New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-09
SERMONS WORTH KEEPING.
XII.
THE KIND OF CHRISTIANS NEEDED.
WORDS OF WISDOM FROM THE REV. II. T.
M'EwEN OF THE FOURTEENTH STREET

|
Secondary and Fourteenh-st. The Sinday-schooi
Of the church Is noted far and wide for its excellent
systematic bcneicence Mr.. McEwen was born In
| Mercer Penn, I'm 1851. He was graduated from
Western Reserve College. Cleveland. Ohis In IS, and
fitted for the ministry at Union Theological Seminary
lie wa ordained IN 1881, and for number of yeais
had charge Of the Chapel Of the Covenant lie has
been in the Fourteenth street Church fer years
He took for his text Yesterday morning Peter III,
10 and 10. But sanctfy In your hearts Christ as
Lord being ready always to give answer 10 every
man that asketh you reason concerning the nope
that is in you. yet with meekness and fear having
good conscience" lie said
Few names by which a Christian IS ever called
arc ar once so welcome and so inspiring AS that OF
soldier II agrees with the last command OF tho
Gospel to eye9y Creature for that mcsnt spiritual
conquest. Conquest of whatever sort IT be must be
the figures of which Paul IS so fond We are to put
on the whole arnlor Of God. every pcce Of which he
names, and having done ALL to stand. II describes
admirably the experience of ;he Christian. whether
tnat experience be gained IN his struggles with him
IL be gained in the field of Christian activity in en-.
dcavonng TO carry the truth TO others IS harl
constant. The Is happy one, too, when you
look over the world and see at work in very Held
for Chrisf "N''" az e"u'"'o''"s u '''0 ''' WIN
In army there are three questions ofvery great
Importance: tho enlistment OF troops, their cup
msnt with uniforms and arms, and their discipline;
which embraces the two phases of the manual II
|
Now, whatever may be the In other lands than
nnr own, it certainly is true that in own county
here IS one church member out of every five of our
population. greatest present need for aggressive
york Is not numbers, but efficieTy. not quantity
hut quality. If look also At the matter Of equip
mont. we must arrive at the same conclusion Bibles.
tons OF every sort every need these every
nand. and the few persons who Il an them arc active
to rare degree. We need to get more of those who
are already enlisted out of the awkward squad into
the ranks Of trained troops. Let US say, In all kind
| M truth fhuf loEn xrbn an.
iEac tive because they Indifferent 10 tho prom
iSes they have made so much as they 40 NOT Know
how TO get at work, even what work is expected
OF them.
sANcTIFICATION NECESSARY FOR EFFICIENCY.
Efficiency in the ranks is the thought with which
Peter is here struggling. lie was writing 10 men and
women who were face to face with difficulty in them
selves and in the world they were Obliged TO meet
10 make Them individual Christians. str0n ger, and
develop them workers, is thu purpose of his writ
ing. May the Holy spirit guide and inspire us in the
study and application of thesf woris. as He did
Peter H. writing them.
First. sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord I
prefer here the reading Of the revised version ana
shall me It: Three words may help us 10 seeing
something Of what is meant in this phrase. Sanctiy
from The same root our saviour uses In The Lord
lrayer when he says " lIalOvfd be Thy name
Here. there, it would seem TO mean that we arc
TO halow. or as 1t i sometimes rendered revere OF
ycneraic Christ as Lord. IL Would seem to carry
In it, flness OF meaning also tie idea Of cOnsccrai
ing Christ as Lord In our hearts Lord means owner
the seat OF affection. love. Plotting 1t all together
again. We have something like the following; ConSc-
crate and revere Christ owner. master, p0SscsS0r
IN your deepest love or affection, Christ Is to be
first Christ Is to be ALL not only in thought, but IN
love and life. We have cnthrOned Him I'm our ncnrt
as owner master. because we lovd Him. 1t is NOT
surrenderlng 70 conquerng enemy, but giving TO
Such love and surrender this begcts devotion.
