Morning journal and courier., 1883-11-26
Calvary Baptist Church.

At the Calvary Baptist church last evening Rev. Mr. Samson preached to large congre- eation. He selected as the basis of his dis course the words found in Actr, 17th chapter and 31st verse: q Because he hath appointed 8 day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath or dained, whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead.'' There is no important point of re- ligious inquiry that is left in doubt in the Bible, and herein is to be found the superior ity of the Christian over every other form of religious faith, regarded merely as system of truth to be believed. The essential weak ness of the reasoning of the Greeks whom Paul met at Athens in the prime of their cul ture was illustrated in the altar which they had erected ''to the unknown God" While it is true that much may be learned of God eff men will only feel after him and find him, ' as the apostle phrases it, it is also true that without the clear light of the New Tes- lament revelation men can never discover all the truth respecting God and their duty to him.
 The text discloses three things namely, the nature of the judgment, the character of the judge, and the positive proof that we must meet the judgment.
 As to the nature of the iud gment, certain points of minor importance are referred to in the scripture, but they are not vital. The vital point is, as the text says, that God will judge the world in righteousness. The judg. ment will have regard to the positive acts of men. But the act does not prove the good ness or the badness of the spirit from which it proceeds. One man may commit crimi- nal act and be condemned for it; another may wish to commit the same act, but be prevent ed from doing so, and he will be acquitted. Things undone as well as done must enter into judgment. Upon no other principle can we explain our Lords words, '1nasmuch as ye did it not unto one of the least of these ye did it not to me-" Upon no other princi- pie can we interpret the parables of the rich man and Lazarus. and the man who tore down his old barns to build new for the ex- cess of his harvest. The judgment also will have regard to the words and thoughts of men. Christ said to the Jews, "Every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the judgment" and Paul wrote the Romans that ''God shall judge the
 
 ural philosopher tells us that every word ut tered by human lips, falling upon the air, causes vibrations which never cease and which are beyond the power of him who ut tered the words ever to recall. The ethical philosopher tells us that every propensity and passion which are cherished and encour- aged give determination and power to habit which the greatest care cannot prevent from betraying itself.
 But God gave us these propensities, and as the apostle says to the Romans, his goodness was designed to lead us to repentance. When the Greeks learned the character of God from nature they embodied only a part of that character in sublime and beahteous works of art, and therefore the true God was unknown to them. But in Christ the whole character of God was revealed, and they did not believe in him. This was the text which neither Greek nor Roman could endure.
 As to the character of the judge the text says that "God will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath or dained" Now if I am to be tried before an earthly tribunal it is of the greatest import ance to me to know who my judge is and what is his character and disposition toward me- God has sent Christ to seek and save the lost and he is to be my judge. Not the lawgiver himself. ''The father judgeth no man. but hath committed all judgment unto the son." He who was tempted on all points like as we are, and who is able to succor them that are tempted, will forgive my sin and be my judge. He who died for me is to pass the final sentence upon me- ''The Father hath given him authority to execute judgment because he is the son of man." God might not know how to sympa thize with us in our weakness and imperfec- ton, but Christ does.
 As to the proof that we must meet the judgment, the text says: "Whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead" The resurrec- ton of Christ is the fact which explains and confirms all that God does for as his spir- itual creatures, it is the proof of all that is true and certain as to our future life. We resurrection by all of the facuI- ties Of knowledge which God has given us. There is the knowledge de- rived through the laws of historic evidence. Test the resurrection by these laws and we may know that Jesus lived and died just as we may know that Washington lived and died. There is the knowledge derived through reason and judgment. When we see and feel our religious needs and destiny, when realize that all that must be known concerning the salvation of 8 human soul is incorporated in the sacrifice of Christ, there is nothing in all the realm of positive cer- tainty more certain and satisfying than the resurrection of Christ.
 When read of judgment to come in the words of Christ and his apostles it is not a picture of terrific wrath. There is a sub- imity which overpowers me, not an awfulness which dismays me. I may be acquitted in the great assize and there is no terror in this. And the fact that Christ is to be my judge makes me resolve that will not judge my brother If the Father judgeth no man, I, who am so faulty and imperfect, will not assume to do in the case of another what he would not do in mine. Let us live as men and women might reasonably be expected to live who look for acquittal in the judgment. Think of the glory of being justified then and and be grateful that you are men and not angels. Think of the glory of the welcome. Think of the music of the words, stCome ye blessed of my father" If you will trust in Christ you shall have the glory of that vel come, you shall feel the rapture of that mu- sic. When the universe shall be hushed into the deepest silence, when the spheres, the very stars in their courses, shall stand to listen, you shall hear the voice of the king saying unto you Come; and opening his arms of infinite love you shall know it's lenght and breadth, it's height and depth"