o ,christ6 ,amen4 ,,sunday ,,after ,,ascension4 ,for whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words1 of him shall the ,son of ,man be ashamed when ,he shall come in ,his own glory1 and in ,his ,father's1 and of the holy angels4--,luke #i1 #bf4 ,it is an awful doom that our text bids us to look forward to1 that when ,christ comes in ,his glory and in ,his ,father's and of ,his holy angels1 then ,he shall be ashamed of us1 refuse to acknowledge us1 and yet we are inclined to think1 at first sight1 that1 so far as it depends on our being ashamed of ,christ1 there is not so much fear4 ,there is much that is wrong among us4 ,but being ashamed of ,christ1 ashamed of being known as ,his disciples1 ashamed of ,his name and religion1 does not seem one of our shortcomings and dangers4 ,were not the words rather applicable to the early disciples than to us and our days8 ,and true it is1 as the ,gospel to-day presents1 that confessing ,christ was a very different thing then from what it is now4 ,when first the ,gospel was preached among men1 not to be ashamed of ,christ meant nothing more or less than that a man was ready to leave everything in this world and to die for ,christ4 ,when all the powers of earth1 ,jews and ,gentiles1 were arrayed against the new faith1 when men were brought before kings and rulers1 and simply told that1 unless they would deny ,christ1 they would be thrown to the wild beasts1 or buried alive1 or be sent to prison to labor like convicts all the rest of their days2 or when almost everybody took it for granted that the ,gospel was mere folly1 and that every one who followed it was the most stupid and obstinate of bigots2 in other words1 when believing and confessing ,christ meant to be laughed at1 jeered at1 mockery1 persecution1 and martyrdom1--at such seasons we can understand the suitableness and solemnity of ,christ's warning to them4 ,but those times1 thank ,god1 have passed away2 the ,gospel is no longer met with fagot and sword4 ,the open profession of religion does no one any hurt in life1 exposes him to no special mockery or insult1 causes no unfavorable or unpleasant feelings towards him4 ,yes1 so far from its going against him1 he will not infrequently stand higher and have more credit4 ,and yet1 let us not be led into mistakes4 ,this easiness in being religious1 which without contradiction is greater nowadays than it ever was in the world since ,christ came into it1 must not blind us to the spirit of our ,lord's words4 ,they have a meaning still1 and1 while men are men1 will continue to have to the world's end4 ,i4 ,in what way1 or ways1 they apply to us2 ,,ii4 what is the one main lesson they would bring home to us1--that let us1 under the guidance and blessing of the ,holy ,spirit1 consider4 ,there is1 my beloved1 extant among us these days a confession of ,christ that is general4 ,by general we mean it does not like to go into particulars4 ,and it is in the general that we are so brave and bold in professing not to be ashamed of ,christ4 ,take1 to make the test1 that upon which our religion rests1 the ,holy ,bible4 ,people respect it as a sacred book2 something is missing in a ,christian home if it is not there2 they reverence it in the general4 ,but when it comes to the particular1 how little is it really pondered2 how little do men feel bound by its particular statements2 how easily are its direct communications set aside when they conflict with their notions or feelings or wishes4 ,did ,god actually create man out of the dust of the ground1 or is he the creature of evolution8 ,is the account of the fall of man into sin to be taken literally1 or is it only an allegory1 a poetic interpretation1 a childish and primitive way to account for sin and its sad consequences8 ,is there a personal devil1 or is the devil only to stand for evil in the abstract8 ,the narrative of ,balaam1 or ,jonah1 of the men in the fiery oven1--are they to be received as they read8 ,and when it comes to the ,new ,testament1--how are we to understand the conception of the virgin birth of our ,savior8 how ,his glorious ascension8 how ,his descent into hell8 how ,his words of the ,sacrament3 ,take1 eat2 this is my body4 ,take1 drink2 this is my blood1 literally or figuratively1 is meaning represents8 ,does ,baptism work forgiveness of sin8 ,is it the washing of regeneration and renewing of the ,holy ,ghost1 as ,st4 ,paul says to ,titus1 chapter #c8 ,go1 and question among ,christ's followers1 consult the thousands of books that are flooding the market1--what do they teach8 ,they are ashamed to admit that ,god created the world in six days of twenty-four hours each2 it's unscientific2 they blush at the accounts of ,balaam's ass and of ,jonah's whale4 ,the blood doctrine of the cross1 that ,christ has redeemed us by ,his holy1 precious blood and by ,his innocent suffering and death1 is repugnant to many4 ,christ's body and blood in the ,sacrament1 ,baptism the means of a new birth1--they are abashed to acknowledge such teachings4 ,it is the tendency of the age to acknowledge everything in general1 and in particular nothing1 nothing distinct and definite4 ,people are ashamed of the words of ,christ4 ,why tinker and twist in order not to make the writings say but the one thing they do say8 ,what is this but being ashamed8 ,and as in the doctrine1 so in matters of religious duty4 ,to speak first1 in general4 ,we come to church4 ,others around us do the same4 ,it's the fashion to do so4 ,but let us ask ourselves1 ,what if everybody around us did not do so8 ,there are places and associations where it is not customary2 some of us get among such also3 no one goes2--at the very utmost one service a ,sunday is thought the full limit4 ,at such times are we shy of doing differently from other people when we know and feel what is right8 ,what is this but being1 in reality1 ashamed of ,his words8 ,or take the ,lord's ,table1--how many know that they ought to come to the ,lord's ,table1 know and acknowledge what the ,lord's command is1 and not only that1 but in their hearts would like to come1 and yet they stay away because they are ashamed to do what other people don't do1 of being asked1 perchance1 sneering questions1 of its being said that they are seeking to set themselves up and making more pretense of religion than their neighbors4 ,what is this but staying away because they are ashamed to confess ,christ and ,his words before men8 ,one instance would ,i emphasize this morning in particular1 and that is church-membership4 ,people are ashamed of the church1 not in general1--they regard it as a charitable institution4 ,they have no objection to go there1 nor do they mind1 if the minister is a fascinating speaker1 to part with a little spare change4 ,but there is where the connection ends4 ,with many--their number is tens of thousands--the doctrine is1 that one can be just as good and hopeful outside of the ,church as in it1 that as long as they maintain a general uprightness of behavior1 do not defraud any one1 live on kindly terms with their neighbors1 act as honorable citizens and profess belief in a ,higher ,being1 it does not matter whether they just believe this or that doctrine or not1 whether they are confirmed or not1 whether they attend public worship1 or consult their own ease and pleasure on that subject4 ,indeed1 they can see no difference between conformity to the moral teachings and rules of some order1 ,odd ,fellows' associations or ,masonic fraternity1 and the ,church of ,christ4 ,in a word1 they confound mere outward respectability and godliness with the teachings of ,christianity1 and place man's organizations1 secular societies1 on a common par and level with ,god's organization1 ,christ's ,church1 and they quite forget that1 in matters of religion and sound morality1 it is not for them1 nor any man1 to point out the way and set up the standard1 but humbly to bow to the requirements1 and walk in the way which ,god has ordained and appointed for us to walk in4 ,and now turn to ,christ and ,his ,word1--what does it say8 ,the teaching there is1 that outside of ,his ,church1 and apart from those acts of ,baptism1 ,holy ,communion1 public worship1 and public identification with the ,lord's people1 there is no right ,christianity and confession of ,him4 ,the statement and impression throughout is to this effect that a man's religion is spurious and sorely lacking if it does not bring him into the common fellowship of believers1 if it does not lead him to live and move and have his being in observance of the ,christian ordinances1 and maintaining ,christian recognition and membership in the communion of the saints4 ,can any one think for a moment that in those early days of persecution1 when it meant either--or1 life or death1 people distinguished between being a ,christian or a church-member8 ,to be one meant to be the other4 ,and now go and ask people to join the ,church4 ,ask our young members1 when arriving at the age of twenty-one years1 to come in and help1 to support with means and vote1 give a little of their time1 and see whether they regard it a privilege and a delight1 a ,god-enjoined duty4 ,in general there is churchliness2 and in particular flimsy excuses1 pretexts1 subterfuges are offered4 ,and why1 to come to our next consideration1 why is this8 ,what is the cause8 ,why this distinction between the early disciples and our present-day confessors of ,christ8 ,there was one thing they possessed1 which is now so largely lacking1--what is it8 ,christianity those days1 we heard1 meant personal sacrifice1 persecution1 martyrdom4 ,thank ,god that form is now over4 ,to-day we see not the ,church weeping in sackcloth and ashes at the graves of her slaughtered children1 nor hear the ,coliseum ringing with the wild shouts3 ,christianos ad leones3 ,christians to the lions6 ,and yet1 while not so striking1 something of the same vigorous principle1 of the same spirit1 must characterize the conduct of every ,christian4 ,if any man will follow after me1 says the ,master1 be my disciple1 let him deny himself4 ,there must be readiness1 now as of old1 to suffer for righteousness' sake4 ,i am glad to note there still is4 ,young men go out into the ministry1 from their associations and their kin1 into places the crudest and the rudest to preach the ,gospel of ,christ1 enduring poverty1 calumny1 and finally are broken down in health1 thrown upon the charity of a cold1 unfeeling world4 ,we know some women who were lured by fair appearance into marriage by young men who won their love1 and who1 though now abused1 lampooned1 mocked1 are holding fast to their faith4 ,we know of some who1 in order to attend to their religious worship and duty1 have sacrificed positions of better income1 and we know of some who have forfeited money and social honor by giving up their connection with beneficiary and fraternal societies4 ,but for these the ,christian faith would perish from the earth4 ,they are the salt of the earth1 the light of the world4 ,yet1 apart from these1 what is the religious life of ,christians8 ,is it not simply a matter of convenience1 custom1 inheritance1 yes1 sometimes of fashion or of business8 ,do we not find numbers of ,christians who cannot give for ,god's worship an hour out of the #afh hours a week1 who would not lift a finger or a foot to help a sinking brother1 to save a wandering boy1 to speak a kind word to restrain a wayward girl1 who1 like ,cain1 his brother's murderer1 insolently reply1 ,am ,i my brother's keeper8 ,yes1 as we survey the average ,christian life to-day1 it seems to have lost all strenuousness4 ,tact1 worldly wisdom1 policy1 not truth1 ,god's wisdom1 principles1 more of profession than deeds1 more of criticism than service4 ,we see clergymen begging people if they won't be ,christians1 urging them to accept the glorious blessing of salvation1 or1 if professing ,christians1 humbly beseeching them to fulfill their vows1 asking oft with fear and trembling for a little pittance to keep up the grand work1 and when given1 given as if an act of favor and grace1 not from the conviction that they owe it to ,god and grace1 whose it is1 who demands it4 ,oh6 it is pitiable1 a mock and farce upon the religion we profess4 ,when we think of the apostles and evangelists and martyrs for ,jesus' sake1 how they parted with homes1 occupations1 possessions1 and even life itself for ,christ and ,his ,word1 we have reason1 every one of us1 to hang our heads in shame4 ,what the ,church needs to-day are those who are not ashamed of ,christ and ,his ,word1 i4 e41 men and women who will do their duty without ceasing2 men and women who1 when they have done their duty1 will not be expecting the praise of men1 but who find their reward in their service2 men and women who are ready to sacrifice of their time1 their labors1 their money1 themselves2 men and women who1 when principle1 divine truth1 is at stake1 will stand by and rather go down1 upholding what is right1 than surrender to that which may be popular and fashionable1 but is wrong4 ,my beloved1 the religion of the twentieth century is no other than the religion of the first century4 ,it calls for self-denial1 sacrifice4 ,to what extent has it entered1 and does it enter1 into your religious life8 ,examine yourself in the sight of ,him who said3 ,whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words1 of him shall the ,son of ,man be ashamed when ,he shall come in ,his own glory and in ,his ,father's and of the holy angels4 ,amen4 ,,pentecost4 ,not by might nor by power1 but by my ,spirit1 saith the ,lord of hosts4--,zech4 #d1 #f4 ,we shall first explain1 and then seek to apply the words read4 ,the ,lord1 through the ,prophet ,zechariah1 addresses this message to ,zerubbabel under remarkably instructive circumstances4 ,zerubbabel was the prince and leader of the ,jews1 under whom the first company of the exiles1 numbering about #ej1jjj1 returned from the seventy years' captivity in ,babylon4 ,on reaching ,jerusalem1 he with his fellow-exiles promptly set about the work of building the second temple4 ,they laid the foundations with great rejoicing1 in high hope of speedily and successfully completing the work4 ,but seeing the smallness of their resources and the vastness of the work1 the large numbers who opposed1 and the fewness of those who helped1 also hearing the old men1 who remembered the glory of the former1 i4 e41 ,solomon's ,temple1 say1 as they looked with tears on the crude beginning before them1 ,it is as nothing in comparison1 ,zerubbabel and his people became discouraged and ceased from the work4 ,for fully fifteen years nothing was done4 ,to arouse the leader and stir up the people1 to resume and press forward the work1 the ,lord by ,zechariah now addresses them4 ,though they are poor and weak in comparison with the builders of the first temple1 yet the ,lord will have them know that this work is not wholly theirs1 but is emphatically ,his1 and must therefore be accomplished4 ,by way of teaching them how this would be done1 ,he sent them an impressive symbolic vision recorded in the verses immediately preceding the line of the text4 ,the prophet sees a candlestick all of gold1 having seven branches1 and on the top of each branch nine lamps4 ,on the right side of the candlestick is a living olive tree1 and on the left side a similar olive tree4 ,these trees pour from themselves a plentiful and unfailing supply of oil into the central bowl of the candlestick4 ,then the prophet asks what the vision means4 ,the reply given are the words of the text3 ,not by might1 nor by power1 but by my ,spirit1 saith the ,lord of hosts4 ,the meaning evidently is this3 ,as the candlestick--which stands for the ,church--is furnished without cost or labor1 with an unfailing and abundant supply of oil--oil being the symbol of the ,holy ,ghost--from the living olive trees1 so will the ,spirit of the ,lord furnish abundant power and resources in ways within ,his power1 to enable ,his servants to successfully complete the building of ,his house4 ,thus1 instructed and encouraged1 leader and people promptly resume the work laid aside fifteen years before4 ,there was no lack of materials4 ,the building advanced rapidly to completion4 ,in the sixth year afterwards the house was dedicated to ,god4 ,as the people looked upon the great structure in its completeness1 every stone and timber1 from the lowest foundation to the highest pinnacle1 seemed to reecho the language of the text4 ,it is done1 not by might nor by power1 but by the ,spirit of the ,lord of hosts4 ,such is the original meaning and application1 but it by no means exhausts the lesson1--rather suggests a much wider and universal use4 ,in the ,new ,testament and the ,church of ,christ it is also most emphatically true that all depends upon the light-giving1 life giving1 power-giving of the ,spirit of ,god4 ,it was so on the first ,pentecost1 which we commemorate to-day2 it is just so now4 ,the source of the ,church's life1 and its success1 is the energy of ,god's ,spirit4 ,that is the one prominent thought and truth that we would meditate and impress upon our minds in these moments of instruction4 ,men are accustomed to look on the outward appearance4 ,they are disposed to trust to material resources4 ,thus1 quite naturally1 they are inclined to fall into the error that ,god's cause1 the preservation and extension of ,christ's ,church1 are dependent upon the same things1 that these same things are necessary to the success of the ,gospel truth4 ,thus1 to be more explicit1 they have a notion that wealth and worldly influence are such necessary helps4 ,we see money exercising a nearly unlimited sway for external comfort and enjoyment4 ,we behold how those who possess it secure respect and homage1 thousands standing ready to do with hireling eagerness their slightest wish4 ,to the success of every scheme1 whether material or intellectual1 money in our day would appear to be the one thing needful4 ,it is called the nervus rerum1 the nerve of things4 ,and is the ,church exempt8 ,how is it to be supported at home1 how the heathen brought within its fold1 unless the ear of the rich and the powerful be first gained and their purse-strings opened to supply the financial aid8 ,has it not come to this1 that1 when inquiring as to the prosperity of a particular congregation1 wealth suggests itself as the most prominent1 and piety and high moral worth as only subordinate ideas1 if1 indeed1 these occur to people at all8 ,now it would be foolish to contend that money and wealth may not be1 and actually are1 a means in ,god's providence to further ,his cause4 ,we need money1 but1 let it be noted1 not as a necessary1 but as only a very accidental means4 ,to take any other view of the matter is to put it in the place of ,god1 whence alone it can derive its efficiency4 ,any one who has given calm and careful attention to the history of the ,church1 from the first publication of our holy faith by ,christ ,himself down to the present day1 will have found that the favor of the rich and the powerful is not essential to its advancement4 ,in the period of its rise and apparently greatest weakness1 when it had only a few poor fishermen for its adherents and advocates1 its growth was most rapid4 ,after wealth began to make itself felt1 its progress was retarded1 and internal decay set in4 ,by that we do not say that such has been1 and naturally is1 the result of every influence of this sort1 but simply that the cause of divine truth is independent of all such agencies for its vitality and effective power4 ,riches and civil power cannot in themselves1 and irrespective of the divine blessing1 promote the cause of ,christ in the world4 ,that1 ,i know1 every one professing himself a ,christian is ready at once to allow1 and yet in view of the undue prominence that is made over the matter1 it is proper to call heed to the warning contained in the text4 ,let us not overestimate and exaggerate the value of money in spiritual matters4 ,again1 it is well to remark that the cause of ,christ is not dependent for its advancement on personal talents and high intellectual endowments4 ,how much is not made of that these days6 ,correct enough1 as the supernatural gifts of the ,spirit ceased with the early ,christian age1 the ,christian ,church1 guided by common prudence1 as well as by the express statements of the ,bible1 has ever since required that those who occupy the sacred office should possess such an amount of mental culture as might fit them to interpret1 expound1 and apply the truths of ,scripture1 but that there is danger of overestimating and idolizing the intellectual ability of these office-holders to the practical neglect of the truth they present1 is only too lamentably apparent4 ,since the day that ,paul1 ,apollos1 and ,cephas divided the favor of the ,church of ,corinth1 the one being for ,paul1 the other for ,apollos1 and the third for ,peter1 this partiality1 or favoritism1 has been very common and yet is4 ,add to this the growing intelligence of the age1 its high and general standard of education1 and the loud cry for men of talents and superior scholarship is strong and pronounced4 ,these things1 accordingly1 are not to be despised or neglected2 on the contrary1 cultivated4 ,but let us not for one moment believe that ,gospel truth is dependent on learning and genius to keep it awake4 ,learning and genius and oratory are nothing except when they are blessed2 nay1 without the blessing they are likely to be productive of injury1 just in proportion as they are great4 ,let us beware of regarding them in any higher or different way4 ,unless an energy or agency superior to that of man pave the way for truth to enter1 the finest scholarship and the most persuasive eloquence will not force a passage4 ,what that energy and agency is the text tells us4 ,one other agency and resource upon which too much stress is laid is this3 ,we have fallen upon a generation of fuss1 bustle1 trumpet-blowing1 and advertising4 ,it would almost seem as if many of us believed that we were to take the world by storm4 ,we see it in every department1 and the ,church is falling in line4 ,we have all sorts of noisy demonstrations and manifestations2 ministers advertise themselves and their sermons under ridiculous announcements1 as if to draw the crowd1 and not rather regenerating their heart1 were the only and sole purpose4 ,let us beware of placing too much significance on this matter of advertising4 ,we must not be forgetful of the ,master's direction3 ,let your light shine before men4 ,a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid4 ,neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel1 but on a candlestick4 ,and yet1 it is well to remember that vision of ,elijah1 when he stood upon ,mount ,horeb1 and the ,lord wished to speak to ,his servant4 ,first there was a terrific earthquake that shook the ground2 but1 it says1 the ,lord was not in the earthquake4 ,that was followed by a terrific whirlwind rending the trees and causing havoc around2 but1 it says1 the ,lord was not in the whirlwind4 ,then1 following it1 came a fire2 but1 it says1 the ,lord was not in the fire4 ,then1 when tranquillity reigned again1 and earth and skies lay in silence1 came a still1 small voice4 ,the ,lord was in that4 ,he is still in the still1 small voice of ,gospel grace4 ,let the ministers preach this ,gospel grace in all its purity and in all faithfulness1 and it will do the work4 ,it is the only instrument the ,spirit employs in changing a man's nature4 ,let him and his members live that ,gospel1 let them show in their characters and behavior that they have been born again and are sustained by the agency of the ,holy ,spirit2 that they are temples of ,god1 and the ,spirit dwelleth in them1 and thus by a godlike life commend the religion they profess2 let them both1 minister and members1 be found where they were all with one accord on the first ,pentecost1 in one place1 that one place the place of worship2 and let them both be doing what the first disciples were doing1--praying for the outpouring of the ,spirit1 upon themselves and their cause1 and1 verily1 as ,god's promise is true1 they shall not fail of a pentecostal outpouring1 success1 and blessing upon their undertaking4 ,summon all your forces1 mention all your resources4 ,not by might nor by power1 but by my ,spirit1 saith the ,lord of hosts4 ,god1 ,holy ,spirit1 we invoke ,thee1 ,come into our hearts1 take possession of them1 come into our homes1 rule there4 ,come into our churches and our church4 ,come1 and ,thy people bless1 and give ,thy ,word success1 for ,thou1 and ,thou only1 canst and must do so4 ,amen4 ,,trinity ,,sunday4 ,the grace of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and the love of ,god1 and the communion of the ,holy ,ghost1 be with you all4--#b ,cor4 #ac1 #ad4 ,we are entering to-day upon the second part of the ,christian church-year4 ,the seasons and festivals of the church-year may be compared to a river that takes its rise1 like the stream which washes the banks of our city1 in some small and distant lake1 and then ever continues to grow1 widen1 and deepen1 until it becomes a majestic flow1 and finally empties into the vast gulf of the ocean4 ,we have seen in the past months the river of grace and salvation issuing as a tiny rivulet from under a humble manger on ,bethlehem's plains1 passing through the gorge of ,nazareth1 flowing along the banks of ,jordan1 sweeping past the cities of ,galilee and ,judea1 lifting up its surging billows to the height of ,calvary and ,olivet1 until it overflowed the world with its heavenly billows on the day of ,pentecost4 ,by that river it has been our good fortune to linger each ,sunday1 to dip up of its waters many a draught for our thirsty souls1 and bathe in its currents for the washing away of our sins4 ,to-day1 however1 we are called to ascend to its source1 to leave ,bethlehem1 ,nazareth1 and ,judea behind1 to climb above ,golgotha's ,mount and ,olivet's top1 yes1 to soar beyond the cloud which once received our ascended ,lord out of sight1 and to gaze upon a gulf1 an ocean1 which has no boundary and no shore4 ,to speak in simple and unadorned speech3 ,it is the subject of ,god ,himself which we are invited to contemplate1 the most overwhelming1 mysterious1 deepest of them all4 ,who by searching1 asks ,job1 can find out ,god8 ,who can find out the ,almighty to perfection8 ,and yet there are some things which we can and which we must know1 for the subject of ,god is at the base of all things1 of all religion4 ,without the right knowledge of ,god no man is a right man1 and no one can rightly adjust himself to his place in this world or in the next4 ,let us1 then1 approach the great mystery of godliness1 letting heavenly wisdom be our teacher4-- ,to-day's festival is called the ,festival of the ,trinity4 ,what is the doctrine of the ,trinity8 ,for it certainly behooves every one to understand what is meant thereby1 and this doctrine is held by all the ,christian churches4 ,whosoever believes it1 becomes a member of the ,church4 ,whoever rejects it1 ceases to belong to the ,christian ,church1 and becomes a heretic4 ,scripture tells us on the one hand that ,god is one1 that there are not three ,gods1 but one ,god2 on the other hand1 that the ,father is ,god1 that our blessed ,lord ,jesus1 the ,son1 is ,god1 that the ,holy ,ghost is ,god1 each person being a perfect ,god1 yet so joined1 each to each1 that they constitute one invisible ,god4 ,we are taught that these three persons are uncreated1 incomprehensible1 eternal1 almighty1 equal in glory1 majesty1 and power4 ,none is before1 none after1 none greater or less than another2 they are coeternal and coequal4 ,that is the plain teaching of ,god's holy ,word4 ,the ,father1 the ,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 each of them is ,god1 and yet there are not three ,gods1 but one ,god4 ,how these three persons are so united as to make up only one ,god1 so that the persons are neither confounded1 nor the substance divided1 we are nowhere told in ,scripture4 ,on this1 as with regard to many other matters1 we must be content to be ignorant4 ,that is a great hardship to the pride of the would-be wise4 ,and so in the earliest ages men arose and strove against this doctrine of the ,trinity4 ,the first violent strife that agitated the early ,christian ,church was just on this point4 ,arius1 a certain bishop1 would not accept the simple statement of ,scripture that ,christ is ,god1 in the same sense as the ,father is ,god2 he would make ,him inferior in divine nature4 ,a most fierce controversy was waged1 which ended in ,arius' being branded a heretic1 as1 indeed1 he was1 and the true faith being only the more clearly confessed in the creeds of the ,church1 called the ,athanasian and the ,nicene ,creed4 ,does this doctrine sound strange and hard to believe to the carnal understanding8 ,let those who would be wise come forward1 and prove their right to be admitted into the mystery of heaven1 by showing that they have fully mastered the lesser mysteries of earth4 ,let them tell us1 for instance1 why the needle of the compass always turns toward the north4 ,perhaps they will say1 ,because it is in its nature to do so4 ,but that is no answer4 ,our question is1 ,why does the needle so turn8 ,what secret and invisible hand twists it around and causes it to point always the same way8 ,or1 if this be too puzzling a question1 perhaps these wise people who think it so great a hardship that they are not permitted to understand ,god1 may tell us a little about themselves4 ,they can perhaps teach us how it comes to pass that the blood keeps flowing unceasingly through our veins1 without our being aware of it1 except when we are in a high fever4 ,we grow tired with labor or with exercise1 we tire even with doing nothing1 but the blood never ceases in its flow2 from the hour of our birth1 day and night1 summer and winter1 year after year1 it keeps on with its silent round1 never stopping1 till it stops once for all4 ,how1 ,i ask1 can these things be8 ,no answer4 ,and this is not the only matter by any means4 ,there is1 for instance1 sleep4 ,who does not sleep8 ,one-third of our lifetime is spent in sleep4 ,who can say what this is8 ,and if you cannot1--and no one can1--let those who know nothing about the how and the why in so many1 yea1 in most of earthly matters1 not be so very much surprised that they cannot understand the existence of that invisible1 that eternal1 that infinite ,spirit whom we call ,god4 ,but though ,scripture has only told us that these things are1 without teaching us how they are1 yet for the sake of showing that the mystery of the ,trinity is not so utterly at variance with what we find in earthly things1 as unbelievers would fain persuade us1 for the sake of proving how possible it is1 even according to our limited notions1 for that which is three in one sense to be one in another sense1 learned and pious men have busied themselves in seeking out likenesses for the ,trinity among the things of this world4 ,these likenesses1 it should be borne in mind1 are very imperfect1 and they do not give us a full and just idea of the glorious ,trinity2 yet such comparisons may help us in attaching some sort of notion to the words of the ,creed1 may keep those words from lying dead in our minds or1 rather1 on our tongues4 ,one such likeness or comparison is the glorious object which our eyes see in the sky--the sun4 ,that grand orb yonder1 from which all life doth come1 may be compared to the ,father1 from whom all blessings flow4 ,from it issues light4 ,this we may compare to the second person of the ,trinity1 who came forth from the ,father1 and who ,john tells us is the true ,light1 which lights every man that cometh into this world4 ,but besides this1 there comes from the sun1 heat1 which is different from light1 and may exist altogether without it4 ,this heat of the sun may not imperfectly be compared to the ,holy ,ghost1 the ,lord and ,giver of ,life1 as the ,creed calls ,him1 for heat is the great fosterer of life4 ,thus we have1 first1 the sun in the sky2 secondly1 the light which issues from the sun2 thirdly1 the heat which accompanies the light--three separate and distinguishable things2 for the sun viewed as an orb is one thing1 the light sent forth from it is another thing1 the heat still another2 and yet1 what can be more undivided than the sun1 its light and its warmth8 ,to mention another4--,as with the most glorious of heavenly bodies1 so with the purest of earthly bodies--water4 ,here1 too1 we have1 first1 the fountain1 high up among the rocks1 far out of man's reach1 answering to the ,father2 secondly1 the stream which issues from the fountain1 and flows down into the valley for the use of man1 which may be likened to ,jesus ,christ1 the ,son2 thirdly1 the mist which rises from the water1 and falls in rain or dew upon the thirsty ground1 which1 ,i need hardly state1 answers to the ,holy ,ghost1 who1 as we regarded last ,sunday1 came down visibly1 like the rain1 with a sound as of a rushing mighty wind on the apostles1 but who now descends gently and silently1 like the dew1 in the silence of night1 on the heart of the believer4 ,and these comparisons may be multiplied without number4 ,thus you are yourself a trinity1 a three in one1 consisting of body1 soul1 and spirit4 ,a clover leaf is one1 yet has three lobes4 ,a tree is roots1 trunk1 and branches1 yet one tree4 ,time is past1 present1 and future2 constitutes one thing1--time4 ,by these comparisons we do not make the difficulty in the mystery of the ,trinity conceivable to man's reason4 ,what ,god is in ,himself1--how the ,son is the ,only-begotten of the ,father2 how the ,holy ,ghost proceeds from the ,father2 how the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost abide forever in inseparable union and trinity1--these are questions of no importance for us to know1 and therefore ,god has not thought fit to reveal them to us more clearly4 ,and having considered the doctrine of the ,trinity1 as expressed in the words of the text and of ,scripture at large1 let us draw a few practical lessons from it4 ,many regard the doctrine of the ,trinity to be what is called a speculative doctrine only1 that is to say1 a doctrine concerning which men may think and conjecture and dispute for their amusement1 but of no effect or importance in real life4 ,this is a mistake4 ,the doctrine of the ,holy ,trinity is eminently practical and eminently profitable4 ,our religion is founded upon it4 ,deny or think lightly of this article of our faith1 and you remove the very corner-stone4 ,if it be not true that ,christ ,jesus is ,god in the same degree and sense that the ,father is1 then ,he was not ,god at all1 then ,he was a creature1 then ,his redemption is none-availing1--for no man can redeem his brother1--then1 in other words1 we have no ,savior1 and our faith is vain1 and our salvation a delusion1 and all that brings us together in ,christian worship is false2 for in whose name1 then1 have we been baptized1 for what purpose do we recite the ,creed1 and does the minister at the end of the service pronounce the blessing1 and the congregation sing the doxology8 ,you will observe that this doctrine lies at the very center and heart of all our faith and worship1 of all our ,christian life of joy and hope4 ,and some exceedingly profitable lessons does it teach us4 ,one is humility4 ,to hear some people talk1 one would suppose them the embodiment of all wisdom2 they are so self-consequential and conceited as if they knew it all1 and what they cannot figure out on their fingers or by the rule of two is not worth accepting4 ,let such learn in view of this doctrine to put their hand upon their mouth1 and their mouth into the dust1 and learn to confess their insignificance and folly4 ,it is said of ,augustine1 the great bishop1 that he was once in great distress of mind how he might comprehend and describe this article concerning the ,three-,one ,god4 ,when thus engaged1 he tells that he dreamed that he was walking along the seashore2 he saw a little child who had dug a hole into the sand1 and was employed dipping the ocean water into the hole with a shell4 ,what are you doing8 said the church-father4 ,oh1 replied the little one1 nothing1 only trying to empty this sea here into the hole4 ,laughingly he rejoined1 ,you will never be able to do that1 will you8 ,indeed1 answered the child1 and thou wouldst empty the mysteries of the infinite ,triune ,god with the little dipper of thy thoughts6 ,let us guard against being overly wise4 ,study to be humble when it comes to matters of ,god and our holy religion4 ,and1 to conclude1 let us encourage ourselves by such meditation to joyous and childlike faith4 ,god is great beyond all searching2 therefore1 may we rest assured that all is well in ,his hands and management4 ,a farmer once remarked to ,dr4 ,luther that he could not understand the ,creed when it speaks of ,god ,almighty4 ,neither can ,i nor all the doctors1 said the ,reformer1 but only believe it in all simplicity1 and take that ,god ,almighty for thy ,lord1 and ,he will take care of thee and all thou hast1 and bring thee safely through all thy troubles4 ,the same is true with regard to the second part of the ,trinity4 ,if ,god1 says the apostle1 spared not ,his own ,son1 but delivered ,him up for us all1 how shall ,he not with ,him also freely give us all things8 ,and the ,holy ,spirit coming into our hearts1 changing1 sustaining1 and enlightening us--ought not a devout consideration of this loving1 redeeming1 sanctifying work of the ,triune ,god prompt us to trust in ,him--for life1 in death1 for time and eternity8 ,to the great ,one in ,three ,the highest praises be ,hence evermore6 ,his sovereign majesty ,may we in glory see1 ,and through eternity ,love and adore4 ,amen4 ,,first ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,and these shall go away into everlasting punishment1 but the righteous into life eternal4--,matt4 #be1 #df4 ,truth1 my beloved1 never changes2 it is always the same4 ,what was true #aijj years ago1 is true to-day2 what is true to-day1 will be true #aijj years to come4 ,and this is emphatically so with regard to heavenly truth4 ,there is no new revelation in religion4 ,what the ,bible taught of old1 it teaches now2 we have no new ,bible4 ,the ,christian faith1 like its ,founder1 is the same yesterday1 to-day1 and forever4 ,thank ,god that it is so2 that among the ever-changing things of earth1 the constantly fluctuating and shifting ideas and opinions of men1 firmer than the ,rock of ,gibraltar1 more solid than the mountains1 there stands the ,word of our ,god4 ,and this pertains also to the doctrine which this day's ,gospel prominently sets before us1 the doctrine of future punishment4 ,it is only recently that the public prints quoted the minister of a prominent church as saying3 ,modern ,christianity has happily grown away from the old traditional doctrine of hell4 ,the ,church no longer believes in a place of literal fire and brimstone1 into which all unbelievers are cast for an eternity of torment4 ,even the most rigid orthodoxy allows wide latitude of belief in the problem of future punishment4 ,such utterances are very prevalent1 and have caused untold confusion of thought4 ,the matter1 however1 is very simple4 ,it is not a question of what some certain minister thinks1 however prominent he may be2 neither are we to be guided by what modern ,christianity thinks1 for modern ,christianity ought not think and believe differently from ancient ,christianity1 since ,christianity ought to be ever the same2 nor are we concerned what was the old traditional doctrine1 since tradition is not1 nor has it ever been1 a criterion for us4 ,the only determining factor in this1 as in all articles of our religious belief1 is1 ,what saith the ,scripture8 ,nor may it be superfluous1 in approaching the subject of to-day's instruction1 to warn against another element1 which is sentimentality4 ,sentiment in its place and sphere is noble and good2 but it must remain within its place and sphere4 ,when it comes into conflict with ,god's teaching1 or when it sets itself against the teachings of ,god's ,word1 and1 because it cannot think or feel how a loving and righteous ,god could do or permit certain things1 then sentiment degenerates into sickly sentimentality1 becomes ignoble and sinful4 ,we must never allow our emotion to outrun our sober reason1 and1 least of all1 to set itself against the statements of religion and the arrangements of a holy and all-wise ,god4 ,and what is that arrangement in respect to the future8 ,two main thoughts would we dwell upon at this time3 ,i4 ,hell1 what is it8--its nature4 ,,ii4 ,how long does it last8--its duration4 ,whenever a general in war wishes to surprise his enemy1 he seeks to conceal himself from him1 endeavors to make his antagonist believe that he is not at all about1 or that he is not as formidable as the other might think4 ,just so the infernal enemy of men's souls seek to delude them into the belief that there is no hell2 that1 at any rate1 it is not what some would make it out to be4 ,hell is within you2 it's the pinching of conscience in this life1 or the misery you have to endure here4 ,at the most1 it is not terrible1 it is not going to last forever2 there is going to be a final and universal restoration2 all unbelievers will ultimately be delivered4 ,all this passes for naught4 ,whether there is a future life1 and of what sort that future life is--only one can positively tell us1 and that is ,god--,i repeat1 positively tell us4 ,human reason and philosophy have conjectured its probability or its possibility1 but as to its certainty1 that we have exclusively from the book of ,god's revelations--the ,bible4 ,and the ,bible tells us1 in plain1 unmistakable terms1 as plainly as it tells us that there is a heaven and a ,god1 that there is a hell4 ,to discredit it is to discredit the ,bible1 to contradict our blessed ,lord1 to shut one's eyes willfully against the truth1 and what is it8 ,something within us--something confined to this world8 ,never does the ,bible so speak4 ,hell1 according to the ,scriptures1 refers always to the future4 ,so in the parable of the ,rich ,man and ,lazarus4 ,the rich man died1 and then1 after his death1 in hell1 he lifted up his eyes4 ,when this life is over1 the scenes of this world have faded upon their vision1 then1 for the unrepentant and unsaved1 comes hell4 ,and what is it8 ,to give it with one word--punishment4 ,these1 declares the eternal ,judge1 shall go away into everlasting punishment4 ,this punishment is twofold2 it is outward and it is inward4 ,man consists of body and of soul2 both are the instruments of his guilt and condemnation2 both receive the just reward of their deeds4 ,whenever ,scripture speaks of future punishment1 it uses expressions like these3 darkness1 blackness of darkness1 thirst1 fire1 lake burning with fire and brimstone4 ,the ,gospel parable represents the rich man begging for a drop of water to cool his tongue4 ,it has been said that this is nothing but imagery1 mere drapery1 pictorial embellishment2 but it is true4 ,imagery and the figure are always less terrible than the reality4 ,it may be idle curiosity to speculate as to whether this fire which the ,bible speaks of is material fire1 how ,god can support life in the burnings of hell1--though we know that ,he sustained the companions of ,daniel in a hot furnace in the days of ,king ,nebuchadnezzar whose image they would not worship4 ,waiving all such questions as to the nature of the fire1 the place where it is1 and the extent to which it is inflicted1 the fact that ,scripture almost always employs the idea of fire to express the sufferings of hell leads one to believe that there unhappy sufferers literally endure torments like those which men burning in flames feel2 and without running into all sorts of revolting descriptions1 so much is plain3 ,hell is pain1 acute sensation of the body1 the sense of feeling physical suffering2 and coupled with this outward punishment is the inward anguish of mind1 remorse of conscience4 ,thus1 in the parable1 ,abraham speaks to the rich man1 ,son1 remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things4 ,memory will be a dreadful source of misery4 ,here1 again1 we shall not enter upon any speculations as to the workings of mind and conscience in future retributions1 but we know what agony remorse of conscience occasions in this world4 ,it has made strong men tremble1 it has smitten the knees of ,belshazzar together in the midst of his pleasure4 ,it has forced many a one to confess his misdeed1 to give evidence against himself1 and seek punishment to escape its excruciating agony4 ,terrible is an awakened conscience1 and yonder it shall be fully awakened4 ,it will have to do homage to an offended and avenging ,god2 be obliged to say to itself1 ,you are the author of your own punishment1 you suffer for your own sins4 ,the recollection of his selfishness1 his uncharitableness1 sensuality1 of possessions1 and of opportunities abused and misspent1 as in the case of this rich man in the parable1 will cause him keen and tormenting self-reproach4 ,anguish1 inward and outward1 and all this aggravated by the society1 the companionship about them4 ,imagine the associates in yonder accursed place6 ,no wonder that the unfortunate subject of to-day's parable plaintively pleads3 ,i pray thee1 father1 that thou wouldst send ,lazarus to my father's house2 for ,i have five brothers1 lest they also come into this place of torment4 ,the thought1 not that of pity1--for pity and sympathy are unknown in hell1--but of increasing his misery1 knowing how much he was guilty toward them in leading them astray by scoffing word and lewd example1--it was this that wrung from his lips this plea4 ,how awful such association6 ,how dreadful it is all6 ,so much as to the first particular1 what hell is3 outward and inward punishment in the society of the damned4 ,and such punishment1 it is further revealed here1 is ceaseless in its duration4 ,many theories are taught to the contrary4 ,it is contended by some that this punishment is only for a time1 then follows annihilation of the wicked1 they cease to exist4 ,others1 again1 hold that all the wicked will be finally restored to ,god's favor and heaven2 that they are now only in a state of trial and probation2 that hell will come to an end4 ,i grant you that we would be very much inclined to believe that if we could4 ,but what say the ,scriptures8 ,there is not a single word in all the ,bible which indicates that there will be probation1 another chance1 after death4 ,as the tree falleth1 so it lies4 ,when the sand has run out of the glass of life1 there is no reversion of the glass1 the period of grace is gone4 ,there is a great gulf fixed1 says the ,gospel1 so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot2 neither can they pass to us that would come from thence4 ,what plainer words could be spoken3 ,these shall go away into everlasting punishment1 but the righteous into life eternal4 ,mark the comparison1--everlasting punishment1 life eternal4 ,if you tamper with1 lessen the one1 you do so with the other2 the only thing in fairness is to accept them thus strictly and expressly1 meaning just what they say4 ,eternity1 that is the word which is written over the portals