The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-02

verse Of the ninth chapter of the Acts, was on
"Our Work In Life Referring 70 the lessons
God teaches mankind. he said the most I'M
portant are not formulated in proposition, put
are given la story, parable and incident Inc
text, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that
appeared unto thee in the way as thou earnest,
hath sent me, that thou migntest receive thy
sight and be filed with the Holy Ghost is the
substance of the whole lesson taught in that
chapter Saul was intensely religious but mis-
taken; earnest but misguided. He wanted to
exterminate Christianity, and to destroy IL root
and branch. The idea that ne followed is not
lost IN these days, when 1T is thought physical
force can overcome great moral reform. We
cannot believe that Saul was not without thought
on this new religion. He had read the prophets
and had witnessed incidents OF the progress of
Christianity. But he became feverish in his un-
certainty, and his uncertainty grew he re-
sorted to violence. Whenever you find man
violent he is not certain of his faith. When he
asked the question, "God who art thou7n he
found his mission and began at once to take his
part in history.
The lesson is not difficult It shows that God
has work for every one to do. He prepares the
work and workmen We are often tempted to
think we are OF little account in this world, and
just IN proportion as we entertain that thought,
so we become worthless A realization of our
worthlessness brings with it the consciousness
that our mission is gone. Does God take any
less pains with the rose flower because it is to
live for day? Does He take less pains with the
wings of the fya He prepares the way for our
work. The carved stick borne on the waves
of the sea- the floating story, the ltal-
ian genius, the secret of the load
stones power and the King and Queen of
Spain, all essentials, far apart from each other,
led to the discovery Of America. They were
nothing but parts of Gods plan in preparing for
that great event
The law of human happiness is to have some
good thing to do and the power to Go it. There
is no real happiness outside Of this law. Ones
ability to increase his $4,000 per year to 1000
gives him happiness but if it falls from $l2, 900
to $4,000 he is miserable. The preacher then
dwelt upon the thought that our work comes
to US more through the heart feeling and
searching after it than through any intel
lectuality. But in this selfishness is found to be
the greatest obstacle. Ninety-nine out of every
hundred are ready to follow Christ, but they ask
to do certain things first Again. we like to do
romantic work, such as will make story, one
that will read we'll in the papers, yet many
man and woman 60 humbly through life with
steadfast purpose to sustain them. They are
content in the belief they are doing Gods will.
He believed God calls some to preach, others to
teach in the Sunday school, to sing in the church,
and yet others to make money for him, but
there is desire to keep all the honor and profit
and allow God mono. There are opportunities
for us to do work, but the trouble is, we do not
seize them. God makes great things out of lit
tie afaigs He never promotes his workmen at
once Thus we must learn the lessons of hui
for promotion. Greatness is more in type than
in fame more in being true than in being talked
about From this he drew the lesson of content
ment with conditions, humility in work and
faithfulness to Co.'s purpose
DR.. Sims preached last night to an overflow
ing house, at Central-aYenue Church, despite
the intense heat. His text was taken from the
account Of the healing of the blind mana
man called Jesus made clay and put it on mine
eyes, and told me to go to the pool of Sloan
and wash; and went and washed and received
my sight" The theme Of the sermon was the
virtue of implicit obedience to the commands of
Christ. There were two lines of argument
open to the blind man. One was to say, as
would the materialists of the present day, that
there was no efficacy in the clay or in the pool,
and that the command was all humbug. The
best thing to do would be to go to the nearest
pool, wash the dirt off his eyes, and resume his
place at the gate OF the temple, and beg the
balance of his natural life. The other course
was to say, that Jesus had healed the sick,
raised the dead, made the deaf to hear and
the lame to walk; He has divine pow
er. l will do what He told me
to do. This course the blind man
adopted, and the result was that he could say
Il went, washed, and received my sight" I'M
plicit obedience to the commands of Christ is
the highest philosophy; it is the path of safety.
God knows men, He knows the world and what
they have TO contend with. He knows their
destiny, the society for which they are intended
and how to fit them for that company. He
knows sin and the remedy for sin. No one
knows so we'll as God, and hence implicit obed-
ence to His commands is the dictate of the high
est prudence and the demand Of Christian 10y
atty. The sermon was full of the illustration
and pertinent incident which is SO characteristic
of DR.. Sims. and which Is large factor in the
remarkable popularity of his ministry. The
music by the choir Of young people was unusu
ally good. and the large number of young people
present attracted DR.. Sims's attention, and was
alluded to more than once during the service
The visit of Dr. Sims to Indianapolis, brief as it
was, served to show him that his memory has
not faded from the minds of the people, who
love aud honor him.
MASS MISSIONARY MEETING.