Morning journal and courier., 1888-10-08
HIS FIRST SERMON i.

Rev. Edward ms P0tea8 Commences
 His Duties as Pastor of she Calvary
 Baptist Church-A Large OonGrega-
 ton and am Excellent Sermon.
 Rev. Edward M. Poteat began his duties as pastor of the Calvary Baptist church yester
 day. Mir. Poteat is from Baltimore, and he
 was one of the leading divines of that city.
 He will hold the same distinction here. The
 church was filled in the morning. He took
 for his text Numbers xii, 38, and xxiv, 13.
 "Bsd men," he said, 'fsometimes cherish
 sublime sentiments. Sublime sentiments are
 not always proof of sublime character. nor
 do false sentiments always argue for bad
 character. Human nature is tissue of false
 and sublime sentiments. Some of the sub
 finest words in the Bible were spoken by
 bad men.
 'Balaam said: If Balak give me his house
 full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the
 commandment of the Lord but what the
 Lord saith, that will speak
 'sSuch sentiment deserves to be restored
 now and warmly cherished by us all. Loy-
 atty to God is demanded in the Christian life of this hour. If God has spoken to men it means that they shall hear. And he has spoken to them through the Bible. stThere are two reasons which as l see them make this demand necessity. First, the indifference and positive unbelief, and second, the support which this indifference receives at the hands of Christian churches and preachers.
 tsSince the Reformation the Christian church has presented two lines of develop ment-evangelical development and rational istic order in criticism of life. People talk lightly of the Bible. Men question the in- spiration of it. They say it has good code of morals and is good book of history, but good history and morals you can find in any of the sacred books of the east. These men don't believe now that there is such thing as eternal punishment and what the Bible says partakes of the limitations of time. f'This indifference and positive unbelief is seconded by Christian churches and people; by churches in the adoption of interruptions methods of doing Christian work in disregard of Bible methods. If we are sent to do Christian work we should do it in @ Christian way. If we go beyond this issue we do not do Christian work, but something else. "Until people and churches commit them- selves to the simplicity of apostolic methods the work of Christ will fail.
 "Conditions have changed, says the preach er This class of preachers study the newspa- pers and the daily review They are neglect fuI of studvinp up the best way of giving to their people the Christian solution of the biz ble The adoption of such course is prac- tical concession of the weakness of Christian work Do not misunderstood me. It is necessary to read the newspapers and daily reviews, but not to the detriment of present. \ ing the truths of the bible.
 fit is to correct the methods of new creeds that Christian ministers preach the Bible. People are hungry as never before to hear the truth of the book given to them. The Bible may have on it the duet of antiquity, but it has the fragrance of the last morning at it's lips. The popular preacher is the one that RIS ko kha Bible means fresh study, while false inter- pretation of it means disloyalty. Every age and individual needs to study the Bible afresh. It is the freshest book we have. What we need is to call of the mind from new creeds that have been formulated to 8 \ fresh study of the Bible. We want to see all looking at it like children.
 "What does this mean to me? In the time of the reformation it delivered the minds of war from eccliastical slavery, and at other times it has saved churches that were ready to die. So many are now looking away from the book. It is being slowly revealed in our day. I was in conversation with great pro lessor of psychology some time ago. He said new Bible could be made. It's makers must look for the deepest needs of human nature. ' They must look all the world over and get their views of men as to the fundamental ism of all classes of men, then boil these views down SO close as to eliminate all local
 significance, leaving only the universal. They must then set about to put it in words, and when done it would be a Bible, this learned professor said. That is advanced science.
 "Such a sentiment as this from so educated 8 man makes me believe it possible as never before to give the inter pretation of this book so as to lift it up to the culture of our time. The bible shall through us shine as of old.
 "We want the deepest reconciliation be- tween this book and your heart. And what ness of using short verses and little notices from the bible for addresses known as ser
 mons shall cease.
 'sThe spirit means life. When 1t is got ten, there shall be salvation. If give you my thoughts they may be false. I teach it as it is revealed to me in this book, and not as think.
 "From your point of view what does loyal ty to God meant It means the unquestiona- ble and unhesitating devotion to the truth of the bible.
 s'Whatever course 1t marks out we must fol- low. We give only half-hearted acceptance of the book. We do not lay our hearts bare. We lead a half Christian and hybrid life; just a little Christian and the other more than half as quacks.
 My wish for this church is that it commit \ itself without fear to prove that Bible meth ods are the only true ways for the salvation of our souls and the souls of all men. If you \ do that, there will be no fear as to what will ! follow. There will be no fear as to your in | terest in the sermons.
 "Promise me social position, promise me A ! financial position here or in this world if you will. But won't be bought of from Gods ! word. Let that be the sentiment of you all. ' \