The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-10-12
SERMON.
The BIack G0d.*
BY IRVING A. sEARLEs.

They were full OF wrath, and cried out, say
ing, Great is Diana Of the Ephesians.-Acts.
10, %.
The first lesson that meets us in reading this
Scripture and its context is that it is very easy
to detect between the mere form and the real
power and spirit OF Religion. Paul in the name
OF Jesus had performed many wonderful mira
ces. BY pronouncing the name Jesus over
those possessed Of evil spirits, the evil spirit
would depart. Some OF the fortune tellers or
soothsayers pronounced that name, expecting
that the same results would follow. But they
were sadly disappointed. And the evil spirit
answered and said unto them, Jesus l know
and Paul know, but who ara YEP" AS much
as to say. we kkow the difference between gen.
ulne and sham religion. The world to-day is
quick to make this distinction. If you wish to
learn the Christian standing of any member OF
this church, you can secure the desired infor-
nation by inquiring OF the outsiders in this
community. Some of them may call him a
rascal, for every man has bis enemies; some
may call him an angel, for nearly all have some
admirers. You are to accept neither OF these
extreme statements but get the opinion OF
everyone, and then strike the average and you
have found the Christian character of that per-
son. The world is not long deceived by solemn
faces or lengthy prayers. They know us. For
time they may place US very low in their es-
timation, but ie We DO not belong down there,
by and by we shall come up for time they
may place us very high in their estimation, but
! if we do not belong up there, by and by we
shali come down. Not only is the world quick
to detect between the form and substance OF
Religion, but the mere form has no power. 1t
had no power in this case. And the man in
whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and
prevailed against them so that they fed out OF
that house naked and wounded" They pro-
nounced the name Jesus, bnt it was all mat
ter OF form
have heard of a singular debate that was
some where held. A noted skeptic OF great
ability challenged the ministers Of a certain
town to a public discussion Of some religious
question. One old minister accepted the chal-
lenge. The house was crowded. The skeptic
came into the house with large collection of
books in his arms. The minister came without
bringing volume. The skeptic made the first
speech; it was rich in thought; its arguments
seemed irresistible. The friends of Christianity
wondered how the aged minister could answer
that learned address. The old man arose and
spoke for an hour and half without making
any reference to the arguments that had been
advanced on the other side. He pictured the
life Of Christ from the baptism by John in Jor-
dan, to the trial before Plate the crucifxion
when the sun was darkened and the rocks rent,
and even to the coronation hour when, amid
the rapturous song Of angels, the Crown Of the
Universe was placed upon His brow. The
minister spoke as il he meant what he said -
After the preacher sat down the skeptic arose
and said, "My friends, l hold no further de-
bate with this brother. / can meet man but
can't meet God IN man." 1t is when our re-
Igion has some God in it that it has power
2. Our second lesson is. that work which
magnifes the name of the Lord Jesus is the
right kind OF Christian work. " And this was
known to all the Jews and Greeks, also, dwell
ing at Ephesus, and fear fell on all them and
the name Of the Lord Jesus was magni6ed."-
They did not magnify the name OF Paul. They
did not say what mighty preacher s Paul.
Do you not think that in the Moody aud Sankey
meetings there was danger OF the people going
away and saying what great preacher is Mr..
Moody, what beautiful singer is Mr.. Sankey,
instead OF saying what dear Savior ia Jesus
These noble workers certainly avoided this as
much as possible, but with all their prayerful
precaution there was danger Of this result.
tl.k f.:1. -
the Lord Jesus, is not Gospel preaching. A
sermon may be = fine literary production and
yet contain no Christ. But says one, does
such preaching do no good Certainly it does
good. In New York l saw Uncle Toms
Cabin played at the theatre. II was really good.
shed tears more than once during the per-
formance. left the house with stronger res
olutions to do better. If 1 ever have another
opportunity. 1 shall see that play again. one
time heard political speaker draw picture of
the death OF Lincoln, when the martyred pres
ident was represented as meeting Washington
amid the clouds Of Heaven aud receiving from
the Father of his Country a crown OF dazzling
beauty. That picture thrilled me. It did me
good.
But while Uncle Toms Cabin we'll played
will elevate the better nature Of an audience,
while the political speech may contain passages
whose tendency Is to make one better, stili you
would not say that either OF these magni6ed
the name OF the Lord Jesus. They hxve thei-
place and do good, but not in the sense that
preaching is expected to do good The pulpit is
to do good by magniryipg the name of Christ.
8. We have here an example Of genuine re-
pentance "Mary Of them, aiso, which used
curious arts brought their books together and
burned them before all men, and they counted
the cost of them and found il fifty thousand
pieces Of sil 7er." These books related to for
tune-telling or soothssang Some estimate
that ten thousand dollars worth Of these books
were consigned to the flames. This is good
evidence Of the genuineness Of their conver-
sion. They would abandon sin, even though It
required sacrifice of money.
Do you not know that sin in which there is
money invested is the most difficult OF all evil
TO remove. 1t was the money interest that
made slavery so difficult Of adjustment. 1t is
the money interest that makes the liquor traffic