The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-29
THE GOSPEL OF YESTERDAY.
DR.. MAYORS Sermon on the Privileges
and Benefits of a Christian Life.
DR.. Wishard's Discourse on the Religious
Progress of the New South-Rev. Swartz
at Central Christian Church.
The Sermon of DIR. Naylor at Roberts Park
Church Last Evening.

WHERE TO SEEK PROTECTION.
The Sermon of DIR. Naylor at Roberts Park
Church Last Evening.
Rev. a. R. Naylor, D. D., Of Foundry NJ. e.
Church. Washington, d. G., preached last even
ing at Roberts Park NJ E. Church, taking as his
text the familiar one of Matthew vi, SO: But
seek ye first the kingdom of God and His right
eousness and all these things shall be added
unto you"
The Doctor, after citing his text. said the frst
desire of his heart was to say word to two
classes of persons: The first CLASS, that of
Christian people who do not fully estimate the
privileges of Christian character and life. One
of the great lacks of the Christian church to-day
is that of true estimate Of the privileges, bene
fits and mercies of Christian life, which are
divinely vouchsafed to all men and women. If
any one would fully realize the glory Of being
a saved man, it would endanger his usefulness
in this world. So God has not fully revealed
the glory aud greatness of what it is to be
child Of the King
The other class are the unconverted and the
young people, who have never yet taken an esti
mate of what Christian life is, or who think it
life of notwithstanding up all enjoyment and
sapping life Of all its pleasure. These put off
the time Of accepting Christ They postpone
the time Of taking on the somber garment they
think religion to be. The word Kingdom"
In the text is literal translation. How do you
estimate kingdoms and countries? BY the laws
and customs under which their people Lively
which they govern their citizens. A man says
he would not live in Canada because the laws
are not to his liking. Another that he would
not live in the British dominions anywhere, for
those in high places and those in low places are
not governed by like laws Another would not
live in Prussia or Austria, because every young
man has to enter the army. One of the great
facts of this worlds history is the difficulty of
making equitable laws 1t is great truth
that it is next to an entire impossibility to make
laws to bear upon all men alike. 1t is some
thing of this kind that gives rise to the desutory
movements among men in various parts of the
country to-day. Men tonight are discussing
this matter and saying that there are laws for
rich men and other laws for poor men. We have
yet to read the history OF q nation where laws
bear alike upon all men. But the law of the
Lord is perfect, and this can be said of no other
law. Gods kingdom is governed by laws from
the great divine heart OF love and infinite wis
dom, tenderness and kindness. We cannot say
Of any other law that it is perfect This king
dom of grace Is desirable. because here of all
places we get mercy, tenderness and possession,
whether we live IN mansion surrounded by
luxury and wealth in howell. Why should
we not then locate in that kingdomi In
selecting place here in this city to reside, you
are careful about your neighborhood, and the
character of those who are to be about you. Let
US see what the character of Gods citizens are.
1t Is OF the man who loves God supremely, aud
his neighbor as himself we are considering. Can
you imagine nation of such men? Would it
not be a desirable nation in which to dwell? I'M
agine city made up of men who love God su-
premely, and do unto others as they wish others
to do unto them. What city it would be! The
lawyers would have to quit the law, there would
be no policemen, rum-sellers would starve, sick
ness would, In great degree, be extirpated.
The purest, the truest and the noblest are those
who are Gods children, and those whom it is our
privilege to emulate. to grow like unto in char
acter.
Some people brand whole church Of 500
members if there is one bad man in tiff one
man make q blunder or take a step amiss.
Should there be thousand oacksliders. it would
not take away an iota of tho character Of Gods
children. The citizen of Gods country is
lovely character, and it is our duty to become as
much like him as we can. In estimating
country or government we value them by the
ton that can take care of its children is es-
teemed highly, nobly. Bishop Simpson tells an
incident in his own life. He was travelling
through Turkey, and coming to the doors of a
city at nightfal he found them closed. he did
not comprehend the municipal law Of that city
requiring the doors to be closed
at shutdown, and he burst the
door open and with his servant walked
into the city. AS they stepped in the servant
was seized. taken to prison. where he was kept all
night, and the next morning taken out and
scourged with thirty nine stripes Bishop
Simpson went to the American minister to COM
plain. The minister told him he had violated
the law, and that he 1.-THE Bishopl would have re-
ceived the thirty nine stripes had IL not been for
the American flag that protected him. II never
BEFORE" said the Bishop, 'comprehended how
grand a thing my country and her flag was until
then; that her folds shall float even over that
far away Turkish empire and protect me from
insult and injury"
The Doctor then took his audience back in bib
lical history, and showed how God has protect
ed those of his kingdom, beginning With Adam
in Eden, and SO on through the centuries, shell
tering His children and leading them through
dangers manifold. He said he believed there
was more practical inidelity in the church than
out of it. That they sung, and preached, and
prayed about their faith, and then went ont and
began to doubt before they hardly left the thresh
old of the church Tho points of the sermon
were illustrated with well chosen and fitting in
cidents.