of the blessed1 over the place of the cursed4 ,thus in its dread and awful solemnity have ,i set this subject before you4 ,why8 ,because it is the duty of a faithful servant of ,god to declare to his people the whole counsel of ,his ,master1 and do so unreservedly4 ,a much abused subject is the subject of ,hell1--from the playwright who works it up for public amusement1 to the swearer who uses it in his foul mouth to add poison and fury to his oath1 to the over-sensitive churchmen who treat the passages which treat of hell like a waxen nose that they can twist and turn to suit1 and who would not recite in the ,creed3 ,christ descended into hell1 since it sounds so bad4 ,over against these and all other perversions it behooves us to vindicate the clear and unmistakable teaching of the ,bible4 ,it is the ,savior ,himself who tells us to-day's parable1 who spoke the words of our text1 and it is for us to believe and declare what ,he says1 to avoid all levity in the matter and all vain speculation1 and to give it its proper weight and place4 ,but above all1 this dreadful subject is held up before us that we may know how to escape the terrors portrayed4 ,how8 ,god so loved the world that ,he gave ,his only-begotten ,son1 that whosoever believeth in ,him should not perish1 but have everlasting life4 ,he has redeemed me1 a lost and condemned creature1 purchased and won me1 that ,i may be ,his own and live under ,him in ,his kingdom1 and serve ,him in everlasting righteousness and blessedness4 ,that is the purpose of the ,gospel4 ,god wants none to perish1 not one soul has ,he destined to eternal perdition2 ,he would have all men to be saved4 ,he has made every provision to save man from everlasting doom4 ,the terrors of yonder place magnify the riches of that grace which in ,jesus ,christ delivers from it4 ,let us adore the wisdom1 the unspeakable mercy that would spare us from such a doom4 ,let us turn to the ,cross1 employ the time of grace in faith and in wholesome service and life1-- ,so whene'er the signal's given ,us from earth to call away1 ,borne on angels' wings to heaven1 ,glad the summons to obey1 ,may we ready1 may we ready1 ,rise and reign in endless day4 ,amen4 ,,second ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,and as he reasoned of righteousness1 temperance1 and judgment to come1 ,felix trembled1 and answered1 ,go thy way for this time2 when ,i have a convenient season1 ,i will call for thee4--,acts #bd1 #be4 ,felix1 the man here mentioned1 was the ,roman ,governor or ,procurator of ,judea4 ,felix is a ,latin word and means happy4 ,but ,felix was not happy1 for no wicked person can be happy1 and ,felix was a wicked person4 ,tacitus1 the historian1 says of him3 ,in the practice of all kinds of cruelty and lust1 ,felix exercised the power of a king with the temper of a slave4 ,a sample we have here given4 ,it reads in the previous verse3 ,after certain days1 444 ,felix came with his wife4 ,strictly taken1 she was not his wife1 but1 being persuaded to elope to him from her husband1 the two were living together in an adulterous alliance4 ,and before this man appears a prisoner1 unpretentious-looking1 loaded with chains4 ,he had stood before the ,governor once before in answer to certain charges made by his countrymen1 and had so ably and convincingly defended himself that1 had it not been1 as it says in the next verse1 that ,felix expected to realize something out of the case by way of a bribe1 he would have set him free4 ,as it was1 the ,governor had been so impressed with ,paul's 7for none other was the prisoner7 forceful speech that he requested the apostle to give him a more explicit account concerning the religion he preached4 ,he arranges the occasion1 and the champion of the cross gladly availed himself of the opportunity4 ,we do not know the precise course which he followed in his address to ,felix1 but his general outline was based on the same principles that every good ,christian sermon is based on1 viz41 faith and practice4 ,first he spoke concerning the faith in ,christ1 that is1 the ,christian faith1 laying down its fundamental and cardinal facts and doctrines4 ,but as a sick man will never send for the physician till he is aware of his danger1 so the sinner will never betake himself to the redeeming blood of his ,savior till he becomes sensible of his lost and sinful condition4 ,the apostle1 therefore1 not only preaches the ,gospel2 he also preaches the ,law4 ,he reasoned1 it says1 of righteousness1 temperance1 and judgment to come4 ,no topics could have been more appropriate4 ,felix was a high-ranked magistrate1 accustomed to see every one prostrate at his feet4 ,paul points out to him that though there be various gradations in social life1 the one a king1 the other a subject1 the one stepping on a carpet of down and gold1 the other walking barefoot through the dust1 in the sight of ,god all these distinctions avail not4 ,yea1 having higher opportunities1 a man's responsibilities are but the greater1 and woe if in the discharge of his office a man measure not up to the responsibilities4 ,thus1 turning to the next particular1 he reasoned of temperance1 i4 e41 the right government of the passions2 he showed him how intemperance degrades the character1 debases society1 and invites the punishment of ,god1 and1 finally1 placing his sermon on still higher ground1 he draws away for a moment from the eyes of ,felix the bandage that concealed the sight of futurity1 and ushers him in thought before the judgment-bar of his unalterable ,judge4 ,he had invited this prisoner1 far-famed for his topic and eloquence1 to give a display of his powers1 but he had never supposed such a presentation4 ,as the divine word1 the two-edged sword of the ,spirit1 wielded by such an arm1 cut into the joints and marrow of the profligate sinner's conscience4 ,it had the same effect which the handwriting on the wall once had upon ,belshazzar of ,babylon4 ,he moved about uneasily1 his color changed1 his knees smote one against the other2 he trembled1 it says4 ,the truth had smitten to the heart1 and then8 ,was truth victorious8 ,did virtue conquer8 ,did the judgment-hall echo the words of the ,philippian jailer1 ,what shall ,i do to be saved8 or1 like the publican1 did he smite upon his breast1 saying1 ,god be merciful to me a sinner8 ,how the angels would have rejoiced1 and ,felix would have been what his name means1 happy4 ,but ,satan knew his man too well4 ,in a moment the smitten sinner had rallied from his shock2 with a grace and courtesy1 truly admirable if it had not been so disastrous1 he says3 ,go thy way for this time2 when ,i have a convenient season1 ,i will call for thee4 ,the story of ,felix has been written for our admonition4 ,god grant that like an arrow it may smite into the joints and marrow of our conscience to-day4 ,our theme is3 ,,the ,,convenient ,,season1 noting1 ,i4 ,a few things that hinder the convenient season2 ,,ii4 ,the delusion of putting it off4 ,we have heard ,felix' plea2 it was not an abrupt turning away from the topics ,paul had spoken to him of4 ,he did not declare in express terms that he would never embrace the faith in ,christ1 that he would not renounce iniquity and prepare for the final account4 ,no1 his answer implies that he would do all this1 but he begs to be excused from doing it for the present4 ,when ,i have a convenient season1 ,i will call for thee4 ,felix' plea is still a most prevalent plea4 ,perhaps it is the most prevalent plea1 never advanced so much as in our times4 ,it is not that people are deliberately determined to rush into the arms of the devil and hell2 many of the most thoughtless and the most profligate1 convicted by the emotions of conscience within and the presentation of religion1 still have the intention that some time or other1 bye and bye1 they are going to become more serious1 to reform4 ,the drunkard will some day abandon his cups1 the swearer his profanity1 the lewd man his profligacy1 but not just now4 ,and not only these1 the thoughtless1 the profligate1 but those who are very thoughtful and of excellent standing and morals4 ,what a universal plea it is6 ,there is one class1 they are too young to be religious4 ,youth is the time of gayety4 ,even if they do not sow wild oats1 they must have their pleasure4 ,as they advance in years1 they will eventually grow more serious4 ,let me caution you1 my young hearers6 ,of all other seasons1 youth is the fittest for ,god and godliness4 ,no man ever became more disposed to be religious by mere age4 ,he may become more thoughtful and serious1 but thoughtfulness and seriousness is not yet religion4 ,the duty enjoined is3 ,remember thy ,creator in the days of thy youth1 and it is a solemn fact that the greater number of those who are ,christians indeed have been so in early life4--,so be not deceived6 ,the present time is the most convenient season4 ,you can never enjoy a better4 ,another apology and hindrance which multitudes offer against the convenient season is what they style business4 ,i suppose ,felix had occasion to offer that1 too4 ,the office of a governor was no lazy one2 he had a large docket of pending cases1 a considerable correspondence1 many distracting cares4 ,correspondingly1 at the present1 there be those who are occupied in providing for their wants1 gaining a livelihood for their families1 accumulating a fortune4 ,it is impossible for them just now1 but in a few years they will have more leisure2 their property will be greater1 their anxiety lessened1 and then1 relieved of pressing cares1 they will devote their time and their attention to ,god's service4 ,sad mistake6 ,business never lets up4 ,the world gives no man leisure for the consideration of the greater business of salvation4 ,i have known those who have urged this excuse ten1 nearly twenty years ago2 they still urge it1 and will continue to do so so long as they live4 ,some may regard it as a witticism1 but it was immensely serious when a child recently informed its mother that the child did not think papa was going to heaven1 and asked why1 replied1 ,he can't possibly leave the store4 ,we have a number of that class in connection with our membership4 ,it is a sorry business that keeps any man away from the main business1 the one thing needful4 ,one more plea would we regard1 that is health4 ,how many1 when aroused to the importance of attending to matters spiritual1 will seek to soothe the clamors of conscience by the reflection3 ,it is true1 ,i must be renewed and holy1 or ,i will perish4 ,i cannot go to heaven as ,i am1 but ,i hope to be better before ,i die4 ,i will look after these things when ,i get sick2 then ,i shall have leisure for reflection4 ,with nothing else to do then1 ,i will repent and make my peace with ,god4 ,oh6 the folly and the wickedness of such reasoning6 ,not only does it reflect on ,god's religion1 as if it were a tyranny and a grievous yoke that one puts off as long as it is possible1 not only is it ,god-dishonoring1 giving unto the devil and to the world1 the ,lord's foremost rivals1 the best fruits of one's days1 and turning over to ,him the stubble and the dregs left in the cup of life1 but who knows the time of his death1 the time appointed when he shall go hence1 and whether occasion shall be left for any reflection8 ,like a lightning flash it may summon us into the presence of the ,almighty4 ,and even granted that everything shall be propitious in that respect1 have you ever seen persons on a sick- or death-bed8 ,their pulse feverish and their body weak2 their senses so impaired that they seem utterly unable to collect their thoughts2 and this is the time that people want to select for religious reflection8 ,then1 too1 when does the ,bible say that a man can convert himself at any time that he chooses8 ,the ,bible speaks of only one solitary case of death-bed1 or eleventh-hour repentance1 and that is the instance of the dying thief on the cross4 ,and there is a tremendously wide difference between him and the people who offer up that plea4 ,the dying malefactor had never deferred his conversion to his dying day2 he had never put religion off until then4 ,so his case does not belong under consideration at all1 though it is always quoted by such delinquents4 ,no1 there is only one convenient season1 and there is only one course to pursue in view of it4 ,that one convenient season is now1 and the only one course to pursue in view of it is to seize hold upon and attend to its demands4 ,we have all seen mottoes on the walls of business offices3 ,do it now1 ,never put off until to-morrow what can be done to-day1 ,now or never1 ,make hay while the sun shines4 ,and as you see them at their worldly interests1 they follow those mottoes2 they are up and about1 straining every nerve1 using every moment to gain an advantage4 ,yes1 as you study the whole working creation of ,god1 you will discover that everything is on time3 ,the birds know when to fly southward2 the stars of heaven meet all their appointments2 the earth is believed to make a circuit of five hundred millions of miles and back again at the winter and spring solstice on the second1 yes1 on the millionth part of a second4 ,there is only one who wastes time1 and that in the most important matter1 and that creature is man4 ,observe in this the terrible delusion of procrastination4 ,and it cheats us all1 more or less2 or how--to make the application to ourselves who are church-members--how is it that we can hear the things which we hear ,sunday after ,sunday1 and on many other occasions1 things which1 so far from denying or contradicting1 we like to hear1 we would be uncomfortable not to hear1 and agree with them and still go on living and doing as if they were mere words and meant nothing1 if it were not that we fancy to ourselves a time when it will suit us not only to agree with them1 but actually to put them in practice1--a time when we shall pray in earnest1 though we are careless about praying now1--a time when we shall take up the reading of the ,bible1 though we neglect it now1--a time when we shall be gentle1 and loving1 and heavenly-minded1 and pure1 whatever to the contrary we may be now8 ,but is it not a delusion8 ,if you are putting off saying your prayers regularly and earnestly because it is not convenient now1 do you really think that the time will come when it will be easier1 and more natural for you to do this8 ,if you are still putting off1 as so many have1 and are putting off for years1 what yet they acknowledge to be a ,christian's bounden duty1 employing the much-needed means of grace1 the coming to the ,lord's holy ,sacrament1 can you really expect that anything will happen to you which somehow or other will be the opportunity you cannot find now of hearing the ,gospel and drawing near to that blessed communion8 ,reflect6 ,felix waited for a convenient season4 ,it never came2 it will never come where he is now4 ,let him be a lesson to us4 ,the convenient season is just now1--and let us beware of trifling with it4 ,of all sad words of tongue or pen1 ,the saddest are these1 ,it might have been4 ,and of all devices by which the devil throws a loop around the sinner's neck1 the most effective is this3 ,a more convenient season6 ,not yet4 ,my dear hearers1 ,i have again1 like my great predecessor1 the apostle1 made an appeal to you to accept the faith as it is in ,christ ,jesus4 ,what say you8 ,with ,felix3 ,not now1 or1 ,i will8 ,o for the right choice6 ,god gives you the opportunity to make it now4 ,will you not seize it8 ,amen4 ,,third ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,and as ,jesus passed forth from thence1 ,he saw a man named ,matthew sitting at the receipt of custom2 and ,he said unto him1 ,follow me4 ,and he arose and followed ,him4 ,and it came to pass1 as ,jesus sat at meat in the house1 behold1 many publicans and sinners came and sat down with ,him and ,his disciples4 ,and when the ,pharisees saw it1 they said unto ,his disciples1 ,why eateth your ,master with publicans and sinners8 ,but when ,jesus heard that1 ,he said unto them1 ,they that be whole need not a physician1 but they that are sick4 ,but go ye and learn what that meaneth1 ,i will have mercy1 and not sacrifice2 for ,i am not come to call the righteous1 but sinners1 to repentance4--,matt4 #i1 #i-ac4 ,the text just heard contains much of interest and importance--first1 for the history which it gives1 and secondly1 for the ,gospel which it preaches4 ,we shall consider both for our encouragement and instruction4 ,it was in ,capernaum1 the capital of ,galilee1 on the borders of ,lake ,tiberias4 ,jesus was walking by the seaside when ,he saw a man named ,matthew sitting at the receipt of customs1 collecting the duties1 or taxes1 on goods landed from the vessels4 ,to all human appearance this collector of customs1 or publican1 as they were called1 was a very unlikely person to become a convert1 much less an apostle4 ,publicans1 or taxgatherers1 in those days were held in very ill repute4 ,one reason for this was that they were in the employ of the ,roman ,government1 and no patriotic1 loyal-hearted ,jew would permit himself to be employed by these despised and oppressive ,gentiles4 ,another reason was that those who were thus employed generally managed to make it profitable for themselves4 ,by practicing fraud and distortion upon their own countrymen1 overcharging and collecting more than was due1 they succeeded in accumulating means1 and many1 like ,zaccheus1 a large fortune4 ,there is nothing to show that ,matthew was guilty of such extortion and fraud1 but he was by office and occupation connected with this odious and unprincipled set of men2 nor is it necessary for us to believe that he was altogether free from the taint that attached to them4 ,and yet1 out of the ranks of these base and detested publicans1 ,jesus did not disdain to take at least one of those twelve men whom ,he chose to be the heralds of ,his ,gospel1 the great leaders of ,his kingdom to a perishing world4 ,good men1 let us learn from this1 often come from despised and unworthy classes4 ,outward circumstances do not always prove as unfavorable nor as adverse to piety as we are apt to imagine4 ,there is often a wide contrast between outward appearances and inward realities4 ,it may be that ,matthew inwardly was very much disposed to follow ,jesus when addressed by ,him4 ,it is not for us to discern what is going on in the inner man4 ,we may hear the blasphemer uttering a vile oath and pass him by as one on the verge of perdition1 while the heart of the poor wretch at the very moment may be bursting with anguish and filled with self-reproach1 and one word of kindness might melt him into contrition and love4 ,we see another amid the wild whirl of earthly dissipation and pleasure1 and may suppose that it would be casting pearls before swine to waste a word on religious topics with him1 while he may be aching with a sense of the emptiness of the world1 and a single expression of ,christian kindness may draw from him a confession of the vanity of all his pleasures1 and the inquiry1 ,who will show me any permanent and real good8 ,never let us judge of the hopelessness of man's salvation by the mere outward appearance4 ,no den of infamy is so vile1 no hall of skepticism1 or haunt of worldliness is so impenetrable1 no prison cell so deep or polluted1 but that ,jesus can gather thence gems that shall shine in ,his crown4 ,who was ever a more devoted follower of ,christ than ,mary ,magdalene8--and yet she once had seven devils4 ,who was more voluptuous1 depraved1 and infamous in his course as a young man than ,augustine1 who became the great bishop of ,hippo and one of the most illustrious doctors of the ,church8 ,and what did ,jesus see in any of us to lead ,him to visit us with ,his salvation8 ,was there any such native excellence in your character1 or such a purity in your conduct1 when out of ,christ1 that ,god was attracted thereby and stooped from heaven to save you1 because it was a pity that so much worth and goodness should be lost forever8 ,oh1 no1 not for our merits1 but of ,his own infinite mercy does ,he save us1 and if we feel aright1 we shall never think that we deserved to be saved1 while the vile sinner deserved to be damned1 but that all of us are sinners worthy of ,god's wrath and curse1 and that none have reason for boasting4 ,viewed in that light1 we shall not wonder that ,christ chose an apostle from that most ill-favored class of men known in ,palestine at the time4 ,and the call was not unheeded4 ,it is not necessary to assume that the call came to ,matthew as a clap of thunder out of a clear sky4 ,matthew1 as a dweller in ,capernaum1 where our ,savior was preaching and performing some of ,his most noted miracles1 and as a man who daily had to do with people of all classes1 could not have been without some knowledge of what was going on4 ,in all likelihood he had seen and heard ,christ1 and so was not wholly without preparation for what happened when the great ,teacher and ,wonder-worker came into his office and said to him1 ,follow me4 ,and what was the decision8 ,our text informs us3 ,he left all1 rose up1 and followed ,christ4 ,promptly1 cheerfully1 he surrendered his worldly interests1 unites his fortune and his future with the ,master4 ,it was not so in every instance4 ,we know that the same call was extended to others1 who at once propounded something else to be attended to4 ,the one remarked1 ,lord1 suffer me first to go and bury my father2 another1 ,lord1 ,i will follow ,thee1 but let me first go bid them farewell which are at home at my house1 and still another1 it says1 went away sorrowing1 because he was not willing to separate himself from his great possessions4 ,it is so to this very day and hour4 ,to every one that hears the ,gospel the word is3 ,follow ,me4 ,there are those who heed it like ,matthew4 ,then others who hear the same call make a thousand excuses1 but never reach the point of honest decision4 ,obedience1 as it is the first virtue of a child1 in a soldier1 or a servant1 so it is the first virtue in a ,christian4 ,when you hear the blessed ,savior's voice1 asking you to take up the obligations of a ,christian faith and life1 then respond like ,matthew1 instantly1 promptly4 ,and not only was it prompt and ready obedience1 it was steadfast1 persevering4 ,it was not a spirit of momentary enthusiasm that presently died away4 ,never again did he return to his old profession4 ,with unfaltering devotion did he cling to our ,lord1 and finally laid down his life in ,his cause4 ,there are those who1 when they hear the merciful call of the ,savior1 are prompt enough sometimes to follow4 ,they are greatly captivated with the ,christian profession4 ,they like the distinction it gives them1 the new attitude and surroundings in which they are placed1 the gaining of new friends1 sympathies and credit with which it invests them4 ,but when it comes to the serious side1--and ,christian discipleship has a serious side1--it does not mean only wearing a bright uniform and carrying a flag1 but standing on guard1 enduring hardships as a good soldier of ,christ4 ,then the cross becomes too heavy for them1 and by and by they are offended1 their zeal expires1 and their once flaming devotion dies4 ,matthew was not of that class2 his decision was as honest1 thorough1 and enduring as it was prompt1 and in this he is an example for us4 ,nor was this all4 ,not only did ,matthew follow the ,savior1 but the subsequent verse informs us that he made a great feast for the ,master4 ,we can easily see the motives of the man in making this feast4 ,my ,lord has had mercy on me1 he would say1 and ,i wish to do something to testify my love and gratitude to ,him4 ,i will make an entertainment in ,his honor1 and ,i will invite my old friends among the publicans to it1 for it may be that ,his words of power may reach their hearts as they did mine1 and turn them from their sins4 ,that1 my beloved1 is one of the strongest evidences of a truly converted soul--anxiety and concern for the soul of others4 ,a person that has found the ,savior is anxious that others should find ,him1 too4 ,christianity is not like gold1 which every one wishes to secrete for his own use1 but it is like a full fountain--it runs over2 like the sun--it must shine forth4 ,and so we behold the ,savior now seated in the midst of a large company of publicans and sinners4 ,but have you1 my dear hearers1 ever known of a noble and holy work1 no matter what it is1 that did not meet with some criticism8 ,some carping voice is bound to be always heard1 and so here4 ,that ,jesus was found in such company1 and agreed to be a guest with such society1 was a scandal in the eyes of the ceremonial1 self-righteous ,jews1 and ,he it was who claimed to be the long-expected ,messiah4 ,it was conclusive evidence to them that ,he was a sheer impostor1 a glutton and wine-bibber1 equally as bad as those whom ,he met on such familiar terms4 ,nor were they slow in making known their conclusions4 ,they uttered their malignant feelings1 not to ,jesus ,himself1 but to ,his disciples4 ,when ,jesus learned their cavils1 it does not appear that ,he was ruffled in the least4 ,he knew ,his mission1 for what purpose ,he had come into this world1 and so with all firmness we hear ,him setting forth ,his association with these ill-reputed people as in accord not only with the best principles of common sense1 but with the whole spirit and intent of ,his ,messiahship4 ,but when ,jesus heard that1 ,he said unto them1 ,they that be whole need not a physician1 but they that are sick4 ,sin is a sickness1 a disease1 and these publicans and sinners were very deeply under the power of this disease4 ,now1 where should a physician be but with the sick and the dying8 ,is a doctor to be blamed for entering a hospital full of suffering invalids8 ,is it not rather a blessed demonstration of ,his fidelity to his profession to go to such ailing people8 ,well1 then1 what right had these self-constituted saints and judges to find fault8 ,they claimed to be good and holy people4 ,they kept the ,law4 ,they were whole4 ,they had no need of a physician to make them better1--so they thought4 ,why1 then1 was the great ,healer of souls to confine ,himself to them8 ,thus upon their own principles and common sense1 ,christ amply justified ,his conduct4 ,there is a double lesson to be drawn from our text4 ,first1 if you have always maintained a good moral character1 through the restraints of a religious education and of ,god's grace1 be thankful for it2 it is1 indeed1 a great mercy to have been kept from gross sins1 and it will be a great help to you in a life of godliness4 ,but be careful that you do not rest salvation upon it1 make a ,savior of your own goodness1 and so refuse ,christ1 without whom you will be damned as surely as the vilest transgressor4 ,beware that your outward decency of character does not puff you up and make you think that such as you can never be lost4 ,there is no other name but that of ,christ whereby you can be saved1 and you must come to ,him weary and heavy-laden1 just as the vilest sinner does1 if you would find rest to your soul4 ,on the other hand1 if there be one present who has fallen into gross transgression1 so that it seems almost too much for him to hope to be forgiven1 let him hear the words of ,jesus1 ,i came not to call the righteous1 but sinners to repentance1 and let him be encouraged4 ,is there any wound this great ,physician cannot heal8 ,is there any sin the grace of ,jesus cannot pardon1 or ,his blood wash away8 ,doubt not ,his infinite compassion1 doubt not ,his almighty power4 ,lay your soul in ,his hands4 ,though your sins be as scarlet1 they shall be as white as snow2 though they be red like crimson1 they shall be as wool4 ,oh6 that1 like ,matthew of old1 we might yield ourselves to ,his gracious summons1 go down to our houses1 humble1 obedient believers in ,him who came into this world to call sinners to repentance4 ,amen4 ,,fourth ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,and ,i will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven2 and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven2 and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven4--,matt4 #af1 #ai4 ,fixed in our ,church calendar for the #bith of ,june is ,saint ,peter the ,apostle's day4 ,we do not1 as a rule1 observe these days1 or minor festivals1 as they are styled4 ,and it may be asked why we have them given in our ,church calendar and observe them at all4 ,in answer we would say that we do not1 like the ,romanists1 regard the saints as mediators1 do not address prayers to them1 nor ask them to pray for us4 ,and we differ further from the ,romanists in that we place none in our ,church calendar as saints save such as are clearly set forth in that character in the ,word of ,god4 ,rome is continually adding new saints to her list4 ,any one who has been eminently holy--in the odor of sanctity--is canonized by the pope1 and his or her name placed in the calendar2 and there are instances on record where other influences besides piety placed it there4 ,we place the word saint before none but those who1 we are sure from ,god's ,word1 are deserving of it4 ,nor even all of these do we thus honor4 ,enoch and ,elijah were translated into heaven and are assuredly among ,god's saints4 ,the same is true of ,abraham and ,moses1 ,joseph and ,daniel4 ,but we never speak of ,st4 ,abraham1 ,st4 ,moses1 and the like4 ,in this matter we follow our ,lord's rule3 ,he that is least in the kingdom1 meaning the ,church ,he came to establish1 is greater than he1 and select for our list only ,new ,testament persons2 and here1 again1 those especially near to ,him1 such as the evangelists and apostles1 and so we speak of ,st4 ,peter1 ,st4 ,matthew1 ,st4 ,paul4 ,these we honor because ,christ honored them4 ,on his birthday each year we extol the virtues of a ,washington2 on ,reformation ,day we speak on the character and life-work of a ,luther4 ,why should we not1 therefore1 on one day of the year1 especially when it falls on a ,sunday1 note for our instruction what ,god in ,his ,word has recorded of these favored servants8 ,only ignorance and prejudice could ever find fault with such an observance of these days and minor festivals which the ,church in her wisdom purposes1 and so from the lesson of this day would we regard the latter part4 ,an important truth is it1 a truth which has given rise to endless controversy1 that this line sets forth to us4 ,we shall inquire1 ,i4 ,what is the office or the power of the ,keys8 ,,ii4 ,how is it exercised8 ,in the opinion of some1 these words addressed to ,peter on that memorable occasion when he confessed ,jesus to be the ,christ1 the ,son of the living ,god1 gave to ,peter a direction to take charge of divine affairs4 ,the religious destiny of the race was placed in his hands4 ,it was for him to save or condemn at will1 and this power and commission he then turned over to his successor1 alleged to be the pope at ,rome4 ,that was the common interpretation for hundreds of years4 ,in consequence of that we have such happenings in history as that which took place at ,canossa1 when ,henry ,,iv of ,germany1 deposed from his royal office through the influence of the pope1 came over the ,alps to secure the ,holy ,father's absolution4 ,he presented himself at the gate of ,gregory ,,vii1 and made his humble petition4 ,he was ordered to remain at the gate and abstain from food2 he was further ordered to strip himself of the royal purple and put on hair-cloth4 ,at the end of three weary days of penance1 standing out in the cold and snow1 and nearly famished1 he was required to go into the presence of ,pope ,gregory and kiss his feet4 ,then this vicar of ,god1 as he styled himself1 was pleased to say1 ,absolvo te1 ,i absolve thee4 ,and what child knows not the account of ,tetzel1 who1 with an armful of indulgences and a chest bearing the inscription3 ,soon as the money in the chest doth ring1 the soul at once to heaven doth spring1 sold as an article of merchandise1 for so much consideration1 so many and such great sins8 ,the confessional1 the extreme unction1 the deliverance of souls from purgatory1 these and other adjuncts and accessories that have risen from the claim of the ,romish ,church to the power of the keys1 they allege were once given to ,st4 ,peter4 ,but it rests1 like so many other claims of that ,church1 upon a serious misinterpretation and perversion of the passage4 ,in the following chapter our ,lord says to the whole band of apostles3 ,whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven2 and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven4 ,and this ,he said not only on one occasion to them all1 but on several4 ,on this particular occasion ,he said it especially to ,peter because ,peter had acted as the spokesman of the rest and rendered a grand confession4 ,never do we find that any command1 blessing1 office1 or grace was ever conferred here or anywhere upon ,peter which was not conferred equally and also upon all the apostles of the ,lord4 ,nor can it be shown from the ,bible1 nor from the history of the ,church in apostolic times1 or from those who lived next after the apostles1 that ,peter ever asserted1 or sought to assert1 such authority4 ,on the contrary1 ,peter1 in his ,epistles1 invariably refers to himself as simply one of the apostles1 in no way the superior of the others1 and when the first ,christian synod was held1 though he was present1 it was ,james that presided and gave the official judgment of the assembly4 ,if ,god's authority prevails1 we must dismiss the ,romish dogma which would entrench itself in this text as a falsehood1 without the remotest claim to our respect4 ,no1 not to ,peter exclusively was given the power of the keys2 not even to the twelve apostles exclusively1 in the sense that it belonged to them personally4 ,they received it as a power1 a commission1 which belonged to the ,church4 ,in the #ahth chapter of ,st4 ,matthew1 speaking of this very thing1 the ,savior directs3 ,and if he neglect to hear them1 tell it to the ,church2 but if he neglect to hear the ,church1 let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican4 ,verily1 ,i say unto you1 ,whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven2 and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven4 ,correctly does our ,catechism define the office of the keys4 ,it says3 ,the office of the keys is the peculiar ,church power which ,christ has given to ,his ,church on earth1 to forgive the sins of the penitent unto them1 but to retain the sins of the impenitent as long as they do not repent4 ,we learn1 then1 who is invested with this authority1 viz41 the ,church1 the congregation of believers4 ,it is something which belongs to all ,christians1 not to one apostle only1 or to twelve apostles only1 but to every congregation that is met around the ,word and the ,sacrament4 ,they have this jurisdiction and power4 ,what jurisdiction and power8 ,the power that attaches to the office of the keys is twofold4 ,it is used to lock and to unlock1 to fasten and to open the door4 ,first1 there is the power to fasten and to lock4 ,we call this administering discipline4 ,this is necessary to the health and life of the ,church4 ,in the ,corinthian church a certain man was guilty of a nameless crime4 ,possibly of good social standing1 his offense was winked at4 ,st4 ,paul1 however1 exhorts the ,corinthian congregation to deal summarily with him2 he exhorts them to meet in the name of the ,lord1 and deliver this evil-doer over to ,satan in the hope that he might come to his senses and be reclaimed--for the destruction of the flesh1 as the phrase is4 ,in another place he writes3 ,i have written unto you not to keep company1 if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator1 or covetous1 or an idolater1 or a railer1 or a drunkard1 or an extortioner4 ,put away from among yourselves that wicked person4 ,it was what we call suspension1 excommunication1 or the ban4 ,it is not a pleasant duty by any means1 as little as it is a pleasant thing to amputate1 to cut off a member of the body2 but if the member be gangrenous and a menace to the life of the body1 and nothing but an amputation will do1 then let it be done4 ,a congregation is answerable before the ,head of the ,church2 it must keep its membership and roster clear2 it dare not permit among its membership impenitent and manifest sinners1 those who are despisers of ,god's means of grace1 the ,word and the ,sacrament1 whose morals are a blot1 whose lives are a stench in the nostrils of the believers and of the world4 ,such1 after due hearing1 exhortation1 remonstrance1 must be turned out4 ,they have no place in the company of ,christians4 ,this is the exercise of the office of the keys in the one direction4 ,in general1 it is to be deplored that the ,christian ,churches do not exercise this power as they ought4 ,it would mean the reawakening and recovery of many a sinner4 ,the other part of the office of the keys is what is called absolution1 the power to forgive sins4 ,that power the ,church has committed to it1 as we heard in the text1 by ,christ ,himself4 ,there is much misconception on this among even ,christians2 to some it is no small stumbling-block4 ,it need not be4 ,the matter is quite simple and plain4 ,could ,peter forgive sins8 ,the ,lord says so4 ,could the apostles forgive sins8 ,the ,lord says so4 ,can the ,church1 through its called ministers1 forgive sins8 ,the ,lord says so4 ,yes1 we may press the question still further and ask1 ,can every ,christian forgive sins8 ,what the ,church1 as the collective body of ,christians1 can do1 that each ,christian can do as an individual4 ,yes1 every ,christian can forgive sins4 ,how is that to be understood8 ,peter1 as ,peter1 as a man1 could not forgive sins of himself and by his own authority4 ,no man can forgive sins--that is a divine prerogative4 ,but ,christ gave to ,peter the charge1 the commission1 to do so4 ,the power1 then1 was not in ,peter1 but in the charge1 the commission4 ,when the ,governor of our ,state issues a pardon and sends a messenger to deliver it1 it is rightly and properly said that the messenger brings pardon to the prisoner4 ,the power1 of course1 is not of the messenger1 but of the ,governor1 as vested in the message of pardon4 ,equally so the ,gospel is the message of pardon to sinful men4 ,the ministers of ,christ1 as the messengers of the ,churches1 proclaim that message4 ,the power of the pardon does not depend upon them1 their general piety or impiety2 the power of the pardon rests upon ,him that gave it1 the great ,governor of the ,church4 ,and yet1 can it not be justly1 truthfully1 and properly said in their case1 as in the case mentioned1 that the messengers bring pardon to the prisoners1 that they forgive sins8 ,so our ,lord spoke1 so our ,catechism speaks1 and so we may speak4 ,not the power of absolute forgiveness does the text confer upon the ,church1 but that of declarative forgiveness4 ,but this declaration of forgiveness1 it must be held1 is real forgiveness4 ,when the ,church forgives sins1 they are forgiven4 ,the words of ,christ say that as distinctly as words can say it4 ,whosesoever sins ye remit1 they are remitted unto them4 ,the pardon brought by the messenger is a real pardon1 as certain and valid as if the ,governor had brought it himself4 ,and so1 declares our ,catechism1 when in the confessional service the minister pronounces the forgiveness of sins1 you are to receive it as from ,god ,himself and in no wise to doubt1 but firmly to believe that by it your sins are forgiven before ,god in heaven4 ,this is the teaching of ,god's ,word in regard to the loosing power of the office of the keys4 ,a comforting teaching it is4 ,we ,christians1 it is true1 have the assurance of forgiveness already in our baptism1 in the general preaching of the ,gospel1 and in the ,lord's ,supper2 but that does not make absolution superfluous4 ,battling1 as we have daily to do1 against flesh and blood1 disturbed as we are by many a conflict1 many a doubt1 fightings and fears within1 without1 how uplifting the words of absolution addressed to you directly1 individually3 ,my son1 my daughter1 be of good cheer1 thy sins are forgiven thee6 ,god preserve us from all abuse1 perversion1 and misunderstanding of ,his ,word and ministry1 and give us the comfort and blessing that come from both6 ,amen4 ,,fifth ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,and ,ananias went his way1 and entered into the house2 and putting his hands on him1 said1 ,brother ,saul1 the ,lord1 even ,jesus1 that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest1 hath sent me1 that thou mightest receive thy sight1 and be filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,and immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales2 and he received sight forthwith1 and arose and was baptized4--,acts #i1 #ag1 #ah4 ,we hear in the ,gospel of this ,sunday how by speech and by miracle our ,lord called four of ,his disciples from their fishing boats to the labors of ,his ministry4 ,his first selection fell upon persons from the humble walks of life1 plain1 unlettered fishermen1 toilers for their daily bread in a lowly occupation4 ,there was divine wisdom in the choice4 ,being of the common people1 they knew the thoughts1 feelings1 and habits of the common people1 and so could best adapt themselves and their preaching to the general masses4 ,but the time came when ,god1 for the propagation of ,his saving ,gospel1 for the upbuilding of ,his ,church1 needed another sort and stamp of man1 a man whose learning1 eloquence1 and boldness should elevate the ,gospel before the eyes of all the world4 ,and then as now ,he was not at a loss to secure such a chosen vessel4 ,we shall regard in these moments sacred to devotion the call or conversion of ,st4 ,paul4 ,about the time that the boy ,jesus was found in the temple seated among the doctors1 both hearing them and asking them questions1 far to the northwest of ,jerusalem1 in the heathen city of ,tarsus1 there was born a babe1 born of strict ,jewish parents1 of the tribe of ,benjamin1 but also1 because his father in some way had become a ,roman citizen1 also born to the rights and privileges of ,roman citizenship4 ,being a bright child1 of great natural gifts1 he was given careful training at home in the schools of his native city1 and then sent to ,jerusalem1 to finish his education under the care and tuition of ,gamaliel1 the most renowned rabbi of the ,jewish land then living4 ,his family1 apparently well to do1 spared no expense to make him one of the most learned men of his day2 nor did they fail in their attempt1 as his writings1 masterpieces of composition and logic1 abundantly testify4 ,the first mention that we have of ,paul1 or1 rather1 at that time ,saul1 is in connection with the scenes that led up to the murder of ,stephen1 the first ,christian martyr4 ,when the ,christian religion began to spread in the very center of ,judaism1 ,jerusalem1 great disputation arose between its followers and the ,jews4 ,and ,saul1 who belonged to the strictest sect of the ,jewish religion1 the ,pharisees1 and was a man of strong feeling and enthusiastic in temper1 soon became involved in these discussions1 and so we find that when the mob took ,stephen and ignominiously stoned him to death1 it says of ,saul3 ,he was consenting unto his death1 and that the murderers laid down their clothes at a young man's feet named ,saul4 ,nor did he stop here4 ,his whole being was so aflame with religious zeal that he knew only one purpose of life1 and that was to blot out the name of that detestable ,founder of the new religion and ,his followers4 ,accordingly1 we read in ,acts that ,saul made havoc of the ,church1 entering into every house1 and haling men and women1 committed them to prison4 ,and not satisfied with his work at ,jerusalem1 he began to extend his persecution to distant cities4 ,the opening verses of this chapter read3 ,and ,saul yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the ,lord1 went unto the high priest1 and desired of him letters to ,damascus to the synagogues1 that if he found any of this way1 whether they were men or women1 he might bring them bound unto ,jerusalem4 ,damascus1 in ,syria1 now the oldest city in the world1 had opened its gates as a refuge to the ,christians1 and provided with legal papers from the high priests1 he set out at the head of an armed and mounted force to bring those ,christians at ,damascus to terms4 ,but he did not4 ,in the affairs of men it ever remains true3 ,man proposes1 ,god disposes1 and most wonderfully did ,he dispose in the case of ,saul of ,tarsus4 ,it was high noon in ,syria1 the sun standing in its zenith4 ,on the road leading from ,jerusalem to ,damascus could be heard the clattering of horses' hoofs4 ,the horsemen could already see the beautiful city rising upon their sight and its gates swinging open1 when1 suddenly1 there came a flash from the sky1 and a light above the brightness of the sun shone round about them1 with such overwhelming effect that it struck the chief with blindness1 smote him to the ground1 and filled every man with terror and dismay4 ,and to this brilliancy of light was added a clear and distant voice ringing through the air1 ,saul1 ,saul1 why persecutest thou ,me8 ,like pointed steel these words went down into ,saul's heart4 ,he had been persecuting the ,christians1 and now comes a voice from heaven1 saying1 ,why persecutest thou ,me8 ,what6 could it be possible that ,god identifies ,himself with these people he1 ,saul1 was seeking to destroy8 ,could it be true that ,he whom ,his nation had crucified was indeed the ,messiah1 risen and alive8 ,overcome with remorse1 ,saul raises his sightless eyeballs on high and asks1 ,who art ,thou1 ,o ,lord8 ,and back comes the quick reply1 ,i am ,jesus1 whom thou persecutest4 ,that was too much for him4 ,here was the voice of ,jehovah ,himself1--what could he do but submit8 ,trembling and astonished he said1 ,lord1 what wilt ,thou have me to do8 ,the victory was won4 ,the ,galilean had conquered4 ,arise1 said ,he1 and go into the city1 and it shall be told thee what thou must do4 ,for three days ,saul lay sick in ,damascus unable to see1 to move1 to eat and drink by reason of the great convulsions that had shaken up his body and soul1 but during that time undergoing a change which has placed his name among the great and noble members of the kingdom of heaven4 ,at the close of these never-to-be-forgotten days ,god sent to him one of the faithful disciples1 or ,christians1 living at ,damascus1 ,ananias by name4 ,ananias at first was very reluctant to go1 having heard such evil report of the man1 but the ,lord had said1 ,go1 and that settled the matter4 ,he found the dreaded ,saul lying on his couch1 addressed him with brotherly kindness1 told him why he had come1 and laid his hands upon him4 ,and immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales2 and he received sight forthwith1 and arose and was baptized4 ,this interesting narrative shall we view as to the subject of conversion and as to its significance to the ,church4 ,taking up some practical lessons on the subject of conversion3 ,what was there in ,st4 ,paul's case that need not be looked for in other cases8 ,and what was there in it that is