The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-04-04
SYNOPSIS OF RE\. GEO. ii. VIII
SONS SUNDAY EVENING
SERMON.

FOR Ch7T1 Beaectn9 IN me potoeF ~ INC
Lord Jesus Christ to sape me, Thereby
engage 10 abstain from all Intoxicating
liquors as beeeroge."
Such is the monograph which
greets the eyes of the vast concourse
gathered in yonder hall. In that !
believe profoundly. Indeed so pro-
foundly do ! believe in it that l make
no hesitancy in using it as the test
for my discourse.
The application of its specific
pledge to the act it aims to incite,
finds its force and warrant in the
nature Of the principle it rests on.
We may not find our individual tastes
met by the methods of others, no
more than others do in our methods.
AS in the practical application of
christianity by the methods of the
various denominations, so in this
work, there may be diversity of man.
Hesitation, but of the same spirit.
AS no one organ of the body can say
to another, we have no need of thee,
so no one phase of reform labor can
say of others, we have no need of
thee. We do need the others, if for
nothing else, yet to keep us from the
Journalism and ruts of thoughtless
extremities. These workers with us,
would lead to an act based on prin-
ciple. l would do the same by ex-
planning the principle.
Looking at the text we shall find
three things that must stand or fall
together:
1. The doctrine: "Christ for all
the world"
=. The precept: "All the world for
Christ"
3. The acceptance of doctrine and
precept, and the application of it to
life; believing in the power Of the
Lord Jesus Christ to save me, | here
by engage" etc.
If these stand or fall together,
nothing can do more to make this
work abiding than to know and feel
it. Likewise nothing can do more to
lift upward to true keeping of the
whole--those who have signed it
than clear conception of its essen
tial and absolute unity. While in
cidentally, it would do not little to
show the essential and absolute unity
between doctrine and precept in
religious matters, which many tell US
is of no importance. Doctrine is a
truth proposed to our belief. Precept
is requirement for obedience based
on the doctrine. 81 am the Lord thy
God" "God is love-" "Christ for
all the world" These are doctrines.
They make their appeal for our ac-
ceptance or rejection. Refuse them
an intellectual acceptance, there is
no basis for future consideration, no
foundation for precept.
Let Israel at the base of the mount
say, to the doctrine l am the Lord
thy God-"that's mistake of Moses,
our own brain and Drawn brought us
OUT and the declaogue may as well
remain in fragments so far as any
authority, or binding power is con-
cerned.
If a person does not believe that
Jesus Christ came into the world to
save the world, he must stop there.
10 put the name to the text is to sub
scribe to what is not believed. Pre-
cept is requirement based en- doctrine.
1t God brought Israel out of Egypt
he has right to say, "Thou shalt have
no other gods before me-" If "God
IS love-" he has right to say Glove
me-" If Christ is for all the world
ne has right to say, "Go ye into all
the world" accept the precept
"Christ for all the world" Take
away the doctrine. You kill the
power of the precept. Precept never
did, never can stand alone.
Take the next step, the acceptance
of the doctrine, and the precept, and
the application of it to life. In this
case to an act, or habit of life, Austen
ance from intoxicating liquors as bev-
erage. A promise or engagement in
all the moral realm is an acceptance
OF the binding nature Of precept,
because of the truth IF Ire doctr;,a