Wichita eagle., 1888-03-29
THE WAY OF LIFE.
A Bible Reading Last Night by Rev. q. W.
Hurlbuts.

| The Baptist church was again filled with
earnest listeners when the evangelist arose
to speak on the theme, "The Way of Life,
| or What Must I Go to be Saved?" The
| speaker, with more than usual eloqnence
| and earnestness, addressed himsrlf to his
| theme. Instead of appearing worn and
weary of daily and nightly services, Mr..
| Hurlbutt seems to increase in power and
expression. He is man of strong physi-
| cal endurance and his bible talk last night
| demonstrated more than any sermon here
tofore his native force Of expression and
energy He said that his theme
| included the philosophy of eter-
nal life, and most clearly
he showed this theory is built upon the
| immutable word Of God Many times the
speaker would become so enthusiastic as
| to step to one side and then the other of
the pulpit, and with emphatic gesture Of
hand and head drive home the truth to the
heart of saint and sinner alike
The Bible reading was conducted like a
great Bible class composed of the whole
congregation. Questions were given and
answers were returned in an unusually
intelligent manner The passages named
would be read, illustrating the particular
theological principle. The first question
was, "How many kinds of life do we at
tribute to man!' The answer
was two. the temporal and
the eternal, or the physical and
the spiritual. Some men object to the
bible statement of the origin OF man.
Since have been here in Wichita l have
hna fI11 l, I Al, l.
jector what have you better?" Evident
ley he was not expecting such question
and he remained in silence. Let US see
what the bible says about the origin of
man: And the Lord God formed man of
the dust of the ground, and breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life; and man he
came living soul" This is better than
any theory of man. Next the speaker
showed how this life is preserved and how
God superintends all things for the good
of his creatures Some think we live as
matter of course; but this is not true for
the brittle thread of life would be severed
were it not for Gods constant care.
The speaker showed that the source and
originator of both temporal and spiritual
life is God, and that taken Of as physical
life is nourished by the food and drink
partaken, SO the soul must feed ON God.
"Whosoever eats my flesh and drinks my
blood hath eternal life. and will rise him
up at the last day" The flesh and blood
here alluded to are fgurtively used for
Christ on another occasion says, 'The
flesh profits nothing it is the spirit which
quickens." 1t is the great doctrine pre-
sented in Christ's work and the great sac
rifice so freely offered for us when he
eXpiated our sins on Calvary that quickens
the sluggard soul to life, whatsoever
receiveth Christ receiveth life" He then
that rejects this sacrifice rejects spiritual
and eternal life as surely as he who rejects
food thereby consents and wills to die.
Eye will not come unto me that We might
have life" Christ was pointed out as the
embodiment OF all truth and the sinners
only hope, Il am the way, the truth, and
the life" There is none other name
given under heavenAor among men where
by We must be saved" And such is the
power of Christ, and so intimately is he
connected with all we are or can hope to
be that we must take him at his word, test
his promises and prove his worth. Saliva
ton can never be secureds except on the
believeth not on the Son can not see life"
The evangelist further showed the weak
ness of the law and the insufficiency of
morality only, as a saving power, and
drew vivid picture of the joys accruing
from an acknowledgment of sin and life
spent in blessing others. He portrayed
the conscious harmony arising in the new
born soul on the PERCEPTION of his new and
tender relations to the great world of in
finate love. "All the universe OF God is
laid under tribute to pour a perfect
Niagara of bliss upon the redeemed SOUL
Eternal life is a gift of almighty power,
but the wrath Of God abideS on those
who wilfully reject it. The earnest
cry of every new born spirit to those yet in
darkness is Come, and taste and see" In
a thrilling description the speaker next
summoned the witnesses of heaven, earth
and hell-God, Christ, the spirit, redeemed
sonls, lost spirits, Satan and the sinners
own soul-to declare in one solemn word
the sinners invitation, his duty and his
doom. Rev. %: L.
After brief, feeling exhortion full of
pity for any so blind as to stumble on into
the dark pit of despair, the speaker in
Vited all to flee the wrath to come. Several
the call and flee as to a rock of
refuge The Christians of the congrega
ton gathered in body in front of the
platform and engaged in a service of song
and praise.
Services for tomorrow include morning
service at $50 a. M, inquiry meeting at
$50 D. m, and preaching at 80.