common to every case8 ,let us look at ,st4 ,paul's case4 ,he was called in a miraculous manner by the ,savior4 ,it was a miracle to prove the truth of ,christianity in that early day4 ,but now we have no ground to look for like circumstances in the conversion of any one in our day4 ,if ,saul of ,tarsus saw ,jesus appearing to him in the way1 the sinner must not1 for this reason1 also expect to be visited by some remarkable call1 dream1 vision1 or supernatural impression upon his mind4 ,again1 ,saul fell to the earth1 and was in great distress of mind and body for three days4 ,it does not follow from this that every unconverted person must be in such distress before he can take a step in the right direction4 ,the ,ethiopian eunuch1 of whom we read in the preceding chapter1 received the ,word without any such process1 and went on his way rejoicing4 ,of the three thousand who were converted in one day it is merely said3 ,they gladly received the ,word and were baptized4 ,sometimes true ,christians feel much uneasiness and anxiety because they cannot point to any such distinguishing moments in their experience4 ,they have never passed through the mental anguish that others speak of4 ,they have never felt as ,saul of ,tarsus must have felt those three days of blindness4 ,such persons forget that in most of the cases recorded in the ,gospel there were no experiences of this kind1 but conversion consisted simply in the cordial and quiet acceptance of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,again1 in ,paul's case there was something to fix the precise time of his conversion4 ,he could name the day1 the very hour1 when he fell upon the ground trembling and afraid4 ,is it1 therefore1 necessary that every believer should be able to designate the precise time of his conversion8 ,not one ,christian out of ten can tell the date of his conversion4 ,it is generally the case that the grosser the sins are1 the more marked will the change be4 ,when any one who has made himself conspicuous in crime and wickedness is converted1 it is like the lighting of a candle in a room utterly dark4 ,there is a sudden change from darkness to light4 ,it is1 therefore1 easy to fix the precise time when darkness ceased and light prevailed4 ,but the case is very different from those who have been molded and influenced from youth up by religious teaching and training4 ,how was it possible for ,timothy to tell when he commenced to be a ,christian8 ,he was instructed from his youth in the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,he could not remember the time when he was not pious and ,god-fearing4 ,he always belonged to the ,lord--in his childhood1 in his youth1 in his manhood4 ,the same is true of ,john the ,baptist4 ,how could he tell when he was converted8 ,he was sanctified from his birth1 we are told4 ,where1 then1 was there room for a sudden and marked change in him8 ,yes1 ,i am free to remark that it is just what ,god wants in the case of each one4 ,he does not want us to know the precise time of our conversion4 ,he does not want any one to give a part of his life to sin and ,satan1 so that a sudden1 marked1 and definite change seems necessary4 ,he does not want you to act the part of an infidel for awhile1 in order that you may be able to tell us the day or the hour when you became a believer4 ,no1 ,god wants your whole life2 from beginning to end it is to be consecrated to ,god1 our ,savior4 ,and does it not follow from this1 that the more faithfully our children are instructed in the doctrines and duties of our holy religion1 in the family1 in the ,sunday-school1 and in the catechetical class1 the less the number will become of those who can point to the particular time of their conversion8 ,the whole work of the ,sunday-school throughout and the whole work of the pastor in the catechetical class has this grand object in mind1 to make a ,timothy out of every child1 one who is instructed in the ,holy ,scriptures from his youth1 and who knows no time when he did not belong to the ,lord4 ,finally1 we may observe that ,saul's conversion was unsought by himself4 ,he set out on his way to ,damascus full of hatred against ,christ and ,his disciples4 ,he had not a single desire to become ,his follower4 ,in this also his conversion is singular4 ,we are not to expect1 as some seem to do1 that we may carelessly continue in our worldly affairs1 or in sinful pleasures1 or in other opposition to ,god2 and nevertheless some time ,almighty ,grace will strike us to the ground1 and raise us up ,christians4 ,god may do that1 but the general rule is that ,god does not do that4 ,the general rule is that ,god is found by those who seek ,him4 ,the eunuch was reading the ,scriptures when ,philip preached ,christ to him4 ,nathaniel was meditating and praying under the fig-tree when he was led to the ,savior4 ,lydia was at the place of prayer when the ,lord opened her heart1 and she attended to the things spoken by ,paul4 ,the ,samaritans were listening to ,philip's preaching when they were brought to believe4 ,all were using the means of grace1 and were brought to a saving knowledge of the truth4 ,so with us this day1--by the ,word of ,god1 in private reading1 in public preaching ,he converts souls4 ,in this particular conversion1 ,paul's case differs from others4--,what1 however1 do we find in every case of true conversion1 no matter how varied the circumstances are8 ,conversion is to turn from the love and practice of sin1 and through faith in the ,son of ,god to the love and practice of holiness4 ,when a man has conviction of sin1 believes in1 and depends on1 ,jesus as ,his ,savior1 he is converted1 and it matters not how1 when1 or where4 ,never could there be such a conviction1 such a belief1 such a striving1 unless there has previously been a change1 and that change we call conversion4 ,believe it that when a man can look up like the man ,saul of ,tarsus1 and say1 ,lord1 what wilt ,thou have me to do8 he is a converted man4-- ,viewed as a public event in its significance to the ,christian ,church1 the conversion of ,paul is one of the strongest external proofs furnished us in the ,bible for the truth of the ,christian religion4 ,if it can be established that ,saul became ,paul1 then the ,gospel must be true1 and all that it tells us of ,jesus as our divine ,lord and ,redeemer must be true4 ,and there has never yet been a man who has dared to deny the historical truth of this conversion1 or to contradict that ,saul did become ,paul4 ,at the beginning of the last century ,sir ,gilbert ,west and ,lord ,lyttleton1 two great literary lights of ,england1 determined on a masterstroke for the suppression of the ,gospel4 ,it seemed to them that the two greatest miracles of the ,christian religion were ,christ's resurrection and ,saul's conversion4 ,gilbert ,west agreed to write a refutation of the resurrection of ,christ1 and ,lord ,lyttleton a refutation of the conversion of ,saul4 ,at the conclusion of their work they met by appointment4 ,lord ,lyttleton asked1 ,what is the result of your work8 ,the answer was3 ,i have thoughtfully investigated the resurrection of ,christ1 and have come to the conclusion that ,he who is said to have come forth from the sepulcher of ,joseph's garden was1 as ,he claimed to be1 the veritable ,son of ,god4 ,and ,lord ,lyttleton said3 ,i have fully investigated the narrative of the conversion of ,st4 ,paul1 and am satisfied that this man1 on his journey along the ,damascus highway1 really saw ,jesus of ,nazareth1 and that this ,jesus was the very ,christ of ,god4 ,no other conclusion can be reached as we enter upon the study of the character of the man1 and the results that have come from that event4 ,to finish our meditation with a personal application3 ,st4 ,paul1 whose conversion we have considered1 wrote much for the instruction of all after ages1 but he never penned more memorable words than these1 words which perhaps have been oftener quoted than any sentence of any writer that ever lived--may ,god enable you to take the words home to your heart--3 ,this is a faithful saying1 and worthy of all acceptation1 that ,christ ,jesus came into the world to save sinners1 of which ,i am chief4 ,paul's conversion is a beacon-light to encourage us never to despair for the worst and most hopeless of sinners4 ,if ,grace could take a blasphemer and persecutor like ,saul1 then there is hope for you and for me4 ,may we realize it6 ,amen4 ,,sixth ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,having a form of godliness1 but denying the power thereof4--#b ,tim4 #c1 #e4 ,things are not always what they seem4 ,there is much deception1 sham1 pretense in this world4 ,and religion forms no exception2 much that passes under that name is not such in reality4 ,the text just quoted distinguishes between the form of godliness and the power of godliness1 thus intimating that there may be one without the other4 ,all created things indeed have some form4 ,we cannot think of anything without form4 ,every essence and substance manifests itself in some shape1 through some medium1 external substance2 and so religion finds expression in outward forms1 in prayer1 in this institution called the ,church1 in that ,book called the ,bible1 in the sacraments and other ordinances4 ,but1 whilst we cannot have religion without form1 there may be form without religion4 ,not every eye sees1 though it was created for that purpose2 not every ear1 though it have the perfect form1 hears4 ,we discover eyes without seeing and ears without hearing1 and in like manner we discover the form of godliness with none of its power4 ,a man may appear very religious1 and yet not be religious4 ,the ,bible and history both are full of such4 ,thus1 ,st4 ,paul in his day came to the city of ,athens and was constrained to confess3 ,i observe1 ,o men of ,athens1 that ye are exceedingly devout4 ,judging by the form1 he saw1 in that representative city of heathenism1 a great degree of religiousness and devotion2 gods and goddesses1 altars and temples1 stood on the right hand and on the left1 carved out in the most exquisite marble1 with the most exquisite skill4 ,every public edifice was a sanctuary4 ,the theaters were ascribed to the deities4 ,as any scholar of ancient history knows1 the streets and markets1 the groves and public places were full and overflowing with the figures and statues of ,jupiter and ,diana1 and every other god and goddess which their imagination had invented4 ,yes1 the men of ,athens were exceedingly religious1 and1 withal1 they were notoriously ungodly1 and ,paul could not help expressing himself to that effect4 ,again1 take the religionists mentioned in to-day's ,gospel--the scribes and the ,pharisees4 ,as to the form of religion1 they were scrupulous to the last degree4 ,on their phylacteries1 and on the frontlet which they wore between their eyes1 were passages of ,scripture such as3 ,hear1 ,o ,israel6 ,the ,lord1 your ,god is one ,lord4 ,they fasted twice in the week1 more than the law required4 ,they paid tithes1 not only of the common products of the field1 but of their garden herbs1 mint1 anise1 and cinnamon4 ,they were extremely careful as to their cleansings4 ,thus the washing of hands in the six books of the ,mishna1 written by the ,jewish rabbis1 is prescribed3 ,one and one-half eggshells full of water must be used2 the hands must be lifted in a certain position when the water is poured upon them2 then the right must rub the left and the left the right2 then they must be held in a downward incline1 palms upside down1 so that the water may drop off4 ,and the towel must be properly held4 ,thirty chapters alone in that ,jewish book treat of the cleansing of cups and platters4 ,and yet1 in spite of all this scrupulosity and punctiliousness and ceremonialism1 the ,savior had occasion to declare in the opening words of to-day's ,gospel-lesson3 ,except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and ,pharisees1 ye shall in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven4 ,the form was there1 the show of godliness1 but something vitally essential was missing2 our text calls it the power4 ,nor would we confine this formation of religion to ancient heathen or ,judaism4 ,an acquaintance of mine tells of a scene recently witnessed in the city of ,mexico4 ,a company of men were shuffling cards1 and casting dice1 and indulging in profane and unholy jests in a drinking-house1 when suddenly the ringing of a bell was heard without4 ,a procession of priests was passing through the streets bearing the consecrated water to the bedside of the dying4 ,at the sound all in the iniquitous place fell upon their knees and muttered their prayers4 ,the bell ceased1 and they resumed their pleasure4 ,what was this but the form of godliness without the power8 ,nor need we go to distant ,mexico to find the same manifestation among the devotees of the same religion1--ceremonialism1 grand and spectacular1 the waking early at the break of day to perform one's worship1 the lighting of candles and bending of knees before graven images1 the ceaseless twisting of the rosary beads1 and making of crucifixes and anointing with holy oil and water4 ,what are these but the forms of godliness without the power thereof8 ,let us not be uncharitable1 but the words of the ,savior press themselves upon one's lips3 ,except your righteousness exceed that which so garbs itself1 and puts in the place of ,christ another's righteousness1 which is the righteousness of such hollow ceremonies1 pretensions1 and good works1 it shall not avail to enter into the kingdom of ,god4 ,and is ,protestantism exempt8 ,are there no formalists among those who profess to be members of1 and visit1 our churches8 ,is there no outward ceremonial observance there1 no form of godliness without the power thereof8 ,as we pointed out1 everything has a form1 and that form needs attention4 ,injure the shell1 and the kernel will be impaired4 ,refuse to give due respect to your body1 and its immortal tenant1 the soul1 will leave it4 ,and so in religion4 ,the outward must be attended to4 ,it will not do to say1 ,i need not go to church1 ,god is everywhere1 ,i can worship ,him just as well under the trees of the park1 under the blue canopy of the great temple of ,nature1 as in the four walls of a building4 ,the church is ,god's2 it is there ,he has recorded ,his name1 and promised to convey ,his grace and blessing as nowhere else4 ,godliness and churchliness are joined together1 and it is not for any man to divorce them1 to put them asunder4 ,the godly man1 it will ever be found1 is the best churchman4 ,it will not do to say3 ,i can be just as good a ,christian and stay away from the sacrament of the ,lord's ,table1--it is only a form4 ,granting it is1 it is a form which ,god has commanded by and through which ,he communicates life and salvation to men's souls4 ,you do not despise to drink the water of the ,mississippi ,river because it flows through pipes and comes out at the faucet4 ,and so you ought not reject life1 grace1 and salvation promised by ,god1 because ,he has laid it down for you in the partaking of bread and wine in ,his sacrament1 which is the channel by and through which ,he conveys it to your soul4 ,the same may be said of all the ordinances of religion1--prayer1 the reading of the ,bible1 the saying of prayers4 ,these things must be attended to4 ,they are the forms in which it expresses itself--takes shape4 ,and yet1 we must beware of mistaking the shape for the substance1 the shell for the kernel1 the body for the soul4 ,going to church as a mere form saves no one2 neither does going to the ,sacrament4 ,to read the ,bible1 for instance1 merely to find out what a fine literary product it is1 has no religious value2 and to mumble one's prayers in a thoughtless and spiritless way1 our ,lord tells us1 is worthless1 yes1 it may be an abomination to ,him4 ,what good does food do you if you do not digest it1 take the strength out of it1 the necessary qualities8 ,equally so with the spiritual food4 ,religion as a form1 a mere external life1 a show1 avails nothing2 rather1 it is a snare of delusion by which men may deceive themselves and others4 ,when1 then1--that is the question to which our text leads up1--when have we the form of godliness together with the power thereof8 ,in order to have true religion1 two things are necessary1 the new birth and the new life4 ,first1 the new birth4 ,except a man be born again1 he cannot see the kingdom of ,god4 ,religion1 first of all1 above all1 aims at and affects the heart4 ,it is this which is primarily concerned4 ,this people1 the ,lord complains1 draweth nigh unto me with their mouth1 and honoreth me with their lips1 but their heart is far from me4 ,give me1 my son1 my daughter1 thy heart1 is the request of the merciful ,lord4 ,whoever has sat under the pulpit of ,god1 listening to ,his instructions and exhortations1 or scanning the pages of ,his ,holy ,word1 that has not had his feelings stirred and his soul warmed after the manner of those two disciples on their way to ,emmaus1 to whom the risen ,lord opened the ,scripture1 whereupon they confessed1 ,did not our heart burn within us8 ,whose bosom has failed to beat higher with noble resolution and holy endeavor when kneeling before his ,god in prayer or at the sacred ,communion8 ,in a word1 whose inner life has not been touched by the ,spirit of ,god1 and who has not undergone a change of mind which brings him to see things by faith in ,christ1 in a new light8 ,the promise is3 ,with the heart man believeth unto righteousness4 ,if thou shalt believe in thine heart1 thou shalt be saved4 ,the heart belongs to true religion1 and true religion belongs into the heart4 ,this is the first requisite and essence of godliness--a new heart4 ,the other requisite is the new life4 ,it is the natural and the necessary outflow of the new birth4 ,when the heart has been changed by the ,spirit of ,god1 the new life will show itself4 ,the ,lord once remarked1 ,by their fruits ye shall know them4 ,you cannot be a bad citizen1 an undutiful parent1 a spiteful husband1 a fretful1 quarrelsome wife1 an unscrupulous business man1 and1 at the same time1 a good ,christian4 ,it does not exhibit the power of godliness to listen devoutly to a sermon on righteousness1 and temperance1 and purity1 and straightway imbibe freely from the intoxicating cup1 speak words of profanity1 and do things that are tainted4 ,if you would discover if the works of a clock are right1 we look at the hands2 so by our hands and deeds we may test whether our hearts are right4 ,you cannot be in possession of an evil tongue1 of a lustful eye1 of a covetous1 selfish1 miserly hand1 and1 at the same time1 of a pious and devout mind4 ,if our text teaches anything1 it teaches that godliness is a power1 an energy which renews and sanctifies men4 ,but when there is power1 it exerts and manifests itself4 ,then there must be1 in order to have true religion1 a regenerated heart and a corresponding life4 ,how1 then1 to make a few direct words of application1 is it with you1 my dear hearer8 ,one of the chief sources of offense1 they tell us1 is that those who profess godliness are so woefully short of it4 ,they are everlastingly running to church1 praying1 and hymn singing1 but they live and act like heathen4 ,not infrequently that charge comes from an ugly and malicious1 fault-finding spirit4 ,let us see to it that it is only that1 a mean1 unfair charge1 that1 as far as we are concerned1 it be not true4 ,let us in the light of our text see to it that we have not only the form of godliness1 but the power thereof1 that our heart is right with ,god1 and endeavor earnestly and conscientiously to make our head and tongues and hands right4 ,god strengthen us in this resolution6 ,lord ,jesus1 it is ,thy religion we profess4 ,keep us by ,thy ,holy ,spirit to be true disciples of it1 to our soul's welfare1 our fellow-man's uplift1 and ,thy glory4 ,amen4 ,,seventh ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,are not five sparrows sold for two farthings1 and not one of them is forgotten before ,god8--,luke #ab1 #f4 ,our ,lord always spoke in the plainest possible terms4 ,whenever a vital truth was to be stated1 an important doctrine to be set forth1 ,he did it in language so clear that no one could misunderstand4 ,the statement of our text this morning shares that quality4 ,are not five sparrows sold for two farthings1 and not one of them is forgotten before ,god8 ,the little creature mentioned is one of the most insignificant that could be thought of2 the ,lord selected it just for the sake of that utter insignificance to bring out a significant and all-inspiring truth4 ,that truth is this3 that ,god is in relation with everything that exists2 that ,he superintends all2 that there is nothing so minute as to be overlooked or forgotten4 ,we call this the doctrine of ,god's providence1 and a most prominent teaching of ,god's ,word it is1 as also one of the most cheering and practical4 ,prompted by the ,gospel-lesson of to-day1 which shows us our blessed ,lord as providing miraculously for the four thousand with seven loaves and a few small fishes1 let us ,i4 seek to establish the doctrine of ,god's providence2 ,,ii4 show its application and effect upon us and our lives4 ,i believe that ,god has made me and all creatures1 that ,he has given me my body and soul1 eyes1 ears1 and all my members1 my reason and all my senses1 and still preserves them1 thus we confess in the explanation of the ,first ,article of our ,creed1 and what our ,catechism thus confesses1 the sacred ,scriptures with especial clearness teach4 ,god did not only1 as some are willing to admit1 create the universe1 but ,he also now governs it personally and completely4 ,it is the theory of our modern evolutionists and materialists that ,god has left the world to govern and develop itself1 that1 having placed it under certain natural laws1 it must take care of itself1 wholly independent of ,god's interference4 ,as ,melanchthon once characterized their position3 ,they think of ,god as a shipbuilder1 who1 when he has completed his vessel1 launches it and then leaves it1 or like a clock which you wind up1 and then let run off4 ,a different impression is that received from ,god's ,holy ,book4 ,that assures us that1 so far from turning over ,his government to unalterable laws1 so far from retiring from ,his works to dwell apart in ,his own unapproachable ,godhead in some distant sphere1 unconcerned and uncaring for such a world and such creatures as we1 there is nothing done1 nor said1 nor thought1 nor felt by man but ,he knows it and notes it1 and orders ,his dealings with reference to it4 ,his providence includes every event1--the rise and fall of nations and states1 the experiences and vicissitudes of the ,church1 the occurrences of the history of each family1 the unnumbered instances which make up the life of each individual1 no matter what their character4 ,his supreme hand is in and over them all4 ,those words which we so commonly use in daily speech--chance1 accident1 strictly and consistently regarded1 are untruthful1 for there is no such thing as chance1 an accident2 nothing happens but it has been determined in ,his wisdom1 and is sent1 directed1 or permitted according to ,his will4 ,chance or accident rule in nothing--,god's providence in all4 ,what more satisfactory assurance would we desire for that than what is told us in the text8 ,it was a customary thing to see sold in the market-place of ,jerusalem1 as an article of merchandise1 the little creatures here mentioned4 ,the price was a minimum1 five sparrows for two farthings1 equal at the most1 to two cents of our money4 ,our ,lord1 in referring to it1 calls attention to the little regard taken by men of this poor little bird1 and brings out in vivid and grand contrast the regard taken of it by ,god4 ,and not one of them is forgotten before ,god4 ,elsewhere1 in one of the ,psalms1 ,god says3 ,i know all the fowls upon the mountains1 and the wild beasts of the field are in my sight4 ,we watch in their season of immigration the flight of birds1 when in long flocks they cross the sky1 passing from the ,north to the ,south1 or back again4 ,to think that each in those countless tribes is known1 as if by name1 to its ,creator1 not one confounded with the other in the view of ,god6 ,we observe the tiny sparrow as it skips from ground to housetop1 busily gathering its food1 or the frail materials wherewith to construct its nest below our house roof2 how little we reflect that every one of them is numbered in that sight which nothing can escape1 and that in the ephemeral history of the poor little bird1 of which the great ,god and ,savior deigns to speak1 not one item is forgotten1 each is seen and known and retained in a faithful memory2 not forgotten1 implying a knowledge that lasts1 a consideration though the thing known may no longer exist4 ,this1 then1 is the way we are taught to think about our ,god4 ,all things that transpire1 all that has been and shall be--all are embraced within the circle of ,god's unforgetting1 all-remembering knowledge1 vision1 providence4 ,that is the ,christian doctrine as taught by our ,lord in such plain illustrations as this1 and as preached by ,his apostles on the pages of the ,old and ,new ,testament throughout4 ,let us now ask of the application4 ,that it means something to us when the ,lord says about ,god's not forgetting one of the sparrows sold in the market-place of ,jerusalem is a matter of course4 ,what does it mean8 ,the doctrine of ,god's providence is1 we would thus consider it first1 a stern and restraining truth4 ,consider for a moment1--there is nothing about you1 or in you1 or of you1 but ,god knows and sees it all1 the thoughts of your mind1 the desires of your heart1 the motives of your deeds4 ,he spieth out all your ways1 ,he understandeth your thoughts afar off4 ,yesterday1 for example1 ,he saw you when your eyes first opened to the light1 and ,he traced your steps till they closed once more in sleep4 ,you know what you did1 and ,he also knows4 ,you may have thought yourself unobserved1 and some things there are which you should prefer to forget1 wish that you could conceal them1 ashamed or afraid to have them known4 ,god does not forget1 from ,him you cannot conceal2 all the while you are standing in the concentrated blaze of a light1 brighter than the brightest sun1 and eyes that see everything are reading you through and through4 ,that is1 as stated1 a stern and awful truth4 ,but let us not deceive ourselves concerning it4 ,let us remember that there is no privacy anywhere for us1 though we may long for it1 and many live as if they had it4 ,our follies and vanities1 our erring steps1 our ugly temper and evil disposition1 every idle word that you spoke1 every oath that has fallen from your lips1 every vile action1 every dollar you have wasted in luxury1 folly1 or withheld in miserly selfishness1 every influence you have exerted1 apt to lead a brother or sister astray1--,god sees and knows them all4 ,you are read like a book by the ,reader of the lives of all men4 ,man1 my beloved hearers1 needs a check upon him1 a hand to keep him straight4 ,he has it in this belief4 ,a person cannot go far wrong who believes that ,god sees and knows all4 ,the sense of ,his nearness is a moral force1 a thousandfold greater than any other that can be named4 ,he that thinks thus of ,his ,god is ever putting to himself the question whether ,god approves what he is about at any given moment4 ,that saves him2 it acts as a constant check2 it is a lantern to his feet1 a light to his paths1 a bridle to his lips4 ,and ,god knows we all need to be so held in4 ,that communities are defiled1 that the social order is imperiled1 that men are shocked at the growing ravages of sin1 and souls are ruined one by one1 we may trace these things to their sole cause1 the losing sight of the fact that ,god's eye is on them always1 and that they are accountable to ,him for what they do4 ,let the doctrine of ,god's providence be generally rejected1 and it is only a question of time till that comes to pass again which once occurred in the days of ,noah1 when ,god saw that the wickedness of man was great1 and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually4 ,here1 then1 is a truth which may be called the beginning of the moral law1 the foundation of ,christian ethics1 the ,alpha and ,omega of ,christian practice4 ,the doctrine of ,god's providence is a stern and restraining doctrine4 ,but there is another side to the picture4 ,to that shall we turn for the greatest comfort and peace that mortal man can know4 ,are not five sparrows sold for two farthings1 and not one of them is forgotten before ,god8 ,ye are1 continues the ,master1 of more value than many sparrows4 ,if one of them cannot fall to the ground unnoticed by our ,father1 how much more in ,his thoughts1 7that is the evident line of argumentation17 are we1 ,his children1 made in ,his likeness1 redeemed by ,his own precious blood4 ,what should there be for us each day and hour but loving1 unwavering trust4 ,it cannot fail to impress every reader of his ,bible how it dwells continually upon this very point4 ,our ,lord knew what a burdensome world this is1 and how easily perplexed men are4 ,he has sought in all possible manner and ways to bring home to us the truth we are considering4 ,he has given us precious and numerous promises4 ,trust in the ,lord and do good1 is one of them1 ,so shalt thou dwell in the land1 and verily thou shalt be fed4 ,another is3 ,whoso putteth his trust in the ,lord shall be safe4 ,still others3 ,my grace is sufficient for thee3 ,i will never leave thee1 nor forsake thee4 ,these might be multiplied from the ,scriptures by the score and hundred4 ,and again ,he has sought to impress ,his divine providence upon us by numberless examples4 ,there is1 for instance1 ,noah4 ,noah trusted ,him1 and lo6 when the fountains of the great deep were broken up1 and the floods rose1 and millions of the ungodly sank into a watery grave1 sheltered and shut in by ,god's protecting hand1 the ancient saint outrode the deluge in safety1 with his family4 ,elijah1 alone yonder in the wilderness1 in time of famine1 trusted ,him1 and1 behold1 even the ravens1 divinely bidden1 came flying with bread to feed him4 ,and so ,david1 and ,daniel1 and ,peter1 and all of ,god's illustrious saints whose biography the ,bible records1 put their trust in ,his governing providence1 and never were ashamed1 and their experience has been the universal experience and testimony of all who have ever really put their faith in ,him1 and that applies as much to us as to them4 ,come what will1 the true and trusting child of ,god feels secure4 ,have we trials and temptations1 is there trouble anywhere8 ,is ghastly pestilence mowing down its victims8 ,is financial depression over all the land1 labor unobtainable1 wages low1 and bread scarce8 ,has sickness prostrated one8 ,has death broken the family circle1 and is the heart bleeding under bereavement8 ,in the midst of it all the ,christian sees the wise1 loving1 all-governing providence of ,god1 the almighty and all-gracious hand of ,his own divine heavenly ,father2 and in this assurance1 that ,god is thus in all that befalls him1 his soul is filled with abiding calmness4 ,there is nothing1 amid it all1 which is more calculated to banish our cares1 to throw sunshine across life's path1 to make us more content1 than the belief that our ,god holds the reins of universal rule1 and that all is controlled and guided by ,his wise and kind hand4 ,and this1 to conclude1 also gives a ,christian strength and encouragement in his work4 ,the thought that ,god is near us1 the feeling that ,he is working with us1 gives an impulse1 a force which nothing else can impart4 ,to rise in the morning with that sense of divine presence1 that ,god sees all our endeavors1 is to take up one's work with an entirely different mood than where that feeling is missing4 ,nor are we then easily discouraged2 it gives us renewed inspiration1 the courage required for long1 steady1 earnest work4 ,we have considered a glorious truth of ,christian doctrine from the lips of ,him who never exaggerated1 never erred4 ,lay hold of it1 believe it1 not languidly1 but as a power in your lives1 and be happy in such belief4 ,amen4 ,,eighth ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,o ,timothy1 keep that which is committed to thy trust1 avoiding profane and vain babblings1 and oppositions of science falsely so called4--#a ,tim4 #f1 #bj4 ,everything in this world is liable to be spoiled4 ,there is nothing safe against the doings of corruption4 ,the holiest things are often perverted1 the richest flowers blasted in their bud4 ,man himself1 as the ,psalmist tells us1 was made but a little lower than the angels1 but his glory was soon tarnished1 and he frequently sinks a little lower than the brute4 ,there is none1 though he appear as a veritable saint among men1 who is beyond the reach of danger4 ,and it is so also with religion4 ,beautiful as is religion1 and pure as it is1 coming from the mind and bosom of ,god1 it is liable to be spoiled in the hands and hearts of its professors4 ,such at least is the teaching of the text and the testimony of experience4 ,just like the crystal mountain stream in its course from the virgin spring down to the ocean gathers some of the unclean and filthy deposits of the shores it washes1 so the waves of religion1 in flowing through many lands and hearts1 have taken up some of their noxious and poisonous ingredients2 while purifying and refreshing the earth1 the noble river contracts some of its corruptions4 ,the ,jews1 for instance1 had a pure religion1 communicated to them by the patriarchs and prophets1 but heathenish elements were continually mingling with it4 ,moloch and other hideous idols would now and then stand in the very presence of ,jehovah's temple1 and the priests of ,baal oft took the place of the sons of ,aaron4 ,when ,christ came1 the ,jewish religion was exceedingly tainted and corrupted with ,gentileism and other defiling influences4 ,the ,christian religion in its turn has fared no better1 starting out on the pure basis of its divine ,master's directions2 but it has been subject to the same influences4 ,it was given to the world as a plain1 simple system4 ,but when kings and emperors began to take it into favor1 magnificent outward ceremonies were instituted1 privileged orders were appointed2 bishops and other high authorities were set up1 claiming extraordinary power1 and at last what started as ,christianity became little more than baptized heathenism4 ,masses1 penances1 and confessionals took the stead of ,christ and ,his righteousness4 ,in place of the old heathen gods were placed patron saints4 ,venus of the ,greeks became ,mary of the ,christians4 ,the true glory of the ,church was gone1 until ,god in ,his mercy turned back the tide to ,his own ,revelation and ,book1 the ,holy ,bible4 ,that was in the days of the ,lutheran ,reformation4 ,but that did not settle matters2 the soil of misguided religion and of man's perverted opinion has been defiling1 and is still defiling1 its pure and holy waters4 ,it need not be4 ,christianity is as simple as simplicity can be1 its teaching is as clear as is the sunlight in its noonday radiancy2 but1 of course1 it must be guarded1 protected against corruption on the part of man's delirious and sickly reason4 ,this is the caution ,st4 ,paul makes in our text to his beloved pupil ,timothy1 when he directs him3 ,o ,timothy1 keep that which is committed to thy trust1 avoiding profane and vain babblings1 and oppositions of science falsely so called1 which some professing have erred concerning the faith4 ,there are two classes of science falsely so called that have erred concerning the faith4 ,the one is the worldly science1 and the other the ,christian ,science1 and concerning both classes ,i would ask for your most careful attention4 ,when speaking of science1 it must be observed at the outset that true science and the ,revelation of ,god are not at variance4 ,how can they be8 ,the ,book of ,nature and the ,book of ,religion have been written by one and the same ,hand1 and cannot contradict each other4 ,what man by investigation can find out in nature cannot be of a character to make him doubt or deny the truthfulness of religion as laid down in the ,bible4 ,but this is what some of the men of supposed higher learning are doing4 ,they look askance at religion4 ,they shake their wise heads1 and1 putting on their eye-glasses1 superciliously state that the ,bible is not what people think it is4 ,they are willing to admit that it is a book of much good history1 a book of sublime poetry1 a book of excellent moral precepts1 a book which admirably describes human nature1 a book from which all men may gather a great deal of practical wisdom and comforting promise1 but many of its texts are spurious or faulty1 it is not altogether up to date in their opinion4 ,the geologist has bored into the earth1 and found that the various compositions must make it much older than ,moses seems to say4 ,the astronomer has put his telescope into the heavens and finding our planet1 the earth1 the smallest among heavenly bodies1 considers it too insignificant to be the object of all that divine concern the ,bible speaks about4 ,the anatomist has examined the skulls of dead men1 and comparing the one with the other1 questions whether they have all proceeded from one human pair4 ,the natural historian has never found a race of snakes with power of speech1 and so he puts down the account of the serpent in ,eden as a myth4 ,the people of the earth speak hundreds of languages1 and hence it must be a mere dream that there was once a time when the whole earth was of one language and one speech4 ,miracles1 they say1 are so contrary to the general experience of mankind that they must be rejected as falsehood and fiction1 and thus might we continue to give the objections of these wiseacres1 called scientists1 who are looked up to with undisguised admiration by numbers4 ,it would lead us too far1 though nothing might afford us greater pleasure to examine these objections in their true light4--,we will only ask1 ,how do these wise people know what length of time it took the almighty ,god to form the various strata which compose the crust of the earth8 ,how can they tell that this world of ours is too small to engage ,jehovah so deeply for its welfare8 ,how can they prove that the human race and language do not extend back to one common stock8 ,how dare they deny the credibility of miracles in the face of the many wonders which are spread about them every day1 and appear every season in their sight8 ,what authority have they for their high-sounding1 but hollow assertions8 ,they think themselves wise1 but in fact they are but babes in these matters1 and those who follow them are their senseless dupes4 ,the truth is that with all the advances of knowledge which have so wonderfully marked the last three hundred years1 searching heaven and earth and sea1 knocking at every door and gathering wisdom from every source1 there has not come to light one truth to contradict these holy records1 or to require the relinquishment of one word in all the great volume of ,god4 ,only a few instances to prove what ,i state4 ,it has been but a few years since ,newton laid open the laws of gravitation1 and yet the ,scriptures spoke of the earth being hung upon nothing1 as if familiar with the whole subject1 before human science had begun to form even the feeblest guesses in the case4 ,again1 take the theory of wind currents1 and of the circulation of the blood1 why1 read the #ast1 #fth and #abth chapters of ,ecclesiastes1 and observe where ,solomon describes it at least #b1ejj years ago4 ,and so in every case4 ,you may lack understanding or research1 you may fail to grasp its truth1 by reason of its being too wonderful to you1 but as far as being false and spurious1 let no man dare to raise that charge against ,god's religion and ,book4 ,our wisdom1 at best1 is only fragmentary1 as ,st4 ,paul says1 ,we know only in part4 ,no man1 not even a scientist1 is the personification of all wisdom1 and ought not so consider himself4 ,let every man be a liar1 but never accuse ,god's truthfulness4 ,avoid such1 as ,st4 ,paul says in our text1 as being profane and vain babblings and oppositions of science falsely so called4 ,this1 then1 as much as worldly science is concerned1 and now let us turn to the other species which calls itself ,christian ,science1 but which is neither ,christian nor ,science1--not ,christian1 because it has erred from the faith1 as our text puts it1 and not a science1 because1 to quote our text again1 it is falsely so called4 ,it might be well to approach the matter more closely4 ,in the first place1 it must be noted that ,christian ,science is nothing new2 it is1 to be candid1 a rehash of what is termed in ,church ,history1 ,gnosticism4 ,in the early ,christian ,church1 about the year #bjj after ,christ1 there arose certain heretics1 ,montanus and his prophetesses ,maximilla and ,priscilla1 who advocated theories and things similar to those in our days advanced with so much zealousness by the late ,mrs4 ,mary ,baker ,g4 ,eddy1 the founder and high priestess of the ,church of ,christian ,scientists4 ,these heretical views referred to also found adherents in the early ,church1 so that the excellent ,bishop ,irenaeus1 of ,lyons1 wrote a book against them called1 ,the ,refutation of ,christian ,science falsely so called4 ,mrs4 ,eddy very deftly succeeded in bolstering up these ancient opinions1 and launched them forth in the various editions of her book called ,science and ,health1 with a ,key to the ,scriptures4 ,i have carefully gone over that book1 and ,i confess ,i am overwhelmed with shame to think that any one who lays claim to ,christianity or to well-balanced reason can earnestly believe such matter4 ,to mention only a few of her doctrines3--,the ,bible says #a ,john #e1 #g3 ,there are three that bear record in heaven3 the ,father1 the ,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 and these three are one4 ,mrs4 ,eddy says3 ,the theory of three persons in the ,godhead reminds us of heathen gods4 ,in other words1 she stamps the ,christian doctrine of the ,trinity as heathenish4 ,the ,bible says1 ,rom4 #e1 #ab3 ,by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin1 and so death passed upon all men1 for that all have sinned4 ,mrs4 ,eddy calls this an illusion1 purely imaginary2 there is no such thing as death4 ,naturally1 then1 in line with this1 she also rejects ,christ's redeeming us from sin1 stating that the time is not distant when these common views about ,christ's redemption will undergo a great change4 ,in other words1 while she mentions ,christ's name with seemingly the greatest reverence in her book1 she calls ,him a fraud and deceiver1 because the ,bible tells us in just these words that ,christ came to save ,his people from their sins1 came to destroy the works of the devil1 came to redeem them that were under the ,law4 ,but ,mrs4 ,eddy spurns the existence of a personal devil1 denies the existence of sin1 and rejects redemption4 ,such passages as #a ,john #a1 #g3 ,the blood of ,jesus ,christ1 ,god's ,son1 cleanseth us from all sin1 are hideous to her4 ,her entire system is nothing else than unchristian bosh4 ,i say unchristian because1 on closer investigation1 there is not a single particle of ,christian doctrine and belief that she does not openly or indirectly at least overthrow4 ,it is true1 she claims faith in the ,bible2 the title of her book is1 ,science and ,health1 with a ,key to the ,scriptures1 but it is a key that binds1 but does not unlock4 ,her comment to the very first verse of the ,scripture3 ,in the beginning ,god created the heaven and the earth1 is this3 ,this creation consists in the developing of spiritual ideas and their identities1 which are grasped and reflected by the unending ,spirit4 ,that may be ,mrs4 ,eddy's creation of the world1 but it certainly was not the creation which the first chapter of ,genesis tells us about4 ,but let us go on to the second chapter of the ,bible4 ,this does not suit ,mrs4 ,eddy1 as she expressly states it is diametrically opposed to scientific truth1 and inspired by falsehood and error1 and in consequence she rejects the second chapter of ,genesis entirely4 ,we could go on at this rate1 but enough has been shown to characterize ,mrs4 ,eddy's ,key to the ,scriptures4 ,and alas6 that men should be carried away with such barefaced craftiness and such thick-coated and consummate falsehood6 ,oh1 may it teach us to love to study our ,bible6 ,but there is still another phase of ,christian ,science of which we must speak1 would we do it justice1 and that is the healing phase4 ,mrs4 ,eddy claims that she has restored the sick and brought back the dying to life4 ,science and ,health and our community have been repeatedly agitated by specimens of this healing ability4 ,it is well known to every one that ,christian ,science in its treatment of disease starts from the fundamental theory that there is no sickness and disease1 as it says in their text-book1 ,science and ,health3 ,you call it neuralgia2 this is all delusion1 imagination4 ,you expose your body to a certain temperature1 and your delusion says that you catch a cold or get catarrh4 ,but such is not the case2 it is only the effect of your imagination4 ,the consequence of this fallacy is that no medical remedies are resorted to2 in fact1 to a ,christian ,scientist ignorance of medicine is bliss4 ,mrs4 ,eddy warns against a knowledge of medicine as a hindrance to learning her system4 ,stopping here for a moment to show the unscripturalness of all this1 ,i would but briefly call your attention to such passages as ,is4 #ch and #b ,kings #bj1 where we read3 ,and ,isaiah1 the prophet of the ,lord1 said to ,hezekiah the ,king1 ,let them take a lump of figs and lay it for a plaster upon the boil1 and he shall recover4 ,or1 turning to an instance from the ,new ,testament1 ,st4 ,paul the ,apostle writes in #a ,tim4 #e1 #bc to his afflicted pupil3 ,drink no longer water1 but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities1 thus suggesting a medicinal tonic or medicine4 ,our ,lord approved of physicians when ,he said3 ,they that be whole1 that is1 healthy1 need not a physician1 which evidently implies that the sick do need a physician1 and we know from ,col4 #d1 #ad that there was a physician among the first disciples of the ,christian ,church1 and that was none other than the man who wrote the third and the fifth book in the ,new ,testament1 namely1 ,st4 ,luke4 ,it says in ,col4 #d1 #ad3 ,luke1 the beloved physician1 greets you4 ,and moreover1 when we read that in the days of ,his flesh the sick and the palsied and the lame1 and those afflicted otherwise1 came to ,jesus and ,he healed them1 does not ,christian ,science1 denying that there is no sickness1 no palsy1 and no disease1 brand our ,lord as a liar and a fraud8 ,god protect us from such abomination6 ,but let us come to the final question3 ,by what power or remedy does ,christian ,science heal1 or1 rather1 claim to heal8 ,answer3 ,by denying the existence of matter1 of sickness1 of death1 and by seeking to give the mind complete mastery4 ,just imagine it