Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-11-22
MYSTERY OF GOD
MANIFEST IN THE FLESH, JUSTI.
FLED In The SPIRIT,
Seen of Angels, Preached Unto the
Gentiles, Believed on in the World,
Received into Glory.


sermon preached yesterday morning at the
African Methodist Episcopal Church,
Seventh street, between G and II, by their
pastor, Rev. Jordan Allan. His text was
the sixteenth verse of the third chapter of
Paul's first epistle to Timothy: "And
without controversy GREATS the mystery OF
godliness God was manifest in the flesh,
justified in the spirit, seen of angels,
preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in
the world, received up into glory"
The Apostle Paul was at one time known
as Saul of Tarsus. Before his conversion
he went forth to crush the Chris
tan world, and destroy the power
of God. He was a native OF
Tarsus, one of the chief cities of Syria,
bordering on the shores of the Mediter-
ranean Sea. He was brought up in the
schools of that city, which, at that time,
was noted for its educational institutions,
particularly its schools of eloquence He
was Roman citizen, Hebrew by birth, a
descendant of Abraham through the tribe
of Benjamin. After completing his educa-
tional course in Tarsus he removed with his
father to Jerusalem, where he commenced
the study Of law under the tutorship of
one of the greatest legal minds of the age.
His father was a Pharisee-one of the
strictest of the sect. He was taught the
languages, and also the trade of tent max
ing. 1t was customary in those days to
give every child, in addition to an educa-
| ton, trade, so if at any time through life
they were thrown upon their own re-
sources, they had a trade to which they
could turn their attention to, and not be
dependent on others for support.
NOTWITHSTANDING PAULs GREAT ABILITY
And superior education he followed his
trade considerable portion of the time
prior to his going into the ministry Ow-
ing TO his parental training, he was so strict
a Pharisee that he believed all should be-
lieve as he did, and his efforts were to make
the world believe that way.
The language of the text should be di-
vided into seven different parts. First,
great is the mystery of goliness. Second,
He was manifested in the flesh. Third,
justified in the spirit Fourth, seen OF
angels. Fifth, preached unto the Gen.
tiles. Sixth, believed on in the world.
Seventh, received up into glory.
God, in his wise will, arranged plan for
the salvation of the human family; plan
whereby men could be saved from their
sins. Regarding this mystery, we are told
it was kept in wise council, and even kept
from the angels, who were commanded to
go forth and do His will. The astronomer
tries to figure out the movements of the
planets, and when he has gone to the fullest
extent of his ability, and contemplates the
worlds in space beyond his reach or COM
prehension, he comes back to the language
of the text, and says,
GREAT is THE MYSTERY OF GOODNESS.
Take the phrenologist who studies the
science of the different functions of the
brain: When he has followed it as far as
he can, he says great is the mystery of god
illness. The psychologist, " no studies the
structure of the human body, dissects the
different parts, goes into critical examina-
ton of the vital organs, he comes back
to the first proposition of the text, and says
great is the mystery of goodness. The
theologist, who pretends to know most
about God, who studies Gods nature and
designs, finds 1t necessary to go near to the
throne in order to understand the hidden
mysteries which God keeps in his own
counsel. When the theologist has gone to
the fullest extent of his ability, he comes
back and says great is the mystery of god
illness. God is the great lawgiver and the
! ruler of the universe. All that is neces-
sary for man to do is to obey and believe in
God, and he will secure eternal life. 1t is
impossible for man to penetrate the mys-
terfes of God. They are as far above him
as the heaven is above the earth. Paul
said q We speak the wisdom of God in
mystery Christ said : 1.-The father hath
shown these things unto me even show
them unto you" On Mount Calvary he
said " Father, have finished the work
thou gayeSt me to do"
GOD is MANIFEST IN THE FLESH,
John said "And the word was made flesh,
and dwelt among US, and we beheld his
glory, the glory as of the only begotten of
the Father, full of grace and truth" 1t
was Gods well arranged plan to bring
Christ into the world as we came, so as to
be able to reach the heart of the human
family. The human family had wandered
far from God. Isaiah .ix, 6, says: For
unto US a child is born unto us son is
given and the Government shall be upon
his shoulder; and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, the mighty God, the
everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. y
1t was the design of God to develop this
grand mystery, SO that man would depend
upon him for salvation. God said at the
time of the fall of man that at the expira-
ton of 1000 years he would give his son
for the salvation of man. We are
taught that he came, that he made
himself known as the promised Mes
siah, and the son of the living God
MANIFESTATION.
God justified the act of the baptism of
Christ. st. Matthew said "And Jesus, when
he was baptized went up straightway out
of the water: and 10, the heavens were
opened unto him, and lie saw the spirit of
God descending like dove, and lighting
upon him; and 10. voice from heaven,
saying, This is my beloved son, in whom
l am well pleased"
God was pleased because the necessary
arrangements were made for the salvation
of the world. The doors are wide open.
and the happy gospel gates stand ajar night
and day. God created US for his own glory,
to worship and adore Him, the great Gre
ator of the universe. He has a right to
demand our service. He made man in his
own image, free moral agent. He does
not force man against his will, but he has
told us what must be done to effect our
salvation.
SEEN OF ANGELS.
st. Luke said HAnd suddenly there was
with the angel multitude of the heavenly
host, prsisipg God and saying, Glory be to
God III the highest and ON earth peace, good
will toward men. 1t was an honor to the
world to have the Savior come, and to have
Christ introduced into the world by the
angels as its Savior The angel of God APP
peared unto the shepherds on the plains of
Bethlehem and said, Unto you is born a
Savior who is Christ, the Lord They imme-
diately left their hecks and went into Beth
lehem to see if what God had made known
to them had come to pass. They went
with haste, and found Mary and Joseph
and the baby lying in a manger. The
King said, When you find the child bring
me word, that /, too, may worship him.
The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph
in dream, saying, Arise end take the
young child and his mother and fee into
Egypt. and be thou there until
| bring thee word, for Herod will
seek the young child to destroy him. -
Christ remained in Egypt until after the
death of Herod. Christ was 80 years of age
when he was baptized by John. This was
his initiation into the priesthood. The
water was the outward sign of inward
purity-the heart. He was then led into
| the wilderness and tempted bv Satan forty
days and nights, when the adversary left
him and the angels came and ministered
| to his wants. After the crucifxion, when
Christ's sepulcher was guarded by seventy
| two sentinels, angels came, rolled away the
| stone al the end ofthe third day and Christ
came forth and was seen by many in the
garden. He appeared afterward to his