The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-05-31
Bishop Thomas Bowman of the Methodist
Episcopal Church..Sermon in the Brook.
lyn, y. Y, Academy of Music--Thc
Salvation of the Gospel.
NATHAN b. KIMBLE,
Secretary.

The General Conference special Sun
day services, May 26, were conducted
by Bishop Thomas Bowman, the first
elected of the recent additions to the
Episcopal board The house, as on the
two preceding Sundays, was filed with
on attentive and appreciative AUDIENCE.
The exercises were begun at $3.50 by
singing the hymn
There is fountain filled with blood"
which was read by Bishop Bowman,
and sung by the congregation. DIR.
John Gere then led in prayer, which
was followed by reading of the Scrip
lures by Bishop Harris. Mr.. Martin,
chairman of the Committee of Enter
tainment, said that two weeks ago he
asked for a penny collection, which
had been given ; one week ago he asked
for q stamp collection, and it had been
received this week the committee ask
for greenbacks in order to help defray
the expenses of the house. A collec-
ton was accordingly taken.
Bishop Merrill then read the hymn
"Salvation. oh, tn joyful soundr'
after the singing of which Bishop Bow
man announced his text, st. John,
chapter 10, verse 10-"For the SOD of
man is come to seek and to save that
which was lost" This is, said the
preacher, emphatically an age of facts.
Scientists say that they have nothing
to do with anything but facts, but in
dealing with one class of facts they too
often lose sight of another and no legs
important class. Sin Is a fact 1t is all
about us with its terrific consequences.
1t is not merely doctrine or truth
taught in the Bible; it is an ever.eXist-
ing fact, and is as real in lands where
the Bible never was heard of as
in Christian countries. Everywhere
men violate the laws of their phys
ical and moral nature. 1t is there
fore as incumbent upon the philosopher
as upon the Christian to endeavor to
solve the problem of sin, its cause and
cure. believe that sin is here, because
the possibility of virtue includes the
possibility of vice, though this may
not satisfy others. | am not here to as
sign reason satisfactory for all. We
deal with it as we haveit. God did not
make sin. He created man with abso-
lutte freedom, and in the exercise of this
fearful power man chose to transgress.
In the Scriptures, and in the Scriptures
alone, do we find a remedy for sin, and
/ have learned that when a theory is
given, which explains difficult prob.
lem, we are bound to accept it until q
better one iS found. Let Philosophy
present to me sGme better scheme of
salvation than that presented through
the Scriptures before it asks me to give
up the gospel plan. Jesus came TO seek
and to save that which was lost. We
could not use this language of Christ
without admitting his pre-existence
for he came of his own volitiOn. His
nature was two-fold; He possessed q
human body and Il human soul. These
were bOru Of The Virgin bat there was
a pre-. existing Da!ure which WAS divine
in the truest and brHadest sense. This
is a mystery. Shall ", therefore hesi-
ter to the chemist, and he tells me it is
made up of oxygen and hydrogen.
How are they united? Tell me, we ma
terial philosophers. Chemical affinity
what is that? drop this glass, and
it falls. Why? Gravity, you will say.
What is that? Tell me how my soul
exists in my body, and l will tell you
how the pre.existing divine soul exist
| ed in combination. with the human soul
| and body. Call it God-affiuity if you
will, it is as good name as the arbi-
trary terms used to describe, yet not to
explain, facts in physical science. We
have this other important fact, that
Christ came into the world to save sim
ners, not merely to say that salvation
was possible, but to make it possible I;
not to point out the way, but to heW it
out. Where do we look for the glory
of Jesus? not in his character, beautiful
as it is, but in his sufferings and death
on the cross. God forbid that L should
glory save in the cross of Christ. On
the theory that the death Of Christ was
only that of a patriot or martyr, there
are some facts connected with it which
to me would be utterly ineXplicable.-
The martyrs death is one of triumph.
He has the promise that in the valley
and shadow of death he shall fear no
evil. But the soul of Christ was exceed
ing sorrowful. Ia the garden he pray
ed that, if possible, the cup might pass
from him, and on the cross he uttered
words such as never fell from mortal
| lips / explain this on the theory that
| the divine soul which was in him was
made an Offering for sin. TO takea pract-
ical view ofthe matter. Every bright
spot on the earth is one where the cross
exerts its influence. The gospel is the
only thing which can take humanity
from its degradation and lift it up to the
high level of Christian manhood.
Dr.. Olin closed with prayer, after
| which the dOXOiOpV was sung.