is not so6 ,prayer is employed1 but ,mrs4 ,eddy does not attach as much importance to that as some of her followers1 and from what we have heard1 such prayer is not the prayer of faith1 for she has far erred from ,god and the faith4 ,god certainly does not answer such vain and profane babbling of lips that speak falsehood and lies4 ,the whole ,christian ,science is a blustering1 high-strung delusion4 ,st4 ,paul gives a true characterization of it #b ,thess4 #b1 #i3 ,it is after the working of ,satan1 with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish4 ,god grant that we may avoid profane and vain babblings and oppositions of science falsely so called4 ,with our hearts firmly grounded in the simple truth as it is in ,jesus1 and laid down in the ,volume before us1 let us hold fast through ,god's grace what we have4 ,it is the power1 the only power1 unto salvation4 ,amen4 ,,ninth ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,and ,he spake a parable unto them1 saying1 ,the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully4 ,and he thought within himself1 saying1 ,what shall ,i do1 because ,i have no room where to bestow my fruits8 ,and he said1 ,this will ,i do3 ,i will pull down my barns and build greater2 and there will ,i bestow all my fruits and my goods4 ,and ,i will say to my soul1 ,soul1 thou hast much goods laid up for many years2 take thine ease1 eat1 drink1 and be merry4 ,but ,god said unto him1 ,thou fool6 ,this night thy soul shall be required of thee2 then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided8 ,so is he that layeth up treasure for himself1 and is not rich toward ,god4--,luke #ab1 #af-ba4 ,it is a serious matter to call any man a fool4 ,it ought never to be done except when circumstances make it imperatively necessary4 ,christ1 you know1 employs very strong language in reference to this in the ,sermon on the ,mount when ,he says3 ,whosoever shall say to his brother3 ,raca1 shall be in danger of the council1 but whoever shall say3 ,thou fool1 shall be in danger of hell-fire4 ,but we must bear in mind that our ,lord does not condemn the expression ,thou fool in itself1 but rather the spirit in which it is spoken4 ,he does not affirm that it is wrong to say that a fool is a fool1 even to his face1 but that it is intensely wrong to do so from a feeling of hatred1 from spite2 and so when ,god in the words just quoted says to the rich man1 ,thou fool1 ,he says so1 not because ,he hated him1 but because it was a fact1 because ,he pitied ,his miserable condition1 and because ,he wishes to deter others from following his example4 ,to deter others from following his example1 by the guidance of ,god's ,holy ,spirit1 is what we shall attempt to do in our pulpit instruction this morning4 ,permit me simply and briefly to direct your attention to two points in this striking parable1 ,i4 ,that the rich man spoken of in this parable was in some respects a wise man2 ,,ii4 in some1 and the chief respects1 a foolish one4 ,that this man was in some respects a wise man1 of this we have sufficient evidence before us4 ,in the first place1 he was a rich man4 ,it says3 ,the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully4 ,it is very often said that anybody can make money1 that it requires no extraordinary powers to become rich1 that those who have prospered in the world are more indebted to adventitious circumstances than to any merits of their own1 and true it is that men without intelligence1 without education1 without genius1 are sometimes1 through a favorable combination of circumstances1 enabled to accumulate a vast amount of wealth4 ,yet1 as a rule1 riches are acquired by those who work hard1 who rise early and go to bed late1 who devote themselves with untiring energy to the serious business of life4 ,the great law is that ,the hand of the diligent maketh rich4 ,success is a prize which can only be secured by those who diligently seek it4 ,the very fact of this man being rich was in itself a strong proof of his prudence2 for the two1 riches and good common sense1 stand1 as a rule1 connected4 ,again1 we are told that the land brought forth plentifully4 ,what did that prove8 ,anything further than that the land was fertile8 ,it proved that he was a skillful farmer1 that he cultivated his land well1 that he knew how to make the most of it4 ,for while it is true that the abundance of the harvest depends on many circumstances over which man has no control1 such as the refreshing dew1 the genial rain1 and the life-giving sunshine1 so that after man has done his best it is ,god who must give the increase1 we ought also to remember that ,god invariably observes the laws which ,he ,himself has established3 ,he never causes corn to grow where seed has not been sown2 ,he never makes the uncultivated soil bring forth at the same rate as that which is properly tilled2 the smiles of ,providence and the help of ,god do not attend the indolent1 and the careless and thoughtless4 ,if a man would reap abundantly1 he must sow abundantly1 use the brains ,god has given him1 and conform to ,god's laws2 and so1 when the land brings forth plentifully1 it is a proof that it belongs to a skillful and prudent farmer4 ,and he was careful of his goods4 ,he thought within himself3 ,what shall ,i do because ,i have no room where to bestow my fruits8 ,there was nothing wrong in this thinking1 planning1 and contriving4 ,it would have been an unpardonable negligence on his part to let the corn rot in the fields for want of sufficient room to store it in1 and it would have been hardly natural to expect him to distribute that for which he had no room among the poor4 ,doubtless it is the duty of those who are very prosperous to be also very liberal2 according as they receive from ,god1 so ought they contribute to ,god's institutions4 ,but ,god nowhere commands them to give away all they have to spare after supplying their own immediate wants4 ,men are perfectly justified in storing up for the future1 in laying aside1 and allowing to increase what they have no need of at the present4 ,and it's the part of a thoughtful man who likes to make the most of his advantages and opportunities so to do4 ,say what people1 demagogues1 and unprincipled orators may1 and envy them as they do1 those who increase wealth in an honest way have an unquestionable claim upon our respect4 ,they are1 as it were1 the sinews of human society4 ,wealth is a mighty agent in the spread of civilization and good4 ,without wealth1 railroads could not be constructed1 ships could not be launched1 towns1 mansions1 and harbors could not be built1 most of the conveniences and comforts of civilized life could not be secured4 ,barbarous nations1 you will find1 are always poor4 ,this man1 from all accounts1 did not acquire his riches by defrauding his neighbors or by wild and hazardous speculations1 but in the exercise of a legitimate and respectable calling2 he was entitled to it1 he was deservedly respected4 ,nor did he--in this there was also a degree of wisdom--deny himself the comforts which his possessions were able to afford him4 ,he was not a tight-fisted1 miserly fellow who half starved through fear of spending his money1 denying himself the things necessary to make life more enjoyable4 ,rather the man who1 like him1 says to himself1 ,take thine ease1 eat1 drink1 and be merry1 than the man who in possession of abundance of this world's goods denies himself its comforts4 ,so far1 then1 we have many favorable traits in his character1 some of which we might do well to imitate4 ,he was an industrious1 skillful1 contemplating1 wide-awake person who1 in a business1 social way1 stood well with all who knew him4 ,but this only makes the remaining part of his conduct1 which we shall now consider1 all the more deplorable4 ,but ,god said unto him1 ,thou fool4 ,why did ,god address him thus8 ,because1 first1 all his thoughts were centered upon himself4 ,with him everything was ,i1 myself1 and mine4 ,my fruits1 my goods1 says he1 as if they were absolutely his own1 as if he owed them entirely to his own skill and industry1 and had a right to apply them to his own selfish ends4 ,the man with all his worldly wisdom--and he has many like himself--had not mastered one very essential and elementary truth1 namely this1 that nothing that we have1 nothing that we are1 comes from ourselves2 if we possess anything1 we have either inherited it or earned it4 ,if we have inherited it1 it is not we who gave life1 energy1 power to those who have bequeathed to us what we have4 ,if we have earned it1 it was not we who gave ourselves the active brain1 the strong arm1 and steady nerve that did the work4 ,at the most we have improved1 made the most of a gift4 ,our powers1 moral and intellectual1 physical and spiritual1 come from the ,author of our life2 our life itself is a gift4 ,it is ,god who hath made us1 and not we ourselves4 ,we do not exist as of right1 we exist on sufferance and as a matter of bounty4 ,we are stewards1 trustees4 ,we hold what we hold on trust1 as life-tenants1 for an unseen ,lord4 ,the first thing this man ought to have done when he found that his lands were crowned with plenty was to bow down before the heavenly throne and say3 ,father of all mercies1 ,i thank ,thee that ,thou hast remembered ,thine unworthy servant1 and hast so bountifully prospered the labor of his hands4 ,but no1 he says not a word about ,god or to ,god2 all he said was about himself and to himself4 ,my fruits and my goods--is his language4 ,and as he received them without thought or thanks to ,god1 he also used them4 ,it is this feature which our ,lord emphasizes when he remarks3 ,so is he that layeth up treasure for himself1 and is not rich toward ,god4 ,selfishness is the basest of all sins4 ,it is the most repulsive1 degraded1 and degrading form of depravity1 and to our shame it must be confessed that it is the peculiar fault of man4 ,the whole constitution of nature is a standing protest against it4 ,no created object exists for its own sake1 or to serve its own ends2 but everything contributes its share to the well-being of the rest of creation4 ,think of the sun1 the most glorious of visible objects1 how from day to day1 from year to year1 it lavishes its light upon the earth1 giving life and beauty and freshness to the vegetable and animal kingdoms4 ,or think of the clouds1 how with unwearied constancy they drink the waters of the ocean1 not to retain them in their own bosoms1 but to pour them down in plentiful showers1 both on barren mountains and on fertile plains2 or how this earth1 after supplying generation after generation1 is as productive as ever1 and its mines inexhaustible4 ,everything1 in fact1 seems to teach the grand doctrine that it is better to give than to receive4 ,man alone1 ,heaven's chief recipient1 forms the contrast4 ,he is selfish1 and herein consists his folly4 ,can we think of these things1 and not blush at our own selfishness8 ,again1 his folly appears in this1 that he provided only for the flesh1 the least important part of his nature4 ',tis true1 he talks about his soul1 but only in such a way as if he hardly distinguished it from his body1 and as if it ought to have been well satisfied with the things which his body only enjoyed4 ,and ,i will say to my soul1 said he1 ,soul1 thou hast much goods laid up for many years2 take thine ease1 eat1 drink1 and be merry4 ,but ,god said to him1 ,thou fool4 ,he talked like a madman1 like one beside himself1 and hence he deserved the severest rebuke4 ,for what is man8 ,not anything that he owns2 not anything material that he can so handle as to make it serve his purpose2 not even the bodily frame with which he will part company at death4 ,essentially1 man is a spirit1 enclosed in a bodily frame4 ,the soul is the man1 and that soul calls for first and best consideration4 ,the contrary course is folly4 ,it is quite proper for us to be careful of our bodies1 to provide things suitable for our present condition2 indeed1 it is necessary to do so4 ,alas6 that rational and heaven-born creatures should confine their attentions exclusively to1 ,what shall we eat1 what shall we drink1 and wherewithal shall we be clothed8 and utterly neglect their souls1 feed their bodies sumptuously every day1 and leave their souls to perish with hunger4 ,is this right8 ,is it reasonable to do this8 ,man has been created for a higher purpose1 and his ambition ought to be higher than to find blessedness in eating1 drinking1 and sensual pleasures4 ,these things cannot appease the cravings of his soul4 ,man needs ,god for his portion and ,christ for his ,savior2 it is only as he believes the ,gospel that true peace is his4 ,and1 lastly1 he provided only for time1 the least important portion of his existence4 ,what a glorious place this world would be1 what a glorious time it would be eating1 drinking1 and being merry1 according to the ideal of the flesh1 if--well1 if it were not for one thing4 ,what is that8 ,the summons quoted here in our text4 ,thou fool1 this night shall thy soul be required of thee4 ,many years1 the man had said4 ,this night1 ,god said1 and from that decree there was no appeal and is no exception4 ,that awful truth is applicable to every one of woman born and just as uncertain4 ,look around you1 my dear hearers1 within the circuit of your own experience1 and see if you do not recognize the picture in the parable--an indolent1 indifferent epicureanism whispering to itself1 ,soul1 take thine ease2 don't be alarmed1 eat1 drink1 and be merry1 broken in upon by the same message flashed from heaven coming in a railway accident1 in a sinking steamer1 by death in the hunting field1 or the river's waves1 or by the sudden stoppage of the heart's action4 ,thou fool1 this hour thy soul shall be required of thee1--and how do you know whether the next summons may not mean you8 ,learn from this parable the terrible uncertainty of human affairs1 and1 above all1 learn from it the lesson of wisdom1 viz41 to look forward to the future1 to forecast as to how it will be with you when the scenes and pursuits of this busy world will have ended4 ,there is a life beyond this4 ,be wise1 then1 and provide for it4 ,how8 ,to speak with our text3 ,by being rich towards ,god4 ,hear the ,gospel4 ,believe that ,jesus suffered and died for you1 reconciled you with ,god and heaven4 ,become members of ,god's kingdom on earth1 the ,christian ,church4 ,make diligent use of the means of grace1 the ,word and the ,sacraments1 and thus be prepared and blessed in time and for eternity4 ,amen4 ,,tenth ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,for as the body is one1 and hath many members1 and all the members of that one body1 being many1 are one body1 so also is ,christ4 ,and whether one member suffer1 all the members suffer with it2 or one member be honored1 all the members rejoice with it4--#a ,cor4 #ab1 #ab and #bf4 ,there is1 perhaps1 nothing more remarkable1 when you study the life of the ,church at large and of each congregation individually1 than the little interest which its members take in each other4 ,in most cases the entire concern of the membership devolves on a few1 or perhaps on the pastor alone2 in many instances the amount of interest and sympathy which is shown to each other extends only to a formal1 a very cool1 social recognition2 in some there is not even the interest which secures that4 ,people go in and out of the same church-building1 month after month1 year after year1 without as much as knowing1 or caring to know the name of their fellow-member or worshiper4 ,when difficulties arise and embarrassments1 those who belong to the ,christian ,church feel no more liberty to call on a member of the ,church for counsel or aid than they would on any other person2 when disheartened and discouraged1 in need of sympathy and a kind word1 they have no reason to suppose that a single member of the ,church sympathizes with them4 ,and when living in the neglect of ,christian duty1 none of the members ever stop to administer an admonition or gentle rebuke to keep the backslider from a melancholy fall4 ,in a word1 people are left to take care of themselves very much alone2 and this is the more remarkable when you consider the condition of those who largely make up the membership of a congregation like ours4 ,many of them are young and inexperienced in ,christian life1 gained from families where there is no religion1 no kindred to help them on to ,god1 rather1 where they are exposed to influences that would draw them aside1 and where every effort ought to be made to keep them in the fold4 ,the reflections1 my beloved1 and the constant cry1 ,what is the ,church doing for its members8 ,see how other organizations are helping each other1 how they care for their constituents1 have led me to propose for our consideration this morning3 ,what are the duties which the members of the ,church owe to each other8 ,we shall inquire ,i4 ,what the ,christian ,church is1 ,,ii4 note a few traits which ought to distinguish its members4 ,may ,god's ,spirit make the sermon a profitable one4 ,first1 what the ,christian ,church is4 ,the ,christian ,church is an organization1 a body1 separate1 different from all other organizations or bodies4 ,it has a separate origin1 a separate purpose4 ,it has separate principles and law4 ,as to its origin--the ,church is divine4 ,it is not a human institution4 ,it is not a mere voluntary association1 such as an ,odd ,fellows' ,society1 a ,masonic ,fraternity1 a ,mutual ,improvement ,club1 an ,insurance ,company4 ,none of these have in them any higher wisdom1 authority1 or goodness than human experience or contrivance has given them4 ,it is different with the ,church4 ,god made the first ,churches1 and through them ,he made all other ,churches4 ,what the ,church teaches in her creed is not from man1 but from ,god4 ,his revelation1 the sacraments she administers1 are divine institutions1 ,god-appointed1 and all the terms and the spiritual process by which people come to be part and parcel of the ,church are directly from ,god4 ,men can no more make a ,church than they can make a world4 ,it is altogether a thing of ,god4 ,though human agencies are employed in its perpetuation1 it is altogether of ,god4 ,this1 it may be well to emphasize1 is a point which does not enter into the practical consideration of men as it should4 ,people come to church or stay away the same as they would go or stay away from a lecture on human science1 politics1 or travels4 ,they forget that in the one case they are dealing with men and the things of men1 in the other with ,god and the things of ,god4 ,they listen to the preaching of the ,word as they would listen to a candidate for political favor1 except with a little more drowsiness and indifference4 ,they forget that it is but man speaking in the one case1 and that it is ,god1 though by a man1 speaking to them in the other4 ,people all gaze more idly upon a baptism or an administration of the ,lord's ,supper than upon the shams and mockeries of a stage play1 not reflecting that the one is mere empty buffoonery1 whilst the other is a transaction upon which angels are gazing with reverence1 and in which ,god is setting forth the precious riches of ,his almighty grace4 ,they are great on praising their unions1 clubs1 lodges1 fellowships1 regarding them as the very connections for true fellowship1 benefit1 and improvement1 and setting aside that organization without which the good that is in those connections would never have been4 ,the little light with which those societies shine is only a borrowed light1 reflecting feebly the spirit and principles of the ,church which they largely despise4 ,beloved1 these are no hasty utterances on my part4 ,they are the words of deliberation and truth4 ,there is a laxative goodishness1 a weak religiousness spreading in our ,churches that holds other organizations just as good as ,god's organization4 ,the fact is that the true and certain divinity1 the ,god character of the ,church1 hardly enters any more into men's hearts4 ,let it be once rightly grasped and felt that the ,church1 as such1 is a thing of ,god1 that ,god's name and saving grace are linked with it1 and that it is the channel1 conservatory of heaven's truth and saving grace1 by which alone men's souls are saved4 ,let those who profess to be ,christians avoid any and every connection that holds teachings1 rituals1 prayers1 and practices contrary to its teachings1 prayers1 and practices1 and the ,church would not be shorn so much of her strength and be so little thought of4 ,if men are brethren in other connections besides the brotherhood of ,christ1 which is the ,church1 hold with one hand to idolatry and with the other to ,christianity1 it need not be wondered that their zeal is a divided one1 and1 in most cases1 the ,church receives the smallest division4 ,the first general thought1 then1 is this3 ,the ,church is ,god's4 ,says the text1 it is the body of ,christ1 distinct from all man-made associations1 and so to be honored4 ,and what--to consider the second and larger part of our discourse--are some of the distinguishing traits of its members8 ,by what are they to know each other and to be known of one another8 ,other societies have their pledges and badges4 ,in some it is a secret sign known only to the initiated1 the brethren of the craft2 in others it is some peculiarity of speech or of dress1 the cut of the cap or the hair4 ,now1 it is remarkable that the ,savior and ,his apostles prescribed no such external badge of membership1 more remarkable because1 perhaps1 every society then1 as now1 could be known by such an outward badge4 ,the ,jew would be known everywhere by his broad phylacteries and the borders of his garments2 the ,roman soldier had some mark wrought with imperishable dye in the skin2 the ,greek introduced into the ,eleusinian mysteries had some outward method of expressing that fact to the world4 ,and nothing would have been easier than for the ,savior to have appointed some such emblem for ,his followers4 ,but in the sacred record there is not even a distant intimation of any such badge by which ,christ's people or ,christ's ministers are to be externally so distinguished4 ,and yet1 was there no badge1 no mark of distinction8 ,there was4 ,what was it8 ,permit me1 in answer1 to quote a few passages4 ,a new commandment ,i give unto you1 that ye love one another as ,i have loved you4 ,by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples1 if ye have love one to another4 ,we know that we have passed from death unto life1 because we love the brethren4 ,he that loveth not his brother abideth in death4 ,if a man say1 ,i love ,god1 and hateth his brother1 he is a liar2 for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen1 how can he love ,god whom he hath not seen8 ,be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love4 ,as touching brotherly love1 ye have no need that ,i write you1 for ye yourselves are taught of ,god to love one another4 ,and the story of ,john the ,apostle is well known4 ,in his old age of #ih years he was carried to the ,church1 and when he was asked whether he had anything to say1 he would feebly respond1 ,children1 love one another4 ,not by signs1 peculiarity of dress1 or password--by attachment for each other were ,christ's followers to be distinguished the world over1 in all ages4 ,in ,his ,church they were to feel that1 regardless of wealth1 learning1 office1 or other human distinctions1 they were on a level1 that they had common wants1 had been redeemed by the same precious blood1 were going to the same heaven1 and were in every respect brethren4 ,and under this conviction of feeling they were to hold to each other1 love each other4 ,my dear hearers1 did this love ever in the history of the ,church form such a distinguishing badge8 ,it did4 ,the time was when the attachment of ,christians for each other was such as to impress the world with the reality of their religion1 and with the fact that they belonged to the family of the redeemed4 ,see1 said the heathen in the early days of ,christianity1 how these ,christians love one another1 and how ready they are to lay down their lives for each other4 ,is it so now8 ,i answer for anything that you can tell1 if persecutions were to arise1 those scenes of ancient martyrdom story might be acted over again4 ,but if there is not this love of which the ,savior and ,his apostles speak as a distinguishing characteristic of ,his ,church1 let it be for all of us a matter of self-examination and reflection4 ,i1 as a servant of the ,master1 can only tell what ,he requires of ,his disciples4 ,again1 a second trait and duty required1--they are to be characterized by sympathy for those of its members who suffer4 ,the members of the ,church are indeed expected and required to have sympathy for all who are afflicted1 but the idea is that they are sympathizing with each other in a peculiar manner4 ,christians are exposed to the same kind of afflictions as others4 ,they are liable to sickness and bereavement and poverty like others1 and1 in addition1 they have sources of sorrow peculiar to themselves1--internal conflicts and struggles1 persecutions and trials on account of their religion2 and in these1 as well as in the occasions of joy1 they are supposed to find cordial sympathy and interest among their brethren4 ,that is the idea set forth in the text when it says3 ,and whether one member suffer1 all the members suffer with it2 or one member be honored1 all the members rejoice with it4 ,such is the formation of our body1 the constitution of the nervous fibers and the tissues1 that pain in one part affects the whole frame2 that joy in one part diffuses itself over all4 ,a pain in the heart1 the side1 or in one of the limbs does not confine itself there1 leaving the rest of the body in a state fitted for its usual employments1 but every part sympathizes with that which is affected4 ,and so the pleasure which we receive from beauty of objects seen by the eye1 or from the melody and harmony of music as perceived by the ear1 is diffused over the whole frame1 and we are filled with enjoyments4 ,so is the ,church which is the body of ,christ4 ,what affects one member is supposed to affect all4 ,what gives pain to one gives pain to all4 ,what honors one honors all4 ,as an injury done to a nerve in the body1 though so small as not to be traceable to an unpracticed eye1 may be felt at the remotest extremities1 so is the body of ,christ4 ,the dishonor done to the obscurest member should be felt by all2 the honor done to that member should produce rejoicing4 ,without any officious intermeddling with the private concerns of individuals1 there should be such an interest felt in the common welfare of the whole that each might depend on the sympathy of his brethren at all times and in all circumstances4 ,say not that ,so it is not4 ,the consideration now1 the ,savior's teaching1 is that so it ought to be1 and that every member of ,his ,church should strive to make it so4 ,and one more duty must we mention1 however briefly4 ,it is this3 ,as an essential to healthful congregational life there must be mutual admonition among the members4 ,here is the fundamental principle laid down by the ,savior4 ,if thy brother shall trespass against thee1 go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone4 ,you are not to blazon his fault abroad1 you are not to allow the suspicion that he has done you wrong to lie1 and rankle1 and fester in your own mind4 ,you are not to allow it to make you cold and distant1 and evasive and repulsive when you meet him1 without his knowing the cause2 you are not to send an anonymous letter or a message by any one4 ,you are to go to him and see him by himself1 and give him an opportunity of explanation1 or confession4 ,it is a painful duty1 and it is not a duty that devolves on the pastor1 but according to the rule laid down by the ,savior1 upon a brother1 i4 e41 clearly every one who is a member of the ,church4 ,beloved1 the more ,i study congregational life and gather practical experience1 the wiser does the ,lord's rule appear to me in preserving the welfare of the ,church4 ,let us all strive to conform to it4 ,let us openly and frankly treat each other like brethren4 ,if you have been offended by a brother1 or if you have offended a brother1 here is the rule that guides you2 if you see a congregational member wandering from the path of true religion1 going astray from ,church and godliness1 fail not to do your duty by him1 by an attempt to admonish and reclaim him4 ,we have set before us to-day what the ,church is1 and what the characteristics of its members are1--a peculiar love founded on their common hope of heaven1 and their attachment to a common ,savior1 sympathy with each other in joy and sorrow1 and a common interest and proper admonition when going astray4 ,god grant that all of us may rightly understand and may strive to live up to these things1 so that the ,church may answer its high and holy purpose1 the salvation of men's souls through faith in ,christ1 to whom in all matter be glory and honor forever4 ,amen4 ,,eleventh ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith1 without the deeds of the ,law4--,rom4 #c1 #bh4 ,whoever has read his ,bible with attention must have observed that there are some passages which1 at first view1 appear hard to reconcile4 ,take1 for instance1 the passage before us4 ,st4 ,paul here says that a man is justified by faith1 without the deeds of the ,law1 and to confirm his assertion produces the example of ,abraham4 ,abraham believed ,god1 and it was counted unto him for righteousness4 ,st4 ,james in his letter1 the second chapter1 produces the same example1 that of ,abraham1 and draws from it a conclusion directly contradictory4 ,he says3 ,ye see1 then1 that by works a man is justified1 and not by faith only4 ,can any two opinions be more opposite in appearance8 ,and as may be expected1 all manner of conjectures have been presented4 ,i will not tire you with a tenth part of these interpretations4 ,only two shall ,i mention as a specimen4 ,a writer of great eminence1 recognizing the difficulty in its full strength1 allows that it is not only hard1 but impossible to reconcile the two apostles1 and concludes that1 since it is impossible to hold both their sentiments1 we must abide by him who wrote the last4 ,accordingly1 he gives up the doctrine of faith without works1 supposing that ,st4 ,paul wrote with carelessness of expression1 and that ,st4 ,james wrote after him to clear up what ,paul had obscurely or inaccurately expressed4 ,again we would note that our great ,reformer1 ,dr4 ,martin ,luther1 having felt the power of ,st4 ,paul's doctrine in his own soul1 that he would have defied an angel from heaven to oppose it1 when his adversaries pressed him with the passage from ,st4 ,james1 styled it an epistle of straw1 because1 in his opinion1 it did not urge ,christ sufficiently strong4 ,but what of an explanation of these apparently so contradictory passages8 ,is there an explanation8 ,indeed1 a simple and satisfactory one4 ,god's truth never clashes4 ,when ,st4 ,paul speaks of justification1 he means the justification of our persons1--how we may be accepted by a just and holy ,god1 that is1 by faith1 and by faith alone1 not by works4 ,when ,st4 ,james in his letter speaks of justification1 he speaks of the profession as believers1 how a man proves1 shows1 that he has faith1 and that he can only show that he has faith in one way1 namely1 by his works4 ,st4 ,james1 in his epistle1 is addressing such of his day as said they had faith1 though it had no influence upon their hearts and conduct4 ,he shows that their hope is vain4 ,he asks3 ,what doth it profit though a man say he hath faith1 and hath not works8 ,can faith save him8--that is1 can such an idle1 empty faith save him8 ,he quotes an example3 ,if a brother or sister be destitute1 and one of you say unto them1 ,depart in peace1 be ye warmed and filled1 notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body1 what doth it profit8 ,would such empty professions of charity prove a man to have charity8 ,no more1 does he argue1 would a person's mere assertion that he has faith1 unless it were followed by good works1 justify his profession4 ,a ,christian's faith is proved to be what it ought to be by works1 and not by mere empty profession of faith4 ,and so the example of ,abraham is pertinent in both cases4 ,according to ,st4 ,paul1 ,abraham believed1 had faith in ,god1 and ,god counted it unto him for righteousness1 accepted him by faith1 and being thus accepted1 ,abraham1 already justified before ,god in person1 showed that he had the true faith by the effects which it produced in his heart and life1 and when ,god directed him to offer his son ,isaac upon the altar1 he obeyed4 ,thus1 concludes the ,apostle ,james1 his obedience1 his works1 justified his faith1 his profession as a believer4 ,in a word1 ,st4 ,paul speaks of the justification of our persons1 and that is by faith1 and by faith alone1 and ,st4 ,james speaks of the justification of our faith1 and that is by works4 ,viewed thus1 there is no discrepancy1 no difficulty1 and having taken up the subject1 let us continue to consider these two statements1 perfectly consistent with each other3-- ,i4 ,that there is no acceptance or justification for any of us with ,god but through ,jesus ,christ received by faith1 and that in this concern of justification works of every kind are absolutely excluded4 ,,ii4 ,that where faith in ,jesus ,christ exists1 it must show itself by works4 ,to begin with1--what is it for a man to be justified8 ,when a person has been brought to trial for any offense and has been found guilty1 he must make satisfaction for this offense4 ,if he is able to make a sufficient satisfaction for his offense1 either through his own ability or that of his friends1 and the law accepts such an indemnification1 the criminal departs from the trial justified4 ,he is not1 indeed1 an innocent man1 but he is so regarded by the law1 and though guilty1 he would be no more liable to prosecution and punishment for that offense than a person who had never committed it4 ,now this is the way in which we are justified before ,god4 ,we are guilty beings2 the sentence of eternal punishment is pronounced upon us2 we have no ability of our own to make satisfaction to the court of the just ,judge4 ,but an almighty ,friend has died to make satisfaction for us2 ,god is ready to accept this satisfaction1 and in consideration of it ,he releases us from the penalty of eternal death to restore us to ,his favor1 in a word1 to justify us1 to treat us as innocent4 ,a person who is found in ,christ1 having the infinite merits of his ,savior to plead for his justification1 is no longer liable to punishment4 ,but how do we secure this satisfaction of an almighty ,savior8 ,again the text answers3 ,by faith4 ,take1 in illustration1 the incident of ,peter's walking on the sea4 ,we have in our natural state nothing more substantial under our feet to keep us from sinking into everlasting destruction than ,peter had from sinking into the watery deep1 and it is only when we realize our situation as he did1 when we feel our entire helplessness and destitution of hope as he did1 when we cast the imploring look and hold out the same suppliant hand1 confident that ,he is able and willing to save1 that we exercise a ,gospel faith1 receive all that ,christ has ever done or suffered in our behalf4 ,faith is the hand that lays hold on the ,savior1 and so justifies4 ,again1 ,we are justified1 is the ,apostle's assertion1 without the deeds of the ,law4 ,in the first chapter of this epistle to the ,romans1 ,paul labors to show that the ,gentiles had sinned against the law of nature which was written in their hearts1 and in the second and third chapters1 that the ,jews had equally transgressed their written ,law1 and then1 having thus shown that all the world is guilty before ,god1 he concludes3 ,therefore by the deeds of the ,law there shall no flesh be justified4 ,in other words1 that good works are of no account in our justification1 they cannot set us right with ,god1--make us acceptable with ,him1 cannot gain ,his favor4 ,that is the teaching of the ,scripture and the doctrine of the ,church4 ,declares the ,fourth ,article of the ,augsburg ,confession3 ,we teach that men cannot be justified before ,god by their own powers1 deservings1 or works1 but are accounted righteous in grace only through the merit of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ received by faith4 ,nor is there a lesson which we learn more slowly4 ,it is a task most difficult for us to give up the idea of merit in ourselves1 to feel that we can do nothing1 absolutely nothing1 towards purchasing the favor of ,god4 ,talk with the sick and the dying upon the grounds of their hope1 and they will often be found pleading that they have always endeavored to live good lives1 and have never been guilty of any gross sins1 showing by such language that they are clinging to their own good works1 instead of trusting to the heaven-procuring righteousness of ,god4 ,converse with ,christians1 even some of our church-members1 and they will often speak in such a way as to show that they are placing some merit in their good character or endeavors to serve ,god4 ,with one foot they may indeed be standing on the rock of salvation1 but the other is too often still in the miry clay of our own deservings4 ,we must learn to rest wholly on ,christ4 ,we must pray ,god to break down every vain dependence1 to look away1 with loathing and disgust1 from anything that we possess or can do1 to receive a crucified ,redeemer as our only hope4 ,nothing in my hand ,i bring1 simply to ,thy cross ,i cling4 ,this is the first proposition1 that there is no acceptance with ,god but through faith1 and that in this concern works of every kind are absolutely excluded4 ,but this proposition1 simple and plain as it is1 must not be perverted4 ,it will not do1 then1 to say1 ,it matters not what our lives are1 just so we only have faith in ,christ4 ,when the ,scriptures assert that we are justified by faith1 they do not mean a faith which leaves us indifferent to our practice4 ,the faith that saves a man is of the kind that has a prevailing and ennobling influence upon the hearts and lives of those who possess it4 ,because man cannot gain salvation by his own righteousness and works1 he must beware of falling into the fatal and ruinous delusion that he can abolish righteousness and good works4 ,god demands good character and good works from ,his people4 ,the same apostle who declares in the epistle3 ,by faith we are justified1 adds3 ,and ,his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain1 but ,i labored more abundantly than they all4 ,the ,bible wants every ,christian to be busy2 his life should be filled with fruits of good4 ,but these things must be put in their right place2 and which is that8 ,as an evidence of the faith within us4 ,faith saves us1 but good character and good works prove that we have this saving faith4 ,the truth of the matter is that to set little store on good works is an immoral and most pestilent heresy4 ,the works by which we recommend religion and adorn the doctrine of ,god1 our ,savior2 the works which spring from love to ,christ and aim at the glory of ,god1 the works by which a good man blesses society and leaves the world better than he has found it1 are not worthless and filthy rags1 but they are the gracious and graceful ornament of a blood-bought soul1 the fruits of ,god's ,spirit within us1 the clear and comfortable evidence of our being the children of ,god2 and in this ,st4 ,paul and ,st4 ,james agree4 ,whereas a faith that professes to believe in ,christ1 and denies ,him in character and works1 is not only unprofitable1 but loathsome and offensive1 a dead carcass4 ,god grant that we have all rightly understood that we place our sole and undivided dependence for salvation upon our blessed ,redeemer1 and that we evidence such faith in ,him by the virtues of a holy character and the performance of godly acts4 ,to ,god be all glory in ,christ ,jesus6 ,amen4 ,,twelfth ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,train up a child in the way he should go2 and when he is old he will not depart from it4--,prov4 #bb1 #f4 ,it has grown to be a custom to speak at this time a few words concerning our youth4 ,no one1 ,i trust1 will dispute the wisdom1 nor question the appropriateness of this4 ,after months of relaxation and rest our little ones have returned to the walls and duties of school life4 ,god grant ,his blessing that they may become intelligent citizens1 worthy and useful members of the commonwealth4 ,that is our pious wish and prayer1 and for such wish we have reason abundant4 ,perhaps there has been no time when the matter of education and bringing up of our children has called for so much thought and concern as at the present4 ,statisticians tell us what startling conditions prevail in our country in respect to wrongdoing1 that murders1 unchastity1 forgeries like a tidal wave are sweeping our land far above what it is in other countries1 and that a large percentage of these crimes are being perpetuated by mere striplings of boys4 ,by far the larger number of the inmates of our penal institutions--work-house and penitentiary--are young men4 ,our reform schools--,good ,shepherd institutions and similar places--house boys and girls by the hundreds1 causing one to heave a sigh of inexpressible sadness4 ,look over the docket of our ,juvenile ,court1 and it convinces you beyond cavil that there is enough to justify its existence2 and then we have said nothing about the stubbornness against parents and superiors1 flippancy1 and other sins of youth daily on the increase4 ,and who is to blame8 ,said an honorable judge of this city lately3 ,i do say that there is a fearful amount of depravity among the children in the cities of this country1 and ,i don't blame the children as much as those who put them into existence1 the parents2 and continuing1 he says3 ,we are prating entirely too much about the unreal and unsubstantial4 ,after all1 the real questions are the ones that affect the homes and the children in the homes1 and because we have neglected them1 we are reaping the ill results4 ,the testimony of thousands of others could be quoted to the same effect4 ,sufficient reason1 accordingly1 why we should direct attention to this vital subject4 ,god blessing ,his word spoken1 let us regard the text which reads3 ,train up a child in the way he should go1 noticing that this is done1 ,i4 ,by instruction1 ,,ii4 by example1 ,,iii4 by discipline4 ,first in order to a proper training of the young belongs instruction1 and by that we mean religious instruction1 education not of the mind only1 but of the heart4 ,we have no quarrel with education of the mind1 the culture of our children in all the accomplishments and acquisitions of facts and sciences2 on the contrary1 we regard intellectual knowledge1 to speak with ,king ,solomon1 as more precious than rubies and more to be chosen than fine gold2 we hail with delight every facility and agency that would make our children just as bright as possible1 and commend the spirit that makes our schools among the most elegant and conspicuous of public buildings4 ,and yet1 education of the mind alone will not do2 we might point in evidence of that to the refined nations of antiquity4 ,is not ancient ,greece with its music1 painting1 poetry1 and the arts the model of modern states8 ,and who has not heard and read of the ,romans and the ancient ,egyptians and ,persians8 ,go to your public libraries and see the books on its shelves and the mutilated statues of ,apollo1 ,juno1 and the like that tell of their genius4 ,why did these nations not last8 ,why did the fabric of their grandeur crumble to pieces8 ,because it was not combined with the unperishable principle of virtue1 and their want of virtue resulted from their want of religion4 ,far more simple1 however1 is the consideration that man is not only mind1 but soul1 and that this soul is preeminently what makes the man1 here and hereafter2 that it is upon the attention given to that soul that man's happiness1 or the reverse1 depends4 ,hence1 the importance and duty of educating the soul4 ,and that duty--where does it begin8 ,most assuredly where ,god first put the children--that is the home4 ,at as early a period as possible1 as soon as the little ones begin to think and to reason1 it is for us to bring them into uninterrupted contact with the sublime and simple truths of ,god's ,word4 ,you cannot begin too early4 ,from veriest infancy let them breathe the air of a religious atmosphere4 ,the names of ,god1 ,jesus1 heavenly ,father1 words like heaven1 angels1 ,bible1 church1 and others of this kind1 let them be used over and over1 constantly in the hearing of the child4 ,at first they convey but little meaning to it4 ,but the brain retains even what it at first does not understand1 and day by day the impression deepens and the understanding grows4 ,moreover1 parents cannot begin too early to teach the child to abhor sin4 ,mothers should give especial attention to their little daughters and train them in maidenly modesty and chastity1 reticence and reserve4 ,and this home education does not cease when the children at tender age are sent to the ,sunday-school and the parochial school4 ,what great things are expected from that short lesson on a ,sunday morning6 ,how unreasonable to look for results of any amount unless there be the cooperation of the parents with the teachers4 ,how many parents cooperate with the ,christian instructors8 ,how often do parents inquire about the ,catechism and ,bible history lesson8 sing with their children the religious songs taught8 ,if parents fail to interest themselves in what is going on in this way1 never speak to the little ones about their work1 of what little value must this appear to the children4 ,it needs the earnest and ardent cooperation of the parents4 ,and so when it comes to confirmation4 ,what is confirmation8 ,a course of religious instruction by the pastor4 ,my beloved1 have you ever reflected what a most excellent appointment that is8 ,what would our ,lutheran ,church be and do with it8 ,those few months spent in personal instruction with the pastor have been the most fruitful period of many a life1 have laid a foundation1 solid and impenetrable--and ,god prevent the day that parents would begrudge the hours devoted to that purpose1 or regard the securing of a public school diploma higher than the ,certificate of ,confirmation4 ,as the new term is about to open1 let parents and sponsors carefully weigh this matter6--,we train the children1 in the first place1 by religious instruction4 ,again1 it has been stated1 by example4 ,to bring up a child in the way it should go1 you should go that way yourself4 ,an ounce of example is better than a pound of precept4 ,if children are to honor parents1 parents ought to honor themselves and each other4 ,if father and mother are rude to each other1 no wonder if the example be soon followed4 ,if father and mother are unpunctual in their hours1 irreverent and vulgar in gesture and speech1 it needs no sage to tell what the effect would be4 ,children need models more than criticism4 ,boys do not learn honesty and girls