Morning journal and courier., 1888-03-05
CHRISTIANITY TESTED.
Rev. DIR. Twitchell Delivers an Ell
auenG Discourse at the Dwight PIa

Rev. DIR. TvitcheIl Delivers an Flo
auenL Discourse at the Dwight Place
Congregational Church.
The Dwight Place church was nearly filled
/ last evening, Notwithstanding the bitter cold
| weather, to hear the last of series of SER
mons on christianity Tested" by Rev. Dr.
Twitchell. 1t was eloquent discourse
! DR.. Twitchell took his text from Proverbs
| xiv, 81. The speaker in opening spoke of
the power of Jesus name and of Christiani-
| TVS vast growth and spread. There was that
in Christianity that appealed to the heart of
| the universal man. Its truths compelled ac
| acknowledgement from the scholar and the bar
! barian. It's truths appeal to the human
heart everywhere, in all lands. We are not
idle worshippers. The gospel picture stands
without a rival and the soul of man finds
comfort in it.; God hears prayer and, it opens
up kinship between heaven and earth. He
rules in the realm of providence. When
| hopes are slow and the web of life seems en-
tangled he is sure to right all wrongs. He is
merciful, compassionate, full of fatherly af-
lection, rules in the realm of providence
and is sure to right all wrongs. Such is our
God.
The spirit of charity, forgiveness and hui
man forgetfulness rises into regency and re-
joices. Souls in despair are fostered with
hope, souls in sorrow are set on the summit
of Joy, the impatient are made patient, the
whole heart of Christian man goes heaven
ward. This reformation is by no means uni
versal. 1t is not out of Egypt into Canaan
in single bound The question is not as
the gospel is taken and time is given to do
its work. The Christian always runs after
and does not walk before.
We always find ourselves looking toward
the end, not so much in youth as in our older
| DAYS. We forecast issues They come to us
in h0f PI,o
time will come when we are to close our eyes
and speak our last words. We are thinking
more and more of the great hereafter Death
| is serious thing. What shall the end be?
What shall eternity be? These are questions
that come to us every day. They are an
swered in the gospel over and over again, land
assurances are made that the Christian shall
be triumphant. Before the curtain falls the
glorious scenes of heaven come before our
vision. The Lord said that he She "a go to
prepare place for Us. There is no mystery
about that anticipation of meeting again lost
ones who nave gone before; that last sweet
smile as the spirit wings its flight is not illu-
sion.
There has never been a case of where a
person has regretted being the friend of
Christ You have heard of those who have
never talked of the gospel until they
lay on their deathbed, when they humbly
ask for mercy in prayer. Why not
welcome the messenger and message
now? Private opinion generally expresses a
doubt, but every uncnristian man knows that
he would have his children die in the Chris
tian faith. A concluding evidence of Chris
tianity is it's revelations of blessed immor-
tality. If man die, shall he live again?
Does philosophy answer9 The desire for i'm
mortality is co-extensive in nations. 1t is
woven in the history of the ages. The great
world believes in Immortality. You see days
die and live again; you see the seasons die
and live again; you zee the seed cast appar-
emily dead, and then it spring forth.
Surely their deaths and lives bring forth the
inference that it must be SO with man.
Christianity is not failing on any promises or
pledges, but it is definite: it forms reforms-
tion in its results; it has overcome
all opposition and argument and
all conceivable form of Antagonism; it
originates no difficulty, but removes many;
meets the great needs of the human soul; it
ia wonderful revelation as to motive; it is
sweetness and adorns men and nations; it
gives hope and assurance to the dying hour;
Il In sure to give blissful immortality to all
who are true. Friends, you will never know
the feelings of Christianity until you have
passed over the river of doubt. Burn the
bridge behind you tonight. Join the forces
of the saints. Begin at once on Christian
duties and sweet encouragement will come to
you.