St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-08
THE POWER OF TIRE GOSPEL.
An Eloquent Sermon Preached by
Rev. William Wilkinson.


Yesterday morning Mr. Wilkinson
preached 1t St. Andrews church. The
text was Heb w., Il. He said: The
things this text stands for explain the
reasons why Jesus Christ has gained
and kept His power over the minds and
hearts Of men. You read science; il is
very exact. but cold. You read phil
oSophy; il is very real, but II has no
power 10 charm You in the day OF your
direst need. Iuu study the best
writers, Old and new, who have
in them no Jesus of Nazareth;
you find them high, refined, instructive,
useful on many lines, and for very
many purposes; but, alas! in the day
when yOu most need light, comfort,
hope. strength. they do not touch any OF
your needs; they never appeal III these
dark DAYS TO the fountains OF your
Eeart. the endless professions OF hui
man Joy aud sorrow never pass, ever
and anon they march WIKI glad or
mournful step, and they operate III al
most exactly the same way from aye 10
age, in every land; Abraham marrleS
Sarah. Rachel WeppS for the children
and refuses 10 be cOmforted because
they are not Passion is now as wild
and strong as in the days Of King David,
and greed as great and Shameless as in
the days of Elisha, when his servant
lied 10 Naaman for gain. Sin, BOW as
of old, looks just rs tempting; lt
promises pleasure, satisfaction, anu
profit, its promises are made To the car
only 10 be broken 10 the heart'-So IN
the cycles of tine. the rounus CT GX-
pcrience repeat themselves. and so no
voice of earth can satisfy the longing or
the soul. We may in the clear days. Ill
a IF pnaltb nTnSnnFliV ami
general happiness, form abstract prIn-
cipleS 10 concrete cases; we may try To
persuade ourselves that the laws Of
nature are impartial, that they are just;
we may take up tie statistics an" assure
ourselves that a certain number OF
persons of every age will die each year;
that soon we must die; but that
will snot help Us very mitch when
our dearly loved and longed-for
are called TO stand face to face with
death, nor will it be Of great service TO
us when we have ourselves to
look into his relentless yisage.
The language of the heart Is,
as il has ever been. stronger than the
calm reason of mind: this has given i'm
mensc power 10 grief, il has lent power
to sorrow. Ii will not comfort the be-
reaved kindly man to tell him that other
people as well as he have lost their
dear ones; that only Increases his S0r-
row. IL such circumstances there is one
voice can SOOth, charm and give reSt-lt
is that which speaks of 4 land in which
death hath 10 more power. and into
which we all may come: where the pure
meet and friendships and love are
perennial, as well as eternal
and unbr0ken. Never has The
deepest human need been met as
here, because Jesus is touched with our
intirmities, knows our human weakness,
the depth of love and the heights of
aspiration, and we inStlnctiyely feel he
is our friend ard guide. l heard last
week remarkable testimony TO this
truth. 1t was from that well known
Rev. Dr. futile. lie has seen deep
sorrow. The wife of his youth. the
children, except one, of his manhood,
are gone. lie is an old man. He said
to me: 81 have preached over fifty
years, forty of them in three churches.
/ have seen much, and nOtIced that in
our ministry the men who lave risen TO
eminence, who have been widely use
ful, who have built up churches and
done work which has continued when
they have passed away, were men who
kept close to Christ, believed in Him as
their savior. friend, infallibie guide: d
lectual things, may entertain for time,
but it takes the constant preaching of
Christ to build up church." All this
he said, every word is true as the
mount OF God. 1t is not alone because
Of the words of hope OF 4 reunion, but
because of the words OF present COM
fort in the day when conscience up
braidS, VIXEN sin asserts Its diabolical
power to condemn. l do not care 10
argue tile Christian doctrine of sin: if
any man refuse to believe in sin, l have
10 word to speak to him. enough that
the very best and the very worst of men
have alike felt its power in all the
bitterness Of reality. 1t has been no
make-belieye; it has stood in human
experience, gaunt and grim. like a
specter: ii mas spoken in public places,
and in the secret of the soul il made st.
Paul cry out, 80, wretched man that |
am" 1t made the jailer ask, What
must do to be saYed?'' Only one word
can reach this disease. 1t is that which
with authority declares their sins,
which are many, are all forgiven. 1t is
because Jesus Christ touches men at so
many vital points, I'D SO many vital
ways, that He has such unique power
TO reach, uplift. save and serve men.
10 live our lives so that they have the
favor of Christ is to spend them to pur-
pose. 10 be useful and happy, and to
prepare for that life into which we all
must soon 90