modesty so much from text-books--the parents are the best living encyclopedia of practical morality4 ,what can one expect where the father is heard blaspheming his ,creator1 lives in debauchery1 drowning his reason in liquor1 spending his time and his earnings for purposes and in places unbecoming4 ,how many a boy's soul has been poisoned by filthy talk heard from an adult's lips6 ,an irreverent joke on some ,bible story has well-nigh shattered the faith of many a lad6 ,and it will never improve the moral condition of the young where the mothers are white liars1 practice deception upon their husbands1 and indulge in eavesdropping and gossip and find their chief delight with the world1 its amusements and pleasures4 ,it well becomes us to examine ourselves and our homes in this respect4 ,two things in particular have tended to break down the religious prestige of parents and to make our homes irreligious homes4 ,the first is this3 the lack of family worship and prayer4 ,in many1 aye1 most cases the family altar has1 to quote the language of another1 been carried to the woodshed1 and there demolished for kindling4 ,what multitude of homes are veritable boarding houses6 ,each member of the household comes1 goes1 eats1 and sleeps at will4 ,when you add to that the rush and push of modern business life1 the spirit of the age1 which regards religion lightly1 the multiplied evening enjoyments1 we have no time for family worship4 ,but right there we are making an irreparable mistake--as foolish and worse than taking the roof off our house4 ,dear ,christian parent1 put that ,bible back where it belongs2 let never a day pass but a chapter is heard in your dwelling4 ,consider what ,i say1 and the ,lord grant you courage and blessing6 ,parents who do not fear and love ,god and live according to ,his commandments1 what reason have they to complain when their children1 misled by them1 fail to fear and love ,god and live according to ,his commandments8 ,so the second means of training up a child in the way he should go is by example4 ,the third is discipline4 ,foolishness is in the heart of a child4 ,the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth1 says the ,bible1 and this foolish and evil heart shows itself very early and ugly betimes1 and then needs restraint4 ,children must be trained in the way they should go1 also in this particular2 namely1 to control their passions1 to master their self-will2 to render obedience1 respect1 deference to parents and all elders4 ,a child is in a very precarious condition if it has gained the impression that it is too much for papa and mamma1 and that it cannot be made to mind1 and that papa and mamma cannot do a thing with it4 ,and if the parents unfailingly take the side of their children when something comes up between them and some other party1 as the teachers and neighbors1 they may be certain that they are making all around good-for-nothing children of them4 ,children should be compelled to curb themselves1 and not allow ugly words to come over their lips1 or to frown1 and scowl1 and get into a fit of anger whenever they receive an order1 or are reprimanded4--,and how are parents to overcome disrespect and insubordination of children8 ,first of all1 they must cease to coddle their children1 and connive at their faults1 or laugh at their rudeness and misbehavior4 ,again1 ,god1 by the pen of ,solomon1 has set down a word in the ,bible which needs mentioning to-day3 ,he that spareth the rod hateth his son2 but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes4 ,the rod indeed should be used with caution and good common sense1 and only in extreme cases of disobedience and wickedness4 ,parents should be heedful in this respect4 ,when a child does a trifling wrong1 not out of malice1 but out of mischief or thoughtlessness1 parents must not resort to extreme severity4 ,parents should take the trouble to train their children1 to talk to them1 to explain what is right and wrong1 to get the consent of their will1 and persuade them to obey1 and it is only after all patience and clemency has been exhausted and the child remains intractable that the rod will come in for its share of training4 ,it is a well-known dictum of ,luther1 that the apple and the rod must go together1 that is1 love must be combined with justice1 otherwise children feel abused1 and become embittered4--,but neither must we refrain from using the rod for the good of the child1 nor can we begin too early4 ,and one thing more do we emphasize in this important matter of children's training3 ,keep your child out of bad company4 ,boys and girls are often allowed to run wild1 early and late1 with all kinds of companions1 in all sorts of places1 and this has marked the beginning of many a boy's and girl's downfall4 ,you would not suffer your little ones in the company of children infected with some malignant disease4 ,but some parents seem to dread such ailments more than the vicious and degrading influence of ill-trained children2 they never inquire about the character of their children's playmates1 about the nature of the games indulged in4 ,on a ,sunday morning parents will leave their children at home1 feasting on the comic section of the ,sunday paper1 a flagrant exhibition of the criminal meanness and spitefulness of some bad boy4 ,to pass by other things1 the five-cent theaters1 or nickelodeons1 may present wholesome pictures at times1 but enough has been said and written to convince us that the nature of the entertainment offered is in many cases1 if not in the most1 of a low and trivial order4 ,it is certainly a training in the wrong direction if children can talk fluently about plays1 actors1 and actresses4 ,let a child taste that sort of opiate1 and life elsewhere will seem dull and insipid1 and the outcome far from the paths of righteousness and religion4 ,may ,god1 according to the riches of ,his mercy1 bless the words spoken so that they may arouse us parents to renewed endeavors1 multiplied zeal1 and irresistible enthusiasm in our duties over against our youth4 ,to ,his great ,parent heart and ,parent care we commend them and us4 ,amen4 ,,thirteenth ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,and the ,king shall answer and say unto them1 ,verily ,i say unto you1 ,inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren1 ye have done it unto me4--,matt4 #be1 #dj4 ,we ,christians are sometimes at a loss whether to regard it as a matter of congratulation or as a matter of disdain when we hear people who otherwise repudiate our blessed ,lord1 who have no use for ,his teaching and ,his ,church1 quoting ,him as an authority and a model4 ,thus there be those who say with great emphasis that ,jesus ,christ was a ,socialist1 yes1 the first and real ,socialist2 ,he loved the common people and severely arraigned the rulers of ,his nation4 ,others1 when they find it convenient1 contend that ,christ was no temperance man4 ,did ,he not perform a miracle1 turning water into wine8 ,while others contend that ,christ was a great philanthropist2 ,his purpose and mission was to make this world a better place to live in2 wherefore ,he fed the hungry1 healed the sick1 and devoted ,himself to the betterment of social conditions generally4 ,whether our ,lord was a ,socialist1 or not1 that depends upon the definition1 ,what is a ,socialist8 ,unfortunately1 there are as many different definitions of ,socialism as there are individual ,socialists2 scarcely two are perfectly agreed4 ,suffice it to say that1 in the popular acceptance of the word1 ,jesus of ,nazareth was not a ,socialist2 and we do not feel greatly flattered to have ,him so rated4 ,the same is true when ,he is quoted as a non-temperance man1 in the mouth of those whose use of wine and other intoxicants consists mostly in the abuse4 ,and as to our ,lord being a philanthropist1 whose mission was the betterment of social conditions1 this1 while a favorite idea1 is far from the whole truth4 ,what does our ,lord ,himself say was ,his mission in this world8 ,he declares that ,he came to seek and to save that which was lost4 ,he says3 ,i am come that ye might have life1 and that ye might have it more abundantly4 ,what did ,he mean by life8 ,surely not the hand-breadth of time which we are living here and now4 ,to ,him man was more than a creature whose wants were only those of a stomach and its appurtenances4 ,it is true1 ,he did not minimize the present life4 ,he relieved men of their distresses and healed their sicknesses2 but that was quite subordinate to ,his greater work4 ,the emphasis was always placed on their eternal interests4 ,the life1 ,he said1 is more than meat and the body than raiment4 ,his great question was1 ,what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his soul8 ,what are health and comfort and wealth1 and all earth's emoluments in comparison with the life hereafter8 ,christ's mission was to make it possible for men to attain to that high destiny2 and this ,he did by sacrificing ,himself and dying on the cross for them1 in expiation of their sins1 so that1 whosoever would believe in ,him1 should not perish1 but have everlasting life4 ,this1 be it ever kept before us1 was the purpose and mission of ,christ4 ,it is not true that the ministry of ,christ had to do principally with the temporal welfare of men4 ,to say so is to contradict ,his words and belittle ,his work4 ,he did champion the poor2 ,he did vindicate the rights of the working classes2 ,he did insist on happy homes and just government and the betterment of society every way4 ,but ,he came to be a ,savior1 ,he came to save the soul from the ravages and penalty of sin2 and when people quote ,him in favor of one thing only1 and that the inferior part1 and reject the other and the superior1 it is only a half truth1 and not to our ,lord's credit4 ,and as people judge in these matters concerning ,christ1 so concerning ,his ,church4 ,the ,scripture-lesson of this ,sunday1 treating of this subject1 tells us of the good ,samaritan and his work of love4 ,let us1 for once1 take for our topic of instruction3 ,i4 ,the wrong view and attitude of the ,church over against the works of benevolence4 ,,ii4 ,which is the correct ,bible teaching and practice8 ,the ,lord grant us understanding and wisdom6 ,there is no question that the expectation of the multitude regarding the churches has largely changed4 ,formerly the one and only thing which it was expected for the churches to do was to preach the ,gospel1 to minister to people's souls4 ,public opinion now is to the effect that the business of the ,church is along the lines of social science and social service4 ,there are churches to-day which have1 accordingly1 been practically transformed into hospitals1 for the healing of nervous diseases1 and there are ,social ,settlements1 supported by ,christian people1 where baths and gymnasiums1 play-rooms1 lunch counters1 musicales1 moving pictures1 and scientific lectures have free sway4 ,not only with the unseen and eternal has the ,church to do1 but with the seen and temporal4 ,give a man a square meal1 a good suit of clothes1 better social conditions for him and his children1 and you will have better success as to his soul4 ,let the churches preach that and practice that1 and they will come up to their proper ideal and purpose4 ,beloved1 as to what is the proper ideal and purpose of the ,church1 that is for ,him to say who founded the ,church2 and what does ,he say8 ,of ,himself ,he said1 as we heard3 ,the ,son of ,man is come to seek and to save that which is lost1 and to ,his disciples ,he said3 ,as the ,father hath sent me1 into the world1 so send ,i you1 that is1 to seek and to save those who were lost in sin4 ,and this salvation is to be accomplished in what way8 ,by social science and service8 ,his direction is3 ,go ye and preach the ,gospel4 ,that1 be it noted1 is the purpose and mission of the ,church4 ,teach the ,gospel1 the tidings how man's soul may be saved from the guilt and power of sin through ,jesus ,christ1 their ,savior4 ,that is the heaven-appointed sphere and commission1 at home and abroad4 ,the object of our missionaries in foreign lands is not to heal the sick and teach the heathen how to wear clothes1 and cultivate the fields4 ,to civilize is not yet to ,christianize4 ,their duty is to preach the ,gospel1 and invite souls to ,christ4 ,they may have to do other things1 such as translating the ,scriptures1 helping the poor1 and treating their sick bodies1 but always with one thing in mind1 namely1 the winning of souls to ,christ as their ,savior from sin4 ,and so among us4 ,let us beware of putting that which is only subordinate1 the improvement of material conditions1 in the place of the higher purpose of the ,church1 the winning of souls4 ,god's method1 however men may be in love with their own1 is always the best4 ,men's method is this3 ,give men better social conditions1 improve their circumstances1 and you will improve their souls4 ,god's method is the reverse3 ,first improve their souls1 and you will improve their social condition4 ,the ,gospel does not aim directly at improving men's circumstances1 it aims at improving men themselves4 ,but no sooner does it bring about a moral improvement in men than they bring about a noticeable improvement in their surroundings4 ,search the history of all ,christian countries and communities1 and see whether it is not so4 ,which are the richest and most prosperous and flourishing nations in our day8 ,countries like ,germany1 ,england1 ,america1 countries that have received most abundantly of the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,let us beware1 then1 of having our attention and efforts directed from the main thing4 ,some of those social service features may serve a good purpose as far as they go1 but only when they are in line with the great mission of the ,church as the ,lord gave it3 the preaching of the ,gospel4 ,a few years ago1 when ,japan began to emerge from barbarism1 the thoughtful people of that country were accustomed to say quite candidly that they wanted our ,western civilization1 but were not prepared to accept ,christ with it1 and this is the attitude of ,china just now4 ,one of her great statesmen has said3 ,we purpose to keep the philosophy of ,confucius1 but we are ready to believe the religion of ,christ for its fruits4 ,this will not do4 ,neither ,japan1 ,china1 nor any individual can borrow the clothes of religion and leave the vital thing out of it4 ,this is precisely the tendency in these days4 ,people would reject the ,gospel1 yet would take advantage of the blessed results which flow from it4 ,we learn1 then1 that the preaching of the ,gospel is the first purpose of the ,church of ,christ2 to that it must direct its main effort2 therein lies its life and success1 and all other undertakings must be subordinate and in harmony with that4 ,in other words1 the greatest charity1 the noblest act of ,good ,samaritanism is that which aims at a person's soul1 and that help can only be effected by the ,gospel of ,christ2 that is the oil and the wine which the heavenly ,samaritan has designed to be poured into the soul's wounds of sinful and dying man4--,but this does not exclude that the ,church should practice ,good ,samaritanism towards men's bodies4 ,on the contrary1 this is her ,lord's direction4 ,and the ,church has ever done so1 and is doing so1 as a whole and in her individual members4 ,this is our second consideration4 ,no duty is more constantly enjoined by the ,scripture than that of contributing to the necessity of others4 ,we think1 for instance1 of the ,savior's words to the rich young ruler3 ,sell what thou hast1 and give to the poor1 and thou shalt have treasure in heaven4 ,the ,christian congregation at ,jerusalem had a treasury out of which distribution was made continually as any man had need4 ,st4 ,paul tells of collections that were taken for brethren who were in distress because of the famine which prevailed throughout ,judea4 ,in the days of early ,christianity we read of much almsgiving2 beautiful instances are on record of believers who1 constrained by the love of ,christ1 gave away large estates and gladly spent the rest of their days in poverty for their brethren's sake4 ,hospitals1 institutions never before known1 were erected by wealthy ,christians1 and the story of ,laurentius is well known1 who1 when ordered by the ,roman officials to produce the treasures which it was thought the ,christians had in hiding1 brought out the aged1 the sick1 and the crippled1 and remarked1 ,these are our treasures4 ,and the ,church is not slack concerning works of benevolence now4 ,look at the chain of institutions of every kind that are maintained within the bounds of our ,synod1 by our congregations in this city4 ,whence comes the revenue for the support of our ,orphanage1 ,altenheim1 ,hospital1 ,city ,mission8 ,from the pockets of the hearts of those who attend the public worship of ,god4 ,this past week there was laid to rest a man who1 whatever may be our verdict concerning his work and the organization of which he was the founder and head1 the ,salvation ,army1--,rev4 ,wm4 ,booth1--it cannot be denied that such a religious movement could only have sprung up on ,christian soil1 fostered by ,christian principles of charity and beneficence4 ,and what pertains to the ,church at large pertains to each of us individually4 ,in the text the ,lord ,jesus1 sitting in judgment upon each child of ,adam1 says3 ,what ye have done unto one of the least of these my brethren1 ye have done it unto ,me4 ,what words could be more pointed6 ,how those few words tell us why and to whom we are to show beneficence4 ,ye have done it unto ,me1--that infirm and aged one for whom you have provided a permanent and comfortable home1 ye have done it unto ,me4 ,those least of all my brethren1--those orphaned children whom ye have sheltered in a ,christian home or a suitable institution1 ye have done it unto ,me4 ,that coin and dollar which you have given unto worthy charity--to the man or woman1 battling against life's odds and reverses1--ye have done it unto ,me4 ,beloved1 never let the springs of your ,christian charity dry up because of ingratitude1 sorry experiences2 it was1 after all1 not that destitute one that you were dealing with1 but ,him4 ,we have regarded in our reflection to-day1 first1 what is the chief mission of ,christ and of ,his ,church1 namely1 the saving of the soul1 and that this is effected by the preaching of the ,gospel2 secondly1 that where there is concern for men's souls1 there will be charity shown toward their bodies also4 ,in other words1 where the love of ,christ has taken possession of the heart1 there it will also show itself in deeds of love to ,christ's destitute brethren4 ,my beloved hearer1 what is the measure of your love8 ,what are you doing unto the ,lord's brethren and thus unto ,him8 ,remember that on that day an inspection is going to be made1 a report openly rendered4 ,what kind of report will yours be8 ,lord1 give us ever a kind heart1 a charitable hand1 and through ,thy grace the reward which ,thou hast promised in heaven for those who served ,thee on earth4 ,amen4 ,,fourteenth ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,and beside this1 giving all diligence1 add to your faith virtue2 and to virtue1 knowledge2 and to knowledge1 temperance2 and to temperance1 patience2 and to patience1 godliness2 and to godliness1 brotherly kindness2 and to brotherly kindness1 charity4--#b ,pet4 #a1 #e-g4 ,it is a very easy thing1 my beloved1 to be a ,christian1 and it is a very difficult thing to be a ,christian4 ,that may sound paradoxical and strange1 but it is soberness and truth4 ,it is very easy to be a ,christian by name1 but it is very difficult to be one in reality4 ,it is an undeniable fact that there are people who call themselves after the ,savior1 and yet are a disgrace even to common decency2 whilst others again keep slightly more within the bounds of morality1 yet their tempers remain unsubdued1 their tongues unbridled1 they mind earthly things1 and there is little or no difference between them and the people of the world4 ,even when they have connected themselves with the ,church1 and taken formal discipleship and membership upon themselves1 this inconsistency appears4 ,some are great saints on great occasions1 when there is a chance to shine in the esteem of men1 but are glaringly deficient in private spheres and duties1 and are very leaden and dull where no applause is forthcoming4 ,others can always be depended upon where it costs them nothing1 but when burdens are to be borne1 their interest lies somewhere else4 ,still others are generous enough with their means1 but expect their dollars to answer in place of a pure life and to counterbalance a vast deal of self-indulgence and unsanctity4 ,another class are those who are full of zeal and energy1 provided they are allowed to do everything their own way1 and are not compelled to cooperate with certain other people whom they despise4 ,and so there are multitudes of chaotic1 one-sided1 undeveloped1 unsatisfactory professing ,christians whose conduct is anything but consistent with their claims1 and in little accord with ,him whose name they would bear4 ,now turn to the ,scripture1--read the descriptions given in the holy writings of what constitutes a full-fledged ,christian1 and holding up the picture before your spiritual eyes1 begin to compare the modern ,christian with the ,scriptural one1 the real one with the nominal4 ,for what is a ,christian8 ,a ,christian is1 first of all1 a person who has been justified by faith in ,christ2 that is his real character and standing1 and as long as he remains true in his faith and to his ,savior1 he remains a ,christian4 ,but this does not offset1 but rather involves1 that the faith by which we are justified and saved must be a live1 an active and vigorous principle1 which draws after it a train of noble virtues and good works2 we must not only be ,christians1 but show it2 we must not only have justifying grace1 but also sanctifying grace1 leading us forward in our ,christian profession4 ,we ,christians must not be like mill-wheels which move indeed1 but always stand in the same place1 or like mill-horses which go round and round1 but never get beyond the one narrow circle4 ,nay1 we must advance in ,christian holiness1 go forward to the full measure of our stature as a ,christian4 ,this is the principal thought that the various ,sundays of ,trinity urge upon us1 and again in harmony with which we find our text4 ,these words point out to us3 ,i4 ,the additions we are to make to our faith2 ,,ii4 the manner in which we must make these additions4 ,may ,god bless our meditations upon them6 ,the ,apostle begins3 ,add to your faith virtue4 ,you will observe he does not want his readers to seek after faith1--that he supposes them to possess already1--he addresses them as believers1 and calls upon them to add to their belief1 as if he would say3 ,you claim to have faith 7it is a good thing to have71 but you seem to forget that faith without works is dead1 that ,christianity is not only a spiritual religion1 but a practical one4 ,what does a foundation amount to if the superstructure be not reared8 ,nothing2 it is a beginning without a progress4 ,just so with faith1--it is the chief requisite of ,christian religion1 and must not be a scheme of doctrine which lies asleep in the mind and never stimulates4 ,abraham had faith1 and he offered up ,isaac4 ,moses had faith1 and he esteemed the afflictions and hardships of the people of ,israel greater rather than the treasures of ,egypt4 ,abel and ,noah had faith2 it led the one to build1 and the other to die the death of a martyr4 ,and so you1 claiming to have faith1 add to your faith virtue4 ,this is the first addition mentioned4 ,virtue here does not signify goodness in general1 but a particular quality2 it means as much as fortitude1 courage1 bravery1--add to your faith courage4 ,and the exhortation was indeed necessary in those days of the ,apostle's writing4 ,heathenism and ,judaism were making common cause to despise1 persecute1 and malign the followers of the new religion4 ,many of the followers of ,christ had to sacrifice home1 country1 family1 and friends1 and wander about as the offscouring of the earth4 ,temptations and distractions of the most dangerous kind were assailing them4 ,and it could not be otherwise2 if not rooted and grounded1 firm1 courageous1 inflexible1 they would surely make shipwreck4 ,it is no less necessary this day4 ,the world is not more a friend to religion and religionists now than it was then4 ,it is not an easy thing to encounter adverse opinion1 to incur the sneers and frowns of relatives and associates1 or the scorn of persons in business and society4 ,it is not a pleasant feeling to find yourself in a small and despised minority1 and that minority ofttimes lacking in appreciation1 sympathy1 and cooperation4 ,when you add to these the petty jealousies1 misrepresentations1 and stabs in the back1 hypocrisies and ingratitude1 one is prone to become discouraged1 and to drop off in sullenness and despondency4 ,what we need in such moments of weakness to support our flagging minds and faltering energies is virtue1--courage1 moral and religious resolve to do and to dare1 to show ourselves as men1 and not as moral cowards and fretting babes4 ,fie on a ,peter that denied his ,master before the taunts of a maid1 and shame on the disciples who forsook ,him in the hour of emergency4 ,how noble does there appear in comparison that ,roman soldier at ,pompeii who stood in his place when the avalanche of lava and fire was engulfing the city1 where1 over a thousand years afterwards1 he was excavated with his sword drawn and still guarding the city gate4 ,o for a stand to our profession and to ,god's ,word till ,he shall say1 ,it is enough1 for a little boldness1 holy determination1 courage1 firmness to follow our convictions and to voice them1 regardless of the reproach we may endure1 or the losses we may sustain4 ,the second addition to our faith mentioned is knowledge4 ,a knowledge of the truth as it is in ,christ1 these people to whom ,st4 ,peter wrote indeed had4 ,but there are such heights and depths1 lengths and breadths in ,christian knowledge that the greatest of saints can never get done learning it4 ,the most knowing are like children on the seashore4 ,though they may gather the many precious pebbles and beautiful shells1 the vast ocean of truth still lies unexplored before them1 and we need all strive after a deeper and cleaner insight into the mysteries of ,god and of ,his grace4 ,a person once told me that some people know too much1 and that their very wisdom in sacred things spoils their piety4 ,this may be where the knowledge is merely a thing of the head and not affecting the heart1 but it will be a sad day for ,christianity if ever it comes to accept the maxim3 ,ignorance is the mother of devotion4 ,another once told me that it was useless for him to go to church1 for he knew it all4 ,mistaken man6 ,i saw him on his deathbed and found his soul so destitute of true knowledge that he had not enough wherewith to die in peace4 ,let us not be deceived6 ,never can we come to the strength and stature of men and women in ,christ except we search and study the ,scripture1 listen attentively to the exposition of the ,word4 ,even what is most familiar to us we need to have continually repeated in our ears1 lest we forget it1 or our piety will go out and die1 just like a lamp that is not supplied with oil4 ,for not only theoretical knowledge does the ,apostle mean here1 but1 ,i take it1 practical knowledge1 that knowledge which we ordinarily call prudence1 which is knowledge applied to action4 ,and it is a quality which a ,christian must seek to cultivate4 ,a ,christian ought to grow wiser as he grows older4 ,a ,christian is intent on studying his character and his ways4 ,he seeks to make every day an improvement or correction of the former1 deriving strength from his very weaknesses and firmness from his falls4 ,a ,christian distinguishes times1 places1 circumstances2 he does not rashly offer his opinion1 but discerns when to speak and when to keep silence4 ,when he reproves1 he does so with skill2 when he gives1 he does so with judgment4 ,a ,christian does not overrate his position and talents1 nor does he underrate them2 he is willing to approve things that are excellent1 even if he is not the first to advance them1 and is upright enough to speak against what is wrong1 even if it might not be popular4 ,but alas1 what numbers there are of normal ,christians whose temper1 character1 disposition marks no improvement2 they are the same year in and year out1 no better1 no holier1 no stronger in ,christian life2 their ,christian experience and advancement is equal to naught4 ,the wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way1 says ,solomon1 and the ,apostle exhorts3 ,add to your faith knowledge4 ,thirdly1 ,add to your faith temperance1 i4 e41 moderation4 ,keep your passions within due bounds and your desires regulated4 ,having dwelt at length on this quality recently1 we pass on to the next3 ,add to your faith patience4 ,things are not always to our fancy and taste4 ,the weather is not always fair and the roads agreeable4 ,men and things are liable to vex us1 torment us1 our circumstances and connections prove galling and exacting4 ,nothing is then more desirable than an antidote to strengthen and invigorate the soul than patience4 ,it prepares you for every changing scene and every suffering hour4 ,it sustains you under afflictions1 and gives you that calmness and resignation which so much becomes the ,christian4 ,nothing is more dishonoring and disnobling than to behold that disposition which must continually be pampered and stroked and rocked like a child1 under the slightest provocation and disfavorableness will froth and foam4 ,amid life's ills practice patience4 ,as the ,holy ,scripture expresses it3 ,let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire1 lacking nothing4 ,of the remaining virtues mentioned we next have godliness1 meaning the fear and love of ,god as it is shown in our lives1 pervading our actions and controlling our every deed4 ,here is the difference between morality and religion4 ,an unbeliever1 a non-,christian1 may conduct himself just as civilly and respectably outwardly as a believer1 as a ,christian4 ,outwardly1 ,i say1 the difference between the two lies in this3 the one does it from consideration1 probably1 of gain in society1 or probably from a fear of avoiding the penitentiary1 whereas the ,christian is prompted in his conduct by motives and considerations toward his ,god4 ,you cannot be godly without being moral2 you can pose for moral1 and still not be godly4 ,godliness consists in this1 to bring ,god into every part of life1 to make ,him the ,alpha and ,omega1 the beginning and the end of all we do2 and it is only when we do that1 and when we make ,his ,word our rule and ,his glory our aim1 that life is what it is intended to be1 and answers the purpose for which the ,creator has given it4 ,to live without godliness is like an arrow without point and feather1--it will never hit the target4 ,where there is godliness1 it will be attended by the other two virtues mentioned1 brotherly kindness and charity4 ,where there is water1 there it is wet2 where there is a tree1 there it is shady2 where there are right sentiments toward ,god1 there will also be right sentiments toward our fellow-,christians and fellow-men4 ,it matters not how they may differ in age1 they possess the same powers of conscience1 reason1 and mentality2 they are liable to the same afflictions1 are members of the same family1 travelers to the same heavenly grace2 they need the same assistance and cheer1 hence ,i am to exercise toward them brotherly kindness and charity4 ,but the last is surely not in this case the least1 for charity is the highest attainment in practical ,christianity1 the fulfilling of the ,law1 the bond of perfectness1 and1 need ,i add8 the most difficult of all ,christian virtues4 ,this charity manifests itself in our conduct toward the brethren4 ,it is the opposite of that hasty spirit and temper which is ever finding fault and breaking out in sudden and rash anger4 ,it is that benignant spirit which does not reckon up the injuries received with a view of having satisfaction for them4 ,it pities men's infirmities and moral failures1 and makes ample allowances for them4 ,nor does it scramble for its own gratification in disregard of others' rights1 dues1 and comforts1 but seeks to serve all men as it would serve itself4 ,nor does it lose heart and give up in disgust when all meets with discouragements and obstructions1 ingratitude on the part of those for whom it labors and lives4 ,it is willing to forgive and forget1 to defend1 and to put the best construction on everything4 ,it is the highest and best test of ,christian character1 the most important1 the most exalted1 the most enduring of all virtues4 ,we wonder that the ,apostle mentions it last in the divine category of ,christian graces1 directing us to add to our faith4 ,let us now proceed1 secondly1 to inquire how this is to be accomplished4 ,the ,apostle tells us in our text4 ,it is by giving all diligence1 and in order that we might do so1 remember these things deserve your diligence1 that diligence will secure them1 that they cannot be secured without diligence4 ,they deserve your diligence4 ,it is pitiable to see how many thousands are employing their zeal1 and wasting their strength and spending their money1 talents1 and time upon practically nothing4 ,examine the objects for which most men are striving1 the aim for which they are living1 and ask yourselves1 ,does it reward their toils and indemnify them for the sacrifices they make8 ,but this cannot be said of spiritual blessings and virtues4 ,these are in the sight of ,god of great price1 and necessary to man in his true and real character4 ,they enrich him1 dignify him2 they are his chief interest and his glory1 making him a blessing to himself and to all around him4 ,or who can conceive a higher purpose and model of existence than a man or woman1 pious1 moral1 courageous1 wise1 self-denying1 gentle1 kind and benevolent8 ,secondly1 diligence will secure them4 ,in the career of worldly good1 in the sea of life few obtain the prize1 and the race is not always to the swiftest nor the battle to the strongest2 wealth and good fortune do not always fall to the lot of men that strove after them1 nor fame to those that covet it4 ,here the principle obtains3 ,ask1 and ye shall receive2 seek1 and ye shall find2 knock1 and it shall be opened unto you4 ,to the righteous there is a sure reward4 ,and finally ,i stated1 there is no attaining these virtues without diligence4 ,diligence is indispensable in whatever you undertake4 ,you must labor for the meat that perisheth4 ,the bread upon your table--through what a succession of processes it must pass before it is ready for use4 ,the same may be said of your clothing2 in fact1 of everything else4 ,on earth naught precious is obtained but what is painful too1 and perhaps we would not value and esteem things if it were not so4 ,and what is true of temporal gifts pertains to spiritual equally as well4 ,awake1 then1 my dear fellow-,christian1 be zealous1 be progressive2 it is the only way to prosper4 ,remember religion is not airy notions1 sleepy wishes1 feeble resolutions1 and your strength is not to sit still4 ,the learned are daily adding to their intellectual treasures1 the rich are adding house to house and field to field1 and none of them say3 ,it is enough4 ,will you as a ,christian not add to your faith knowledge2 and to knowledge1 temperance2 and to temperance1 patience2 and to patience1 godliness2 and to godliness1 brotherly kindness2 and to brotherly kindness1 charity8 ,reflect and apply1 by the help of ,god4 ,amen4 ,,fifteenth ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,casting all your cares upon ,him1 for ,he careth for you4--#a ,pet4 #e1 #g4 ,in that wonderful book which1 next to the ,bible1 has been most extensively circulated in the ,english language1 viz41 ,bunyan's ,pilgrim's ,progress1 there is a scene which is most impressive4 ,it represents to us ,christian fleeing from the city of this world1 with a large bundle upon his shoulders4 ,he comes to a place somewhat elevated2 upon that place stands a cross1 and a little below there is a sepulcher1 and as he comes up with the cross1 the bundle looses from off his shoulders and rolls away1 till it comes to the mouth of the sepulcher1 where it rolls in and he sees it no more4 ,how many as they have read or seen the picture of the quaint old story have wished that it might be so with them as it was with ,christian1 that the load which they are bearing might slip off their backs1 leaving the heart light and spirit free4 ,and there is no reason why it may not1 provided they take it1 like ,christian1 to the proper place4 ,what is set forth in the allegory1 that1 according to ,st4 ,peter in the text1 may be experienced in reality and in truth4 ,god grant that with the ,holy ,spirit's aid we may acquire the art4 ,three thoughts are set before us3 ,i4 ,that every child of man has a burden to bear2 ,,ii4 what he should do with it2 ,,iii4 why he should so dispose of it4 ,a distinguished ,german preacher1 speaking on the ,gospel of this ,sunday1 remarked that man in this world has a solemn companion that follows him whithersoever he goeth4 ,like a shadow1 it will cling to his footsteps1 dogging his every movement and occupying his every moment4 ,in the silence of the chamber it will steal through the keyhole1 and when slumber is about to fall upon his weary eyelids1 it will whisper rest-disturbing messages into his ear4 ,no spot is too desolate1 no mind immune against its perplexing assaults4 ,the ,german calls the name of this dreary attendant ,sorge4 ,our text calls it ,care1 meaning anxious care1 solicitude1 distracting fear4 ,that1 as stated1 is the burden of every child of ,adam4 ,it may not externally appear so1--it may be hidden behind silken tapestry or marble apartments1--but it is there4 ,people look at a king2 they gaze upon a rich mansion1 see its occupants1 driving forth in an elegant equipage4 ,they think1 ,what a favored lot is theirs6 ,they realize not the dark shadow of care sitting behind the coachman1 and realize not what the poet expresses thus3 ,uneasy lies the head that wears a crown4 ,nor can it be said that it has lessened4 ,we have made mighty advancement2 never was the world so rich in material things1 never did we possess so many devices for lightening human toil and tasks1 and yet due likely to the speed at which we have to move1 the high pressure at which we have to live1 the complexity of the social organism of which we form a part1 it is a matter of fact that the man and the woman of to-day are getting more nervous and highly strung1 less able to bear their burdens calmly and patiently4 ,worry1 constant distraction1 and disquietude are wearing out many people before their time4 ,and what are they worrying about8 ,what is the burden of their care8 ,various4 ,with some it is the burden of ill health1 bodily indisposition4 ,that's an extremely heavy burden1 one that takes the color out of the sky and the sweetness out of life1 to spend most or a great deal of our time in bed or on a sofa1--no taste for food1 a throbbing head1 a laboring heart1 constant and gnawing agony1 nights often filled with sleeplessness and days with weariness4 ,this is trying1 indeed4 ,with others it is business burdens4 ,rivalry is keen1 competition acute1 thousands are the things to harass and perplex and annoy the man of industry4 ,the ,lord1 in the ,gospel1 mentions a whole array of burdens that rise from the question3 ,what shall we eat1 what shall we drink1 or wherewithal shall we be clothed8 ,worldly sustenance1 the apprehension of poverty1 of future years1 of loss of property1 of health1 of coming deaths and sorrow in the family1 the changes and disasters that might come1 the miscarrying of our plans1 the possible ill success of our labors1--these things are the burdens that make men full of worrying cares4 ,and what can you do to rid yourself of this8 ,there are those who would drown their worry4 ,they take to the intoxicating cup4 ,it's a miserable expedient1 a ruin to body and soul2 and oh6 for the shame and remorse added to the load of ills4 ,others turn to the gay and glittering world1 to some place and company where men and women are apparently happy4 ,for a time the thing may work well4 ,as the child of care goes up and down within the great dance-hall and through the illuminated gardens1 where the merry voices of laughter and song ring out1 and instruments are discoursing sweet music1 it may seem wise to have disposed of the burden that way4 ,but--what when the entertainment is over1 and your wraps carefully labeled with your name are handed back to you8 ,then back come the old sorrows1 perhaps with new ones added4--,and one other expedient might we think of3 ,have some one bear the burden with you4 ,there is good reason and sound sense in this4 ,men in trouble instinctively seek human sympathy2 a sorrow shared is a sorrow lessened4 ,fortunate the person that has an ear and a heart to which he can apply for comfort and strength4 ,but there also is danger4 ,friendship is an uncertain thing2 it is often too delicate to bear much handling1 it evaporates under pressure4 ,few are the friends that care1 or are able to bear1 the burdens of others2 and again1 there are friends who are not really such1 who will betray your confidence1 secretly rejoice over your ill fortune1 and even use it to harm you4 ,beware of a man whose breath is in his nostrils4 ,so1 then1 we are shut up to one effective resource1 and that is the course given in the text3 ,casting all your cares upon ,him4 ,what does that mean8 ,it means two things3 ,in the first place1 it means trust in ,god's providence4 ,there is a ,providence which has brought us into this world and is taking us through it4 ,and it is for us to practically1 not only theoretically1 believe this4 ,theoretically1 we may hold very correct views on the subject1 but it is practically1 in the application to the affairs and scenes of our own life1 that we may fall short4 ,and alas6 that many of those who call themselves ,christians do fall short4 ,else why these perplexing anxieties1 this tormenting solicitude8 ,if they believe in ,god1 who has pledged that ,he will ever provide for them1 and without whose permission not a hair of their head can fall1 why do they yield to the same unbelieving fears as the worldling8 ,we ,christians believe in an almighty ,maker and ,provider1 that ,he has given us these bodies1 our families and all4 ,we furthermore believe that ,he knows what our wants really are1 and we hold that it is in ,his power to supply our wants4 ,besides1 ,he has pledged ,himself by ,his almighty character to supply them4 ,surely1 it is a great inconsistency and unbelief to find ,christians showing the spirit of worldly carefulness1 losing the comfort of trust in ,god amidst a host of distracting cares4 ,if there is a word more expressive of ,christian character than any other1 it is this one1 trust1--trust in ,god1 trust in ,jesus to save1 in ,his ,spirit to sanctify1 in ,his providence to provide2 trust amidst perplexity and mystery1 for the future1 the present1 in life and in death1--in all things trust in ,god4 ,yes1 dear child of affliction and sorrow1 ,god loves you4 ,he has redeemed you by the blood of ,his own dear ,son4 ,he cares for you4 ,he knows your ailments1 and ,he would not permit ,his children to suffer anything to their hurt4 ,believe that4 ,to give way to contrary feeling and expressions is to dishonor and provoke ,god4 ,when a father knows that he can uphold a child in any threatening danger1 he does not like to hear the continual expression of that child's fears and apprehensions4 ,it vexes him4 ,when we have chosen a pilot1 he would be offended1 were he to find us trembling as to the safety of the ship2 he would throw up the helm1 and tell us to guide for ourselves1 since we had no confidence in ,his skill4 ,it is doubting our heavenly ,father's wisdom1 it is distrusting ,his power and goodness1 and contradicting ,his gracious powers and pledges to be overanxious4 ,the thing is to look up to1 and confide in ,him3 ,god never does forsake in need the soul that trusts in ,him indeed4 ,and with this trust goes something else1 and that something else is prayer4 ,be careful for nothing1 says the ,apostle in another place1 but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be known to ,god4 ,prayer3 ,what is there to it8 ,nothing1 if you have never tried it2 and since ours is such a prayerless age1 it is such an anxious age4 ,would they be cured of the evil1 they must follow the ,apostle's direction1 so simple and yet so effective4 ,prayer is ,god's specific1 ,his antidote1 against care4 ,in one of two ways ,god answers the request of every care-worn soul4 ,sometimes ,he takes away the thing that troubles it4 ,sometimes ,he still allows them to remain1 but fills the soul itself with such grace and strength that it learns to smile at its old fears1 and refuses to be fretted and worried any more4 ,try it1 thou anxious1 distracted1 worried soul1 go to the ,lord1 speak out in ,his ear whatsoever gives thee worry1--anxiety for worldly sustenance1 illness1 concern of family1 solicitude for those who are at a distance1 and how many moments of dejection you might save yourself4 ,as an old commentator says3 ,care cannot live in the presence of prayer2 but prayer extinguisheth care as water extinguisheth fire4 ,to conclude1 there will always be burdens1 and anxieties will never fail1 but we have ,god's instruction as to how to treat them4 ,let us commit to memory such a text as this4 ,let us in moments of gloom repeat it over and over again1 and oh6 how like ,christian in ,pilgrim's ,progress anxious cares will roll off your shoulders2 distrust1 impatience1 and fear will yield to holy hope1 prayerful committal1 humble and peaceful trust4 ,god bless and impress ,his ,word to that effect6 ,amen4 ,,sixteenth ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,in those days was ,hezekiah sick unto death4 ,and the ,prophet ,isaiah1 the son of ,amoz1 came to him1 and said unto him1 ,thus saith the ,lord1 ,set thine house in order2 for thou shalt die1 and not live4 ,then he turned his face to the wall1 and prayed unto the ,lord1 saying3 ,i beseech ,thee1 ,o ,lord1 remember now how ,i have walked before ,thee in truth and with a perfect heart1 and have done that which is good in ,thy sight4 ,and ,hezekiah wept sore4 ,and it came to pass1 afore ,isaiah was gone out into the middle court1 that the word of the ,lord came to him1 saying1 ,turn again1 and tell ,hezekiah1 the captain of my people1 ,thus saith the ,lord1 the ,god of ,david1 thy father1 ,i have heard thy prayer1 ,i have seen thy tears3 behold1 ,i will heal thee2 on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the ,lord4 ,and ,i will add unto thy days fifteen years4--#b ,kings #bj1 #a-f4 ,none reading the ,gospel-lessons of these successive ,sundays with an observing mind will have failed to discover that they treat of