The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-05
HIS OPENING SsKMON.
Rev. }. I. Whitley breaches at the Broad
s.r..t Church.

Several new pastors faced Richmond
Congrt cations from the pu4plt Sunhay lVI
the first time Rev. J. !. w hltiey' "no
was appointed ny the iate virginia IN I'm
fercnce t. succeed Rev. Or. W. ",
dor. at Broad-Strect church, preached
his opening sermon SUNDAY morning 20
large congregation. Ills subject was Nu-
ual Knowledge for mutual rep, an
ne fooK for ms text the words: Let us
consider one another to provoke unto love
and to good works, 10 be found N He
brewS, *, "a 1T, 49,
and cIearuCss, and was listened TO with
unwaVerng attention by the large audi
cuce present. The members of the con-
gregatiOn were much pleased with their
new preacher. The following were some
OF the main points Of this admirable
discourse:
THE authorship OF the Epistle 10 the
Hebrews Is one OF the unsettled questions
OF Biblical criticism. But the writer,
whoever he was. thoroughly understood
the Mosaic law aud ritual. not only IN
thcir outer aspects, but In their spiritual
gumcnt concerning the high-priesthood OF
Christ and our text is part OF me
conclusion that he draws. so that me
text comes TO us with all the proJecJlie
force OF a resistiess logic. Let US study
First: Love and good works constitute
the sum total OF true religion. -, teach
the Scriptures everywhere. Jesus, an
>
upon love 10 God and man hang all the
law and the prophets. lie also said II
man love me- ne will keep my words 2.
St. Paul teaches the same doctrine IN all
his epiStles. However ignorant, obscure
or tempted a man may be-hOWeVer handi-
capped by infTmitics Of temper that he
is trying 10 OVerCOme-it he loves God and
faithfully practices good works towards
man under the impulse OF love he is "A
Christian. Love Is the inner soul OF re-
lgOn good works are It's outward mani
fcstation. Love is the root and the stem
Of the tree; good works are the Whisper
ing leaves, the fragrant blossoms ana the
delicious fruits.
Second. 1t is a duty incumbent upon
| Christians to stimulate one another TO
love and good works. Provoke In the
text means 10 evoke a 'pdrJXYsm' Of
love and benefiicence. Gods people are
liable 10 grow cold. Ministers and lay
men are exposed 10 this sorrcwful ex-
pcrience. Then religion seems dry
service, God a colossal abstraction, Christ
"a good. but unfortunate. man. and Heaven
land that Is. indeed. very far off.
| But there Is power In one Christian 70
iucite another TO renewed zeal. The pas
tor proyOkes the church member TO more
love and good works. And the dcVOut
member encourages and helps the pastor
i'm his religious experience. Members
can help one another. a good example
stirs up other people. This mutual help
il an imperative duty, taught i'm the
text and confirmed IN every part Of the
sacred Oracles-
Third: Finally, mutual knowledge is
essential TO mutual help. Let us con
slider one another This means intimate
acquaintance and sympathetic relations.
The people f God know too little Of each
other. The better we know our fellow
Christians. the better prepared are we to
stimulate them. Here lies the philosophy
Of pastoral visiting The pastors func-
ton is 10 provl Ike his people 10 love and
good works. TO DO this effectively, he
must know them well. and 70 know them
well he must visit them wisely It their
homes ana places Of business. Also here
is the explanation Of the prominence that
Christianity gives 10 the social means Of
Grace.
Let us cultivate each others acquaint-
ancc. not to find fault and expose one
anotheT'S weaknesses, but 10 provoke e"ch
other 30 love and good works. Thus e
shall appear at last before our Lord wi b
joy and receive our crowns from his
hands.
The evening sermon was entitled: what
shall ] do with JcsuS?' and was based on
Pilates question. IN Matthew xiv, -.
The pcrpleXity Of the Roman governor
was shown to be suggestive of the at
titudo Of men nowadays. who must de-
eide what they will do with Christ. I'm
der the heads: Cd Advice from the
world within. ~ Advice from the world
around, and Co Advice from the world
ficting influences brought to bear upon
a human soul while it is deciding whether
To accept or reject the Saviour.
The sermon closed with an earnest ap-
peal u all present To decide at once for
Christ, and the recitation Of a beautiful
poem beginning, "Oh. what will you do
with Jesus