The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-11-27

filled the Baptist church, assembled
on Sunday morning, to listen to an
eloquent and practical sermon by Rev,
L Bergstrom. The choir under Prof.
Forbes leadership. led the singing in
which the audience Joined heartily.
After the opening exercises. including
a choice anthem well rendered, the
pastor announced his text:
Cor. X chapter, 9th verse: Lest
that by any means, when 1 have
preached to others, L myself should be
castaway. In clear, rich and dis
tinct manner, the preacher said:
what an argument and what re-
proof is this! The reckless and list
less Corinthians thought they could
safely indulge themselves to the vary
verge of sin, while this devoted Apos
tie considered himself as engaged in a
life-struggle for his salvation. Yet.
at other times he breaks out in the
most joyful assurance of salvation,
and says that he was persuaded that
could ever seperate him from the love
of God. The one state of mind is the
necessary condition of the other. 1t
is only those who are conscious of
this constant and deadly struggle
with sin to whom his assurance is
given. 1t is the INDECENT and self in
duigent Christian who is always in
debt.
We have in the writings of the apos-
ties the contrast, nay the harmony,
between the so called perseverance
of saints, and the possibility, Of be-
coming a castaway. Jesus himself
very plainly preached both doctrines:
and in fact they are not two, but sim
ply two views of the same truth.
If we compare the words in John Y,
2S, with the parable of the vine and
branches, found in John XIV, 40. we
find here both views of this doctrine,
showing plainly that Christ uses the
promises and admonitions. the warn
ings and threatenings as means tow
ard the end, the salvation and keep
ing of his own.
We are kept by the power Of God,
not of ourselves lest any man should
boast. But we wilfully neglect to
use this divine power offered US, if we
continually grieve the Holy Spirit and
resist His work upon our hearts. then
we may indeed doubt, whether after
all, we have become regenerate, wheth- |
er we are Christs' disciples. Only
those who abide in Him are designated |
by Him as his true followers.
Those protesting Christians, who
fail to show their faith by their works
of Obediance. deprive themselves of
all scriptural proofs that they are
Christians. Alas. that so many pro-
fess to be Christians while in their
hearts there never has been born that
love for holiness which results in
eternal life and complete surrender
TO Christ.
If we are inclined to think today
that there is any good in ourselves,
this day is great warning for US. If
we are disposed to look favorably upon
our own character, and to fiatter our
selves because of the position we oc-
cupy, this is a day of humbling our
selves in the DUST
After referring to the fall of Judas
in betraying the Master. he continued,
Ministers of religion may finally be
lost. Diplomas of graduation and
hands of ordination. avail nothing.
The preacher may get his audience
into heaven, and himself miss it,
In speaking of castaways in a nau-
tical sense, showing how men become
spiritual castaways. because ship
wrecked in the faith. and finally drift
into eternal calamity he said: 1T
must be fearful experience to hear
the cry Breakers aheadr in the dark
night. and go grinding and crashing
on the rocks. the decks breaking under
the feet and lives lost in the mercileSs
surf. But whether you have followed
Ul1C std VI AOD. NOu cl4l
the figure when / say that many are
by their sins driven before the gale
and thrown helpless on the rocks of
eternity.
Again. there are many causes for
such a calamity TO a vessel. First.
false lights on the beach. Men look
at them and are deceived. Nothing
but the eternal lighthouse of the
gospel can keep them from becoming
castaways. Woe unto those who
swing false lanterns on the beach
until men perish.
Second. by sudden swoop of tenn
pest. The lake Pepin disaster was an
of this point. And so
there are thousands of men destroyed I,
by the sudden swoop of temptations:
by some great inducement to worldli-
ness. or sensuality, or temper, or some |
form OF dissipation. Third. by being |
too heavily freighted. Often ship is
50 overlooked as to become water log