Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-05-08
LIFE A BATTLE.
Hut the New Life Conquers-Re
marks by Rev. L. @. Meserve at Dav

But the New. Life Conquers-Re-
marks by Rev. L. @. meserve at Dav-
export Church.
A part of the sermon by Rev. I. @. Me-
serve at Davenport church yesterday morn
ing is "a follows:
TextRomans 8: 4. "some might alse walk
In newness of ife''
This whole paragraph is one of the
apostle Paul's most luminous utteranees.
1t Is plain enough to any attentive mind
what the teaching is. He begins by de-
olsring that sin brought grace Now
grace is ''favor," but it il not Partially.
1t is unmerited favor; but 1t is not there
fore either unjust or unreasonable. There
can be no disputing the proposition that
the eternal God is most kindly disposed
toward all men, and that he has mani
tested that disposition in Jesus Christ,
who is his opener of hearts. "Behold
stand at the door and knock" says Jesus.
He is there to persuade man to receive
him as the representative of divine love
and power. 1t is God who enters the
heart, when the door is opened, that he
/ may abide in it, This indwelling OF deity
| is salvation. We know better than to
think that salvation Is, or can be, In cir
cumstanoe alone. 1t is in forgiveness,
change and life. The Christian is 'new
creature" 80 he has, as Paul says, "new-
ness of ife."
This comes to us by great sacrifice,
made in our behalf by the Lord Jesus
Christ, a sacrifice. which began In the in
carnation and continued until the ascen-
sion. In some great and precious sense 1t
i is continuing still. It Is not true that the
| death on the CROSS is the whole of his sac
rifice in our behalf, yet 1t Is often spoken
| of in scripture as an exponent OF all the
rest, because it is 80 large and important
| US Now it is true that we became partakers In
The results of Christs sacrifice by making sacri-
begins usually in the surrender of the will, which
is signiied in submission to the rite of bap-
| our part of our acceptance Of Christ as our re-
| deerner and our master After this comes the
Christian life, which is sacriacial also. We live
| men. The worldly life is selfish. 1t is intensely
| so, rushing, wearing, relentless, crushing It
| train of cars rushes over a child that may hap
pen to be in its way. The Christian life IL toe op
| posite of this. 1t is seeking the comfort and
good Of others continually. 1t is a new life In
opposition to the old life of sin and selashness.
| 1t is better life than any other: In s'original
| tempted. When they were tempted they fell. In
the new life'' we have men living good-Ives In
| spite of tempta ion. Though it is a battle they
| fight they are armed for it with the "Armor Of
God'' of which Paul tells ia Ephesians s: xixvii
| With this tn. y fight and win. Though it is ser
vice they render they ready for it, having the
| ''same mind which was in Christ Of which Pau
| speaks in Philippians 2: will and the service i:
| hearty, constant, and fruitful. Though 1t Is 6
trial life they are ready to meet it for they art
succored of God as Paul says in II Oorinthian'
| 6: Xxi. These three passages give us the secre
| Of the beauty success, and joyfulness OF toe new
| life. 1t is possibly to lead it, in a mountain
| top above the oist aftiuvia, narrowness, and dis
heartening experiences of this lower worldly
life Our communion service to-day Is an earnes
exhortation TO us all to lead this pure and graciou
| life with unfattering fidelity to God and t
| Christ