The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-05
UTTERED FROM THE PULPIT.
DR.. JefTery's First Sermon Since Accept
ing the First Baptist Passionate.
Reys. Mcleod and Alabaster Talk to Their
Congregations Concerning Wyclif and
the Bible-Church Notes.
DIR. JErrRRY's FIRST SERMON.

mr.. FIRST SERMON.
Ehe New Pastor of the First Baptist Church
breaches His First Discourse.
Rev. DIR. Ruben Jeffery, the new pastor of the
First Baptist Church, preached yesterday morn
ing and evening He is a man of good presence,
Aready and forcible speaker. and comes here
with the reputation of success as attracting and
maintaining large church memberships in the
Farious pastorates he has held. This is espe-
sally true of the Marcy street Baptist Church in
Brooklyn, N. Y, which, when he took the pas
torate, had a membership of less than fifty, and
which, when he was compelled to resign the pull
pit seven years later to remove to Denver on ac-
count of the health of his late wife. numbered
794 members
He took as his text for last evenings sermon
Psalm cxviii, IL, II shall not die. but live and
declare the works of the Lord" He spoke with
u~utnotes or manuscript, and in commenting upon
the text said that it was. common. especially at
this season of the year, to urge the subject OF re-
hgion upon the attention of men by reason of the
uncertainty of human life. 1t is no uncommon
argument that men should become Christians be-
cause of the certainty of their dying, and espe-
eialIy of their dying unexpectedly. There are
higher and better considerations that should be
brought to bear upon all, especially the young,
TO cause them to become Christians. Time is
requisite for the formation and perfection of
character, and the present moment should
appeal strongly to all as the opportu-
nifty may pass. Many take advantage of
good health to put off their acceptance of Christ
to another season. They think the Importance
lies in being ready when the hour of death ar
wives, and.make the mistake of supposing there ID
more real pleasure in living without religion
than with it. Some look upon it as being like a
man taking medicine with him when he goes
upon a journey-not that he may need it, but TO
have it ready in case Of an emergency. That is
the impression that many have of religion-that
it is good for a dying hour. Many make the
mistake that the preparation needful can be
made in a dying hour. They have calculated to
live a certain number of years, and they will
put off the acceptance CT Christ until the end of
that term.
1t is not for us to say when the
limits of Gods mercy may be passed.
Men are not more likely TO repent on a dying
bed than in health. They may feel sorrow for
misspent lives, but to feel the deep and earnest
conviction of sin is not always a thing to be
trusted to such a moment. We sometimes quote
the dying thief. Yes, he did receive Christ In
bis dying hour; but we should remember that
was not only the last but the first moment in
his life that the light fell upon that mans heart,
and he accepted it. He had not been resisting
these influences all his life as so many are now
doing.
Neither is it sufficient merely to have the COM
munion and the ceremonies of the church. but
you must be be born again from above. The rea-
scn men should become Christians is not because
they are likely TO die this year, but because
they are likely TO live. Give your hearts TO Him
In the days of your youth. The Bible does not
urge men to accept of religion simply because
they may die. 1t calls on them to think upon
their latter end; but the suggestions calling them
10 God are not based upon that alone. The old
Rdage of the harvest field is to work while the
sun shines, and not to put it off until the night
eometh, when no man can work. Out of this
great privilege snatch the grand boon of achieve-
ment. Those live best who accept Christ earliest.
Goodness is profitable in all things, having the
promise of all that now is. and OF all that which
Is to come.
We sometimes hear the phrase that if
there Is no hereafter, religion is a
good thing anyhow. The Old Testament's
promises are largely promises of the present
life, though referring to the life to come, and if
you take a generalization of these things you
must gay that the man whose life is regulated
by Christian principle has a great advantage
here. 1t promotes his health by keeping him
from dissipation; it promotes economy by saving
him from needless extravagances; it promotes
his happiness and peace of mind by saving his
conscience from bitter memories and aecusa-
lions. Those who are moral without religion
have been benefited by the influences of the
Il ACHSNNAs " NPNN $500
lives by the religion of the Christian get
the most of good out of the pres
emit. This religion requires no sacrifice
Of manhood, no giving up of any great principle;
degrades no man. 1t raises up all who possess
IL and ennobleS them. Life In the main is I'M
satisfactory. A young man starts out thinking
he is going to have q good time, fun, days and
nights of enjoyment. Work to him. is a drudg-
cry, but he soon learns that this is only a pass
ing hour in the day. Disappointment and dis
ease soon come upon him. Life consists of bust
ness pursuits, of amusements, of intellectual en-
deavor. There is more to get out OF life than its
mere incidents. No man in the great mining
region sets up a smelling works to get the lead
chat is mixed with the gold and silver.
1t is the precious metals that are desired;
so the eXceiiencies in our moral nature are the
great desideratum. We are called upon for
.haraeter, for deeds of kindness, for good to be
lone to our fellow-man; for gentleness. patience,
aonesty. Christianity gives a dignity to life as
one standing on the borders of Immortality. /
10 not says man can not learn to read and write
after he is sixty years old, but he would never
learn it as he could have done in his youth; be-
ides he would have had the benefit of the
knowledge during q long life. Religion
should be put on the same plane of
neasonableness. Because You expect to
live, is the very reason you should address
yourself to the requirement of that character
which can only come with the religion of Christ.
One can not expect good -four to be ground from
had grain. Death is but q sort of mill through
which we are all put. So life goes ont of the
hopper of death into the other world stamped
with the qualities it has acquired here. AS
man sows so shall he also reap. To accept these
things early makes lives of usefulness to God
and man. | would rather have my chances of
glory with Paul than with the poor thief on the
gross. There are some people who will get to
heaven and yet have no crowns, and some will
wear crowns without jewels and yet others will
wear crowns that will fash radiance from jewels
Of great glory.