The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-10-20
FOURTH EDITION


| The friends who visit Asbury this
week during the l04th anniversary
services. are being treated to a great
variety OF earnest gospel preaching.
A good audience was present last
night, and they sang with great enthu-
siasm In the song service preceding
the sermoh This service was led by
Mr.; l. Elmer Perry and the choir.
Inc preacher was the Rev. G. p.
Swain. Of Frangford. Del. Mr.. Swain
had never preached at Asbury before,
but he made many friends by the earn
est manner and stirring appeals last
might. He seemed to feel perfectly at
home. and to have the fullest sympa-
thy OF his audience. He spoke with.
out notes. and had great liberty. His
text was Matthew kill: Verify / say
unto you. among them that are born
OF woman there hath not risen great
Ier than John the Baptist; notwith.
standing he that Is least In the kingdom
OF heaven Is creator than he"
John was imprisoned. and some
doubted the value OF his mission. So,
men went To Jesus to inquire IL He
was the ono that should come or should
they look for another. Then Jesus
John. and spoke these words In honor
OF him, and to teach what men in
after ages might be in the kingdom OF
God. The subject to be discussed is
The worth OF the individual in the
Church OF Jesus Christ" Leading to
the discussion Of this thought. notice:
! l. The tribute paid TO John the Bap.
tist. John Is put above all the old he
roes. Moses, Samuel. Elijah etc. This
superiority was not iii prestige, not In
lexterlors. not In association, but In
the historical position which he held
in the church Of God. John lived
near to Christ, and held the office, not
ofsa prophet in the dim ages before
Christs coming, but was his imme-
diate forerunner.
IL. The tribute paid us.
We are placed above and beyond
John. III the patriarchs were the stars
ana John &le moon, we are the sun
shining with lustre that obscures all
others. We are greater than John, and
1t is we'll to inquire, In what do we
excel?'
Z !. Not in the importance of our of.
hcial or moral character
4 2. But In the faet that we live In the
developed fulness of time which John
only saw In the far future. The reali-
zation Is always better than the age OF
development, as seen in the steam
boat. the locomotive and the knowl-
edge OF navigation as possessed by a
Columbus. We have tile fulness of
the light of God. We go with Ger.
tainty where he went with doubt.
3. John introduced the King but we
form His kingdom.
I III. What a tremendous emphasis Is
placed on our possibilities in this text.
We are greater than all who have gone
before. John saw his possibilities and
< a 10, Pa ~
several lessons.
|. The prompt seizure OF opportuni.
ty to do good.
Many OF us have sighted opportuni.
ties that will never come to US again.
we must learn to improve them as
they come 10 US, or they will be gone
forever.
.. We learn that wa must always
stand on side OF right as against the
wrong.
How brave John was. There was no
mistaking his language as he de.
nounced evil. 1t always pays in the
end to do right. Who Is more esteemed
TO day, John or Herod, Elijah or Ahab,
Paul or Nero' In all moral OWLS we
must make ourselves felt for God and
tie right.
). In our Christian life there are
three living factors that must have u
sure place.
4 u. The Holy Ghost. He cannot
do without him. (9). Conservation
OF soul and body unto God. (3). We
must have regard to the latent ability
that lies latent in tho soul we aim to
snve. Many a worker has boon the
means OF saving soul greater than
Itself. We may not do great things
ourselves, but under God we may lend
some one to the light who will do
much more than we eyer dreamed of
doing.
In conclusion he urged all to enter
the new Kingdom, SO that tile heaven
lly greatness might be given them.
Tonight the Rev. w. L. Valiant, of
\ berry Hill, Md, will be tho preacher.
This will be the GROWING service OF
lhe weeks meetings. On Sunday the
Key, G. 5. Baker, vii. preach morning
and evening. AT $50 IL great mems
meeting will lie held by Pastor Hanna.
iAt ieast 500 men are wanted In the
lecture room Mt that hour
At the meL's meeting, and every
evening next week. the PASTORS talks,
which will lie short, will be illustrated
BY large paintings that will send the
good news through the eye, as well as
from tho voice.