Morning journal and courier., 1894-05-14
AN 1mraEss1vE DISCOURSE

By Rev. Charles Conklln Sunday |
 Morning fin che Church of the Mes- |
 aiah.
 .sHis Own Reward" was the subject chosen by Rev. Charles Conklin for his discourse in the Church of the Messiah Sunday morning. The text was found In the first epistle to the Corinthians, third chapter, eighth verse: 'Every Man Shall Receive His Own Reward" "The text" said Rev. MT. Conklin, ''is at once a re- buke and an answer. In both these re- spects 1t Is characteristic of Paul. Let us recall the chapter from which 1t is taken. We see from 1t that the Christian move ment had met with severe trial. The peril was within and from without. But | the most dangerous was that from within. From without they had no psraly .lng | fears. They gloried in tribuiations. Their watchword was The Blood of the Martyrs is the Seed of the Church. At this time, l however, dissensions had arisen and two noted preachers were the theme of much heated discussion. Paul and Apollos had | their adhsrents and admirers, and the great principles of the Christ ian religion were being lost sight | of in the midst of the 'envy and strife
 and dirision, which had occurred. Paul | after reminding them that they were babes | in Christ, proceeded to show them that in their t'invidious comparisons" they were losing sight of the "pesrl of great price,
 and exhorted them to look to Him who
 gave tho increase and the blessing. For,
 said Paul, "Who am and who is Apollos
 but ministers9 I have planted and Apol-
 los has wstered, but God gave the in- l crease" So 1t can be seen that @ great | principle was at stake. There was also danger of misspprehendipg Gods message graeped the true import of 1t and endeav-
 ored to pass it into the consciousness of
 his hearers.
 Christ's ministry covered less than three
 years. He left His message with men.
 When He departed the destiny of religion I was left in the hands of but few.
 As long ss those who were witnesses ot
 His spotless life and glorious deeds, were 1 teaching His precepts there was harmony
 and peace. But when the mighty religion
 which was destined to cover the earth af
 the waters cover the sea, widened and ex
 tended and traversed various lands, then
 1t was that-humanly speaking-it must
 succeed or fail according to the wiedon
 and conscience of man. The text showi
 that fierce conflict was going on between
 the merits of two men, while the mighty
 principle was utterly ignored. There is 1T
 every man an element of vanity. WI l know, however, that Paul, true to his con | viction, rose above the controversy and VI
 presume that Apollos likewise did.
 ''Back te the real issue, said Paul, in be seeching tones. Paul can't take you t.
 heaven; neither can Apollos. It's tn
 truth only that can do that. We roin 1 you to Jesus & the embodiment of tn heavenly idea of life. All you can do is t l obey the divine laws of being revealed il Him. And Paul further addsi "Ever man shall receive his own reward"
 comforting assurance; but 1t implies some thing awful as well. It refers to virtue and 1t also refers to vice. Every act every move, every thought or purpose fraught with eonse quences which canno } be escaped. This great fact justi6es tn way of God towards men.
 And His laws are being interpreted an
 understood as never before. The gres !. soula of all antiquity without the flight ( ' sacred story" thus interpreted 1t and thel 2 words and writings show clearly ths I glorious was the light of their experienc. .. :. It also shows that God in His own way T, a veals Himself to the willing heart an 2 earnest spirit, and has since creatio !. dawned. Every man receives his own r [ ward. Tc-day's temperance purity hol mood and kind feeling stand self registere s in the soul, and to Pagan or Jew or Chris ian the conditions of peace ard eafety al the game. At last all men in Christ shs
 be saved, for religion Is 8 plan of life 'e conformity to the laws of the universe. 7 and strive for the higher, purer, nobl J. life, the way becomes plain and the pal !, brighter and brighter "unto the peTfe 70 day"