The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1891-02-05
wAHpsToN's pulpl7s.

ME a. chur,s,lnsaaay ,,a.:' mern'ag, January .,
Acts xvii, ii. ]. II. Kelley, Pastor.
Text makes the Bereans more
noble than the Thessalonians
Why +: Because they listened hon
cstly and then searched diligently.
From our very nature we arc
at every stage learning, or are in
circumstances to learn something
new. TO get the truth that will
truly bless us we must he attentive
to what is told or preached and
written. We cannot tell the gooi
from the had till we hear it,. Then
one of the greatest accomplishments )
is To be Il good listener. 1t is Il
duty. Such the BereanS were, and
they were pronounced noble.
The phrases that contain our relig-
iouS thought are continually chang
ing. The same yerhiage that
conrlcd the crceds of 800 years ago
will not do for this scientific ,lay.
the life in religion will force it's own
expressions. Christ was not under
stood because lie spoke not in the
phrases Of church of his day. but he
spoke with power and coined new
sentences to give his thought en-
preston. lie did not seek to dies
troy but to bring to life the truth in
the old. So Paul at Berea. His
hearers listened. Most proper thing
to do.
Men are nnwise 10 truth because
it is not in their creed. The Chris
tian church would never have gotten
Il footing in the world by that
method. Don't say all men must
think by your creed phrases. Might
us we'll tell 4 tree not to put roots
into the soil on the other side Of
the fence.
Was all the Bereans heard good !:
No. | think there was straw and
chafr with the wheat. Everything
Paul said was not all genuine. But
don't you cut Il wheat crop unless it
has 40 bushels to the acre: Yes,
you gather the straw and chaff and
get all the wheat you can. if but
little.
These Rereans were noble also
because they not only listened, but
they searched to see if it were true.
TO he Il good listener is noble but
to be Il good examiner into the
theories set forth is more noble. lie
that will not seek and Search, is
neither wise nor honest.
Ii the Scriptures suffer by exam
nation and searching. they ought to
suffer. and if they can be over
thrown, the sooner the better. II
there is life in them it will he found
by honest searching. Ii our views
Of them has been wrong. searching
Will change that view. II they are
q fountain to nourlsh it vii! not he
known by refusing to 60 and see.
All who trust to the life unfolded in
the Scriptures should be so familiar
with it as to give every man II
reason for the hope that is IN him.
*s*
Bapt list Church Sunday morning. January X.
Scripture lessons: Psalm lxxxv. Rev. Ii. To
6: iii. to: and II to 81. J. W. Luke, Pastor.
l. Let reader employ imagination,
il memory cannot bring before mind
the picture Of city under financial
and commercial depression. Ship
ing meager at wharf and depot f:
Demand small, and becoming small
Ter, from interior, because of short
age in production over the land
| Manufacture Of fabrics of iron, wool,
wool, cotton and the like, decreas-
ing. Bankruptcy threatened and
many out Of employment. Decline
reaching low and discouraging ebh.
| .. Years may pass. Scene, land
over changed. IIar',orS white with
sails and deafcning with scream of
steamers arriving and departing in
coastwise and international COM
merce: dcpots crowded ears too
few for freight and almost too few to
meet demand for travel. CONNER
cial centers, inland cities, towns and
villages busy with hum of industry.
and stirring statesmen and buyers.
Farms everywhere covered with an
abundant harvest. Mill, shop,
forge and factory working full
hours, tilled with cheerful toilers.
Marvellous change! Not imitation
or "boom," but restoration to neede ed
sound, healthful. real prosperity on
basis of counteractive demand, and
steady competing but remuneative
supply. We, call all this restored
prosperity. HE observer and reas.
oner need not be told the reason
he will think it out for himself
Imagine similar widespread condi.
lion of church-GOd he thanked it Is
seldom or never so seen. But sin.
gle churches lie in such condition
and vast multitudes of individuals
so suffer. 4 change as marvelou.
} as OF city. town, village and farm
: takes place sickly christians have
recovered churches are hives o
new life and activity. The hack
slidden are restored. and multitude.
Of converts throng the aisles. Bap