Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1893-12-15
REV. ]. X. JOLLIFF.
THE D1ErHoDIsT MINISTRIES SUNDAY
EVENING SERMON-TAkEN BN o'i>
SHORTHAND REPORTER.

Saint Paul was in many res
poets one of the most re1narkaDIe
characters in the New Iesta-
ment history. Thoroughly fur
nished and equipped by his inter
course with the Jews, himself d
strict Pharisee, trained i'll the
laws of Moses and schooled the
traditions of the fathers, he was
eminently qualified to take the
preeminent position Ill the
Christian Church for which Goa
specially called him.
"The Church of Phillip had
been especially kind to Paul dur
ing his imprisonment at Rome,
while lie was waiting the result
of his appeal to Caesar, and the
cpistle addressed to that Church
is, therefore, the partial outcome
of his own generosity. The
apostles heart warmed at the
thought of their devotion, and, III
response, gave them the strong
and touching words contained III
this letter. The words OF our
text seem to be the spontaneous
expression of the eXultatlOn
which Paul felt in his inner con-
cience as he looked upon the re-
ligion Of Jesus, for which he had
forfeited his position as man OF
strength and prominence among
thei Jews; for which he had gwen
up all prospects Of earthly pros
perity, and had surrendered earth
y pleasures and joys. AS he re-
garded the extent of his sacrifice
and thought upon the value OF
the religion of Jesus, his heart
gave one great bound of joyish
exultation, and he broke forth Ill
the words: Yea, doubtless, and |
court all things but loss for the
excellency of the knowledge OF
Christ Jesus my Lord.
"The subject to which | ask
your attention is the estimate Of
the value of the Christian relig-
ion, from the standpoint Of the
apostle Paul. The question OF
values is one which will engage
the attention Of most men. All
other efforts, both in the secular
and in the spiritual worlds, are
called out by the desire to gain
possession Of something which
lies at the foundation Of character
which definitely shapes ana for
mulates the spiritual and moral
nature Of man, and something
whose value is determined by its
power to crafty the natural de-.
sire and TO supply the physical
necessities. The one belongs to-
the spiritual and passes over into
the infinite, thus placing its real
value beyond the power Of hu-
man computation. The other
belongs to the material, and can
be grasped and estimated by the
human mind. Mark you, [ do
not mean to say by this that the
christian religion has no material
value. | mean to say merely
that its true religion is so great
and infinite that all efforts to
make a distinctive statement Of
its value must necessary be in
adequate. BY following out the
suggestions of the text, however,
We may arrive atsone estimate
Of its value, as compared with
material values.
1--WE notice, first, that it is far
more valuable than any material
advantage or worldly prospect.
The religion of Jesus Christ is
deeply and intensely spiritual
Its sphere is the development of
spiritual capacities and the ell
largement Of mora! powers. 1t
seeks by bringing into activity
the moral force which strictly
constitutes man as distinguished
from the lower order Of creation
to quicken his conscience and
ennoble his character, to purify
his 1nind, and to efface the traces
of sin from his nature. It seeks
to take man the sinner and to
cleanse the impurities, strengthen
his moral force, and finally to
perfect his perfection in his re-
de1nption from sin and its con-
sequences.
ut may be seen from this that
such a religion presents no value
IN merely material consideration.
Itranges III a loftier sphere; it
appeals to nobler emotions and is
DaSeo upon stronger principles
Indeed the material world would
nave no value but for its admin
lStratlon to those necessities
which form the condition of
spiritual existence. Its legiti-
mate sphere is to contribute its
quota to the developement of
strong religious sentiments and
convictions. 1t is evident,
therefore, that religion is more
valuable than material advan-
tages and prospects. Paul gave
expression to his convictions
when he said I count all things
but loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my
Lord. The brilliant prospects