The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-13
THE REIGN OF GRACE.
THE ATTRIBUTE THAT MAKES SAL
WALTON EASY 10 THE SINNER.
Synopsis OF the Sermon by the Rev. Dr.
Ewd. Parker, OF Manchester, England
at the First Baptist Church Yesterday
Morning erushing Attendance.

was for "mororooin." II prevailed 10 III
most as great an extent as on the first day |
OF the convention, when two or three nun
bred were turned away. The celebrated
educator and divine, DR.. Edward Parker,
President Of the Baptist College at Man
chester, England, who carried the con-
vention at pleasure on Saturday, was an
nounced 10 preach at the morning service.
This announcement was equivalent 10
certain test OF the First Church ediiice's
capacity.
At IL a. m. DIR. w. T.. Hatcher read the
scripture lesson, but previous TO that time
the congregation had brought itself up to
the spirit of the occasion by Informally
singing three or four OF the most inspiring
hymns After prayer by DR.. G. Durham,
OF North Carolina, Pastor Nenable pre-
scented DIR. Parker. The distinguished
visitor is one of those fine specimens OF
well preserved English manhood, OF
medium hight, portly and with face full
Of beneyolence and piety. AS such,
nothing was more natural than that lac
should at once rivet the attention OF his
audience, and, being n scholar and pulpit
orator OF high degree the attention never
wayered until the last tone OF his voice in
the discourse had died away and DR..
Hatcher raised the tune Of" Amazing Grace,
How Sweet the Sound, which the entire
congregation took up and sung through
with powerful, eXacting volume.
DR.. Parker took his text from Romans,
V. u: THAT ms sin hath reigned unto
death, even so might grace reign. through
righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus
Christ our Lord" This text, rs you will
observe, said the speaker embraces two
dispensations, those OF law and gospel. II
was TO the latter that attention was d-
rected-the gospel dispensation or reign
OF grace. Grace is the full favor OF God
favor to wicked, worthless, unworthy
mankind. Free grace, rs people fire.
quently referred 20 II, is Objectionable and
misleading; il implies that there is grace
other than free, an implication maniiestly
erroneous Grace must DO free to be grace
at all IL reigns through righteousness
unto eternal lie, through Jesus Christ our
Lord In all good governments on earth
II is Justice that reigns, the chief magis-
trate is invested only with the prerogative
of grace. With God 1t is otherwise. OF
all his attributes grlce makes his char
actcr the most lovable; IL commands our
confidence and inspires our love. Grace
rcigns in the interest OF fallen man, over
all but not for all. II does not reign for
devils, nor docs il reign for the unsinning
angels. though many benefits are obtained
by them througli its supremacy. IL rcigns
lor poor, weak man, Tor you and me.
There is mystery In that, but IN our be-
half. and helps to explain other facts that
Appear incXpliclblc. Without u We would
never understand the constant care and
kindness 10 the inhabitants Of the earth,
despite their unlaithiulness. Two-thirds
OF ihosc inhabitants are full OF sin, IN re-
bcllion against Ills power and authority,
, vet lie continues 20 shower His mercy and
/ loving kindness npon them. You, nor J.,
. nor anyone else can explain this except by
, the TACT that grace rcigns II IS also
the sccrct Ol the deep aud continual inter.
. ct angels take In Christians and in
q churches How Is II we are out Of hell?
, Il Is because grace, not justice, reigns.
! God, In his gracious loyeand mercy. oilers
. the blacklist sinner out OF hell pardon, II
he will only accep., trust In aud love Him.
La Ills word we are likcncd unto sheep
going as,ray, and We all know that when
sheep stray they never find their way back
except through the intervention OF kind,
loving shepherd Other animals may, but
, sheep. never. Gle that comoth unto Me
viii In no wise cast out. Is the promise
, our Shepherd has given, and through that
, promise millions have been aud are daily
/. being constrained 10 come unto Him. "ln
my country" SAID DR.. Parker, Il Is the
: custom OF loyal subjects TO refer TO the
|. Queen ~ Her Most Gracious Majesty.
!. Well, there IL found an insupcrablo dill
: Guilty Ia constituting this literally. IL Ger
= tlinly doesn't moan that all who desire
n can approach her with confidence thai
= whatever Il desired can bc obtained. In
|. fact. ahc Is 30 hcmmed In 10y pOmp aud
ID dignity that we common people can hardly
"A ppt 10 her Mt all. With God Il Is entirely
II different We can g 20 him every h0ul
i and minute OF our lives and obtain bless
ings by the asking. lie holds court day
4 and night for ms. IL Is this attribute %
,. grace In Ills character that fills hcayeI
!, with wonder, he'll with awe, aud earil
% will hope aud ioy-gracc roIgnsl'
n Grace rcigns through the mcdiatorin
"A firhtrousness Of the Lord Jesus Chris
= against the disobodicncc that brough
u death. The Scriptures give Il, too, a.
N completed righteousness, spotlcss anI
~ pyprlarine- rObc Of Christ isovcr new
,c Grace removes all obstacles to the FREQ OK
M crci-o Of free favor. without u iusiic
n would be- doiraudcd, the law dishonorcd
M truth violated, ana sin encouraged. Al
n. these are mot and completely removed b
le lis righteousness. Standing Ia that right
h cousncs.. the sinner can challenge justice
In holiness, truth, aud every attribute in th
in divine character Tor a rcason why diyin
I'm favor should not bc bestowed upon him.
M The discourse was accepted by the vas
ill CONGREGATION o. pure, simple gospel SCI
mon. delivered la the simplest, yet mo-
inprcssiye Language aud manner, th
good results from which they believe vii
be- iclt tor many days.
The services were rendered more III
nv, lyhtiul by the fnc and appropriate mhs
To" by the choir. led by Mrs laura Bpnhai
AZ the organ, add her husband with co
mot. A magniiicAi "llallcluiah" W,
we'll sung ~ a volpmary, and Mrs. Hem
llorry, one Of Wcstwccte,t voiced sopmn,
rf. tho city can bossl, sung the oner,ory, vii
organ and corncv accompaniment Mr.
In. Rerry's name Sss Inadvertently omit,
from tho list ofahosc composing the col
for ycnilon choir, published yesterday.
DE-. the hymn staging, done mostly by q
we convention mernbsrs, no choir can exc,
or cyen equal theo.