The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-02-27
HOPES OF CHRISTIANITY.
Rev. DR.. warren's Discussion of the
Outlook.

At the Congregationalist Church, Hyde
Park, Sunday, Bev, /. B. Warren, ID. D., of
this city, spoke upon the future hope OF Chris
tianity, taking his tex from Rev. xxi, g.
"And he that sat upon the throne said, Be-
hold, make all things new, and he said unto
me, Write; for these words are true and faith
| full" He said that there was glorious time
coming for this world. It has been called.
| Throughout the centuries of the past the
| churches of every denomination have been
taught TO look forward TO this event 1t is a
promise of bright spiritual attainment and a
time OF universal peace and blessing to man.
The preacher divided his theme into three
heads: the methods the progress and the out
look for the future. The gospel begins this
work upon man himself by regenerating him.
There is the beginning Of universal renewal.
The spirit touches him, kindles his enthusi-
asm, increases his desire for knowledge. God,
then, makes all things new by making man
new. 1t is this principle which will revolu-
tionize society. When, during the Dark
Ages, society had sunk almost to barbarism,
new era of Christianity sprang up, and it
is this same Christianity which is now spread
ing over and leveling all the countries of the
globe. 1t is Christianity alone that teaches
that the evils of society are crimes alike
against God and man. But it is not alone the
moral forces thai are to be renewed hut the
physical also. Regenerate man by the spirit
OF God, cleanse him morally aad spiritually,
remove from him all the germs OF evil, and
there is reason to believe that the prophetic
chapter will have literal fulfiiment. The
preacher held that sthe new heaven and the
new earth of Scriptural Interpretation was of
scriptural meaning.
He spoke OF the progress already made in
the growth of Christianity toward this result
He pictured the degraded state of society at
the coming OF Christ and graphically related
the attempts of pag8nism and Judaism to ex-
tinguish the glowing fame of Christianity
For three long ce turtles Christianity IN its
Infancy was like the bush, burning but not
Consumed The leaven was working. The
number OF converts steadily increased No
sooner had 1t obtained fo0tbod than it as
destined to other disasters. Barbarsm over
threw civilization and then followed that long
dreary night OF oppression. But through all
these iDfiueLces Christianity retained its vi
tallty. Nations and institutions faded away
but Christianity steadily grew. It acted as an
antidote TO the dark deeds of those DAYS. At
last it threw off the pail that enwrapt it and
gave the bright promises of the future.
Through its benign Influences we enjoy all the
scientific blessings of today. 1t has been the
insJigator of all the great social movements
that have taken place.
Christianity is soon to become the soul of the
religion of mankind. Throughout the world
1t Is steadily growing, and another century
will See Christianity the only recognized di-
vine worship. 1t is rapidly increasing in
force. The speaker predicted that within
another hundred years evangelical Christian
ity would be spread in every nation on he
globe and preached in every tongue. While
worldly forces have endeavored to tear apart
the social ties, Christianity has established
them. There is now only needed the outpour-
ing of the holy spirit over the Echurch and the
nations. Already God is giving us fore
taste of what He will do in the future. The
universal church, crowned with the splendor
OF His brightness, will be the New Jerusa-
lem. He is on the throne and all the power of
Heaven and of earth has been given to him.