The Jersey City news., 1890-12-08
THE PILGRIMS PROGRESS.
Pastor Scudder Lectures on Chris
tian Life With Musical
illustrations.

An unusually large crowd greeted Pas
tor Scudder a. the Tabernacle last night
to hear the continuation of bis series Of
excellent sermons on Pilgrims PROCESS. J"
Mr.. Scudder did not trust to hts unaided
efforts to please; he had furnished some
very fine music, a noticeable featurs be-
ing the violin solos.
The sermon consisted of several short
talks, with music ludiciously interspersed.
These are some of the many pithy things
Mr.. Scudder said:-
Last Sunday night we saw our Pill
grim leave the City OF Destruction bound
for the Celestial City. aud rs ne fled he
cried Eternal life. eternal lifer Such
peculiar action on the part OF Pilgrim
caused no small stir in his native city
His wife and ch ldren, amazed and as
tonished, besought him to return. His
neighbors added their entreaties. but
Pilgrim, thrusting his fingers fn his ears.
ran on and ran faster His amazed fell
low citizens appointed two of their mum
Der to bring Pilgrim back with force.
They gave chase and overlook Pilgrim,
for the emissaries of Satan generally run
faster than the children Of the King.
''These two emissarieS were Pliabie and
Obstinate, and when they overlook Chris
tian he induced Pliabe to go With him.
but Obstinate returned TO the City OF
their journey together reach the Slough
of Despond, and therein Pl1able became
much daubed by mire and finally desert
ed Christian and returned TO his native
town.
"These three characters, Christian, OBJ
stlnate and Piiable, represent three class
es OF society. Obstinate. who Is enamored
of sin and will not give it up, and Pliable
represents men with no backbone, men
who are first on one side or the
fence and then on the other.
There are many of these in religious life,
and they are easily led, for they have no
| personal convictions. They are like a
cork amid the billows. They are capable
OF being started with but little force and
lose their impressions just as easily. They
are boats without centreboards-
christians are those who count the
cost of religious life. who set their teeth
! and press forward, and are like the
powerful tn gboats that plow the waves OF
sea safely and drag through the troubled
| waters other vessels.
''Now notice the way Christian aud
Pliable acted in the Slough OF Despond.
1 The one scrambled out on the side of the
| City of Destruction and the other by Q
/ himself to the side nearest
the Celestial City. In his struggle the
| burden on his back bore him 80 deep il
the nire that 1t was impossible for him te
| extricate himself. Atthis moment in his
struggles man named Help came TO hin
and assisted Christian from the mire te
/ good firm ground.
"Many are the young Christians whit
fall in this Slough OF Despond. Some
| think they cannot hold out and Others
| think they have not Christian feeling
| enough. Others expect the mature ex-
perience OF old Christians in single day
| They expect TOO much. You can't grow
| a beard on baby. Although many fal
in the Slough of Despond it is. unneces-
sary, for there is a series of steps which
are the promises of God. sure and stead
fast. Trust in God. obey mis- command
ments aud you never will be mired."
At the close of the sermon Pastor Scud
der held special service devoted to plaii
practical talk to the members of the con
gregation. The extra service was largel,
attended. 1t lasted twenty minutes.