The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-11
GALVigY BaPIEsT CRJacH.
Fightirs IA Good Fight--sermon by the Rev.
81. =. Macarthur.

Fighting IA Good Fight--sermon by the Rev.
81. =. Macarthur.
Despite tho warm weather ana the fact that great
exodus l. and mas been going on from the metropolis
for some time, there was yesterday a large and
highly fashionable audience at the morning service
in the Calvary BAPTIST chureG N Twenty third street,
near Broadway. The rev. r. $. Macarthur preached
an eloquent sermon from the text a have fought a
good 1ghti- "a Timothy w., T.
the chapter from wnlch these words are taken Is
the last recorded utrerance Of tie great Apostle.
lie wrote knowing that the martyrs death was soon
70 be endured and the martyrs crown soon TO be
enjoyed. HIS expectations were realized. Three
months after he wrote our text be marched to DEATH
Little did the crowds which came into Rome on that
June morning IN os think that the prisoner whom
they met going without the gate to
THE PLACE OF EXECUTION
was the greatest mxn then living and destined to an
immortality such as the world has not given to he
travest Roman who wore the diadem OF the Caesars.
Paul, though a prisoner, marches IKE King.
Aged and weary bru sed aud bleeding lie Is radiant
with hope and Joyous IN faith. Tie eXecutl0ner re-
leases tie noble SOU from the feeble body and weep
ing friends carry the body 10 tue catacombs which
So long furnished graves 70. the disciples OF Christ.
But Paul IA not dead. bis struggling spirit, so long
tied TO earth Is now "prcsent with The Lord" and
by his words ana his lie lie ~ power in the world
today rebukinR US for our IEdO!t nee and Inspiring
rs by his triumphant falih.
Paul had right to say al have fought good
fgntn His words are no empty boast they come
from veteran and victor. We remember Arabs
reply to proud Ben.Iadad--"Let not him that
grdeh on his harness boast himself as nc that put
te II OIL" Paul Is putting II OF; his work s almost
done. When raw recruit he might not utter these
words; when Ia the midst OF tile 1ght, rejoicing
IN victory now lamentlng defeat, they would not
have been fitting; but with the contest past the race
run ana tae crown In view, he may say III have
roughtn
Paul often represents the Christian life under the
figure OF q contest race. a fight SO imbued was
lie games OF the time that such mode OF representa-
ton was natural " him and electual with his
hearers.
In the Christian life the struggle Is against prnci-
ralites and powers, against the rulers VI the dark
hess OF this world, against spiritual wickedness IN
high places; or as 1t Is elsewhere stated It Is against
The world, tne flesh and the devil.
The world is not the friend OF Christ. II is not
TIE FRIEND or HIS PEOPLE.
is rnaxims, its spirit Its very atmosphere seems 10
Chl the spiritual life and drag down The aspirations
81 the soul The servant Is not above his master,
aDQ when the master came unto his own his own re-
ceiyed him not. The world which ne had made hai
nothing better TO offer him than crown OF thorns,
hh1 when would exalt him 1t did 50 by the cross
u. Calvary.
The word Is always hard. 1t prisoned Socrates;
ii murdered SavoaarOla; II Cruclned CHRIST. itS pes
men are It's first victims. But the world be over
come. We may conquer even when we die, and II
we would wear the crown we must WELD the sword.
Inc at Ia finished OF Christ has given us the IL
have nnlshedn OF Paul, ana the strength whch made
PAU victorious Will make US victorious too
We need more Christian manliness. We need the
courage to stand up Ike men Tor the right and ring
out an emphatic "No' against every form Of vice
and sin. Wicked men may buster and seem brave
but at heart they are towards 61d sneaks, and the
9al WHO aas the heart 70 say DECIDED "No' u