life's ills1 its sufferings and sorrows4 ,last ,sunday it was the matter of care1 anxiety1 worry concerning which our ,lord gave us instruction2 the ,sunday before ten lepers--the picture of intense bodily affliction--appear upon the scene2 and previous to that we heard of the deaf-mute and of the ,good ,samaritan administering his work of love1 until in to-day's ,scripture1 as if the climax1 we observe a young man1 under circumstances the most pathetic1 being carried out to his burial-place4 ,nor can we do more wisely than to follow the line of thought thus indicated1 for which reason we have selected the foregoing text4 ,may we1 under ,god's blessing1 learn its comforting and practical truths6 ,three things would we note from the ,scripture3 ,i4 ,king ,hezekiah's affliction2 ,,ii4 his recovery2 ,,iii4 what he gained from his experience4 ,the verses before us tell us that just after the destruction of the army of ,sennacherib1 which had been laying siege to ,jerusalem1 ,king ,hezekiah was prostrated with a dangerous malady1 the result1 most probably1 of the fatigue and anxiety in connection with the defense of his capital4 ,at first it would seem that he had little apprehension as to the issue of his illness1 but when the ,prophet ,isaiah told him that his disease was mortal1 and bade him set his house in order1 his heart sank within him4 ,he was yet a young man1 possibly forty years1 in the prime of life2 he had just escaped a great peril2 the ,lord had given him a marvelous1 yea1 miraculous deliverance1 from the hands of the ,assyrian oppressor1 and he was a good man1 a pious king1 who1 more than any other since the time of ,david1 was zealous for the honor of ,jehovah among the people4 ,but now all these hopes were dashed to the ground2 the cherished purpose of his heart frustrated1 his life's work promptly cut short2 and as he thought over these things1 he turned his face toward the wall1 and prayed to the ,lord1 and wept sore4 ,he could not understand ,god's dealings with him4 ,why had he been delivered from the ,assyrian king if he was thus and now to be removed8 ,to what end had all his efforts in the interest of true religion been if he was to be cut down before they could be carried through8 ,it was like the gardener plucking the flower before it was opened1 like the builder destroying his own structure before it was finished4 ,it was not ,hezekiah's case alone2 there have been and are many others since4 ,it is an old problem and a constantly recurring problem3 ,why does ,god deal so1 and why does ,he deal so with those who are ,his people8 ,in reply1 ,i would say that a full answer to that problem has not been furnished us1 and yet there is some light cast upon it by this and other accounts in ,god's ,word4--,first of all1 would we ward off the rash conclusion1 so commonly heard and everywhere repeated1 that because we are afflicted1 we cannot be the objects of ,god's love1 that1 if a person is sick and suffering1 he must have done something1 committed some sin or sins which have brought upon him such affliction4 ,how frequently does this lamentation reach a pastor's ear1 ,what have ,i done that ,god should thus deal with me8 ,the ,savior distinctly warned ,his disciples against such a conclusion1 that particular suffering is always the consequence of some particular wickedness4 ,it is clear that all such reasoning in the case of ,hezekiah was unwarranted2 he had done no special sin2 he was not a sinner above all other sinners2 his ailment came in the course that all bodily ailments come4 ,why1 then1 make such conclusions regarding ourselves and others8 ,no1 ,god's ,word offers a different explanation4 ,the ,savior1 on one occasion1 speaking of the sickness of ,his friend ,lazarus1 said1 ,this sickness is for the glory of ,god4 ,let us mark that statement4 ,the design of ,god in the affliction of ,his people is to show forth ,his glory4 ,in what respect8 ,how8 ,in two respects1 in the afflicted one himself and upon others4 ,god's glory is advanced by the afflicted person1 if the person afflicted is helped by the affliction in his spiritual growth1 is made firmer in faith1 established in ,christian character4 ,luther numbered trials as among his best instructors4 ,the ,psalmist records the experience of multitudes when he says3 ,it is good for me that ,i have been afflicted4 ,when afflictions have this effect1 they are to the glory of ,god4 ,then1 again1 the afflictions of ,god's people may redound to ,his glory in the effects which they may have upon others1 to silence the gainsayer1 convert the careless1 or educate the weak believer into stronger faith4 ,an instance of that is ,job4 ,the calamities came upon him to prove the utter falseness of the assertion made by ,satan that ,job was serving ,god for what he could make thereby2 and ,i doubt not that even in our days many ,christians have been sorely afflicted just to show the unbelieving1 scoffing element by whom they are surrounded how firm and abiding their faith is1 and how lovingly ,god can sustain them in their deepest distress4 ,sometimes1 too1 through the sufferings of a believer the indifferent and careless are awakened and led to the ,lord4 ,the affliction of a parent has been a blessing to a son or daughter2 the illness of a wife1 borne with ,christian submission1 has led many a man to ,christ1 while all of us are strengthened in our faith by the sight of the calm and simple trustfulness of a dear one on whom ,god's hand has been laid4 ,afflictions are often to the glory of ,god4 ,these reflections may not1 indeed1 fully explain the mystery why ,god lays low ,his people1 but it lessens it4 ,in any case it ought to keep us from that rash and altogether too common conclusion that because we are afflicted we are particularly faulty4 ,the contrary seems really true4 ,when the teacher desires to demonstrate his own excellence as an instructor1 he takes not the poorest1 but the best pupil and subjects him to the severest examination2 so sometimes1 ,i think1 the ,lord exposes ,his dearest people to fierce trials1 just because ,he knows their strength and would thereby commend that faith by which they stand to the acceptance of their fellow-men4 ,that is the first consideration that we would direct attention to3 ,hezekiah1 the beloved1 pious1 ,god-praying ,king of ,judah1 was laid low with a serious malady4 ,and so1 as the ,apostle expresses it1 let ,god's people not think it strange concerning the fiery trial that cometh upon them as though some strange thing had happened unto them4 ,the very best of men are often the greatest sufferers4 ,again1 we notice the conduct of ,hezekiah4 ,his case was hopeless4 ,the prophet had been directed to tell him3 ,set thine house in order1 for thou shalt die1 and not live4 ,what does the king do8 ,the record says3 ,he turned his face to the wall4 ,was it to conceal his grief at the fatal intelligence he had received from the prophet8 ,was it to be more unmolested from the presence of his attendants1 or because the wall was on that side of his mansion which faced toward the ,temple of ,god8 ,we are not told2 but it says3 ,he turned his face to the wall1 and prayed4 ,he had a place whither he went in his distress4 ,when all earthly hopes vanished and all help seemed at an end1 he addressed himself directly and immediately to ,him in whose hands alone rests the outcome of life and of death4 ,pouring out his heart in tearful sobs1 he pleads with the ,lord1 tells ,him of his sincerity of life and purpose to serve ,him1 and of ,god's promises to ,his people to give length of days2 and ,he who by the mouth of ,his prophet had directed3 ,call upon me in the day of trouble1 and ,i will deliver thee1 had ,his ears open unto his cry4 ,he is not displeased with the outpouring of their souls to ,him1 ,he delights in it1 and it has power with ,him4 ,yes1 it is by this very conduct that one can test whose they are and whom they serve4 ,to whomsoever they first go in the time of their extremity1 to which refuge they betake themselves when calamity is overtaking them1 determines1 more than anything else1 whether they are ,god's followers or not4 ,to use an illustration3 ,traveling once1 there was among my fellow-passengers a little girl who romped about and was at home with everybody1 and while she was frolicking around it might have been difficult to tell whom she belonged to1 she seemed so much the property of every one2 but when the engine gave a loud1 long shriek1 and we went thundering along into a dark tunnel1 the little one made one bound and ran to nestle in a lady's lap4 ,then one knew who was her mother4 ,so in the day of prosperity1 it may be occasionally difficult to say whether a man is a ,christian or not1 but let him be sent through some dark1 damp tunnel of severe affliction1 and you will see at once to whom he belongs4 ,that will infallibly reveal it4 ,take a note of it1 my beloved hearer1 and when affliction comes1 observe to whom you flee for help2 that is a sure test whether you are ,christ's and ,christ is yours4 ,to recur to the narrative1--,hezekiah's appeal was not without results4 ,as he lay there tearfully communing with his own heart and with ,god1 ,isaiah returned to his chamber with a message of healing assuring him that he should go up to the temple on the third day1 and directed him to take a lump of figs and place it upon the boil4 ,this simple direction goes to refute and correct some errors very common in our day4 ,the one is that remedies are to be absolutely tabooed1 that they do no good2 faith and prayer alone are to be resorted to to effect a cure4 ,the theory1 and the heresy that has prompted it1 are set at naught by this one direction1 in which ,god's prophet1 under the direction of the almighty ,physician1 specified the remedy to be used4 ,and the other error which it sets at naught is1 that medical remedies have1 in themselves1 aside from ,god1 any virtue or value4 ,too much does suffering humanity rely upon medicine2 the drug bottle has become with many a veritable idol2 that is their god who is going to help them4 ,the application of figs to boils was a remedy known before ,isaiah suggested it1 in all likelihood it had been tried in ,hezekiah's case without result2 now1 at the prophet's injunction1 it is tried again and effectively4 ,in other words1 this time ,god worked through it1 and so it proved of value4 ,all the medicine in the world is worthless if ,he does not put divine properties into it4 ,and so let us beware of idolizing the medicine1 and forgetting over it ,him who put the good into it1 and when we take it1 let us not fail to offer up with it prayer to ,him who can and must make it efficacious4 ,and so it came about1 through the use of the means which the prophet prescribed1 that ,hezekiah improved1--improved1 ,i repeat1 only physically1 to natural strength and health8 ,is that all that his sickness was intended for1 that is included in his recovery8 ,is that all that our affliction is intended for1 that1 having been confined to the sick-room for a while1 we return to our work and calling as before8 ,hezekiah was a wiser man than that4 ,the song that he wrote after his recovery1 recorded in the #chth chapter of ,isaiah1 shows that looking death in the face had not failed of good results4 ,no man1 if he be a thinking man1 can be brought to the brink of the grave1 and raised almost as if from the dead1 without some benefit from the experience4 ,for one thing1 it ought to make him a better ,christian4 ,nearer1 my ,god1 to ,thee1 nearer to ,thee1 e'en though it be a cross that raiseth me4 ,luther was wont to say that his three great teachers were prayer1 study1 and trial1 and any reader of his life can perceive that if it had not been for the experiences that he passed through1 he would not have been the sturdy character that he was4 ,what the tempering is to the iron1 giving it the toughness and endurance of steel1 that afflictions are to the soul4 ,the wind might shake and uproot the stripling of a tree1 but its blasts are harmless to the oak that has passed through many a hurricane and storm4 ,and so unbelief may give out its miserable twaddle1 the faithless world raise its scoffing and deriding tongue1 the man who once turned his face to the wall and prayed will not be upset1 he knows whom he has believed1 what he has experienced in his own soul and life4 ,and1 again1 as it strengthened his faith in ,god1 ,hezekiah1 after his recovery1 was a faithful servant of the ,lord1 using his kingly authority to bring his people back to the true worship of ,jehovah4 ,simply enough2 a man who has been in the very grip of the last enemy and has recovered1 cannot but reason thus3 ,what if ,i had died8 ,these possessions would have been no longer mine4 ,they cannot1 therefore1 be mine at all in the highest sense2 they must have been entrusted to me by ,god1 and ,i must use them for ,god4 ,usefulness1 in most cases1 is the result of discipline1 the trials we have passed through4 ,who is the sympathetic person8 ,you will find it to be him who has passed through similar affliction that you are passing through4 ,who is the one that is willing to give a helping hand8 ,not the priest and the ,levite1 who1 if we knew their prior testing1 never knew a serious affliction1--but the ,good ,samaritan1 who very likely knew from personal experience what it meant to be waylaid4 ,and so1 to conclude1 despise not the chastening of the ,almighty4 ,learn to look upon it aright2 go to the right source for relief1 and thus derive from it the spiritual benefit which ,god designs4 ,may you lay up what you have heard against that time when you need it1 for there comes a time when you will need it4 ,amen4 ,,seventeenth ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,for other foundation can no man lay than that is laid1 which is ,jesus ,christ4 ,now if any man build upon this foundation gold1 silver1 precious stones1 wood1 hay1 stubble1 every man's work shall be made manifest2 for the day shall declare it1 because it shall be revealed by fire2 and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is4 ,if any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon1 he shall receive a reward4 ,if any man's work shall be burned1 he shall suffer loss2 but he himself shall be saved1 yet so as by fire4--#a ,cor4 #c1 #aa-ae4 ,in order to understand these startling words we must1 in the first place1 gain a clear idea of the picture which lay before the ,apostle's mind4 ,he sees the ,church of ,christ as a building1 harmonious in structure1 every part fitting into1 and each stone supporting1 the other1 thus presenting that oneness which the divine ,architect designed it to have4 ,the foundation of the building had been laid once for all1 but for the uprearing of the walls men are to bring the materials4 ,no materials except those worthy of ,god and of the precious foundation on which they are to be built1 ought to be brought and laid there4 ,nothing but the pure and eternal truths of the faith revealed in the ,scriptures ought to be preached as the doctrine of the ,gospel and the ,church4 ,this was the ideal1 perfect picture which stood out before the mind of the ,apostle4 ,but he also spoke of men placing perishable and vile materials upon the walls of ,god's building1 using wood1 hay1 stubble1 substances unworthy to be made a part of ,christ's spiritual temple4 ,what did the ,apostle mean by wood1 hay1 and stubble8 ,the ,church of ,corinth1 whom he addresses1 had lost1 so far as some of its members were concerned1 that perfectness which ought to characterize the whole body4 ,there was a working towards disunion4 ,envying and strife1 factions1 and a disposition to make this or that man the religious leader and guide1 had been allowed to disturb the harmony of the congregation4 ,the names of men had become watchwords4 ,parties rallied around ,apollo1 mistaking his eloquence for the ,gospel to which it ought to lead2 around ,cephas1 that is1 ,peter1 because of his prominent position2 around ,paul1 because he brought out certain doctrines into special prominence4 ,and so1 instead of regarding these men as doing each his own part in helping to maintain and preserve the whole truth1 they foolishly set up this or that one1 ,apollo1 or ,peter1 or ,paul1 as their favorite4 ,still1 notwithstanding all these outworkings of a carnal or earthly spirit1 there was as yet no rupture4 ,the organic unity of all believers and builders remained unbroken4 ,individuals differed in opinions1 but the ,church had still only one creed4 ,there were parties1 but no denominations2 factions1 but no sects2 strifes1 but no schism4 ,but even these cannot be allowed to disfigure the furnished temple1 the ,church of the final future4 ,the ,apostle looked beyond the poor work which narrow-minded men were doing at ,corinth to the day when1 as he tells in another place1 that same ,church which had been built upon the one foundation shall be presented to ,god1 not having spot or wrinkle1 but holy and without blemish4 ,that day1 he says1 will try every man's work1 of what sort it is4 ,whatsoever is worthy of ,christ1 the solid and precious stone1 shall abide1 and the builder thereof shall have1 along with eternal life1 a reward due to his faithfulness to ,god's plan and design4 ,but the human materials which unwise and ignorant workmen brought--all these shall be burned with the cleansing fire and go for nothing1 but the builder himself shall be saved1 because his own soul was built upon ,jesus ,christ1 as the foundation of his faith and as his ,redeemer4 ,that is the meaning of the ,apostle's solemn teaching4 ,and now for the application4 ,that application may be made unto each ,christian4 ,we are all builders1 and it is for us to use the proper materials4 ,what is built upon ,christ1 from faith in ,him and love to ,him1 according to ,his mind and the honor of ,his cause and ,church1 is gold and silver and precious stones4 ,what is done to serve self1 the gratification of one's vanity and ambition1 is to heap up stubble for themselves which cannot abide in the day of testing fire4 ,but the more special application in accord with the text is that which pertains to the ,church as a whole1 of the various bodies of ,christians1 the many denominations of ,christendom4 ,concerning these let us speak a few words1 taking occasion1 ,i4 to explain our position1 ,,ii4 to regard our duty in this respect4 ,other foundation can no man lay than that is laid1 which is ,jesus ,christ4 ,the ,church is a building reared upon that foundation4 ,therefore1 there is and can be but one ,church4 ,as the ,apostle says in the ,epistle-lesson3 ,one ,lord1 one faith1 one baptism1 so he says there is one body4 ,to rend the body of ,christ1 to divide ,his ,church into different sects1 where altar is set up against altar1 ministry against ministry1 is contrary to the will and purpose of its ,founder4 ,some look amiably upon this ,babel of beliefs and unbeliefs and counterbeliefs1 think well of and would justify all so-called churches1 consider one as good as another1 and meekly settle down in the nearest1 because they are all aiming at the same end4 ,this is not the teaching of the ,bible nor the position of our ,church4 ,not as if we read the members of these denominations out of the ,church of ,christ4 ,we admit that they are built upon ,christ1 the ,foundation1 and we furthermore admit that they are building some gold1 silver1 and precious stones upon that foundation4 ,to be more specific4 ,take the ,roman ,catholic ,church4 ,we have many things in common with the ,catholic ,church4 ,it believes with us in the divinity of the ,trinity1 in the ,godhead of ,christ1 in the personality of the ,holy ,ghost1 in the divinity of the vicarious atonement1 in the inspiration of the ,scriptures4 ,far be it from me to contend that in the ,catholic ,church souls cannot be saved4 ,notwithstanding the many grave errors the ,catholic ,church has clung to up to this hour1 it has produced characters1 true1 noble children of ,god1 whose lives we may profitably study4 ,nearer to us stand the so-called ,reformed ,churches1 by which term we understand the ,episcopalians1 ,presbyterians1 ,congregationalists1 ,methodists1 ,baptists4 ,with these ,protestant ,churches we have in common the great fundamental principles of the ,reformation1 namely1 first3 that the ,word of ,god is the only source of religious knowledge and the only judge in matters of salvation1 and secondly1 justification before ,god by ,christ through faith only4 ,thus it stands in the matter of doctrine2 nor can we dispute that in matters of practical ,christianity they are zealous1 even putting us to blush4 ,we all love to hear that the ,bible is the most widely read book in the world4 ,but to whose efforts is this mainly due8 ,what little we do is far outdistanced by the work of societies principally supported by ,methodists1 ,baptists1 and ,presbyterians4 ,we glory that we accept the whole ,bible1 but who studies the ,bible as a whole most earnestly8 ,i well know that we teach ,bible ,history in our schools1 and that we also have many earnest ,bible readers1 but if ,i could show you at greater length what is done for the study of the whole ,bible by both young and old people in some of the churches mentioned1 you would confess that at least many of our younger and older people are put to shame in this respect too4 ,we point with satisfaction and pride to the mighty changes which the ,gospel has wrought in heathen lands1--but who for the most brought them that ,gospel of ,christ8 ,who has footed the bills8 ,we preach as no other church does that the grace of ,christ is powerful to rescue the vilest1 the most degraded sinners1--but who goes after them and labors the most extensively among them8 ,who1 to mention one more particular1 gives most liberally for the support of the ,church and for charity8 ,lutherans8 ,roman ,catholics and others4 ,of course1 it is not all gold that glitters1 and splendid things could also be said to the glory of our ,church4 ,who first gave the ,bible to the people8 ,through whom has the whole ,church been redeemed from the bondage of ,antichrist8 ,who was the first to begin modern mission work8 ,but our present purpose is to point out that the various ,churches are1 thank ,god1 also adding gold1 silver1 and precious stones upon the foundation which has been laid1 which is ,christ ,jesus4 ,but is that all8--,fair-minded as we are to the one1 should we be short-sighted as to the other1 namely1 that they are also building worthless1 perishable material1 material of their own human choosing1 wood1 hay1 and stubble8 ,who1 enlightened by the plain ,gospel1 as it shines to us from every page of the sacred ,book1 can help but see that the errors of the ,roman ,catholic ,church are many2 that they seriously obscure the truth2 that they lessen the merits of ,christ2 that1 among the masses1 they produce a mere formal religion devoid of soul and life8 ,their divinity of the ,church1 with its visible head upon earth1 the ,pope1 of purgatory1 mass1 worship of the ,virgin and the saints1 indulgences1 confessional1--are these not wood1 hay1 and stubble8 ,and coming to the ,reformed ,churches1 which of them believes in baptismal regeneration1 accepts ,baptism to be a christening8 ,which believes in the real presence of ,christ's body and blood in the ,sacrament8 ,not one4 ,then1 again1 the ,baptists insist1 contrary to ,god's ,word1 that immersion is the only mode of baptism2 he that has not been completely put under water has not been baptized4 ,likewise they sneer at infant baptism4 ,the ,episcopalian upholds as divine his form of church government1--so that1 if a minister has not been ordained by an ,episcopalian bishop1 he is no minister4 ,the ,methodist overestimates the knowledge of one's conversion1 and1 like all of the ,reformed ,churches1 cultivates a spirit of legalism1 placing religion in such things as abstaining from intoxicants4 ,the ,presbyterian ,church has never yet revoked the teaching of their catechism that ,god has elected certain persons to damnation1 and insists upon its form of government as divine4 ,wood1 hay1 and stubble1 teachings and practices that are not according to the teachings of ,god in ,his ,bible4 ,what about them8 ,the text declares that the fire will try the ,christian work of all the ages4 ,every religious system not in harmony with ,god's will1 all human speculations which men have woven around the truths of the ,bible1 all the wood and the stubble1 though brought with pious hands and placed in sincerity upon the one foundation1 shall turn to ashes and wither like grass4 ,and yet1 because of that foundation1 and the faith of those who wrought thereupon1 they themselves shall be saved4 ,we would distinguish between sectarian systems and the individuals gathered under them4 ,we recognize the unity of all ,christians as believers in ,christ1 but we can never recognize these divisions of ,christ's spiritual body4 ,that would be sanctioning the wood1 hay1 and stubble4 ,what1 then1 is our duty--to come to the second consideration--in this respect8 ,so sensitive1 my beloved hearers1 have people become these days that when a clear ,scriptural presentation of this matter is given1 they will stop up their ears1 and without giving thought or attention1 will say3 illiberal1 uncharitable1 bigoted6 ,we are none of these4 ,not illiberal2 we are just as liberal as ,god's plain ,word permits us to be4 ,we are not uncharitable2--the greatest charity is to tell a person the greatest amount of truth4 ,and as to the charge of bigotry1 that shows so much ill-feeling and bad judgment that we dismiss it without comment4 ,the truth is1 that1 guided by the ,bible1 we cannot justify and hold fellowship with religious societies that teach doctrines contrary to the ,bible1 without sinning in a twofold way4 ,first1 we would mislead our own people to believe that the differences are of no fundamental character1 that it makes no difference whether you believe that ,christ's body and blood are in the ,sacrament1 or not1 whether children are baptized and regenerated in baptism1 or not1 and so forth4 ,that would be practically denying the faith2 and secondly1 by fellowshiping with these denominations1 we would be endorsing their errors1 and arouse the impression that it makes little or no difference whether they believe in the ,bible1 or not4 ,when a man builds a house1 he is very much on the alert that no shoddy1 inferior material enters into the building2 not one joint or door but it should measure up to the specifications4 ,strange that in the infinitely more important building of ,christ's ,church1 people should be so indifferent as to the material and of things measuring up to the specifications of ,god's ,word1 and allow wood1 hay1 and stubble to take the place of gold1 silver1 and precious stones4 ,god protect us against indifference4 ,and then1 to conclude1 the members of what ,church are we8 ,the character1 legitimacy1 and proper ,christianity of a church is its true1 clear1 unmistakable confession of the doctrines of the ,scripture1 and it is our right to say that these doctrines are embraced1 held1 and taught by us1 and were thus held and taught by us before any of the multitudinous sects and parties about us had a being4 ,the ,mother of ,protestantism1--what church is it8 ,it was born1 existed1 and was mighty in strength before them all1 and upon them rests the burden of proof and apology for their separate being4 ,and we should go borrowing to them1 or hesitate to speak a modest word in our favor8 ,my ,church1 my ,church1 my dear old ,church6 ,i love her ancient name1 ,and ,god forbid a child of hers ,should ever do her shame4 ,her mother-care ,i'll ever share1 ,her child ,i am alone1 ,till ,he who gave me to her arms ,shall call me to ,his own4 ,amen4 ,,eighteenth ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,and ,elijah came unto all the people and said1 ,how long halt ye between two opinions8 ,if the ,lord be ,god1 follow ,him2 but if ,baal1 then follow him4 ,and the people answered him not a word4--#a ,kings #ah1 #ba4 ,it was a remarkable1 but wise decision that ,king ,solomon once rendered in a difficult case which was brought before him4 ,two women came to him with an infant to which they both asserted a mother's claim1 the one contending that the other had overlaid her child1 and taken hers from her before she was awake1 and laid her own dead child in its place1 whilst the other asserted that the contrary was the truth1 saying1 ,the dead child is hers1 and the living is mine4 ,and now it was for the ,king to decide4 ,but how was it to be done8 ,solomon calls for a sword4 ,divide1 he commands1 the living child in two1 and give half to the one and half to the other4 ,then spake1 says the ,holy ,record1 the woman whose the living child was unto the ,king1 for her bowels yearned upon her son1 ,o my lord1 give her the living child1 and in no wise slay it4 ,but the other said1 ,let it be neither mine nor thine1 but divide it4 ,solomon instantly recognized the true mother's heart4 ,give her the child1 he said4 ,the same it is with ,god1 our true heavenly ,parent4 ,he does not want ,his children divided2 ,he will have them entirely1 as a whole living sacrifice1 or not at all4 ,the sum of ,his commandment and will regarding us1 as repeated in to-day's ,gospel lesson1 is3 ,thou shalt love the ,lord1 thy ,god1 with all thy heart1 and with all thy soul1 and with all thy mind4 ,of that would we remind ourselves in our present worship1 taking for our instruction the ,scripture read as our text4 ,with the aid of the ,holy ,spirit we note ,elijah's challenge on ,mount ,carmel1--,a call to ,christian decision4 ,i4 ,the question at issue3 ,is the ,lord ,god8 ,,ii4 ,the obligation involved1 ,then follow ,him4 ,israel had had many wicked kings since the suicide of its first monarch1 ,saul1 upon ,mount ,gilboa1 but none more so than ,ahab4 ,the crowning iniquity of this unprincipled and despicable prince was the introduction of the idol called ,baal into ,israel4 ,baal signifies governor or ruler1 and was the name given in the ,east to the chief male idol of the heathen4 ,to the honor of this idol1 temples were erected1 bloody sacrifices offered1 and the most shameful things perpetrated4 ,ahab had married ,jezebel1 the daughter of the idolatrous ,king of the ,sidonians1 and under her sway the worship of this idol had become sinfully popular in ,israel4 ,four hundred and fifty priests served at his altar1 and nearly an equally large number were appointed to the worship of his mate1 ,ashtaroth1 for every male idol was wont to have his goddess4 ,this abominable form of idolatry was going on in the land where ,god had thundered from the sides of ,sinai as ,his first requirement3 ,thou shalt have no other gods before me1 and had declared3 ,my glory will ,i not give to another1 nor my praise to graven images2 and in consequence the judgments of ,jehovah were not slow to follow4 ,no rain or dew had fallen for the space of three years1 the heaven was as brass1 and the earth like a nether grindstone4--,famine stalked throughout the land1 when one day1 as ,ahab was wandering up and down the country searching for food1 he met the stern and fearless prophet of ,jehovah1 ,elijah1 called the ,tishbite4 ,art thou he1 asks the ,king1 that troubleth ,israel8 ,elijah retorts3 ,not ,i have troubled ,israel1 but thou and thy father's house1 in that ye have forsaken the commandment of the ,lord1 and thou hast followed ,baalim4 ,and so the contest is on1 not so much between ,elijah and ,ahab as between the supremacy of ,jehovah and ,baal4 ,how is the dispute to be settled8 ,elijah proposes a method4 ,all ,israel should be convened at a place specified1 ,mount ,carmel4 ,two altars were to be erected1 one by the champions of ,baal1 another by himself4 ,sacrifice was to be laid thereupon1 and the ,god that would answer by fire to devour the sacrifice should be recognized victor4 ,the test is accepted4 ,you1 as well-informed ,bible readers1 know the outcome4 ,after futile attempts by the priests of ,baal to secure the hearing of their ,god1 ,elijah addresses his ,god4 ,in fervent prayer he raises his eyes and hands and heart to heaven4 ,no sooner had the last words escaped the prophet's lips than down came the fire of ,god consuming the whole sacrifice and the wood1 the stones1 and the dust1 and licked up the water that was in the trench1 whilst the fickle people fell on their faces1 crying3 ,the ,lord1 ,he is ,god2 the ,lord1 ,he is ,god4 ,elijah then follows up his victory by commanding them to seize the whole group of ,baal's priests and slay them at the brook ,kishon4 ,thus did ,jehovah terribly and surely vindicate ,his honor and majesty4 ,what lesson may be gathered from this thrilling story8 ,beloved1 the conflict between the forces of the true ,god and ,his opponents is not yet over1 and1 as of old1 that conflict1 in the final issue1 centers in a question4 ,at that time it was1 ,is ,jehovah the ,lord ,god8 ,formulated by the ,lord ,himself in the ,gospel-lesson of this day1 it now reads3 ,what think ye of ,christ8 ,whose ,son is he8 ,or1 in other words1 ,is ,he1 ,jesus ,christ1 ,god8 ,around that question are rallied the religious forces of to-day4 ,the answer to that question determines men's attitude1 their position on the one side or on the other2 their answer to that question decides the destiny of every individual soul4 ,according as the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ is accepted or rejected1 will men stand or fall4 ,what is it in its significance but the conflict of ,mount ,carmel over again8 ,and how is this vital question to be decided8 ,for the determining of the question1 ,is ,jesus ,christ ,god8 there are many proofs1 all of them conclusive and incontrovertible4 ,we might point to ,christ's spotless character and ,his immaculate life4 ,which of you1 ,he challenged ,his enemies1 convinceth me of sin8 ,and none who has ever examined into ,his life and character but is unstinted in ,his admiration and praise4 ,he was holy1 harmless1 undefiled1 separate from sinners2 ,he was divine4 ,we could point furthermore to ,his teaching4 ,merely human mind and merely human lips never conceived and spake as ,he spake4 ,as you study our ,lord's utterances1 what loftiness in ,his maxims1 what profundity of wisdom in ,his discourses6 ,the hearers of ,his time were constrained to exclaim1 ,never man spake as this man speaketh1 and ,he taught as one having authority and not as the scribes4 ,no wonder1 for ,he was the teacher come from ,god1--,he was ,god4 ,we could point out the divine influence ,his religion has exerted upon the world4 ,why do the nations write #aiab in the enumeration of time8 ,who has taken possession of everything great and grand in our age8 ,rather1 should ,i say1 who has made that which is great and grand in art1 in music1 in literature--the masterpieces1 the sublimest productions8 ,whom do they treat of8 ,the civilization of to-day--whose product is it but of ,his religion8 thus stamping it and its ,founder as divine1 as ,god4 ,but1 my beloved1 after all these and manifold other proofs have been adduced1 there remains one more which1 more than any other proof1 brings home to us the conviction that ,christ is ,god1 not only intellectually1 but morally1 spiritually4 ,from the scene upon ,mount ,carmel ,i would direct you to a scene upon another mount1 ,mount ,calvary4 ,there1 too1 we witness a sacrifice2 there1 too1 lies a victim upon an altar1 the altar of the cross4 ,the fire of ,god's wrath comes from heaven to consume that sacrifice4 ,how is that a proof of ,christ's divinity8 ,because it solves1 as nothing else can solve1 the great problem of ,religion1 ,how can man be saved1 justified before ,god8 ,no man can by any means redeem his brother1 nor give to ,god a ransom for him4 ,it required one more than mere man to do that--,god ,himself4 ,what man can look upon that ,calvary scene and contemplate the significance of it1 but exclaim with the ,roman centurion under the cross1 ,truly1 this was the ,son of ,god1--nor gaze upon the print of the nails in ,his hands1 and the mark of the spear gash in ,his side1 but confess1 with the multitude upon ,mount ,carmel1 ,jehovah--,jesus1 ,he is the ,god6 ,jehovah--,jesus1 ,he is the ,god6 ,there is no proof so powerful that ,christ is ,god but the sacrifice of ,calvary2 yea1 he who accepts not that sacrifice1 together with the resurrection of ,christ1 believes not in ,christ4 ,that ,old ,testament scene and sacrifice points1 and is a type1 of the ,new ,testament scene and sacrifice4 ,may the impression and the confession it produced be the same on the lips of every one of us1 as it was yonder on ,mount ,carmel1--,the ,lord1 even ,christ1 is ,god4 ,he is my ,god4 ,and now let us note the obligation it involved4 ,the particular offense with which ,elijah charges the people on this occasion is halting4 ,the word translated halting is old ,english4 ,it does not mean standing still1 but limping4 ,elijah's question1 ,how long halt ye between two opinions8 accordingly means1 ,why do you not make up your minds2 why do you not take a positive stand one way or the other and instead of vacillating between the worship of ,baal and the worship of ,jehovah1 accepting neither fully1 seize on to one or the other with full conviction1 and follow that with all your heart8 ,decision1 the taking of a position and holding to it1 is the appeal of the prophet4 ,and is his appeal not applicable in our own day8 ,is there no halting1 limping1 swaying1 and swerving between two opinions8 ,it is of just such people that our modern and immediate community is full2 they take an intermediate position1 a sort of betwixt and between2 they are not out and out ,christians1 and still they wish to be rated as ,christians4 ,they admit their reverence for the ,bible2 they would not question anything taught on its testimony2 they take delight in hearing occasionally a ,christian preacher1 attending upon ,christian services2 there is scarcely a mental or moral persuasion in favor of ,christianity which they do not cheerfully entertain2 they would not think of having their children grow up unchristened or a marriage in the family performed without a ,christian minister1 and when trouble and sorrow comes upon them1 they look to ,christian sources for consolation4 ,and still1 when the test comes for them to confess themselves in the appointed way as ,christ's disciples1 to take their places at the family table of the ,christian ,church1 they have their excuses2 they turn their backs and go off on to something else4 ,they've not been confirmed2 perchance1 they want to consider4 ,as stated1 our immediate neighborhood is full of such halting1 compromising1 so-near-and-yet-so-far people4 ,what they want is not to consider1 but to act4 ,time for deliberation they have had plenty and long enough4 ,one year1 ten years1 finds them still considering4 ,what they need is decision1 action1 and not to arrive at that is to remain in a state of sin and of danger1 of ingratitude to ,god and discomfort to their own soul4 ,if ,i am addressing any such1 and ,i know that ,i am1 let them not be offended1 but earnestly regard and give up a position so unworthy1 unsatisfactory1 ,god and ,christ-dishonoring4 ,but does the appeal of the prophet in no wise apply to those who have made a pronounced confession1 who have taken a stand1 and whose names appear on the roster as ,his followers8 ,is there no indecision of conduct there1 no limping1 no dividing of one's heart between ,baal and ,jehovah8 ,the ordinary type of ,christian and church-member is not a person of fixedness1 determination1 neither in doctrine nor in practice4 ,baal still has his altar1 only decked out in a different shape3--in the market-places of business1 in the houses of amusements1 in the halls of secret organizations and lodges4 ,it is not an unusual thing to see men and women in our churches going to the ,lord's ,sacrament and belonging to societies which know not ,christ and will have none of ,him1 reject ,his ,godship and ,his sacrifice upon ,calvary4 ,it is not an unusual thing to hear men and women1 young and old1 singing hymns and doxologies and speaking words of ,christian prayer1 and then lifting up their voices in speech and song that tells not whose they are and whom they serve4 ,the trouble with all of us is that we are not as outspoken in our testimony1 as consistent and faithful1 and unflinching as we ought to be1 as our ,christian duty and the honor of our ,lord calls for and deserves4 ,having performed our vows and service to ,god in ,his temple1 we are content to go back to the world and to business1 forgetful that there1 too1 we should bear faithful witness for our ,lord4 ,from the text of the day may you form the noble resolution3 ,i will be always and altogether the servant of ,god1 the follower of ,christ2 in which resolution do ,thou1 ,lord1 sustain me to the end4 ,thine forever6 ,god of love1 ,hear us from ,thy throne above4 ,thine forever may we be ,here and in eternity4 ,amen4 ,,nineteenth ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,after this there was a feast of the ,jews2 and ,jesus went up to ,jerusalem4 ,now there is at ,jerusalem1 by the sheep-market1 a pool which is called in the ,hebrew tongue ,bethesda1 having five porches4 ,in these lay a great multitude of impotent folk1 of blind1 halt1 withered1 waiting for the moving of the water4 ,for an angel went down at a certain season into the pool and troubled the water2 whosoever1 then1 first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had4 ,and a certain man was there which had an infirmity thirty and eight years4 ,when ,jesus saw him lie1 and knew that he had been now a long time in that case1 he saith unto him1 ,wilt thou be made whole8 ,the impotent man answered him1 ,sir1 ,i have no man1 when the water is troubled1 to put me into the pool2 but while ,i am coming1 another steppeth down before me4 ,jesus saith unto him1 ,rise1 take up thy bed1 and walk4 ,and immediately the man was made whole1 and took up his bed1 and walked3 and on the same day was the ,sabbath4--,john #e1 #a-i4 ,the most serious charge that can be placed against mankind is this1 that when the ,gospel is proclaimed to them1 that ,gospel is rejected1 that when pardon and salvation of ,god is offered1 that offer is coldly and indifferently turned aside4 ,we are sometimes surprised at this4 ,we ought not to be4 ,the same coldness and indifference was manifested years ago4 ,it says3 ,christ came into ,his own1 and ,his own received ,him not4 ,to-day's ,gospel records to us the cure of the paralytic4 ,it was a most remarkable and convincing evidence that ,he who could bring to ,his feet this debilitated and disabled man was indeed the ,messiah1 the ,savior of the world4 ,but no2 it started a wrangling among ,his enemies about the power of forgiveness of sin1 and caused ,him to be haunted with hatred and malice4 ,and as a parallel passage to that ,gospel miracle is the record here in the fifth chapter of ,st4 ,john1 part of which we have just heard4 ,let us notice now1 ,i4 the history of the miracle2 ,,ii4 the instruction it imparts4 ,after this1 says the ,evangelist1 that is1 after ,jesus had conversed with the woman of ,samaria at ,jacob's well1 and after ,he had healed the nobleman's son who was lying sick at ,capernaum1 there was a feast of the ,jews4 ,the feast1 it is generally supposed1 was the ,passover4 ,and ,jesus went up1 out of ,galilee into ,judea1 to ,jerusalem4 ,he went thither not only that ,he might pay all due regard to the ,temple and to the ,law1 but also that ,he might have an opportunity of manifesting ,himself and ,his doctrine to a greater number of people4 ,now1 says the next verse1 there is at ,jerusalem by the sheep-market1 or sheep-gate1 a pool1 or a bath1 the ordinary purpose of which was for bathing or swimming1 but on account of the supernatural character of the water was called ,bethesda1 that is1 the ,house1 or ,place1 of ,mercy4 ,around this pool1 or bath1 were built five porches1 porticos1 or verandas1 which served to shelter from the heat and the cold those who frequented the place4 ,in these porches there lay a great multitude of impotent folk2 some of them were blind1 some halt 7or lame71 and others were withered1 that is1 their sinews and muscles were disabled1 withered in one particular part of the body1 as the man with the withered hand1 or all over1 as in the case of the paralytic1 whose friends had to bear him on a litter4 ,these patients1 at least most of them1 were probably deemed incurable by ordinary methods1 and therefore they were carried to ,bethesda to wait and hope for a miraculous recovery there2 for it pleased ,god 7in order to show that ,he had not forsaken ,his chosen people1 but was operating among them7 to send an angel who went down at certain seasons into the pool and troubled the water1 by which troubling of it1 and by the extraordinary motion that followed1 the sick were informed of the time of the angel's descent1 and1 whosoever then first1 after the troubling of the water1 stepped in was instantly healed1 while those who bathed afterwards obtained no relief4 ,all sorts of opinions have been advanced as to this healing spring4 ,that it was not the natural virtue1 as in the case of mineral springs in this country1 that wrought the cure1 is evident from the circumstance that not one disease1 but all manners of disease were healed by it2 that these cures were performed not always1 but only at the seasons appointed by ,god1 and that not all who stepped in1 but one only was healed after the troubling of the water4 ,what became of this fountain we are not told2 very likely its miraculous properties did not continue for many years4 ,in the porches around this pool was an impotent man2 he had labored under a bodily infirmity for thirty and eight years4 ,how long he had waited at the pool we know not1 but certainly for a considerable period4 ,but it was hoping against hope4 ,the man was so utterly helpless that even if he saw the water disturbed1 whilst he was slowly dragging himself along1 another stepped in before him4 ,when ,jesus1 therefore1 passed by and saw him in this helpless condition1 and knowing his past history1 ,he asked him1 ,wilt thou be made whole8 ,the man does not even give direct answer1 but narrates the story of his long and futile expectation1 whereupon ,jesus gives this command3 ,rise1 take up thy bed and walk1 when instantly1 easily1 as if the withered limbs had been thrilled with electric sparks1 the man arises1 takes up his bed1 and walks away4 ,such is the history of the miracle2 and now let us regard some of the instructions it imparts4 ,our interest is naturally divided between the man who had lain sick such a number of years1 the pool1 and the cure4 ,and1 surely1 a long and wearisome time he had had of it1--thirty and eight years4 ,the woman with the issue of blood who touched the hem of our ,savior's garment1 had borne her affliction twelve years1 but that was scarcely one-third as long1 and she was still able to be up and about4 ,as then1 so now4 ,the number of those who lie on pallets and are bent low with sickness is larger than superficiality credits2 in fact1 those who have never been racked with pain1 distressed with fever1 are few and far between4 ,how many ever give thought