The child has the mothers heart Wholly hence inc
light Of her eye the matchess tcnde OF her voice.
the profound emotions of her soul. and her nweary
Ing and unnnching sacrifice. Speakmot of cost where
second, be ready always 10 give answer TO every
that askcth you a reason concerning the hope
duty which he owes to his Master and to himself,
who OF Us has not now and again been forced
to admit that our reasons not as clear they
ought be for the sake of the seeking light We
| are not strong as We should like TO be in either
defence of the truth or in spreading it. abroad. There
| Is certain timdity which leads MS to render such
in1ulrcrs to the pastor of the elders There
NAV be decided loss 10 ourselves and the inquirer
in This method. He may not be ready to ask ques
ons of or unfold his troubles TO another as he is TO
YOU YOU too are losing an opportunity OF ;tfehg, n
with rel renee tp this matter that tho trouble may De
found in the fact that you have never given as clear
reasons 10 yourself yOu ought TO have given! II
your feet in the sand or mire, you VIII ma IL
hard work to place Others on the rock If your
thought has not been clear your speech cannot De
convincing
BIBLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
have been much interested In and helped by some
of the answers which find given fn difficult ques-
ton, in The New Testament. Their clesrncss and com
prehenson shows previous thought and meditation.
Christ's question to Martha Believest thou this -
brings from her the answer. " Yea Lord; have be-
leycd that Thou are the Christ the son Of God.
| lie that cOmeth into the world When Christ asks
| the apostles If they also would 20 away. Peters an
his IS an intelligent faith which has questions in
! his own soul first and answered th"m TO whom
! shall we 90? Thou hast the words Oh "Ftnal ne.
! and we have believed and know that Thou are the
Holy one Of Cod Neither the earthquake nor thu
threatened suicide Of the jacr so confuSes Paul that
inquirer falling at his feet Eclleyc on the Lord
Jesus and thou shalt be saved and thy house II
/ hon Uha he
| that hi answer was 50 distinct . w..
Rcvivals. such as Peniecost. We're new TO Peter;
but when the induiicrs asked him what they ShoFl
do. the answer ready ard pertinent Repent
We. and hc baptized every on" of you IN the namf OF
be general impression abroad that thristlanS
! ar people who accept what thoy are tod without
souls Will be put of in this way; DO not make
mistake here The world Is not asking for laborcd
faith The shelves Of Libraries are full of those. It
wants from You the reason which has been convincing
mysteries Of The kingdom Of God. Eye and ear,
however are very keen TO discover that the words
yo peak voice ne CONVICTION OF T. III not forgive
ness Of sin here aud now, and after death eternal
o win Christ and cod on whft cne' a .l' hPp9
little. OF one thing are very sure. There
of sin there Is guilt both conscience and Bible toll
rs this because Of guilt dread to meet God. yer
place i'm our constitution At this point we are met
by Jesus Christ. who claims 20 De ih' HVT vi w
ana tells of salvation tlibU-n lhl II -
docs more than claim 10 be III" son OF Go1. lie
proves Himself 10 be the of God by His lfe HIS
reaching His works His death, His reSlrieclioh us
ascension. No man, set OF mrn couh nave
devised such series of convincing events -, ,,u,o
These statements and claims were MAD" az tlnH
when n was of the utmost importance 10 overthrow
them. They not dISproved then. thry nave nor
been disproved since. though every sy1ape mas Deen
scanned by rhe kccncSt minds the woHd has ever
known. search the Word. pray for light mediate on
these great themes As with the early disciples. 50
now clcarncss of answer and depth of feeling VIII
come whore there has been earneS'ness Oh tnought
and consideration.
STRENGTH NOT IL NUMBERS
Thirdly. with meclness and fear having a good
conscience a valuable lesson NAV be learner al This
time when We are anxious 10 win me world 10
Christ from ihe carly disciples Notice how much
~ tber tboupbt tends 10 the development. discipline
81 The recently enlisted soldiers Of Christ. They
not only sought converts, they also trained Christians
rbe strength Of the Christian army depends not only
on It's numbers Il depends also on the spirit OF rs
U mt clause 10 which giving