, 1874-04-27

Ths 1tev. j. NIunroe Gibson'a First Sermon
in the tsccoud Presbyterian Ch,,rcA.,
The Rev. J. Mutlroe Gibson, the newly y-aloctcd
pastor Of the Second Presby terian Church, cor
ner Of Twentieth atreet and Michigan. avenue,
preaolad M eloquent and effective sermon, yes-
terday morning, to a:1algo, congregation. The
tD1t was as foltowa: =
not ashs1nel Of the Gospel Of Christi for It IL
tho power Of salvation to every ono tha baleves.-
Roma1ls l., 10.
Io spoke substantially as follows:. TWAS his
privilege on that occasion to begin the sacred,
blesaed, and responsible work Of preaching to
the congregation OF the Second Presbyterian
Church tho Gospel Of Christ. Tie position wns
-one he should never have sought, but, since he
Ind boom ealloa to tho pastorate, and had boen
led to believe that the Lord favored tho call, ho
entered upon tho work resolved to prosecute
It to the best Of his ability. Ho accopt-
ed the Responsibilities Of tho position with
fear and treInblingi botng conscious OF bis weak-
nesaes, but lie gained strength from tho ronee-
tion that God often clloBo the weakest vessels
through which to manifest His divine pleasure.
He looked to the Heayeniy Father for the neeos-
Baled, and Us tue installation day wns not far
distant; he would detor saying some things
winch would otherwise be appropriate to the oo-
caaion. " Il was proper, however, since ho
field that he should set forth lia views Of tlai
GoBpol. For that reason he lnd selected tbs
passage from Paul's eplstle to the Romans al
his thane., 1t was his purpose to show why ha
was not ashamed OF tho Gospel, aud why no man
noad be.
: In explaining tho toxt uuoted commentators,
ns a general rule, considered 1t as applying to
.matteEa at ltome In tho time OF Paul. 1t might bo
that tho nov religion was 80 received by
the philosophers and sages Of that day ~ ia
place believer III it under disgrace aud delsion,
and, iu order to assure tho followers OF Christ,
Paul wrote boldly, and gavo his reason: The
reforenoo to- today and Chicago. Tie Gospel
should be considered In its bearings OH oil men
and any time.. to 500 + thoro Was reasosa
to be ashamed q IT, T There s, wore r, Two ;s mal,
tho nseana by which it was to be obtuincu:, II
tho oni bo t,iil,nE mud uninportanl, or It tie
noaus 10 insufficient to accomplish tie. end,
thon thore vas cause to 90 ashamed. II. now
ty, and tho means not alone fully adequate, but
tic puly ueana known, then thore was ovory
roason to be proud Ut tho Gospel. What was
tho eul7 1t WAS tho power OF God unto salya-
Tic idea Of salvation held by many, namely,
thns it vas ouly au escape from holl, and should
bo seeured alone for that reaHon, was severely
objeotiou frequently urged BY fhe adyoraarion Of
religion, TINT The Gospel salvation waA nero
selnahaoss, sought for as all oscapo frou, hell
fro. Ttere waa good reason to be aslanloa at
eueA low VlaW OF tAe IoApeIa lntenL al!a
power 1lo believed with tho adversarlos, TINT .
man WHO sought to live purely. ard nobly, ana
whoye hoart WIS filled with human synlMsh
and compassion, might DO botter here, aud more
blessod hereafter, than ono whose solo aim iu
baing religious, md sole hope iu religion were
basoa OIL its power to sAvo hlni from holl. Tho
idaa Of future punishment was often made too
pronaln ent, .anl basides tho Scriptures did not
authorize such a low ylsw Of salvation. It Maa
not salvation from hell that was meant, but sal
YAtion from Biu, here aud hereafter, Whore the
subloc Of future punishment WAS introduced IL