Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-03-12
"BE BORN AGAIN"
An Excellent Discourse bV Mr.
Moody.

Moody.
Fully 1000 people assembled In the
Pavilion last night to listen to Mr.. Dwight
L. Moodv's defamation against sin, and,
forewarned by the experiences of Sun
dav. those who wanted to enjoy rest
during the services arrived half an hour
before the time set for the opening Of
the meeting. The stage presented
an unusually attractive appearance
for it was handsomely decorated
with large basket of lilies
of the valley in the center fanked
by smaller stands on either side.
The chairs on the platform we're occupied
by representative clergymen from nearly
all the churches in the city, there being
also room for large chorus and the
special orchestra and singers who
travel with Mr.. Moody. The services
opened with number of prayers
and hymns, duets being sang at
intervals in charming style by
Miss A. d. Boole and Mr.. J. G. Stebbins.
The first announcement by Mr.. Moody
was regarding the services for the NOR
row, which are to be Bible lecture on
Assurance" at P. NJ, and sermon in
the evening at o'clock. Those who, at
the close of any of the meetings, desired
to confer with Mr.. Moody on spiritual
matters, were requested to enter the
rooms on either side of the main en-
trance, where they would be waited upon
at once. The preacher then gave his
text from the third chapter of st. John,
part of the third verse, Except a man
be born again he cannot see the king
dom of God"
"There is no more important truth
than that of this new life," said the ora
tor. "Man cannot buy, weep or pray bis
way into heaven--he must be got
in by God. The greatest Joy
that l have experienced during my
life of fifty yearg was when
was born again, and am sometimes as
tonished at how men can remain in their
sins. But some of the churchmen, as
well as others, are in the fog on this doc.
trine. Going to church is not being
saved, for there is no more regular at
tender at Divine services than Satan :;
he is always the first there, and, in fact,
drops in and takes look around before
tie church is dedicated"
AT this point late arrival
walked up the center aisle and caused a
general turning of heads in that direc-
ton. "There you are, "cried Mr. Moody.
"there is proof that Satan is here, for
when that lady walked along he distract
ed your attention to her SO that your
thoughts would be turned away from
God"
Resuming his subject, he said, "Some
of the greatest villains and ras-
Gals we have in our midst 90
to church, with the hopes, no doubt, of
covering up their rascality thereby. The
fact of going to church is only an incl
dent, for even when there you can say
your prayers without praying. Again,
baptism is one thing, and regeneration is
another. My friends, many man has
been shipwrecked because he put too
much faith in these ordinances. Even
when you have made good resolutions the
no doubt that if all the good resolu-
tions made and broken by this audience
were put on paper it would take fourteen
mules to drag the manuscripts away. If
man has got bad heart, no amount
of patchwork will fix it up any more
than manuring and attending to crab
apple tree would make ordinary apples
of the fruit. One might as we'll
paint the pump which pumps
up bad water, or whitewash
the fence around pesthouss as attempt
to get good and pure heart by patch
work devices. Would anyone, think you,
like to have photograph of their heart
taken and shown around or placed on
exhibition in window? I expect not.
Now will tell what it is to be born with
this new life. 1t is to receive Christ and
become partaker of the divine nature
for with that you can break your letters
of sin and walk abroad like Samson.
All things are possible to God and,
although, a man be in the gutter to-
night, bowed down by sin, he can have
the load taken off if he will only turn to
God. We must do so if we want to reach
heaven, for God DEGREES that the only
way to his kingdom is to be born again."
During his sermon Mr.. Moody narrated
many interesting anecdotes in manner
that proved how we'll capable he is of
swaying the hearts of multitude. His
language throughout all of his orations is
simple and earnest, and not even the
most illiterate could complain of not un-
derstanding him. At the conclusion of
the sermon there was prayer service,
to which about two-thirds of the congre-
cation remained.