The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-08-29
ONE CENT.
SUNDAY SERMON.

Rev. Powicks Interesting Discourse In
the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The sermon in the Methodist Episcopal
church on Sunday morning was on
classification by Works.7 Tho text was
from Jane 2 2O.22 But wit tnou know,
o vain man, that faith without works is
dead Was not Abraham our father
justified by works when he had offered
Isaac his son upon the altar Seest thou
how faith wrought with his works and by
works was faith made perfect ~ 1t has
been supposed by some that Pauls doctrine
of justification by faith and James doctrine
of justification by works contradict each
other. Properly understood it will be
seen that they really supplement each
other. Paul approaches the doctrine from
the theological side and james from the
practical. More attention has been paid to
the apparent difference between them than
to the substantial agreement. 1t was Paul
who wrote about the necessity Of being
"rich in good woIks' and James who
showed the value of being rich in faith"
Esul wrote to penitent sinners who were
asking what must do to be saved' and
who were being hsrrassed by Judsizing
teachers who offered the empty ceremonies
of dead Journalism as the remedy for sin,
hence he showed that men we're justified
By faith without the deeds of the law"
James wrote to self-righteous professors
who thought and taught that it made no
difference how they lived if only they
believed Alright, hence in his treatment of
the same subject he showed that "by works
man is justified and not by faith only"
This is in strict accord with Paups doctrine
in the passage mot the hearers of the law
are just before God, but the doers of the
law shall be justified"
There are two opposite poles of thought
from which we are in equal danger to-day,
viz: THAT it makes no difference what
one believes if only his life is right and
that it makes no difference what sort of q
lite one leads if only his creed is right"
Paul gives us the antidote to one and
James gives the antidote to the other 1t
may be denied that any body knows such
views. But if they do not these are the
logical outcome of many views that are
bGlhk bhhkhbs IL Jul buOIJS W kth away
from legalism religion is in danger of being
regarded not as life but an experience
And in the worlds horror of creeds and
dogmas essential truth-the only thing out
of which enduring character can be built--is
in danger of being trsmpled upon. The
truth does not lie between the extreme
statements of the two apostles but includes
them both, Paul teaches that we are saved
| by faith-which worketh by love. James
tells us we are saved by works-inspired by
faith. Both unite in exhibiting the spur
iousness of a so-called faith which does not
work. Men profess TO believe that the
world is nothing and heaven is everything
and then anchor themselves to the world as
though it were not TO pass away with the
lusts thereof. They profess to believe that
there is an awful hell and then do nothing
to save men from it. They profess to be-
lieve that intemperance is the greatest
curse in the world and do not lift hand to
stay its awful rsvages. They profess to
believe in the value of the christian Sab
bath and then attend Sunday base ball
games and allow their children to do 60;
many others who hold themselves sloof
from such degrading practices do nothing
to discourage them. Such faith is rth-
less, 1T is dead being alone" Can such
faith save man2 Two tests may be
applied to determine the value of mans
creed-and they are well nigh infallible.
The first is What does it do for him2
Does it make him better and happier than
he would be without il? The second is;
What does it do for other people Does it
make them better or happier than they
would be if he did not hold it. A mans
creed can be justified only by the good
works it inspires. Wherefore by their
fruit shall ye know them"