The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1885-07-02

now devolNng upon distinct class
divinely<0rdained 10 this special work,
IL resSs as "A common obligation upon
alkChristians. lilo would DO the last
= one 70 disparage the good and en-
cheney OF the modern church, ana yet
rs no compared the achievements Of
the church with her magnificent OPP
portunities, no WAS disposed 10 think
she was serving God with tho left
harti of her foebleness rather than the
right arm of her strength. How im-
portant, then, that We should heed the
voice OF the prophet that comes sound
ing down the ages, "Awake!' etc.
The strength OF Iion-in what does
consist
First-Oue element OF the church's
strength is the greatness of her
armies.
When tho militant church received
her marching orders from the sscred
mount she was finely fitted 10 COM
prehepd the scope OF her great mis-
sion. IL was only with the conversion
OF Saul of Taraus that a mind was
found OF sufficient elevation aud ardor
TO seize the grand truth that the mis-
sion of the Christian church was to
subiugate the whole world 10 her Di-
vine Lord, and to-day VIC have no
lander proof of the unwasting vitality
I'd our Christian faith than the glorious
iact that tho children OF our infant
classes arc contributing their pennies
cor the conversion Of the world, and
nat from Christian pulpits anc family
liars the closet sanctuaries and
mothers' knees goes up the prayer OF
re ages, the sublimest petition ever
lreathed by human lips-"Thy king
dlm come, thy will be done on earth
q IL is in heaven"
tcond-Another element CT the
Church's strength is the matchless
pbwer of Christian truth.
The mightiest forces in the world
il.day are moral ideas, and those
oral ideas which are distinctively
Christian, and they are marvellously
iG.cetul because they meet response
~ the depths of the human con-
doctrine of sin. The Bible is
llood-red With the portrayal of mans
sin, and it teaches That man is respon-
siple for his deliberate sin and hence
EIilty, truth which conflicts with the
iriligious thinking Of the times,
which teaches that man Is bound TO
sin by rigid mechanical necessity.
The Bible also insists that for human
gin aud guilt there is no natural rem
coy. But the Bible does not leave us
IN our guilt and weakness. 1t pre-
5eIits another truth, the sin-burdened
soul will now gladly welcome-re
denption through divine human Sa-
vior. He was glad tho Gospel was the
s0lf-revelation of jesus Christ.
When the speaker began his minis
Try the prevalent skepticism adopted
tho so-called mythical theory" which
donied tho historical validity Of the
n w Testament and reduced the
human Christ to mere tigment. Now
Ghare can scarcely be found a thought
ful infidel who will not acknowledge
that Jesus was a real parsonage, thanks
10 tho eXRctions of our modern his
toric science. There are certain feat
ures in Jesus Christ that are specially
iitted to win and hold the favorable
regard OF men-His peerless
character, His unique Suf-
ferings and especially the
TACT that in His suiferings there was q
sacrihcial element. In a mysterious
sense He died tor man. But Joined to
the truth of mans redemption is the
possibility of his spiritual renewal. He
may not only be forgiven, but also re-
lieved from his mastering vices.
Lsstly, the gospel reveals the death
iessness of the human spirit. Weneed
the positive assurance which the gos-
pol alone can give. The natural init
nations OF Immortality cannot satisfy.
We need voice divine crying over
Withering grass and fading leaf and
stricken hearts and dying man: III am
the resurrection and the life." These
great gospel truths are fitted to exert
order to do this they must have q
voice.
Third-Another element of the
cburch's strength is a witnessing
membership. Preaching in the Begin
ming was very simple-scarcely more
than the recital of our Lords works
and words as witnessed by the disci-
ples-and he thou htthe most effective
preaching to-day was the simple testi-
Muny of sincere hearts declaring the
wondrous facts of their own Christian
experience. Men who turn away from
the more elaborate and formal dis.
courses of the pulpit will listen to the
trusted friend who declares amid the
intimacies of familiar compensation
what great things God hath done for
his soul.
Fourth-A most important constitu-
emit of the church's strength Is Coop
Grating Providence.
The doctrine of special Providence
js held so vaguely by many Christians
az to lose almost entirely it's practical
interest. Ones life is saved by some
marked interpretation, and this is her.
aided as a wonderful Providence, and
yet 1t was no more essential providen-
tial than the sprouting of the grass or
the blooming of the flower.
o But is not such teaching as this liza
bic to abuse? When natural laws are |
recklessly violated, punishment fol- |
lows inexorably. He knew that the |
pestilence that walketh in darkness |
has its origin in the delta OF the Gan
COS, where multitudes of Hindoo devo. |
toes live in the plainest violation of
hygienic laws, but when that pesti- |
lence shall cross over the sea on sable |
pinions and spread over this fair land |
and reach out its long,. gaunt arms
icy finger the hearts we love, it will be |
an unspeakable comfort to feel that,
80 far as we are concerned, Gods prov
idence is intimately connected with it. |
The devOut believer in divine PrOvi- |
dence accepts even the calamities or
life as blessings in disguise. And as
God takes care Of the soul that trusts |
Him, 30 will He care for the larger in.
terests of the church. Mr.. Ipgersoll |
tells us that he shall not cease from
his labors till,he has utterly destroyed
tho Christian religion. If we had only
ourselves to rely upon we might
tremble at this infidel boast, but God
the Father, God the Son, and God the
Holy Ghost, will care for the Christian
church. 1t has endured through the
ages in spite of its malignant foes.
How cheering the assurance that the
Lord ever "encampeth about them
that fear Him." But he had q
still more comforting truth to offer.
Not only have we the assurance
that God will be with His people,
but also that He win be in His people.
Fifth--The grandest element of the
ohurch's strength Is the endorsement
oftbe Holy Ghost. One Of the most