The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-30
THE WAY OF SALVATION.


Life or Death.
DR.. w. C. Cattell, of Philadelphia, secre-
tary of the board of ministerial relief of
the Presbyterian church of the United
States, preached yesterday morning in the
First Presbyterian church in the presence
of congregation that entirely filled the
building. 1t was expected that the Rev.
Charles L. Thompson, ID. d., of the Madi-
son avenue church, New York, would
preach, but at the last moment he was de-
tanned in Portland by important official
business, and Dr. Cattell was sent in his
place.
The latter preacher is an attractive fig
ure in the pulpit. He reads the Scriptures
impressively, and his discourse, couched
in simple language, commands attention
by the speakers earnestness and un-
bounded faith.
The theme of DR.. Cattell's sermon was
Deuteronomy Xxx 10: II call heaven and
earth to record this day against you that
have set before you life and death, bless
ing and cursing; therefore choose life. that
thou and thy seed may live"
The minister first briefly described the
circumstances under which Moses, the
great law-giver, spoke the words of the
text to the Jewish people. He had been
their leader for over forty years, and as
he stood looking into the promised land
which he could not enter, he uttered
those wise, thrilling and pathetic words.
The preacher then said that the exhor-
tation to choose life instead of death had
always been the call of God to man. The
Bibles pages TEEN with the call and Gods
ministers have set before men the
A t,,fS III af IA
Then came an eloquent word picture of
immortal life. The preacher spoke of
heaven as a land luminous with Gods
smile and mortal life as priceless trust
to be priced chiefly for the stupendous
possibilities of its future. He spoke of the
transitory nature Of worldly existence,
and told of the certainty that every step
travelled by human feet is moving toward
life or death.
History shows that the question OF what
must be done 70 secure eternal life has
trembied upon the lips of men in all ages
Men have felt an instructive dread that
something must be done here TO avoid
calamity beyond. The preacher charged
that nature had no satisfactory answer to
give. The Bible answer, however, is no
mystery. Its way is like plain chart
where on the true course is marked, as well
as the dangers and shoals. 1t may be a
narrow road, but the goal is grand and
worth striving for.
He then spoke of the several classes Of
men who delay to answer the question,
and pictured wildly the danger of pro-
crastination, and paid especial attention
10 a class of men willing 10 come TO God
but who had not the power of faith
Ritual and ceremony We're not for such as
these. but simple trust in Christ would
win them over. He did not like the self
righteous man who expected salvation
because he led moral life. Morality
alone cannot secure Gods pardon, though
it was essential 10 the character OF every
Christian. The Precipitation of Christ is
needed To wipe out sin and purify the soul.
ana no man can eternally live except
through faith. At the sight OF the cross
sin falls away.
The preacher closed with an eloquent
appeal that all who had not chosen life
should make the decision now.
DIR. Cat,ell preached again in the even
ing before a large congregation.