as to this providential dealing--have stopped to ask whence it comes1 or what profit and lessons may be in it8 ,it has been remarked by a famous writer that there are two chapters of human history that shall never be read upon the earth2 the one chapter is the chapter of the dying4 ,the feelings and emotions1 the inexpressible thoughts and sensations that pass through the soul when the things of this world fade upon the senses1 and the doors of eternity are about to swing open1 is an experience which no human tongue or pen can describe1 is something which none but ourselves can discover4 ,and another chapter is the chapter of the sick and the ailing1 as it is written in quietness within the narrow space of a couch and four walls1 alternating perhaps with the operating table and passing through the dark valley of the ,shadow of ,death4 ,and yet1 something of this chapter may still be read1 and most remarkable1 significant1 and ofttimes blessed things are experienced in the sickroom4 ,who dare say that the world in its present condition would be what it still is without this check1 this intruder upon the affairs of life8 ,most men are inclined to regard sickness as a calamity1 as a positive misfortune1 a smiting scourge4 ,it is not that4 ,it has blessings both to the one afflicted and to those around him4 ,sickness may contribute to the development of the noblest qualities of the mind and heart4 ,in the rush and tug of life men are too much inclined to concern themselves with the affairs of this life1 to lose sight of the greater value of the unseen and eternal4 ,put such a one from the excitement of business and the frivolity of this world's fashions and pleasures prostrate upon his back with the hot fingers of disease clutching for his vitals or the sharp pains striking upon the heartstrings1 and he must be thoughtless1 even base1 whose appreciation of the merely earthly things does not fall1 and who does not learn that with all his boasted strength and all that he has and hopes for1 he is only a pilgrim and stranger on this earth1 and that there is something more worthy than what is seen and temporal4 ,oh6 the quiet reflections of a sickbed4 ,many a man is indebted to them for a revelation which has been the wisdom and power of ,god unto his salvation when the message of ,church and its servant had but very little effect4 ,the parched lips of disease are often more eloquent and effective than man's lips4 ,and he that fails of this salutary end of affliction1 does not come forth a better person1 more devoted and consecrated to his ,god1 has missed the purpose for which it was sent1 and gone out of the way of the ,almighty4 ,of this man in the text we may have the assurance that the experience of thirty-eight years remained indelibly upon his mind and enrolled him among the faithful disciples of ,christ4 ,may it serve likewise in your case1 my dear hearer1 at the sickbed of many of whom ,i have had occasion and may yet be called to minister4 ,and not only for the person afflicted1 but for those attending and affected by the affliction1 sickness is a blessing1 a positive messenger of good and mercy4 ,it is when disease has broken in upon their habitation that many a man has first learned to appreciate the kindly ministry of his life's partner2 has keenly felt what this world would be like should death part them asunder1 and the hearts sometimes estranged have again become reconciled and determined to bear and forbear4 ,it is when the little cheek is hard pressed against the feverish and aching pillow that we feel how intensely we love that boy and girl and would sacrifice everything else dear to us to keep them4 ,yes1 there is nothing in human experience to bring into larger and better exercise our common love and sympathy and to show that there is still some nobility1 kindness1 and pity in our shattered humanity than in the care and memories that cluster around the sickbed4 ,would to ,god that these experiences touching the hearts that perhaps for long time were dead would be of longer duration1 for commonly they are so quickly forgotten and so easily erased from the mind4 ,so much as to the first suggestion--the man's sickness4 ,the place where he was lying was called ,bethesda1 which means ,house of ,mercy4 ,nor need ,i inform you which is the true ,bethesda1 the ,house of ,mercy1 provided for the cure of those souls who are spiritually halt1 blind1 withered1 and weak4 ,that's the ,church of ,jesus ,christ1 and in that place there was a pool1 as we heard1 endowed with miraculous properties1 greatly valued1 thronged about by patients4 ,to that pool we have in our ,bethesda an exact and superior counterpart1 a blessed fountain from which issues the stream of health and salvation upon the sinful and diseased race of man1 a water allied not only with the contact of an angel1 but with the presence of the ,savior ,himself4 ,you know of what water ,i am speaking1 you yourselves have been committed into this salutary flood4 ,it is the ,sacrament of ,holy ,baptism4 ,it might be well to speak a few words on the subject4 ,what ,bethesda's part was for the body1 that1 my beloved1 is ,holy ,baptism to the soul4 ,it was a means of restoration and recovery1 it gave health back to the limbs and frame4 ,so does ,baptism4 ,arise1 and be baptized1 and wash away thy sins1 said ,ananias to ,saul4 ,a washing of regeneration and renewing of the ,holy ,ghost1 says ,paul4 ,it works forgiveness of sins1 delivers from death and the devil1 and gives eternal salvation1 says ,luther4 ,baptism is the means by which the ,holy ,ghost operates in a soul1 the outward washing which you see with your eyes is a type of the washing which ,god's power affects invisibly4 ,we speak of ,baptism in our church not only as a rite1 a ceremony1 a form of initiation1 but as a means of grace1 as a means of salvation1 by which we are christened1 that is1 made ,christians4 ,to elucidate4 ,outside of our city there are enormous reservoirs holding millions of tons of water1 and we daily see vast tanks holding thousands of cubic feet of gas4 ,but all of these would be useless unless pipes are laid to convey their currents4 ,lay those pipes1 and you have the means of securing water in your homes and light in your dwellings4 ,so the ,sacraments1 of which ,baptism is one1 are means by which ,god's blessings are brought to our souls4 ,it's not an idle ceremony which one can dispense with at liberty1 nor is it something which people can wait with till they are old enough to be taught the ,christian faith and to understand it2 as well might they dispense with the supply of water and illumination1 or wait until they themselves can lay the pipes4 ,no2 ,god has given us the means1 now we must use them1 and use them as early as possible4 ,if this man had spoken as disparagingly of the pool of ,bethesda as some people speak of ,baptism1 and had in consequence kept away from its waters1 he would not have met with ,christ1 and would have remained a cripple all his days4 ,it is for us to use ,god's means1 and to hold with the ,scripture that no man is a ,christian until he has been baptized4 ,of course1 there is this difference between the impotent man in the ,gospel and some in our community4 ,he could not enter the healing water1 they will not4 ,they lie by the side of ,bethesda1 but1 not believing in the healing waters1 are never benefited as to their own souls4 ,there are many objections made against ,baptism4 ,to repeat and publicly set aright one objection sometimes met with in our circles3 ,what good does ,baptism do8 ,see how many children turn out bad afterwards notwithstanding4 ,what good does it do8 ,i answer3 ,the same good that it does if you had water and illumination connection1 and then cut it off4 ,no good2 on the contrary1 if1 having been made ,god's children1 ,christians1 in ,baptism1 we afterwards live as heathen1 so much the worse the sin as our ,savior particularly warns this man who was healed4 ,behold1 thou art made whole2 sin no more1 lest a worse thing come upon thee4 ,but had the man nevertheless gone back to his sinful life1 would that have made the healing of no account8 ,and so the fact that people once baptized live in sin does not make ,baptism of no account4 ,marriage is not a failure because some who have married have proved failures4 ,when a man enlists in the army1 the form of enlistment makes him a soldier1 but not necessarily a good soldier2 he may prove to be a coward and traitor1 but it put him in a position to lead a brave and useful life and to win honor and glory2 if he chooses otherwise1 it is his own fault4 ,so in baptism we are made ,christians1 but it is our own fault if we afterwards turn out bad ,christians4 ,baptism is the beginning1 the means1 not the end4 ,we are put on the right road1 we are made ,god's children1 citizens of ,his kingdom of heaven4 ,it is our own fault1 not the ,sacrament1 if we develop into prodigals1 wander out of the right road1 prove cowardly soldiers and bad citizens4 ,as to the third suggestion made1 the cure1 let us briefly note that the condition of that poor paralytic is the perfect emblem of our human nature1 of ourselves without ,christ4 ,as he was diseased and helpless in body1 so are we all diseased and helpless in soul4 ,to a miracle of grace he owed his recovery2 and where he found his cure1 we must find ours4 ,he stands before us this very moment again1 that omnipotent ,son of ,god1 that compassionate ,savior1 and asks1 ,wilt thou be made whole8 ,wilt thou receive the absolution of thy ,god1 the forgiveness of thy sins1 through the mediation of my suffering and death8 ,nothing else can remove the palsy of our nature1 nothing else can give health and soundness4--,let us1 then1 who feel our malady and wish it removed1 answer1 ,yes1 ,lord1 ,i will be whole4 ,jesus1 give me true repentance ,by ,thy ,spirit come from heaven4 ,whisper this transporting sentence1 ,son1 thy sins are all forgiven4 ,amen4 ,,twentieth ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,and ,he said also to the people1 ,when ye see a cloud rise out of the west1 straightway ye say1 ,there cometh a shower2 and so it is4 ,and when ye see the south wind blow1 ye say1 ,there will be heat2 and it cometh to pass4 ,ye hypocrites6 ,ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth2 but how is it that ye do not discern this time8--,luke #ab1 #ed-ef4 ,men have always been solicitous about the weather4 ,in the morning they are desirous to know what the day will bring forth2 in the evening1 what sort of temperature it will be on the morrow4 ,curiosity1 in part1 a lack of something more important to think and talk about1 and1 in part1 the regulation of one's duties and work prompt this concern4 ,it has ever been so4 ,in the ,holy ,land1 when the sky was aglow with the exquisite tints of an ,oriental sunset1 it meant fair weather the next day2 when the west wind1 sweeping over the ,great or ,mediterranean ,sea laden with moisture blew over the land1 it was a safe indication of rain1 whereas the breezes coming from the sterile and desert plains of the ,east portended a heated season and continued drouth4 ,we have similar indications4 ,flocks of birds1 at this season1 flying across our city in search of a more congenial home1 tell us of approaching winter4 ,not relying on such indications alone1 the ,government has established everywhere meteorological stations2 weather forecasts are distributed broadcast1 wireless telegraphy flashes out the approach of devastating storms1 thus forewarning navigation and securing protection to citizens and property and life4 ,all of which is commendable1 argues forethought1 wisdom1 which ,god has designed that men should exercise4 ,nor does our ,lord in the text in any wise disapprove of such precautions and measures4 ,he would have us make application of that same forethought1 wise provision1 with respect to another sphere4 ,as you study the weather1 is ,his direction1 so you ought with equally observing and wakeful mind study the times1 watch the signs1 regard the phenomena that appear in the political1 civil1 social1 mercantile1 domestic skies1 marking their bearing on the affairs of ,god's kingdom1 and exercise respecting them the same forethought and sense of provision4 ,that duty shall we now do in these moments of public worship1 noting as our theme3 ,a few signs of the times and the corresponding duties of ,christians and church-members4 ,we shall observe3 ,i4 ,three such outstanding signs2 ,,ii4 what it becomes us to do4 ,the first outstanding sign1 prevailing and predominating characteristic of our times1 that we shall mention is commercialism4 ,to explain3--the question of what shall we eat1 what shall we drink1 and wherewith shall we be clothed1 has always and everywhere been a live question4 ,men must live1 and to live means the possession of the things just mentioned1 food and drink1 dress and property1 the possession of this earth's goods2 but it is a question whether in the history of the world these matters have bulged out so prominently and so monopolized the efforts and attention of men as at the present and in our own country4 ,with the avenues of success open to every man that is industrious and intelligent1 with competition keen1 demanding concentration of energy and effort1 gaining a livelihood and a little of this earth's goods has become like a whirlpool which draws and drags everything into its devouring current and vortex4 ,the spirit of commerce is supreme2 not1 ,i suppose1 that everybody loves money and this earth's goods simply and only for its own sake1 but there is an excitement and fascination in having it2 it stands for the standard of efficiency and worth and influence among men1 so that all are scrambling and scheming for it4 ,listen to the trend of conversation1 the topic of discussion in people's homes--what is it8 ,show a man a material advantage that he may secure1 often at the sacrifice of honesty and principle1 and he is your undying friend4 ,now1 with men's minds thus set1 it is but a natural consequence that it should affect their heart1 endanger their spiritual life4 ,business1 indeed1 is not incompatible with piety4 ,a man may be a devout ,christian and church-member and an excellent business man1 but it may so preoccupy his mind and preengage his heart that he ceases to think about religious matters at all4 ,it is not an uncommon thing to see a man attentive unto the things of the ,lord1 intent in the services and the meetings of the church2 when anything special is to be done1 he is on hand to help4 ,business responsibilities increase1 he becomes less earnest in these respects2 he has to rise so early in the morning that he has no time or thought for prayer2 he comes home so tired in the evening that he has no consideration for anything else1 and if he goes out1 it is in the interest of business4 ,even the ,lord's day is levied upon1 and when it comes1 his mind is perchance more occupied while he sits under the pulpit with his figures than with the sermon4 ,tell him he is being missed1--the retort is the common1 trite answer1 ,no time4 ,but the real reason lies deeper4 ,he has gotten into the current1 he is being drawn into the whirlpool of commercialism1 and if there be any who feel that ,i have been holding up a mirror wherein you have seen yourselves1 let me urge upon you to take heed4 ,you are paying too much for your material success1 and if you do not return to your old anchorage1 you may find yourself where you had never thought to get--afar from ,christ1 ,his worship and service4 ,there is nothing better than for a man occasionally to take his bearings1 to find where he is located1 and whether he is holding his own against the stream of opposite tendency that is flowing through our social life1 in which he is drifting1 being carried in opposite direction1 among those who pass from the neglecting to the despising and rejecting of the great salvation4 ,hand in hand with this tendency of our times there is another3 indifferentism4 ,certainly1 if everything is gauged by the measurement of dollars and cents1 then men's thoughts are absorbed by material considerations4 ,it is quite natural that religion should be placed on the same low basis4 ,indifferentism generally resolves itself into a question4 ,that question is1 ,what's the use8 ,what's the use of prayer8 ,has it ever brought you any gain8 ,what have you that you wouldn't have if you had not prayed8 ,what's the use of going to church8 ,what benefit has it ever brought you8 ,it has not fetched you one customer1 one penny of profit1 rather the reverse--it has been an expense1 easily avoidable4 ,what's the use of going to the ,lord's ,supper8 ,a man may be a ,christian for all that4 ,god governs the world1 ,his providence overrules it all1 but it is1 after all1 the man who plans and plods that wins out1 so why be concerned about this overruling ,providence8 ,when the end comes1 well1 then ,i hope there is a place where those who1 like myself1 have tried to be honest and upright will finally get to4 ,i am willing to risk my chances4 ,what is the use of being over-much concerned about the future8 ,it is not that our times are stubbornly and positively atheistic and infidelic2 perhaps there was never less of that than now4 ,but comparatively few in speech or person or in print venture to attack ,christianity as a system4 ,the danger lies elsewhere4 ,we have lapsed into a state of indifference4 ,there is a passing away of an earnestness of conviction1 of moral stamina1 of strength of belief4 ,what was once accepted as ,god's truth is now called into question4 ,don't emphasize creed1 doctrine1 destructive belief2 we have gotten beyond that4 ,yes1 we have gotten beyond that1 and in consequence have gotten and are daily getting into a current that shall find us contending for the simplest truths of the ,christian faith4 ,what fad1 however unscriptural and irrational1 but it finds multitudes of followers4 ,consider the greatest fad that is sweeping over the land--,christian ,science4 ,how is it possible that such an absolutely heretical1 nonsensical system of unchristian1 anti-,biblical statement should ever have had such a phenomenal growth1 if our people were not so dreadfully indifferent in matters of ,bible teaching8 ,the same is true of the ,russellites1 whose publications are being distributed broadcast over the land1 who deny the simple doctrines of hell and resurrection1 and foretell the time of ,christ's coming to ,judgment and to reign in unadulterated bliss for thousand years4 ,the ,catechism is denounced from the pulpits4 ,why instruct the juvenile mind in such fetters of theology8 ,what is there to confirmation8--teaching children in their teens to confess a faith they do not half comprehend8 ,the good old ,bible ,book--is it really what has been claimed for it8 ,do not most clergymen of progressive ideas put allegorical interpretations upon its stories1 for instance1 the fall of man into sin8 ,do not many learned scholars point out what they claim to be discrepancies1 and say it must be considered and weighed just like every other book in which are some good things and some inferior8 ,and the sorry consequence of all this8 ,it is this1 that we have no positive conviction at all1 that the majority are like a vessel without a guiding compass or a determinate course1 floating hither and thither1 as the wavering current of whims or opinion may chance to drive them4 ,and if1 to note the application1 we are asked whether we join in this trend of thought of the times1 this contemptuous treatment of the ,word of ,god and ,catechism1 we should answer with an emphatic ,no4 ,but are we quite sure that we have not imbibed a little of it unconsciously8 ,after so much has been said about the old-fashioned hell1--a hard doctrine for sentimental souls to believe1--why not mitigate it a little1 and believe that after this life poor sinners have another chance8--',tis true1 the ,savior does say1 ,this do in remembrance of me1 but ,i guess ,i'll not be condemned if ,i do not go to ,his ,sacrament4 ,beloved hearer1 you may flatter yourself that it will have no effect upon you1 but unless you conscientiously and determinedly watch it1 you will find yourself yielding to it4 ,beloved1 we watchmen on the towers of ,zion1 scanning the skies and observing the signs1 are everywhere noting the indifference among our older members1 among our young people1 and the only thing to do is to get back to the old anchorage1 to place our faith firmly and securely upon the rock of eternal ,truth1 i4 e41 the grand old ,bible4 ,its words are truth and nothing but the truth4 ,let that be our guide in doctrine1 in practice4 ,what that says let us believe2 what that forbids let us forsake2 that will put us right and keep us right4 ,these vagaries and fluctuating opinions of men and women will pass away like the clouds of the air2 but even though heaven and earth pass away1 ,god's ,word will not pass away4 ,our safety and happiness lies in adhering to what it teaches and following its directions4--,when the storm-clouds are gathering in the horizon and the weather bureau flashes out the danger signals1 then it is wisdom to seek shelter1 to get under somewhere4 ,there is such an ark of safety yet1 and that is the ,church of ,christ1 where ,his cross and ,gospel are preached1 held and confessed1 uncompromisingly4 ,take your place there as a consistent1 positive member1 and avoid indifference in religious matters4 ,and one more disastrous sign of the times would we regard4 ,i need not remind you that the brightest jewel that we possess under the ,constitution of this country is religious liberty4 ,its wise and pious framers1 knowing both from reason and from sharp experience that religious liberty can only exist in the strict separation of ,church and ,state1 adopted every precaution to prevent the admission of anything hostile to religious liberty1 to go into the political machinery of the state4 ,their object was a free church in a free country4 ,it is well known1 not suspicion merely1 but known by those who have the best understanding of the times1 that a spirit has of late years prevailed which is intensely hostile to the civil and religious principles of our government4 ,there have been some bold encroachments on the part of a subtle and formidable antagonist4 ,you know whom ,i mean--,rome1 dangerous ,rome1 which does not believe in the separation of ,church and ,state1 which acknowledges but one head1 who is the embodiment of temporal1 political1 and spiritual power1 which openly and unequivocally asserts that the civil authority is subordinate to the ,church4 ,rome's representatives have been loaded with official favors and flatteries2 ,rome's interests have been fostered with the most fatal insidiousness by political leaders2 ,rome has been caressed1 and complimented1 and taken into confidence and alliance with those in authority4 ,what is the meaning of all this8 ,sordid maneuvers of diplomacy and craft undermining the fundamental principles and rights of our ,constitution1 menacing clouds in the sky that threaten our civil liberty4 ,and what is to be done8 ,we ought to know2 the name which graces our denomination points the way4 ,luther gave ,rome its death-wound in his day by wielding so powerfully the sword1 the sword of the ,spirit1 which is the ,word of ,god4 ,let us grasp that selfsame sword2 let us teach the doctrines which he taught so effectively to its overthrow1 and we1 too1 shall prevail4 ,point out the soul-destroying errors of ,rome1 and you unarm her spiritually4 ,and again1 as citizens1 let us make a determined and combined movement to repel the creeping invasion1 the subtle but forceful and successful invasion of popery4 ,the political leading men of our day may not be conscious of it2 let us hope1 in the judgment of charity1 that they are not2 but it is perfectly clear that the influence of that dark and mysterious and tremendous system is upon them4 ,for us who have studied and know ,rome it becomes to counteract1 eradicate every tendency that would break down or reduce our constitutional liberties4 ,we have mentioned three specific signs--commercialism1 indifferentism1 ,romanism4 ,let us1 keeping our eyes open1 beware of the destructive power of the first1 the deadening influence of the second1 the insidious danger of the third1 and so pass through these things temporal that we lose not the things eternal4 ,amen4 ,,twenty-,,first ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,for which of you1 intending to build a tower1 sitteth not down first1 and counteth the cost1 whether he have sufficient to finish it8 ,lest haply1 after he hath laid the foundation1 and is not able to finish it1 all that behold it begin to mock him1 saying1 ,this man began to build1 and was not able to finish4--,luke #ad1 #bh-cj4 ,in the pass of ,thermopylae1 in the country of ,greece1 there stands a monument1 world-renowned1 erected to ,leonidas and his valiant three hundred4 ,it bears the inscription3 ,go1 stranger1 and tell at ,sparta that we died here fighting to the last in obedience to our laws1 and commemorates that thrilling event when ,leonidas with his three hundred successfully held the pass of ,thermopylae against tremendous odds until betrayed into the hands of the enemy4 ,what it bears magnificent witness to is the quality of loyalty1 steadfastness4 ,the same noble quality does ,god require1 look for1 in ,his people4 ,the ,apostle in to-day's ,epistle1 summing up the conduct of the spiritual soldier1 says3 ,stand1 therefore1 and having done all1 stand1 and again1 emphasizing the same virtue1 he remarks3 ,watching thereunto with all perseverance4 ,it is not the boldest regiment that always makes the best record1 but that which holds out the longest4 ,it is not the most enthusiastic ,christian and ardent church-member that wins ,his ,master's commendation1 but he that proves faithful4 ,the parable of our text brings home to us the same lesson4 ,it tells us of a man who contemplates the erection of a tower4 ,before entering upon his enterprise1 he first sets down and1 with pencil in hand1 figures the cost1 whether his funds will permit him to undertake the matter1 lest1 having begun and failing1 he become the laughing-stock of his neighbors1 and the uncompleted structure a monument to his folly4 ,equally so1 does the ,savior point out1 is it1 in another sphere1 the realm of religion4 ,a person hears the call of religion1 feels its power and promptings1 its necessity and claims2 his heart is persuaded1 his mind is made up1 he ought to1 and wants to be1 a ,christian1 in the words of the parable1 he contemplates the erection of the tower1 but ordinary prudence bids that he should sit down and consider the costs1 lest1 beginning and not completing1 the venture end in dismal failure1 and he become the object of mockery and contempt4 ,and yet is it not this ordinary1 common-sense method1 which they apply so keenly otherwise1 that so many disregard in matters of soul8 ,why else would there be so many apostates1 fallings away1 in the ranks of confessed believers8 ,let us1 then1 wisely and for once sit down for a few moments in public ,christian worship1 and consider this matter1 noting3 ,the parable of the tower--an exhortation to ,christian steadfastness4 ,we shall group our remarks around two chief thoughts3 ,i4 ,what does it cost to be a ,christian8 ,,ii4 ,does it pay to be one8 ,to begin with1 let it be noted that ,christianity connects with cost2 it does cost to be a ,christian4 ,there is a type of religion which is not only a very easy1 but a most inexpensive kind4 ,putting on the garment and speaking the language of godliness1 it is stranger to its power4 ,however1 that type is not the building of a tower1 rather of a shack1 a flimsy construction which the slightest wind-storm and rising rivulet will soon sweep away4 ,in building a substantial structure1 the first concern is the foundation4 ,you do not see that1 it is hidden from view2 yet upon that foundation rests the building1 and it is just as strong as its foundation4 ,so1 spiritually1 the main part of ,christianity is hidden1 it is something that takes place away from human view2 yet upon that unseen experience rests its reality1 its strength4 ,what is that experience8 ,in laying a foundation1 there is1 first1 the excavation1 the removal of the soil1 of all obstructions and obstacles4 ,this is difficult work and costly work4 ,so1 spiritually1 religion calls for the removal of obstacles1 obstructions1 soil4 ,man's heart is not fit to build the tower of ,christ's religion1 it must undergo a change2 old things must pass away4 ,there must be a plowing up4 ,there are painful memories to be recalled1 sins to be mourned over1 habits and ways of thinking and doing to be given up1 likes and loves and feelings to be renounced4 ,it is as true now as it ever was that except a man be born again1 he cannot see the kingdom of ,god4 ,we call this repentance1 contrition1 sorrow over one's sin4 ,it means the reconstruction and transformation of one's nature1 and costs many a pang1 many a sigh1 many an inner struggle and protest4 ,then1 when the rubbish and soil have been removed1 the excavation has taken place2 there must be a laying of the foundation4 ,which that foundation is1 is plain4 ,other foundation can no man lay than that is laid1 which is ,jesus ,christ4 ,belief in ,christ1 faith in the ,savior1 must follow1 else there can be no tower4 ,my dear hearer1 have you undergone that change of heart1 experienced that inner sorrow8 ,have you paid the first cost8 ,laying a foundation without building thereupon does not answer the purpose4 ,we must add a superstructure1 and this also costs4 ,and what is the superstructure8 ,st4 ,paul speaks of it when he writes3 ,i beseech you1 brethren1 by the mercies of ,god that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice1 holy1 acceptable unto ,god1 which is your reasonable service1 when he says to the ,corinthians3 ,ye are bought with a price1 therefore glorify ,god in your bodies and in your spirits1 which are ,god's1 or quite briefly remarks3 ,for me to live is ,christ4 ,we call this adding of the superstructure1 consecration1 and what does it involve8 ,everything4 ,beginning with yourself1 it levies upon your body1 your mind1 your soul1 your time1 talents1 influence1 possessions1 property1 money1 your all4 ,it is just to this particular1 of consecration1 dedication of oneself and possessions1 that ,christ refers in the verses preceding the text3 ,if any man come to me1 and hate not his father1 and mother1 and wife1 and children1 and brethren1 and sisters1 yea1 and his own life1 he cannot be my disciple4 ,earthly love1 domestic relations1 material considerations--nothing is permitted to stand in the way of absolute and entire consecration of oneself1 and all one has and possesses1 to ,christ4 ,beloved1 is this not a particular which many who profess to be ,christians do not apprehend8 ,when they are called upon to give themselves1 of their time and means and ability1 to the cause of the ,lord1 they feel and act as though some great thing is being asked of them1 that they are doing something superfluous4 ,they need not feel so4 ,it is a matter they ought to have weighed when they entered upon ,christian life4 ,god lays ,his hand upon all that you are1 and all that you have1 and says3 ,this is mine1 and only he and she are building properly upon the foundation which is ,christ who say3 ,here1 ,lord1 am ,i and all that is mine4 ,upon thy altar it lies in holy consecration4 ,lord1 what wilt ,thou have me do8 ,and one other cost would we mention4 ,it costs courage4 ,not exactly the same courage as when called upon1 in the early centuries1 to face the tortures of the rack1 the beasts of the ,coliseum and the flames of the martyr's stake1 yet a courage1 none the less noble1 a moral courage4 ,there are plenty of things to discourage us4 ,is this vile world a friend to grace to help me on to ,god8 ,no1 it is not4 ,it is full of conflicts and criticisms and sharp collisions4 ,if so many ,christians of our day have such a good and easy time of it1 is it not because they are not ,christians after the style of the apostles and the early martyrs8 ,satan is still the god of this world1 and one need only take a decided stand against him1 and the things that belong to him1 to find it out4 ,yes1 it costs something to be a ,christian1 a consecrated church-member4 ,a ,christian cannot be1 cannot act and do1 as non-,christians1 non-church-members act and do4 ,aye1 does it not frequently call for courage even to be known as a church-member8 ,the finger of scorn is pointed and the sneer of sarcasm is hurled at many a one for that4 ,nor only from those that are without2 discouragement frequently comes from those who are within4 ,christians are the communion of saints1 but their behavior toward each other is not always saintly4 ,human nature1 everywhere ugly and crabbed1 is apt to make itself manifest there too4 ,appreciation deserved1 gratitude looked for1 is not always received4 ,and this is very trying1 betimes2 in fact1 some think that it is beyond all endurance1 judging by their withdrawal4 ,but have those that so feel ever thought it over8 ,whoever builds a house without having some unpleasantness1 and sometimes great unpleasantness8 ,but does he1 therefore1 desist from completing the structure8 ,know1 my dear hearer1 whatever may be the nature of the annoyances1 difficulties1 and hindrances to ,christian life and church-membership1 they belong to the costs1 and when they occur1 face them with becoming courage and steadfastness4 ,a sorry soldier that will throw away his gun and quit the ranks because of the discouragements in the way6 ,this1 then1 is what it costs to be a ,christian--repentance1 consecration1 courage4 ,and are the returns adequate to the cost8 ,what benefit is there in being a ,christian1 erecting such a tower8 ,does it pay8 ,there are people who think not4 ,they consider that they make the most by keeping aloof4 ,whether they have done it by careful figuring out1 like the man in the parable1 is doubtful1 but they are persuaded in their own mind that they are the gainers by not identifying themselves with ,christ and ,his ,church4 ,they do not like religious restraints4 ,they wish to be free to do as they please4 ,they can enjoy more of the comforts and pleasures of life1 can pursue their ways with less compunction1 make more money1 gain more friends1 if they keep themselves out of the church entanglements and obligations4 ,so they reason and congratulate themselves4 ,but what advantage have they over us8 ,the truth is that there is not a single relation or human interest in which it does not pay to be a ,christian4 ,to specify briefly3 ,it pays to be a ,christian physically2 godliness teaches and inculcates all those laws and things that produce and promote health1 the welfare of one's body4 ,it pays to be a ,christian materially1 in one's labors and business4 ,to be a good man1 to have the reputation of honesty1 is as fine a business capital as any one would want4 ,it pays domestically2 the home where godliness prevails approaches the ideal home and is the strongest bulwark of society4 ,the same holds good with regard to the joys of life4 ,religion was never devised to make our pleasures less4 ,religion sanctifies our pleasures2 it draws the checkreins upon ungodly extravagances and excesses2 and so it pays also in this respect4 ,and when it comes to the dark side of life1 the manifold difficulties and troubles that accompany man in his abode here below1 when other helpers fail and comforts flee--oh1 for the power1 the comfort1 the divine support of religion6 ,and we have said nothing yet of the strictly spiritual advantages4 ,it pays to be a ,christian2 a ,christian possesses a good conscience1 which is more valuable than all of this world's possessions1 the sunshine of ,god's forgiveness and favor through faith in his ,savior2 the blessed joy and inspiration that comes from prayer and worship of ,god4 ,nor does the matter stop there4 ,when the scenes of this time and world fade upon our vision2 when1 passing through the dark and shadowy valley and before the judgment seat of ,him to whom we must give account2 when the glories of the ,golden ,city open and the crown immortal is placed upon our brow1--then we shall realize that it pays to be a ,christian4 ,to conclude1--there should be any right-thinking1 calculating person that1 having begun1 will fail to complete the building of this tower8 ,how foolish before ,god and men1 how dangerous6 ,be steadfast6 be wise6-- ,build on1 my soul1 till death ,shall bring thee to thy ,god2 ,he'll take thee at thy parting breath ,to thy divine abode4 ,amen4 ,,twenty-,,second ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,brethren1 if a man be overtaken in a fault1 ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness2 considering thyself1 lest thou also be tempted4--,gal4 #f1 #a4 ,the ,christian ,church is frequently compared with a hospital4 ,the comparison is correct4 ,christ calls ,himself a ,physician2 then those to whom ,he has come to heal are sick1 and the institution which ,he has established for the spiritually soul-sick is the ,church4 ,not for those who regard themselves well1 who in self-righteous haughtiness would be no sinners1 but for those who1 acknowledging their soul-sickness1 are looking for healing from the ,physician of souls1 ,christ ,jesus1 is this divine institution4 ,the ,church1 we may aptly say1 is a hospital4 ,in a hospital1 however1 we have respect to proper treatment1 we desire to become rid of our ailment1 and are ready to submit to any course and remedy that will promote our healing4 ,equally so in the spiritual hospital ought we to be ready and thankful for any method and manner of treatment that helps us become rid of our sins1 our faults1 our errors4 ,such a course1 suggested by the ,gospel-lesson1 would we for once regard in this morning devotion4 ,let us consider a ,christian's duty toward an erring brother1 noting1 ,i4 what this duty is2 ,,ii4 how it is to be performed2 ,,iii4 some of the happy results4 ,brethren1 if a man be overtaken in a fault1 ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness4 ,what the ,apostle here commands is this3 ,if a ,christian1 a member of a congregation1 falls1 those who are standing are to help him up again4 ,if he falls into error of doctrine1 they are to bring him to the belief of the ,bible truth1 and if he falls into some sin of life1 they are to remonstrate with him1 so that he may repent and return into the way of right4 ,that this is one of the most difficult of ,christian duties is true1 and that it is a duty grossly neglected by ,christians is true also4 ,but for that reason it becomes all the more necessary to call attention to it4 ,thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor1 and not suffer sin upon him1 we read ,lev4 #ai4 ,solomon says3 ,rebuke a wise man1 and he will love thee4 ,a greater than ,solomon1 even our ,savior1 has said3 ,if thy brother trespass against thee1 go and tell him his fault4 ,again1 ,st4 ,paul directs3 ,reprove1 rebuke1 exhort with all long-suffering4 ,these are but a few of many similar texts of ,scripture that might be cited to show that to reprove an erring fellow-,christian is just as solemn and weighty as that which tells us1 ,thou shalt not steal1 or admonishes to read our ,bibles1 and attend on public worship4 ,and be it noted1 this is every ,christian's duty4 ,it will not do to say3 ,let the pastor do it1 or let those do it who are better qualified than myself4 ,it is indeed the pastor's duty1 and it is the duty of those of whom you say they are better qualified than yourself1 and it is also your duty2 for thus says the ,apostle3 ,ye which are spiritual restore such an one4 ,if you are spiritual1 if you are a ,christian1 it is your duty to apply brotherly admonition2 and is it right to shift your duty on to the shoulders of others8 ,christians may easily sin by depending too much on the pastor to do everything4 ,the pastor cannot be everywhere1 cannot see everything1 and often it is wrong to tell him about everything4 ,the direction here is not only for the pastors1 but for all the members4 ,that question of qualification is indeed a delicate thing4 ,the truth is that those who think themselves qualified1 and therefore use impertinent boldness1 are generally not qualified for effectual brotherly admonition4 ,if ,god has placed you into such a situation that you see a brother in danger of losing his soul through error1 sin1 or despondency1 then let not the feeling of disqualification seal your lips1 but sigh to ,god to open your lips to speak a word of instruction1 rebuke1 or comfort as it seems needed4 ,remember1 it is a duty1 this matter of ,christian reproof1 something which ,god has plainly and strongly commanded us to perform4 ,this is our first consideration4 ,however1 if brotherly admonition is to have the proper effect1 it must be applied in the right way4 ,brethren1 if a man be overtaken in a fault4 ,that does not mean that a ,christian should make it his business to rebukingly approach others for little and insignificant faults4 ,in that case he would soon be regarded as a faultfinder1 an overly eager critic1 and would no more be listened to4 ,brotherly admonition should be applied in such things by which the brother's soul is endangered if left to go on therein4 ,i shall mention a few1--neglect of attendance upon divine worship and sacrament1 intemperance1 when one is convinced that the visits to the drinkhouse are too frequent1 habitually frequenting the playhouse1 the dancing-floor1 living in some secret sin1 using ungodly1 profane speech1 being irreconcilable with one's housemates or fellow-members4 ,these are faults1 and when one is overtaken in such a fault1 then it becomes my ,christian duty and yours to restore such a one--how8 ,in the spirit of meekness1 with mildness1 kindness1 humility4 ,nothing is more opposed to the spirit in which ,christian rebuke is to be administered than harshness1 haughtiness1 abruptness1 overbearing manner4 ,hard words are apt to incite opposition and stubbornness4 ,a reproof kindly given is like a healing oil4 ,a tornado destroys1 a mild breeze refreshes4 ,brotherly admonition is only then indeed brotherly when given in a brotherly manner4 ,in reproving an offending brother1 we must make it apparent that it is his highest good that we honestly seek2 it must be obvious that we have no personal dislike to gratify1 no spleen to vent1 no feeling of superiority4 ,it must be manifest to him that we do it from a sincere conviction of duty1 from a feeling that if we did not care for him and sincerely desire his happiness as a ,christian1 we could never be induced to attempt this painful duty4 ,this is the spirit with compassion for the offended4 ,there must be a spirit like this1 and oh6 the power in ,christian rebuke when administered like this4 ,it will subdue and reclaim anything but a heart of adamant4 ,but this meekness must be mingled with humbling conviction of our own frailty and liability to sin4 ,considering1 wrote the ,apostle1 thyself1 lest thou also be tempted4 ,we must go to the erring brother with that gentle and subdued spirit resulting from conviction and practical view of our own numerous sins1 and a holy fear of falling ourselves1 that we may soon need the ,christian reproof of a brother for our own faults4 ,fraternal kindness and gentleness does not exclude--what we must yet mention--firmness4 ,the hand of the surgeon who amputates a diseased limb or growth from the human body1 must be a steady hand1 unmoved by the cries and the writhing of the patient4 ,it is not cruelty1 but kindness to the sufferer1 that keeps the surgeon undiverted and firm to his purpose till the operation is performed4 ,so he that would successfully administer ,christian reproof must have his heart firmly set on the work4 ,he must go about it with an inflexible determination to accomplish1 by ,god's aid1 what he attempts4 ,the wincing irritability1 ill temper1 and provoking replies of the offended must not for a moment divert him from his purpose1 or throw him off his guard4 ,he must approach with the purpose of winning him back to truth and the path of righteousness4 ,hating the sin1 but loving the sinner1 he must hold on until the person has been saved or proved to be incorrigible1 a manifest and unrepentant sinner4 ,so much as to the manner--with meekness and firmness4 ,and are there any happy effects to be realized from the faithful performance of this duty8 ,that is the last general thought to be presented1 namely1 the blessed consequences of ,christian reproof4 ,the first happy effect is that it will free the ,christian who performs this duty from being partaker of others' sins1 and will give him a peace of conscience which he cannot otherwise enjoy4 ,god has solemnly warned us ,christians3 ,be ye not partakers of other men's sins4 ,now that professing ,christian who fails to rebuke or reprove a brother whom he knows to be in fault1 silently assents to that brother's sin4 ,his conduct obviously shows that he either does not consider his brother as sinning at all1 or that his fault is so trivial that it is not necessary to tell him of it4 ,that is the inference which the erring brother himself draws4 ,now we are1 to some extent1 the keepers of our brother's soul1 and if we do not use the means and the influences which we might use to free him from his faults1 ,god will hold us accountable1 partakers1 a portion of the guilt attaches to us4 ,we may complain of this as hard if we choose1 but this will not alter the case4 ,there are two ways in which we can free ourselves from being partakers of other men's sins4 ,the one is by living holy lives ourselves2 the other1 ,christian reproof to them for their faults4 ,not only must our lives testify1 but our lips4 ,you would pardon the personal illustration4 ,we were friends4 ,six years did we occupy the same desk and room together4 ,a sin was fastening itself upon him1 the general word for it is tippling1 fancy drinking4 ,i remonstrated with him1 as talented a student as ever was4 ,he has long fallen from the ,christian ministry1 and his body lies in a drunkard's grave1 one of the saddest experiences of my life4 ,but one consolation1--,i spoke to him words of ,christian reproof4 ,would you be untarnished by the guilt of other men's sins1 and blessed with a peace of conscience to be procured on no other terms1 be faithful in the performance of this duty4 ,a second happy effect of the faithful performance of this duty is that it will prevent the evil of talebearing and backbiting4 ,a prevalent1 giant evil this1 also in some of our churches among ,christians4 ,anything that would remedy this evil ought to be hailed with gladness4 ,god has brought ,his authority to bear on it in the direct command3 ,thou shalt not go up and down in the land as a talebearer2 thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor4 ,the ,lord ,jesus ,himself has laid down the law that ,christians are not permitted to talk about the faults of others till they have gone to them and told them their faults alone4 ,how much this rule is regarded some of our consciences can testify4 ,but let it be done1 and you will see how talebearing and backbiting will cease2 for either as