Morning journal and courier., 1883-12-17
Calvary Baptist Church.

Sermon by Rev. Mr. samsOn-Ths Chrfs-
 thanking Influences of the Church in
 the Redemption of the Race.
 Last evening at the Calvary Baptist church
 Rev. MT. Samson preached an interesting dis
 course to large congregation. His remarks
 were based on the words found in Acts xv,
 1s-"Known unto God are all his works from
 the beginning of the world. :" The preacher
 spoke in substance as follows: Nothing can
 be more inspiring to the Christian than the
 truth revealed in the sacred scripture and
 confirmed in the providence of God that the
 whole human race ia intimately to be reached
 and blessed by the Christian religion. Un-
 like every other system of religion that has ever appeared, the Christian system does not
 decline in power the more ia prevails and the
 better it is known, but renews it's youth as
 the centuries come and it's victories multiply
 throughout the world. The text furnishes an interesting and instructive doctrine in
 connection with this truth. Taken in it's connections the text teaches that the provi- dence of God and his word show that it has
 been his purpose from the beginning to save
 the world through his Son.
 First of all the providence of God shows this Even the physical forces of the uni verse seem to have been made to contribute
 specifically to the spiritual redemption of the race. The apostle says to the CoioSslans that all things have been created by the Christ and for him. He says to the Ephesians that God
 hath put all things under the feet of the Christ that he may be the head over all things to the church. The Egyptians were far in advance of us in the knowledge of many branches of science and of their application to the arts of life. The Greeks surpassed ns in the departments of literature and the fine arts But the Egyptian and the Greek knew nothing of the printing press. the steam en- zine and the magnetic telegraph. The swift and stately ships that cleave the great seas were not launched until the Christian mis- sionary was ready to step upon their decks. The railroads were not made to bind the na- tions together until the Christian missionary was ready to go to the distant nations. The subtle fluid more ethereal than the air, which conveys our whisper to men in remotest climes did not Vibrate to human touch or voice until upon the mountains appeared the feet of the messenger of good tidings.
 The providence of God in the civil and so- cial history of the world, in the rise and fall of empires shows that all nations shall finally bow to the sceptre of his son. The bond age of the Israelites in Egypt prepared the way \ for that oldest and most enlightened heather nation to become one of the first to feel the | influence of the Chaistian religion. The cap- tivity of the Jews in Chaldea made the sages of the far east anxious expectants of the Saw four of the world. The successive downfall \ of the Canaanites of Babylon, Tyre, Greece ! and Rome were an unbroken succession of providential events to prepare the way of the Lord. The emancipation of the slaves in the | United States was part of the divine plan to \ subdue this world to himself. Why was it \ that in the last century to England alone, | among all the nations of the world, first In- ! dia, then China, then Turkey, with three- | quarters of the world were opened and made | accessible? Why is it that millions from Eu- ! rope, Asia and Africa are meeting on the shores of this rev world as friends and fel- \ low citizens? These signal providences are but the interpretation of the words of the I apostle in the text.
 The word of God as well as his providence
 shows that it has been his purpose from the beginning to save the world. The apostle alIudes to two points in this connection to il lustrate and confirm this truth. He alIudes to the prophecies. Although the Jews did not realize the advent of the Christi and his | own disciples did not understand the proph- | ecies, there were many plain predictions Of the conversion of the Gentiles. And in the ! text the apostle makes the existence of these \ prophecies one ground of his statement. He I also refers in the conclusion of his address to the council to that natural law of God which proves his eternal purpose to save the world. He shows that the debasing and brutallzlng ' practices of the heathen religion were not \ consistent with that purity of heart which the gospel of Christ requires.
 In the light of this truth our duty and in I terest are manifest. God has created us and | given us an abode in this world not only to enjoy the good things of this life, but also ! that we might be blessed with the elevating ] and saving influences of the Christian | religion. Let us realize this. And not ! only so, but let also realize | that in all of our work for God we are not
 toiling alone. All the physical forces of the universe are the servants of the Christ for | the advancement of his kingdom The cat [ tie upon thousand hills, the gold and silver
 are his. The people of the world are his ! it's kings and queens, presidents and govern | CTS, warriors and statesmen, merchants and | mechanics. Their hearts are in his hands | and all their places he overrules. He moves all things. He governs all things that they l may work the counsel of his perfect will. The | efforts which we are making to promote his cause are not insignificant in his sight They are part of that mighty force, that resist Y less agency which he is employing to subdue \ the world unto himself.
 \ At the Calvary Baptist church the pastor, Rev. T. s. Samson, spoke in the morning \ upon 'sMotives to Christian giving" passing k his remarks upon the 9th chapter of the sec- ' ond epistle to the Corinthians. Pledges | were received for the benevolent work of the | church during the next year, to an amount which will largely exceed the contributions | of the current year.