The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-11-02
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The Reasons why the Great and Wise
Christians Believe the World is Now
ON tho Eve Of Great Religious Re-
vivsl.
On Sunday evening Rev. W. L. s..
Murray. ID. D., preached on Hab. Ill,
Q: O.: 20 Lord revive Thy Work" He
desirved to do two things.
]. Explain why the concensus of
prophetic opinion OF the wisest and
best men Of Europe and America Ia
preaching one of the greatest levivals
of religion 1t has ever experienced.
III. TO make with his hearers a plea
for a revival 10 Scott III. L. Church.
The wise men base their prophecy
on the following facts:
1. That material science has done its
worst to overthrow faith In the Bible
and had failed. It's influence is now
on the wane.
They put evolution in the place Of
God. But it has spent its force and
accomplished nothing.
.. The higher criticism" OF the
Word of God has spent its force. This
system took up the books OF the New
Testament and said it would explain
the whole without bringing God into
it. But it left out the miracles, the
divinity OF Christ, the resurrection,
etc., and 1t Is also on the wane.
] 8. The destructive criticism seeking
to.make the Bible out to no be more
than any other book. It's votaries are
''agonostics" or know nothings so to
speak. They do not know how to do
anything except to try to destroy the
Word Of God. But the Bible shines
even brighter and stronger than be-
fore they assailed it.
| 4. "Rationalism" Is socnlled
science that throws out all Scripture
that cannot he explained by reason
and understood. And IL is also fail
ure. The world Is dissatisfied with
''rationalism." He had seen
material cotton" in q down town
stove store [probably James +. Wood
d Co'sl had lighted match under it's
fibers and noticed 1t not OF ~ did not
burn but looked all the winter after
the trial. So the Bible has passed
safely through all the methods taken
to destroy it and had gone through
the fire Of criticism with the result Of
shining all the brighter. Like Ashes
los it flre-proof. 1t has worn out
many an intidel.
8. The wise men also claim that
there has never been time when the
|
by so many millions of people as it
is to-day. He cited Moody's summer
school OF college students, and
seminary professorship, Sunday
Schools etc.
q. They declare that the church is
doing more extensive, vigorous and
etfeetual, work generally than at any
time heretofore.
Z. They cite an extensive and power
full category OF special work. samples
of which are the aggregate church at
tendance, the London Salvation Army's
work under Gen'l Booth, the outlying
preaching stations III the slGms OF Bos-
ton. the great gospel wagon in WASH
ington carrying the pulpit and preacher
with tho organ anu choir, to the slumS
of the National capitol when some-
times an audience of 1000 people
gather around IL and hear the preach
ing and singing the European orphan
sylums, the missions in cities, the
home and foreign missionaries, etc.
He heard in Washington recently, n
wealthy Christian woman preach in
AGeumenical hall two hours after its
adjournment, who had 100, 600 tenants
in England to whom she sent the gos-
pei and who fed poor people some
times as many as 10000 at time.
INC IItSlH.lg Elutr was DcufIily IN
favor of revival in Scott Church. He
wanted a revival in his own heart and
in every Christians heart, as that WIS
the right way TO begin IT,. Joywas the
successful element. Christians be-
come happy. Tho converted sinners
get joy. Happiness is carried into the
homes.
lac narrated some heart-stirring ex-
periences of conversions. ana strong
men sitting away back near the door
wiped tears from their eyes. Tue house
was well filled with people.
he pastor. R'v. John Francs, con-
Quoted the preliminary prayer meet
ing OF Epworth League, which was
largely attended 10y young people and
was remarkably interesting.