The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-13

robes ON and harps in our hands and
crowns on our heads-an everlasting
singing school. The struggles Of this life
aIe put the promise Of the struggle
yonder. There will be the same necessity
Tor effort, development and growth.
Inc spirit OF the age is keyed to the
pltch OF intense earnestness. Business is
earnest, thought is earnest, intense, politi-
cal lille IS Intense, men of God must be
earnest to do faithfully and well the work
10 which they have devoted their lives.
Living itself is sublime. We need before
us the image OF Jesus Christ burning in
our hearts. Denominational differences
ara like plaster on the outside of the struct-
ure OF Truth. but underneath them all is
truth itself-Jesus Christ.
we hear a great deal now OF unbelicf in
what we cannot see or understand. You
didn't see Adam eat the apple in the Gar
den oil Eden, but the greatest proof that it
Is fact is your own characters today
1t ID getting TO be about time for Chris
tan ministers to give up the idea that to
be effective they must be popular and that
to be popular they must be funny. What
we need in this age is n whole-souled.
goodness afiame with spiritual earnest
ness, Your heart is the best part OF you:
It's Gods throne or Satan's. | believe IL
is time the Christian character should be
in the forefront. The sweetest thing in
the world liz a life tinged and gilded with
the character OF Jesus Christ. He was not
aphllosopher, metaphysician. scientist.
Many things are being defined and formu-
lated today into hopeless agnosticism. IL
is not upon intellectual giants that Chris
tianity must rely TO fight it's battles. II is
upon men with pure hearts and earnest
souls ailame with the spirit of Christ and
devoted TO His service, Just as the fire
burns the dross out of gold and reflects
the image OF the operator II Is in pure
heart that Christ's kingdom lies. BLESSED
are the pure in heart for they shall see
| God"
1t is not great learning that is wanted in
Christ's mini1.crs, but great believing;
there should be more resting on Christ aud
lcSs resting on the dictionary, more rest
ing on Christ and less on an educated
ministry. The secret Of John Mason's
success was his blood earnestncss. | don't
wish to be regarded as pessimistic, but /
believe the cause OF Christianity would be
advanced ii we got along with less music,
less accessories, less externals Earnest
ness Is the great need Of the dav A
IOICH
for good or evil in this world.
Doctrine divorced from feeling Is pow
erless. Remember how Jesus made his
teachings pulsate with passion and pathos.
/ IL Is the earnest man, not the great intel
lect, that succeeds in the cause of Christ.
John Knox was in earnest, Bishop Clark
son was in earnest, John Mason was in
earnest, Wesley and Whitfield were in
earnest, Dwight Moody is in earnest. 1t
is men like these who leave their mark
upon the world.
A Scoichman, traidcl 10 feats Of agile
| daring while on his travis once cssayel
| TO scale the side OF mountain, at the foot
of which he had left his boy 10 await his
return Just as he reached the most dan
gerous point on the mountains side and
WAS bracing himself for great effort, he
heard the voice Of his child below him
shouting Look out, papal I'm COM
| ing after you!" So il Is in mat
tiers Of Christian life. Christ is
watching you. ! say 30 you, mothers,
be careful OF your lives, Il YOU don't want
your sons TO 90 to destruction; stop going
20 theaters. II you don't want TO consign
their souls TO perdition, take the decanter
oil the hidcbo1rd. II you wish 10 save
them from ireyocable ruin, throw the
deck Of cards ont OF tho window.
The reverend orators sermon vas en-
bcllished throughout with the happiest
illustrations, which THE APPEAL does not
attempt TO reproduce. Ills closing refer
encs to the storm at Apia was a magnif-
cent burst OF eloqucnce. lie referred Ia
the seven vessels with dragging anchors,
riding On the crest OF the waves TO certain
destruction. lie singled out the case oil
the English Captain who ordered hi.
anchor CHAINS cut and instructed his en-.
g.neer 10 put on full steam, that tremen.
dous embodiment OF human energy
ut was challenge TO the storm,
said the eloquent divine. "iaith agains
power. For a few moments the gallant
vessel hung In the teeth OF the storm lik,
the lark poised on the tempest cloud, anc
then, every timber quiycring with tn,
mighty struggle OF steam against the Gle
ments, fought her way out e
the open sea, and rs she passed th,
American irigate Trenton, doomed 1,
certain destruction, and riding will
dragging anchors 10 incyi able death
the gallant crew Of the Amcii an vessel
who stood crowded on tho decks bfayely
awaiting their fate, waved their hats ant
chccrcd ~ they saw the English yesse
calamity fighting her way TO safety. So I
will be with Us, my brethren, II we put IL
motion all the energy the Holy Ghost ha
put into M, and fight for the salvation o
our souls, and the world going on 10 de
siruction around US will cheer Us on oul
way