The Hawaiian gazette., 1884-11-05

PASTOR cRUzAN's SERMON, SUNDAY A. NJ NOV. 3, 1884,

TExT-Hebrcws xii:1-Let US lay aside every weight
Far back in the past, before history was, when
Drawn and muscle, not brains, ruled the world the
Olympic games and races were established. II
was the great Grecian festival, Greece had no
higher honor than simple wild-olive wreath con-
ferred on the vctOrs. Very substantial honors and
emoluments were conferred upon them. The
author has this Greek festival IN mind in the text.
he tells Christians that they contestants for
purse; that heaven and earth watch the contest:
therefore" says the author, Gust as the Olympic
ruler stripped himself Of every encumbrance, and
thought only of the race and the victory, should
Christians lay aside every weight
But they do not.
Let us look upon this Christian Olympiad and
see some of the weights which Christians carry
and which they should lay aside. 1. Very many
Christians are weighted with self-indulgence. 4
leading clergyman of New England writing of The
religious outlook in America, says: "The sin which
Is clothed IN purpleand fine linen and which fares
sumptuously every day, and sits smilinRy in the
chief seats the center aisles Of all churches
is self-indulgence This sin is eating like cancer
luto the life of Christianity. 1t bows down and
worships, not Christ, but self. 1t robs Christ's
treasury, turns missionary societies into men
dicants and loads our Churches with debts that it
may hamper self with the Lords money. If it
hangs bough of profession over on the Church
side of the dividing wall, yet its roots are deep
down IN the soil of the world. 1t is often ready to
deny Christ, but seldom ready 10 deny self. We
are not so bad as that here in Hawaii. And yet
we have not reached perfection in this regard. OF
all the old fashioned Apostolic doctrines the most
popular to preach, the hardest one TO practice, is
self-denial. This is the grace that pinches. The
daily battle of the Christian is with that artful
subtle, greedy sinner, self The highest victory
OF our religion is to follow Jesus over the rugged
path of self-denia. And this is mainly to be done
in the little everyday acts of life. The great
oasions which demand sublime sacrifices are rare.
There was but one Calvary, and yet every day
Christ gave himself for others. He says to us,
"Follw mer' The Christian who suppresses Jest
or vittlcism because it burlesques his religion,
practices self-denial. When he speaks out brave
but unpopular sentiment in the cause of right he
bears his crossl The Christian business man who
Is not ashamed to be called "a missionary" and
who takes bold, unc0mpromising stand in favor
of temperance. The Sunday School teacher who
says TO temptation, Christ will expect me with
my class to-day" and leaves the interesting book
or the inviting place Of rest to teach her church or
mission class; the Christian who is quick to hear
the call of duty and gladly goes forward though
the way not be pleasant, these all walk in the foot
steps of Christ In these hard times, and in the
harder times to come, the mechanic, the clerk the
business man who denies himself that he may still
from his shrinking earnings or income contribute
to the Lords treasury, Join hands with the widow
who dropped in but mite, and he receives with
her the Christ's blessing.
We cannot emphasize too strongly this grace
which pinches selhshness. do not how orthodox
is a mans creed; care not how eloquent may be
his prayers is public, if he has never learned to
say No" to self he is but sorry specimen of the
Christ's man.
l read with a full heart recently description of
the great gathering IN America of her veteran SOL
diers. What touching lesson of self-denial we
have IN every crutch and every empty sleeve" of
those who wore the blue. They counted nothing
too dear if the nation might be saved and freedom
triumph.
Shall we Christian soldiers be less brave and
self-denvng for Christ than they were for country?
This is the test of discipleship. Christ SAYS "If
any man will come after me, let him deny himself
and take up his cross and follow me-" q Many
Christians carry the weight of indecision the want
of single purpose. Where the Great Contestant
stepped upon the course he had Just one object-to
win the race. He kept his eye fixed on Just one
thing-the goal. Is that true Of Christiansl All
are not certain that they have entered the race.
ASK Christians the plain question, Are you a
ChristianY" and from how many will Won receive
a plain, unqualified answer Then too we think
OF many things, and we have many DESIRES We
want Gods favor and heaven, but we want also
the worlds favor; and We want wealth and fine
houses, and place, and power and ease. Now /
do not say that 1t is wrong for man TO desire
what this world can give him. Only let a man
keep the right order-Gods order: " Seek first the
Kingdom of God and His righteousness" Let
that desire be regnant and let the desire for
tue AL things" come in as secondary. When we
make that first which God puts second then our
lives are full of inconsistencies. And in all this
there Is deadly peril. Every wrecked Christian
life had its origin in slight inconsistencies. Few
hberate plunge. They paddle for some time in
the rapids intending always to return to the shore
before they reach the cataract But the first sinful
step does the business.
Every church member who is now pitable inc
briate, at one time turned his back on his master
and began to drink moderately" Every church
member who has furnished his good name for in
tegrity, the time when he twisted his first lie
and pocketed his first dishonest dollar He would
Just pull out into the rapids far enough to catch
that was floating past, but never dream
ed of going over the falls. Yet there he lies on
the rocks a crushed thing. Brethren, if We would
itself ID our hearts and rule our ives. Like Paul
We must be able to say: "This one thing dor
Like Christ, we must say: "My meat and my
drink Is to do the will of my Father in Heaven"
B. Christians, if the Greek racer had stopped
running and walked; or had he idled by the way;
or sat down to rest, his brow would never have
worn the olive wreath He would have made him
self the laughing stock of the multitude. The
Christian church should be a place where conse-
Grated brain, heart, and muscle all at work for
Christ. There should be, in all hearts, a Christ
like haste TO 'be about our Fathers business"
There should be drones, no idlers, no loungers,
no boarders. Heaven, the prize before u.s. God says
is only for him who runs with patience the race 1t
will not be peopled by idlers, but by workers.
heaven will be place of rest for those who need it;
men Of hardened palms, knotted muscles, wearied
limbs and tired brains. A Christian has no right
10 live single day without doing exactly what
IS to be done in it, and going straight through it,
from beginning to end. Work, play, study what
ever Is the present duty he should take hold of at
Once finish it equally, heartily, cleany and then
0n TO the next duty without letting any duty drop
Out between.