Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-07-31
A GREAT REVIVAL CLOSES
LAST SERVICE AT THE FIRST
RAPTIST CHURCH.
Dr. wharton I.reaches From tlle
Text "vVhat Think You Of
Christ P''--"A Picnic 1n Pales-
aine'' 1rhls Evening

1ine'' 1chie Evening.
With all its spaciousness, the First
Baptist church proved much too small for
the congregation that gathered there
last evening. At S:15 the pcws had{
been filed, something unusual at that
hour. Then the pack began. Chairs
and benches were put in the aisles, along
the walls and wherever room could be
found for them. An extra row was
on the pulpit, even. and every step to the
pulpit was crowded. The gallery was
i'll a like condition, and then people
turned away because it was impossible
for them to be accommodated. The
church has been full oft before, hut never
nearly 80 full as on this part ocular oc-
casion.
1t was the time for DR.. Ii. NJ. Wharton,
the Baltimore evangelist, to preach the
last sermon of the revival he has been
conducting at this church for two
weeks. The meeting has not been con-
fined to this church alone. by any means,
so that several of the churches of other
denominations were closed last evening
i'll order to give all an opportunity to
attend the closing of the revival.
On the platform with DIR. Wharton,
besides Mr.. and Mrs. Field, were Revs.
]. L. White. X. F. Campbell, L. H. Bald
Mr.. White announced that DIR. Wharton
would lecture in the church this evening
on IA Picnic in Palestine" and then the
DnCtnr ar q kind nf asUnn1- -hueD tall
to those with whom he had come in con-
tact since coming to Ashcville. He re
pcatcd the opinion expressed when he
first came. that Ashcvillc is the finest
place he ever visited. If the people here,
he said, were not compelled to die it.
| about going to heaven-they would
not care to leave Asheville. He
especially invited the ministers of the
city to attend his lecture. 'And there
| is another class" DR.. Wharton continued,
| that want to invite, the editorial fra
| THE ASHEvILLE CITIZEN. They have been
good to us and l wish to express publicly
our appreciation OF what they have
| DONE"
DR.. Whartons sermon was based on
the text "What think yc of Christ ?''
taken from the 22d chapter of Matthew
| and the 42d verse. ut is a great mis-
take" he said. 'to think that God wants
you to take His religion as you would a
| dose of medicine, He wants you to think
1t out for yourself He says to you
Look at my character The men who
do not think are the men who are first
to tell you they do not believe, because
they do not want to figure 1t out fol
themselves. If yo,. are not a christian
it is because you do not look into relig
ion with an earnest, simple desire to be
come christian. The Lord Jesus Christ
steps into the path of every man, wo
man and child and says What do yor
think Of me?'
LET us look at what His friends anc
His enemies say of Him. His enemies say
His inducements are insufficient. What
are His inducements He offers to for
give the sins of all who will come to Him
That is enough for me. l would say
Lord. if you will forgive all my sins
will follow you Again he says, Il will
go with you everywhere. on land and OF
sea. If you take ms for your Redeemcr
will be with you.' He says Lean on me
put your burden on me and l will bea
it. Maybe your mother. who always
watches over you, may not be there, blu
Jesus will be there and He will care 70
Iyou. Again. he says, 'WhoSocver will
confess me before men him will l comics
before Cod Isn't that enough? Blu
His enemies say He is not able to carr,
out his inducements. Isn't he ? Ask tn
christians here. They are not afraid c
hell; they expect to be saved. lie take
care of them in trial and affliction, an
when they come to die isn't He wit
them there? Well. if He carries out Iii
promises in this life we have IL
right to doubt that He will carry ther
out in the world to come. His encmie
say Jesus was a hypocrite. Do you agrt
with them? You say perish til
thought
Now turn to His friends. What
they say of Him? Some who are no
church members say He is the only hoI
OF lost world Wecan go n step farth,
and say He is our friend When yo
speak of Jesus Christ 1t is as my Savior
l want to see all of you saved, but ais
you my heart exults to know that Jesl
is my Savior. can lay my hand on n
heart and say He 10 my Savior and
= believe in Him and will follow Him. I
is faithful Savior and a loving Savic
lie did not think it anything to lay do =
His life for a world of sinners.
I've believe we could not lay our 10
at worthier feet. We give our faith
Him. Sometimes He docs strange thin
that we cannot understand. You cou
not understand Him when He took fro
you your dear mother. But He does
all for the best. His thoughts are n
ours. But we do believe in Him and
will explain all some day. Can you n
! wait? Further, we believe Him wort
of our obedience. Should / stop a
say 1 don't see why | cannot go into
y saloon and drink as other men do p
we are His friends let us be His frien
! in earnest. II 1--WE believe in Him let
50 live that the world can point to
\ and say There goes a man. WI
! think you of Christ Show what v
think of Him by your life and your
will be a sermon every day preached
those about you. There are some b
tonight who say But for you 1 wo,
have no hope. l lay my all at your fe,
Come out on the Lords side. WI
think you of Christ ?"
At the close of DR.. Nharton's sern
his invitation for recruits for the ar
of the Lord brought forward a crowC
young and old that completely filled
space between the front pews and
Y pulpit. An after meeting was held
\ which a number of souls received
y, blessed assurance that their sins "