you go to the erring brother or sister in the spirit in which reproof ought to be administered you will find1 in not a few instances1 that you were mistaken1 that the person is not guilty in the matter1 as you had supposed1 and then1 of course1 you cannot go about speaking of his fault2 or if you find that he is actually at fault to the extent that you thought he was1 he will no doubt1 on faithful reproof1 make an apology1 and then1 with what face can you go about talking to others of his fault8 ,if there is anything distressing1 causing permanent estrangement1 discord1 and heart-burning1 it is to take up evil reports against each other1 circulate them without ever going to the person incriminated1 and inquiring into the truth or falsehood of what is spread4 ,and this devilish work will cease or become rare1 and the calumniator will be regarded as doing the work of his father1 the devil1 if ,christians will faithfully perform the duty of reproof in the right spirit4 ,to repeat1--if we have anything to say of a brother1 let us say it first to him4 ,let us say nothing in his absence that we should be afraid to utter in his presence4 ,and when any one comes with an evil report against another1 let us refuse to listen to him1 unless he can assure us that he has said all that he is going to utter to the person whom it most concerns4 ,it will check1 prevent the evil of talebearing4 ,and to mention briefly one other blessed effect1--it will promote a feeling of brotherliness and promote prosperity of the congregation4 ,to speak to a delinquent brother1 give him to understand that he is missed and doing amiss1 is to give him to understand1 at the same time1 that he is thought of1 that we should like to have him to be what his own conscience testifies he ought to be2 and this consideration1 kindly and firmly made1 cannot but make him1 if he is not past all correction1 feel attracted and attached toward those who are concerned about him4 ,to keep the unity of spirit in the bonds of peace1 to banish prejudice1 hatred1 to promote and build up a strong1 solid1 permanent church-body in which the members cling to each other1 ,christian reproof is a most valuable means4 ,christian reproof is something which deeply concerns the spiritual life and growth of a congregation4 ,to conclude3 ,how far1 ,christian brethren1 have we been faithful to the admonition of the text8 ,have you ever1 since connected with this church1 made one serious attempt to reclaim an erring brother or sister8 ,there is1 ,i know1 a little of this spirit among us2 may it prosper and grow1 and the ,lord will surely give ,his blessing4 ,amen4 ,,twenty-,,third ,,sunday ,,after ,,trinity4 ,and ,jesus sat over against the treasury1 and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury4 ,and many that were rich cast in much4 ,and there came a certain poor widow1 and she threw in two mites1 which make a farthing4 ,and ,he called unto ,him ,his disciples and saith unto them1 ,verily1 ,i say unto you1 ,that this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury4 ,for all they did cast in of their abundance2 but she of her want did cast in all she had1 even all her living4--,mark #ab1 #da-dd4 ,the words just read from sacred story are the simple record of a pious deed performed more than a thousand years ago in the city of ,jerusalem4 ,it speaks of a poor woman modestly putting in her contribution into the treasury of the ,temple4 ,at the time to which the text refers the ,savior had just silenced the cavils and objections of the scribes and ,sadducees1 as we heard in the ,gospel of to-day1 and was remaining in the temple a few moments longer and taking ,his seat near the place where the people were wont to deposit their offerings4 ,as ,he watched the multitudes surging to and fro and with ,his all-seeing eye scanned the various depositors placing their gifts into the receptacle1 ,he had nothing to say4 ,but when a poor widow came along1 unnoticed and overlooked1 as the artists generally picture her1 with a little one at her side and an infant upon her breast1 and drops in her insignificant coin of two paltry mites1 there was something that broke the current of ,his thoughts1 and calling ,his disciples1 ,he directed their attention to the humble gift and the unpretentious offerer4 ,though that gorgeous ,temple has long passed away1 and the magnificent city is in ruins1 that simple act of piety lives on1 as fresh and beautiful as the moment of its performance4 ,this ,sunday has been set aside in the course of the church-year for the consideration of ,christian beneficence4 ,it is an eminently proper and legitimate topic1 and one on which instruction and stirring up is needed the same as on any other4 ,some think such sermons aside from the ,gospel1 but that only shows how imperfect is their knowledge1 and how important it is to bring the matter forth from the obscurity to which some would consign it4 ,paul frequently introduces it into his doctrinal epistles4 ,the ,savior ,himself embraced in it many of ,his discourses1 and it is difficult to see how any ,christian minister is discharging his duty of faithfully and fully declaring the counsel of ,god to his people who fails betimes to give it a prominent place in his pulpit ministrations4 ,let us regard as our theme this morning3 ,the widow's mite1 an encouraging model of ,christian beneficence1 observing1 ,i1 the motive why we should give2 ,,ii4 the measure and proportion in which we should give2 ,,iii4 the method how we should give4 ,may ,god bless the presentation of ,his ,word6 ,first1 the motive of giving4 ,what prompted this poor widow to give8 ,she had been worshiping in the ,temple1 had witnessed the beautiful and inspiring services1 had been edified by the instruction of ,god's ,word1 her heart was warmed and stirred with appreciation for these spiritual blessings1 and as she passes out with the throng and views the receptacle at the entrance1 well knowing what it had been placed there for1 she cannot resist1 but under a sense of obligation1 a strong feeling to reciprocate1 and do something toward the maintenance of ,god's house1 she draws forth two little coins and drops them in1 then1 more destitute of means1 but richer in heart1 proceeds on her way4 ,and the like motives ought to prevail with us4 ,we confess in the ,creed3 ,i believe that ,god has made me and all creatures1 that ,he richly and daily provides me1 that ,he defends me against all danger2 that ,jesus ,christ1 our ,lord1 has redeemed us lost and condemned creatures2 that the ,holy ,ghost has called us by the ,gospel1 enlightened us with ,his gifts1 sanctifies and keeps us in the true faith2 and for all that1 what shall we render for ,god's gifts8 ,his blessings are indeed always freely bestowed1 without any merit or worthiness on our part2 nevertheless1 they call for gratitude1 recognition1 appreciation4 ,and in consideration of gifts so unspeakable is any offering of gold1 or frankincense1 or myrrh too large8 what ointment of spikenard too costly8 ,the spirit of showing gratitude1 as in the case of this widow1 is one motive1 and a most beautiful and ,god-honoring one1 why we ought to give to ,him3 the honor of ,his name and the spread and prosperity of ,his cause--in ,his temple4 ,the other is this1--the sense of our obligation4 ,he desires and commands us to do so4 ,everywhere in the ,scripture of ,god do we find the matter of giving1 especially for religious purposes1 spoken of with commendation and inculcated as part of the very essence and life of true godliness1 whether we look to the ,old ,testament or to the ,new ,testament1 to prophets1 apostles1 or ,christ ,himself1 the language is the same4 ,honor the ,lord with thy substance1 and with the first fruits of all thine increase4 ,to do good and to communicate1 forget not1 for with such sacrifices ,god is well pleased4 ,in to-day's ,gospel the ,lord plainly enough says3 ,render unto ,csar the things that are ,csar's1 and unto ,god the things that are ,god's4 ,in a certain sense it is all ,his1 of course4 ,the earth is the ,lord's and the fullness thereof4 ,the silver and the gold are ,his4 ,but it belongs to ,his wisdom and providence to make us ,his stewards in the disposition of ,his1 and in that disposition ,he lays down very emphatically the law3 ,render unto me the things that are mine4 ,every penny that we possess is stamped with the divine image and superscription4 ,he still sits over against the treasury1 and observes what we are putting into the receptacle1 whether we are giving unto ,him what it is our duty to give4 ,these are1 then1 the motives1--gratefulness and dutifulness4 ,and now as to the measure1 the amount of ,christian giving--the how much4 ,as we turn to the record1 two parties are distinguished4 ,the one wealthy4--,many1 it says1 that were rich cast in much4 ,that the rich should give and gave largely1 and that this was the case not with a few1 but with numbers of them1 was to their honor1 especially since the practice has never been common1 experience showing that many that are rich do not cast in much4 ,and the other1 indigent1 the poor1 selected by way of a specific example--a widow4 ,the idea sometimes is that poor people ought not be asked to give4 ,this is a mistake4 ,poor people can give1 and ought to give1 out of their poverty1 as well as rich people ought to give out of their riches4 ,poor people can hurt themselves1 and injure their souls1 and prove themselves niggardly and illiberal by not giving just as well as rich people can4 ,true1 they cannot give as much as the more favored1 in the actual amount of their gifts1 but they can give as much in proportion to their means4 ,we often hear people say1 if they were only rich1 willingly would they contribute to every good cause1 and munificent things would they do with their money4 ,but all such charitable words and sentiments are just nothing4 ,the thing is to give the gift of poverty1 if poor1 without being ashamed of it1 and not to sentimentalize about the great things we would do if we were rich4 ,the fact is that few people ever get rich1 and if wealth increases1 desires1 styles of living1 and general expenses increase with it1 and the wealthy man has so many expenditures1 so many demands to meet1 so many drains upon him1 that he is just about as poor in his riches as he was without them4 ,this is the plain fact in the vast majority of cases4 ,indeed1 exceptions are very rare4 ,it is1 therefore1 a mere matter of self-deception for people to talk how liberal they would be if they were rich4 ,moreover1 what are we coming to if we regard only the rich as under obligation to give8 ,no6 ,christian liberality is a thing for the poor as well as the rich1 and for the most part facts prove that the poor are more liberal than the rich4 ,to come back to our text3 ,such were the donors our ,savior recognized1 both poor and rich4 ,let us note1 furthermore1 their contribution4 ,while the rich gave much1 the widow threw in only two mites1 which make a farthing1 with us half a cent4 ,it is easy to conceive what the givers themselves would think of their donations4 ,the rich would be satisfied1 imagining that they had done their duty1 if not more than was required of them1 while the poor widow would deem what she had done unworthy of notice1 and1 perhaps1 felt ashamed to cast into the treasury such a mean trifle4 ,others1 too1 who were lookers-on1 had they known what the parties gave1 would have extolled the one as prodigies of liberality1 while they would have treated the other with neglect1 or reproached her for giving what she could not afford4 ,but how were those two mites viewed by ,him whose eyes were as a flame of fire1 and who searcheth the reins and the hearts8 ,and ,he called unto ,him ,his disciples1 and saith unto them1 ,verily1 ,i say unto you1 ,that this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury4 ,for all they did cast in of their abundance2 but she of her want did cast in all she had1 even all her living4 ,at first this seems strange1 and our ,lord could not mean that she had given more than all the others as to quantity1 but more as to motive1 more as to principle1 more1 relatively1 as to their condition and her circumstances2 more comparatively4 ,these men had given much2 they had done it of their abundance and superfluity1 and could go home to houses filled with plenty1 and to tables spread with delicacies1 while she went home to a lonely apartment1 and opening her cupboard1 found little1 and that the earning of her hard toil4 ,what an encouragement this6 ,and the less favored in this world's goods require it4 ,we have known persons remaining away from the house of ,god--this house of ,god--because they could only appear in workday clothing1 and others who have been prevented from meeting with the congregation because they felt that they could not do what was expected of them4 ,let none such1 however humble their condition1 or limited their means1 for a moment suppose that they are less regarded2 let them beware of making the sad mistake that because they cannot do much1 they are justified in doing nothing4 ,the commendation of ,mary was3 ,she hath done what she could1 whereas the condemnation of the unprofitable servant was that because he did not have ten talents1 or five1 he failed to trade with the one he did have4 ,it's not the inability that ,god judges you by1 but by the indisposition to do what you have4 ,in the light of these two mites let us take heart1 and do what dutifulness and gratitude would prompt us to do toward ,his temple1 knowing that it is a small thing that we should be judged by any man's judgment1 but that ,he that judges us is the ,lord4 ,and1 again1 our ,lord's decision teaches us1 in fact1 seems to be the main inference to be drawn from the subject1 that the rule with regard to liberality is proportion4 ,these men gave much 7much when the amount was considered1 much according to their own opinion and their admirers72 yet1 was it much relatively8 much compared with what others gave whose means were unspeakably less8 ,what self-denial was there connected with it8 ,charity1 an old commentator remarks to these words of our text1 is to be judged of1 not by what is given1 but by what is left4 ,these men gave of their abundance4 ,they never felt it4 ,true benevolence feels it4 ,the widow did feel it2 and many1 ,i take it1 among us feel it in the sacrifice of self-decoration1 self-gratification1 when they put their contribution into the plate in regular service1 and occasionally a special donation1 as on the ,day of ,humiliation and ,prayer and ,church ,anniversary4 ,that is the right kind of benevolence that feels it2 those are the coins that count in ,god's treasury which have1 as they ring in the basket1 a piece of ourselves attached to them1 stand for self-denial2 that gives them their highest value1--not merely the #a1 #e1 or #aj stamped upon them4 ,let each of the assembly here worshiping examine himself accordingly4 ,there is no law in the case4 ,christianity does not tax1 coerce1 dictate how much in exact proportion to your income and means you ought to give4 ,it is not for you to tell me how much ,i am to do for ,god and ,church1 nor for me to tell you4 ,that is my business and yours1 left to us individually4 ,only this are we to observe3 ,all are expected to give1 and all who are really touched with the ,spirit of ,christ and true religion give and will give1 and it is for them to give in proportion as ,god has blessed them4 ,giving is a thing of character1 which1 like every other1 must grow little by little1 more by more1 until through diligent practice and repeated acts it becomes a habit4 ,to give once in a while1 impulsively1 as one is moved by this or that plea1 is good enough1 but far more fruitful and blessed is systematic giving1 however small the amount be at a time4 ,the plan which has ,god's authority1 and which has borne the most encouraging results1 is the one which ,st4 ,paul has laid down in #a ,cor4 #af3 ,on the first day of the week1 on ,sunday1 when men's thoughts are turned from earth to heaven1 from the things of this world to the next1 when ,god's unspeakable gift is brought to our mind and our duties to the good ,lord1 then let every one of you lay by him in store as the ,lord hath prospered him4 ,to aid you in doing that1 the system of envelopes has been introduced4 ,the idea has never been to burden any one1 to tax any one1 or to prescribe to any one1 but to present an easy and secure method for collecting what each one1 in conscience and calmness1 might consider his or her proper gift to the ,lord and ,his treasury4 ,the very boxes bear that name1 ,the ,lord's ,treasury1 and ,i hope that each time as you scan the words you will think of the widow's mites4 ,nor do we have any reason to be dissatisfied with results4 ,the waters that flow down the great ,niagara with such rush and roar1 and then sweep onward in deep majesty to the ocean are formed by countless brooks and rills and trickling streamlets and melting snows and little raindrops1 and so the results that have all wrought for our congregation1 and the amount upon which it is still largely dependent1 comes from the small contributions of our members1 regularly and systematically given4 ,in view of the fact that a large indebtedness rests upon us1 ,i feel warranted to bring this matter before you in the pulpit1 asking for a faithful continuation of the plan4 ,the widow's two mites--what grand services they have accomplished1 what an immense harvest of good they have brought forth to the whole world4 ,remembering how ,his all-seeing eye still scans the church receptacle1 let us not allow selfishness1 avarice1 and a carnal greed to hinder what conscience dictates2 rather let us strive to secure this commendation which this poor widow received1 and be blessed in our deeds4 ,amen4 ,,humiliation ,,and ,,prayer ,,sunday4 ,,tekel3 ,thou art weighed in the balances1 and art found wanting4--,dan4 #e1 #bg4 ,the words of our text connect with an account of ,old ,testament story which1 if once heard1 is never forgotten4 ,the place was ,babylon1 a city so vast in extent that after its capture it was three days before the fact was known all over it4 ,the scene was in the royal palace1 a marvelous structure within the walls of which were the famous hanging gardens1 which the world has agreed to number among its seven great wonders4 ,there1 in the most sumptuous of all his banquet halls1 at a table groaning with the burdens of massive plate and the rarest and richest of viands and wines1 reclined the proud and voluptuous ,king of ,babylon1 ,belshazzar4 ,around him reclined a thousand of his lords and the fairest women of his harem4 ,a more magnificent banquet was never given or enjoyed4 ,golden lamps1 suspended from a ceiling1 paneled with ivory and pearl1 shed soft luster on walls pillared with statues1 on a floor paved with alabaster1 and carpeted with richest rugs from the looms of ,india1 on couches mounted with silver and cushioned with velvet1 on illustrious princes1 gorgeous costumes1 in the most bewildering splendor1 whilst over it all floated the sweet strains of music and song4 ,every heart in that glittering company was wild with delight4 ,no one seemed troubled with care4 ,in the midst of the feasting an impious deed suggests itself to the king's mind4 ,calling a servant1 he orders him to bring the golden and silver vessels which his grandfather1 ,nebuchadnezzar1 had carried away from ,god's altar in ,jerusalem4 ,they were brought and placed before him in a glittering row4 ,they had been consecrated to the service of ,god centuries before1 and had never been put to any common use4 ,for any man to use them1 unless he were a heavenly-appointed priest serving at the altar of ,jehovah1 would be sacrilege of the most damning kind1 ,belshazzar knew that1 but he was resolved to insult ,jehovah in the presence of that great company1 and so1 at his command1 those consecrated vessels were filled with intoxicating drink1 and he and his princes1 and his wives and his concubines1 drank from them1 amid profane jests and ridicule1 to the health of the god of ,babylon1 whose images of gold1 silver1 brass1 and stone adorned the hall where the wild revel was held4 ,suddenly a cry of agony is heard4 ,there sat ,belshazzar1 pale as marble1 pointing to an object on the wall4 ,with horror unutterable they look and see the fingers of a human hand slowly tracing a style across the wall1--that was all that was visible4 ,the pen and hand vanished1 and nothing remained but the writing4 ,at that the banqueters stared1 transfixed with speechless terror4 ,no one in that drunken crowd was able to read it1 until ,daniel1 the ,lord's prophet1 was summoned4 ,this was the inscription3 ,mene1 ,mene1 ,tekel1 ,upharsin4 ,the prophet gave their hidden meaning3 ,mene3 ,god has numbered thy kingdom and finished it4 ,tekel3 ,thou art weighed in the balances1 and art found wanting4 ,upharsin3 ,thy kingdom is divided1 and given to the ,medes and ,persians4 ,and so it was4 ,that very night1 by an underground channel1 ,darius the ,mede entered the city of ,babylon1 and ,belshazzar was hewn to pieces4 ,and is there nothing in this piece of ancient history1 transferred to ,god's ,book and interpreted by ,god's prophet1 that has value and application to us8 ,is not everything that we find recorded in the ,scripture written for our learning1 our warning8 ,those four words1 and particularly1 the one chosen for our immediate devotion1 ,tekel1 has it no spiritual warning for us8 ,we have met this morning for that very purpose--to weigh ourselves4 ,fifty-two ,sundays--another year of grace has come and has departed in the church calendar--we are invited to solemn retrospect and thoughtful review1 to consider what report we have to make4 ,let us1 then1 honestly and conscientiously1 address ourselves to it on the basis of the text1 and may ,god's ,holy ,spirit touch your hearts and solemnize your minds6 ,tekel3 ,thou art weighed in the balances4 ,we all know what a balance is1 a pair of scales4 ,the beam is suspended exactly in the middle4 ,the two arms are equal1 and supplied with a pan1 not to differ by a hair's thickness4 ,if equal weights are placed in the two pans1 the beam rests perfectly level4 ,such is ,god's balance4 ,it is sensitive to the last degree4 ,it weighs men's acts2 it weighs men's words2 it weighs men's thoughts2 it weighs men's characters4 ,it weighs them accurately1 and every weight is set down in the book of divine memory4 ,at the judgment on that ,great ,day that book will be opened1 and every one shall be judged out of those things which are written in the book1 according to their works4 ,ask you me the name of ,god's balances1 ,i answer3 ,justice1--that's ,god's balance4 ,but in weighing there are two scales4 ,on the one pan is placed that which is weighed1 and in the other that against which it is weighed1 the standard1 the weight4 ,and so ,god1 in weighing man1 uses weights which have been tested by a perfect standard4 ,conscience is such a weight1 that still1 small voice which speaks to you out of your own soul1 that forceful monitor in your breast1 that weighs against your acts and words and thoughts1 excusing or else accusing you1 from whose troubling thoughts you cannot escape1 and which1 as the saying is1 makes cowards of us all4 ,conscience--that's one4 ,another1 heavier than the first--for it is made out of stone--we recognize at once3 ,god's ,ten ,commandments1 a holy standard4 ,thou shalt have no other gods before me1 reads the first line1 and we know that means that an idolater is not he alone who bows down to rocks and stones2 whosoever worships self in greed or manner1 or bestows supreme regard for anything short of the true and only ,god1 sets up an idol and is an idolater4 ,and so he is not the only murderer1 according to the sense and spirit of these tables1 who has killed a fellow-mortal1 but he already that hateth his brother1 that indulges the malicious feeling1 the revengeful desire4 ,nor is he the only lewd man who has given himself to lewdness1 but according to this sixth line on that measure1 the impure thought1 the sensual look1 and the cherished unchaste hope already fix the guilt of adultery4 ,we observe1 then1 it is an exact weight1 and so if all that a man has thought and said and done is up to the standard1 the beam hangs level1 and the divine face of the weigher is wreathed with smiles4 ,if not1 the ,judge frowns1 and from ,his lips issues the verdict3 ,wanting6 ,the third weight that ,god employs when ,he wishes to learn the avoirdupois of your soul is opportunity4 ,into one scale ,he puts the man's character and life2 into the other ,he puts all the opportunities which he has enjoyed for getting and doing good4 ,that includes such things as these3 godly parents1 godly example1 a ,christian school1 ,confirmation1 the preaching of the true and pure ,gospel1 the faithful ministry of the ,word and ,sacraments4 ,it includes bereavements1 disappointments1 startling events of ,providence1 losses of health1 fortune1 family1 all of which were to direct you nearer to ,god4 ,it includes every example of holy living which you have witnessed1 every occasion presented you to glorify your ,master and bless your fellow-men4 ,all these and such like opportunities1 impulses1 and impressions to move the soul and bring it into saving harmony with ,god1 make up the sum of his opportunities1 and if the weight of what the man has done and is1 equals the sum of all these opportunities1 it is well2 if otherwise1 ,god's scale goes up1 and the sentence is3 ,wanting6 ,and one more weight must be named4 ,we shall not dwell lengthily upon it1 for we can all see it so conveniently4 ,it lies before me4 ,let us take it and put it into the pan of the scales--the ,bible2 as your ,savior says3 ,ye have ,moses and the prophets1--ye have the ,evangelists and ,apostles1--hear ye them4 ,that is your standard1 your measure1 placed against you2 by its precepts you shall be weighed4 ,and now let us proceed to put something into the other side of the scale to counterbalance1 and watch the result4 ,let us judge in the light of conscience1 ,god's ,law1 our opportunities1 and the ,lord's ,bible1 our beloved congregation4 ,they tell us that knowledge of one's self is one of the hardest and most unpleasant attainments1 but the most needful and most salutary for all that4 ,weighing ourselves1 what report have these fifty-two ,sundays to give of our congregation as a whole and of you1 my dear member1 as an individual8 ,how has it been with the worship1 the attendance at services8 ,nothing to boast of1 in most cases something to be ashamed of4 ,some are hovering near the verge of church discipline for their laxity and deficiency2 particularly does this pertain to the male portion of the flock4 ,thou shalt sanctify the holyday1 reads the third and unalterable command of their ,god1 yet months pass at a time1 and their face appears not in the assembly of the worshipers4 ,but for the visitors and strangers1 especially at the evening services1 these pews would be deplorably depleted4 ,others come with a commendable degree of regularity1 but is there participation in the services and punctuality in arriving8 ,do not the hymns drag along at times so dull and spiritless because many never open their lips8 ,how listless and devotionless the hearers betimes appear1 their eyes roaming about elsewhere1 and even closing in sleep4 ,remember every attendance is weighed in the balance4 ,occasions when every member ought to regard it a loss to be absent1 like ,pentecost1 ,reformation1 ,easter1 ,church ,dedication1 little increase in the audience is noted4 ,announce a particular topic for the following ,sunday1 and it would seem as if some deliberately stay away4 ,o what a poor thing it must appear in the case of the average ,christian1 of the most of us6 ,is it much different--to take up another point--with our partaking of the ,lord's ,supper8 ,what drudgery1 what shrinking and hesitancy with regard to the sacred feast6 ,the ,lord says3 ,this do1 as oft as ye drink it1 in remembrance of ,me4 ,paul the ,apostle directs3 ,as oft as ye eat this bread and drink this cup4 ,luther1 in his preface to the ,small ,catechism1 thus interprets this oft3 ,if a person does not seek nor desire the ,lord's ,supper at least some four times a year1 it is to be feared that he despises the ,sacrament1 and is not a ,christian4 ,weighed in this balance1 what shall we say of our ,communion ,table8 ,how many times have you gone in these twelve months1 these fifty-two ,sundays8 ,observe the handwriting on the wall6 ,read those letters3 ,wanting1 and ask yourself1 ,does that mean me8 ,but permit me to pass briefly to an examination of your hearts and your homes4 ,have you grown in grace and in the knowledge of your ,lord and ,savior8 ,do the fruits of your discipleship abound in greater liberality and activity8 ,do you read ,god's ,word at home1 say grace at table1 have family devotion8 ,are you increasingly imbibing and personifying the temper of your religion in the control of your passion1 in the subduing of your pride1 in the cultivating of a forgiving spirit8 ,do you pray thoughtfully1 regularly1 cheerfully8 ,for you to live--is it ,christ8 ,as you grow in age1 do you grow in heavenly-mindedness1 draw closer to your ,god8 ,to serve the ,lord1 to speak for ,him1 is this your delight8 ,i need not press these inquiries4 ,with each one of you the scale takes an upward turn1 and ,i hear you saying with sighing of heart3 ,enter not into judgment with ,thy servant1 ,o ,lord1 for this servant is wanting1 wanting4 ,and what is to be done1 with the scales always rising higher and higher and striking the very beam8 ,first of all1 repent2 learn to understand and acknowledge your dismal condition4 ,that was the fault with ,belshazzar--his security and vain confidence2 as ,god said to him through ,daniel3 ,o ,belshazzar1 thou hast not humbled thine heart1 but hast lifted up thyself against the ,lord of heaven4 ,therefore1 in the dust with thee6 ,let ours be the publican's cry3 ,god be merciful to me1 a sinner6 ,if ,thou1 ,o ,lord1 shouldst mark iniquity1 ,o ,lord1 who shall stand8 ,with the balances suspended1 ,god's ,law1 ,god's ,bible1 conscience1 against us1 repentance1 conviction and confession of sin1 is the first thing required of you4 ,but that alone would lead to despair4 ,dear hearer1 observe the scales as they are held by the stern and just hand of divine ,justice1 the one down1 the other with man's soul1 asking for mercy4 ,behold1 another hand appears4 ,it is a soft1 delicate hand2 in its palm is a wound1 from that wound there oozes out a drop of blood upon the weighed and wanting soul4 ,instantly the scales go down1 till the beam hands are evenly poised1 and a voice is heard3 ,the blood of ,jesus ,christ cleanseth us from all sin4 ,faith in that blood1 belief in ,christ ,jesus1 your ,savior1 is the next thing necessary4 ,and the last is renewed consecration1 earnest1 honest resolve with ,god's help to do better1 firm determination that the incoming year of grace shall be characterized by a brightening of faith1 an advance in holiness1 a progress in all lines that grace a follower of ,christ1 that it find you at its close a more intelligent1 a more humble1 a more sanctified ,christian than to-day4 ,beloved1 cast another look at the handwriting on the wall1 lest it be written against you on the day of ,judgment4 ,repent1 believe in ,christ1 amend--in this may ,god help us6 ,amen4 ,,reformation4 ,his foundation is in the holy mountains4 ,the ,lord loveth the gates of ,zion more than all the dwellings of ,jacob4 ,glorious things are spoken of thee1 ,o city of ,god4 ,selah4--,ps4 #hg1 #a-c4 ,the history of the ,christian ,church may be expressed in three words--,formation1 ,deformation1 and ,reformation4 ,the first period begins with the story of the shepherds on ,bethlehem's plains on ,christmas night #aiab years ago1 and ended with the establishment of the ,church in cultured ,europe and ,asia and ,africa4 ,as we pass the main occurrences of that first epoch of its formation1 before our mind's eye1 we see how the infant cause of ,christ spreads from ,jerusalem round about to the surrounding countries1 conquering and to conquer4 ,see how in her course of advancement she meets with opposition the fiercest and bloodiest2 see how the blood of her children wets the sands of the amphitheater1 and how their bones are crushed by the lions and wild animals of the arena1 whilst the ashes of thousands of others strew the funeral pile upon which they died praying1 ,lord ,jesus1 receive my spirit4 ,those were the days of persecution1 when the church was despised and rejected of men4 ,and yet1 in the indestructibility of her life she overcame that opposition4 ,yea1 as one said1 the very blood of the martyrs was the seed grain of her progress4 ,before the preaching of ,christ fadeth the glories of heathenism1 and where once stood in splendid magnificence the pagan temples of heathenish paganism was placed in its simple and sublime beauty the cross4 ,the ,galilean1 the ,carpenter's ,son1 ,god's ,son1 had conquered4 ,the ,church1 in a word1 had been established4 ,and then the view changes4 ,a new period begins4 ,across the face of this period there is written in all directions one word4 ,that word is ,rome4 ,it is ,rome at the altar swinging the censer1 ,rome on the battlefield wielding the sword2 it is ,rome in the councils of kings1 and ,rome in the judge's seat2 it is ,rome in the professor's chair1 and ,rome in the children's nursery2 it is ,rome in the market stall telling what to sell1 and ,rome in the kitchen telling people what to eat and drink4 ,it is ,rome first1 last1 and all the time4 ,at ,rome1 styled the ,holy ,city1 the ,mistress of the ,world1 sat a triple-crowned dictator4 ,princes kissed his feet1 and held the stirrups for him as he mounted his bediamoned horse4 ,an emperor stands barefoot in the snow of his courtyard suing for forgiveness because he had dared to govern without his sanction1 whilst his clergy1 monks without number1 swarmed in every place1 all sworn to stand by him on peril of salvation1 and themselves guarded from all reach of law for any crime they may commit4 ,gigantic1 powerful1 proud1 wicked and wanton1 haughty ,rome1 drunk with shocking abomination6 ,that is the second period1 the era of deformation4 ,once more the view changes3 ,antichrist--for none else is the pope--is assailed by a poor1 unknown monk in far-away ,saxony4 ,who minds a monk8 ',tis nothing4 ,but1 lo1 the monk towers like a giant1 and ,german princes are by his side1 while a nation hangs on his lips4 ,tidings of great joy1 like once from ,bethlehem's plains1 are again spreading from the little town of ,wittenberg on the banks of the ,elbe4 ,ninety-five theses nailed up by that monk against the church-door on the eve of ,october #ca1 #aeag1 are borne on the wings of the wind4 ,how they talk about them in ,london1 now in ,copenhagen1 now in the streets of ,jerusalem4 ,men1 women1 youths1 fearlessly give the lie to the priest whom they had dreaded too much before4 ,rome startled2 she would use her old force4 ,she would suppress the new teaching1 which was nothing but the old truth repeated again4 ,of no avail6 ,she's judged4 ,the deed is done4 ,the ,lord has smitten ,antichrist with the breath of ,his mouth4 ,the world is enjoying once more the pure and abundant ,gospel preaching4 ,a new life is upon the nations4 ,the ,church has entered upon another epoch4 ,we call it the period of the ,reformation4 ,it is the topic of our concern and gathering to-day4 ,and in order that we may duly grasp its meaning and appreciate its blessing1 let us observe1 on the basis of our text1 ,the glory of the ,lutheran ,reformation and ,church4 ,that glory is threefold3 ,i4 a glory of foundation2 ,,ii4 a glory of possession2 ,,iii4 a glory of prospect4 ,and may ,god help us understand and appreciate6 ,first1 a glory of foundation4 ,the psalmist1 referring to the ,old ,testament ,church1 speaks of its foundation4 ,so1 too1 the ,new ,testament ,church has its foundation4 ,other foundation can no man lay1 writes the ,apostle1 than that is laid1 which is ,jesus ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 ,god ,himself4 ,the work of redemption which ,he came into this world to perform is the foundation of our religion1 our ,church4 ,what our children learn from their ,catechism3 ,i believe that ,jesus ,christ1 true ,god1 begotten of the ,father from eternity1 and also true man1 born of the ,virgin ,mary1 is my ,lord1 who has redeemed me1 a lost and condemned creature1 purchased and won me from all sins1 from death and from the power of the devil1--that is the heart and marrow of our faith1 its foundation4 ,this was the point ,luther made in those ninety-five theses and in all the teachings1 preaching1 and writing that he did ever afterwards4 ,but does not the ,church of ,rome believe that too8 ,my dear hearer1 accompany me in spirit to one of their places of worship4 ,it matters not in what direction we go1 they are plentiful everywhere4 ,we enter4 ,our ,protestant eye looks for the ,savior4 ,thank ,god ,he is still there4 ,but what means that statue at ,his side--whose is it8 ,francis ,de ,sales1 ,st4 ,anthony of ,padua1 ,st4 ,vincent1 ,st4 ,anna1 ,st4 ,elizabeth4 ,have they forgotten the ,first ,commandment which says3 ,thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image1 or any likeness to bow thyself down to them8 ,we look upon the assembled worshipers4 ,what is it that they are holding in their hands1 busily twisting the beads while their lips move in devotion8 ,hail1 ,mary1 they pray1 mother of ,god1 queen of heaven4 ,why not ,christ8--for there is only one ,mediator between ,god and man1 the man ,christ ,jesus4 ,as we stand there in observation amid the striking of little gongs1 there enters1 gorgeously arrayed1 a priest4 ,why a priest8 ,we1 in the ,new ,testament1 according to the ,bible1 know of only one ,priest1 and that is ,he of whom the ,apostle says3 ,such an ,high ,priest became us who is holy1 harmless1 undefiled1 separate from sinners4 ,what does the priest do8 ,he is offering sacrifice1 in an unbloody manner1 for the sins of the people4 ,they call it mass4 ,but does not the ,bible teach that by one sacrifice1 viz41 by ,his sacrifice upon ,golgotha1 ,christ hath forever perfected them that are sanctified8 ,why1 then1 this mass8 ,do they think they can1 as they claim1 improve upon1 perfect1 that propitiatory sacrifice8 ,or1 while we are en route1 let us transfer ourselves in spirit a little further2 let us go for a few moments to ,rome4 ,there sits a man whom they style ,holy ,father4 ,god's ,word says3 ,ye shall call no man in religion your father nor master upon earth4 ,one is your ,father1 even ,he who is in heaven4 ,one is your ,master-- ,christ4 ,this man at ,rome claims that he is the vicar of ,christ upon earth1 with power to rule both the ,church and the world4 ,but1 says ,christ1 ,my kingdom is not of this world1 and ,i1 even ,i1 am its only ,head4 ,and not only so1 but in how many innumerable ways does this man at ,rome contradict ,christ6 ,thus3 ,christ1 through ,his ,spirit1 says3 ,a bishop1 a minister1 ought to be the husband of one wife4 ,the husband of no wife1 contradicts the pope4 ,it is a great wrong for a priest to marry4 ,abstaining from meats1 forbidding people to eat what they choose and at any time they choose1 is a doctrine of the devil1 says ,christ through ,his ,spirit4 ,it is a sin to eat meat on ,friday and throughout ,lent1 says the pope4 ,you must diligently pray and liberally pay1 and then shall the souls of your beloved ones come out of purgatory4 ,there is no such place1 is the teaching of ,christ1 for instance1 when ,he spoke to the thief on the cross3 ,to-day shalt thou be with me in paradise4 ,i have redeemed you with my holy1 precious blood and with my innocent suffering and death4 ,let your only hope and constant prayer be3 ,jesus1 ,thy blood and righteousness ,my beauty are1 my glorious dress4 ',midst flaming worlds1 in these arrayed1 ,with joy shall ,i lift up my head4 ,not so1 says the pope4 ,heaven and salvation do not depend only upon what ,christ has done1 but much depends upon what you have done4 ,if any one saith1 so reads the decree of ,rome1 that we are justified1 saved1 by faith alone1 let him be anathema--cursed4 ,your good works must help along4 ,it is only as you do this and give that1 buy indulgences1 pay for some holy candles1 appropriate of your earnings an adequate amount to the ,church1 remember it in your last will and testament1 and set apart a certain sum for the reading of mass1--it is only thus that you can expect to die in peace and your soul find its way to heaven4 ,now1 beloved1 we leave it to the smallest child--is this making ,christ the foundation8 ,and it was against this that ,luther protested in the ninety-five theses which he nailed up #cie years ago2 and it is against this that we would raise our voices and pen4 ,jesus ,christ and ,his work of redemption--,he shall be our foundation4 ,ave ,marias8 ,no6 ,saints and popes8 ,no6 ,all hail the power of ,jesus' name1 ,let angels prostrate fall4 ,bring forth the royal diadem ,and crown ,him ,lord of all4 ,again1 our ,church not only glories in its foundation1 but likewise in its possessions4 ,and what does it possess8 ,look upon the imposing churches and cathedrals of ,rome1 those stupendous hospitals and institutions of one kind and another4 ,what wealth of property1 what revenues and revenues of silver and gold6 ,who will dispute that ,rome is rich1 possesses much8 ,but since when are silver and gold and splendid edifices the marks of the ,church8 ,if those things constituted true churchliness1 then none would have been more despicable than the early ,christians1 for they had no churches and worshiped in catacombs and the recesses of darkest forests4 ,if pompous ceremonies and spectacular display and strains of fine music stand for the worship of ,god1 the same might be seen and heard in ,jewish temples4 ,over against this1 what possessions does our ,church glory in8 ,to mention a few4 ,open before us lies this holy ,book1 ,god's ,book1 accessible to all1 inviting examination and study of its sacred pages1 and that in a language not foreign1 ,latin1 ,greek1 or ,hebrew1 but intelligible to all its hearers and readers4 ,rome would not so have it4 ,it forbids its reading1 and calls it a dangerous book4 ,it adds to its infallible teachings the traditions of men1 and wants all its pages read through the eye-glasses of the pope4 ,it has always been1 and still is1 to them an unknown ,book4 ,you have1 perchance1 already seen the picture1 quite familiar1 which1 beneath the title ,caught1 represents an aged man and his little grandchild reading the ,bible while some soldiers are seen entering the room to arrest them4 ,the story that connects with it is this3 ,philip the ,second of ,spain and the ,netherlands had sworn the pope that no ,protestant should be allowed to live in his provinces4 ,in a little town in ,holland lived a good old man with his grandchild ,bertha1 who had become believers in the doctrines of the ,reformation1 and since the ,bible was forbidden to be read and everywhere taken from the people1 the only time for them to strengthen themselves with its sacred contents was the dead of night4 ,they were just reading the fifth chapter of ,matthew1 wherein occur the words3 ,blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake1 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven1 when a rough knock on the door tells them that the ,roman spies had discovered them4 ,grandfather1 cries the child1 we are caught4 ,yes1 my child4 ,god's hour seems at hand4 ,and it was4 ,the next moment the axes of the soldiers had battered down the door2 the ,bible was seized and burned1 the aged man and his little granddaughter were hurried off to prison1 and were tortured and afterward stretched on the rack until they died amid horrible pain4 ,that is ,rome's attitude toward the ,bible4 ,thank ,god1 then1 for this blessed possession1 a free ,bible1 which we read everywhere and at all times4 ,then1 too1 there is the blessed ,sacrament1 not in its mutilated shape1 the lay people deprived of the cup1 but in both species4 ,we possess that4 ,furthermore1 our services4 ,take those stately and sublime hymns that are the inspiration and comfort of a ,protestant ,christian4 ,the ,romish ,church knows them not1 the people do not sing at their services4 ,they are deprived of that4 ,then1 when we pray--what a possession1 the privilege of free1 unlimited1 and direct access to ,god's throne1 without the intercession and intervention of priests and patron saints1 but according to ,christ's invitation and commandment3 ,come unto me1 all ye that labor and are heavy laden1 and ,i will give you rest4 ,here1 then1 are a few of the many blessings we glory in1 wrought and brought back to us through the ,lutheran ,reformation1 and for which on this day we thank and praise ,god4 ,and now a few words yet as to the third part mentioned1 the glory of prospect4--,when ,luther closed his eyes1 our haughty enemies predicted the death of the ,lutheran ,church4 ,as a ,romish priest once said to a ,lutheran peasant1 ,with your ,church it will soon be ',matthaei am letzten1' that is1 ,matthew the last1 which is a ,german expression meaning1 ,things will soon be at an end with you4 ,the peasant remarked1 since he was acquainted with his ,bible1 ,that's splendid6 ,in ,matthew1 the last chapter and the last verse1 our ,savior says3 ,lo1 ,i am with you alway1 even unto the end of the world4 ,our ,church has come to stay1 for it is ,christ's ,church1 and the gates of hell shall not prevail against that4 ,great in membership1 numbering millions of souls1 spread throughout every people and nation1 her faith proclaimed in nearly every dialect and tongue of earth1 great is her prospect4 ,take it in this land of ours4 ,men are awakening more and more to an appreciation of her history and progress and power4 ,in this age of unsettling of creeds and of abandonment of time-honored convictions1 in the age of sensationalism and of pulpits which have no messages1 except those of political and sociological interest1 the old ,church of the ,reformation stands where she ever stood4 ,mr4 ,roosevelt remarked while he was ,president of the ,united ,states3 ,the ,lutheran ,church is of very great power numerically and through the intelligence and thrift of its members2 but it will grow steadily to even greater power4 ,it is destined to be one of the two or three greatest in the ,united ,states4 ,if1 then1 to conclude1 any of you have been ashamed of her1 apologized for being ,lutherans1 perchance even been casting their eyes in other directions for church-fellowship1 if any of us have not been as loyal as we ought to have been1 neglected her glorious possessions1 indifferent to the high blessings she affords in ,word and ,sacrament and services1 let him and her reflect and amend4 ,may it be our heartfelt conviction and determination3-- ,my ,church1 my ,church1 my dear old ,church6 ,i love her ancient name1 ,and ,god forbid a child of hers ,should ever do her shame4 ,her mother-care ,i'll ever share1 ,her child ,i am alone1 ,till ,he who gave me to her arms ,shall call me to ,his own4 ,amen4