Morning journal and courier., 1884-07-28
Monday. July 2s, 1884.
FACTsFOR THE DOURTING.

sermon at Calvary Baptist Church by
 Rev. Dr. IT. Edwin Brown, of Prov
 idence, R. I.
 The Rev. Dr. T. Edwin Brown, of Provi- dence, R. l., preached at Calvary Baptist church yesterday. In the morning he delY- cred a strong sermon, the text of which was taken from the sixth verse of the eleventh chapter of Matthew, "And blessed is he whosoever shall not be UI-aded in me-" The words are those of Christ in reply to ques- tion put to him by messengers from John the Baptist as to whether he was really the Christ. Johns question, although strange one from the forerunner of Christi expressed real doubt. He was for the moment under the shadow of a great uncertainty. His doubt was not surprising, for Christ was temporarily in an eclipse, his popularity had waned, no deep impression had been made upon the people. The Christ whom John had heralded could set imprisoned persons free and perform great miracles. John was languishing in prison, why had Christ not released him? John had heard of the works of Christ and they had not been such as he expected from him. His idea was, thecom- mon one of the Jews. Christ was to estab- fish kingdom on earth. Prophet as he was, and because he was prophet, the tidings of Christ's deeds of mercy surprised him. The quality of mercy was not the most important one to the prophetic spirit of history. Ven geance was more in accordance with 1t. In stead of destroying sinners, Christ welcomed them The poor received his ministrations: he did not mingle with the great. Could such worker of grace indeed be the Christ
 The answer Christ gave to Johns question was as startling and as strange as the doubt it was sought to allay. Christ kept the mes sengers until they saw his wondrous works.
 Then he bade them take back his answer.
 The first practical lesson to be derived from this incident is that most of the trouble
 some doubts that come to us ill our Christian life come from disappointed expectations, from unrealized ideals. We have our own notions and say that Christ is to act thus and thus When matters assume a different phase from what we expected we are tempt ed to doubt and often to deny. Many man whose life exhales the influence of real Christian piety will tell you he is not Christian, because he has not had the experi- ence others told him they had. Then we do not grow as we thought we should The as poets of the world about us are disappoint- ing. Where is that kingdom on earth that reverent lips have been praying for during long centuries The wrong seems to triumph.
 Where is Christ, the deliverer? Our doubts are no new thing. But Christ is the true Messiah and King The truth is that Gods method runs right across the grain of mans notions generally.
 The second practical lesson is that we should send our doubts to Christ. Study the four gospels. Learn to know them thorough ly. Pray without eeasing. See how Christ is the type of the very spirit of sacrifice and trust by which he will train the spirits of men to be like him. If we would only go to
 him how quickly would our doubts disap- pear.
 The third lesson is that the supreme truth of the kingship of Christ is found in the fact that he meets the wants and touches the hearts of common humanity. The gospel must be preached to men as men, not to the poor as such or the wealthy as such. The Calvary church will be open all sum- mer. The pulpit is being supplied with the best preachers in the denomination during the pastors absence, and those who have preached thus far have given the best satis faction.