The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-08-08
SHOW YOUR CoLORS.
ARE YOU A SON OF SATAN, OR A CHILD
OF CHRISTI
First Sermon of the Pastor, Rev. J. ].
Grier. In the Associate Reform.
ed Presbyterian Church,
Abbeville, Sabbath,
July 90, 1894.

Grier. In the Associate Reform.
ed Presbyterian Church,
Abbeville, Sabbath,
July 90, 1894.
For I determined not to know anything
among you, save Jesus Christ. and him cruel
ied.-I Cor. 90.
Corlnth is dead. Resting on the bosom OF
TWO seas and thus being In easy communica-
ton with the neighboring nations-and max
Ing neighbors Of the distant nations-itis Is no
, surprise that she should become metropoli-
tan and In great measure the su successful &c RI,
swept into her lap the wealth OF the world.
OPPORTUNITY DEsPIsED.
See her chance to rise. Wealth, commerce,
art culture, considerable degree Of learning
and ready OF access. Her fame spread as the
and TO full height at once. In Crete, In An
tioch and Jerusalem, in Phlilipi and In Rome,
Corlnth, her wealth, her people and her grow
ing power were every day subjects OF re-
mark.
The poor turned their faces toward her In
the hope OF sharing her gold, the rich were
wont TO visit her under the impulse Of that
idle curiosity which SO often characterize
All the world had heard of Corlnth and the
eyes OF her rivals who were writhing In
their painful jealousies were fixed upon her,
while she proudly marched TO glory. But the
crowning graces OF this city were pride, idol
airy and licen tiousness. On these she bnilded
und by them she was smitten and died.
The Corinthians were puffed up greatly be-
cause OF their city's advancement, and boast
ed loud and long OF her orators, her artists
and society. And she might have lived had
she received the preacher whom God sent to
her In her utmost need. But only few ex-
cavations and seven Doric columns are the
remains OF this far-famed and splendid city
"sad sepulchral monuments OF departed great
ness"
Learn from this, friends, that men must
hear the word Of God and forsake their sins.
The community or city or nation which
Christ shall perish speedily and without rem
edy. Whenever Abbevile shall close her
doors to Gods servants and her ears to the
proclamation OF His gospel, her towers will
her citizens perish and her name be forgot
ten.
Paul had preached for them q year and q
half. He found them hard material. Every
of peace and goodwill. They regarded mat
ters OF religion as none Of their business. and
treated them that way. They could listen
long and eagerly to political orations or I,t, gu,
with the sincerest applause, but when this
man whose bodily presence they pronounced
"wesk" and whose speech they said was con
temptible" spoke TO them Of Jesus, judg-
feet, stopped their ears and contem ptously
shouted I'VE want no such thing"
PAUL TOOK A STAND.
And call your attention first to the fact
that Paul was a whole-souled man. That was
bis nature. "Do 1t or let 1t alone" was his
motto.
Even before he was brought TO the foot OF
the CROSS aud made 10 see his Saviour In mir
aculous revelations, he threw his whole force
into what he thought was Gods service-per-
scouting the church.
And suppose he laughed heartily and his
very sides shook In manifestation OF hls graf
itication at the cruel and bloody work OF
stonlng the life out of Stephen. and he felt
Joyed when the lips that had spoken OF saliva
lion by blood and the new gospel OF mercy
uttered their last cry and the servant OF God
gave up the ghost and died. He verify danced
10 ecstasy when he saw the decipes of Jesus
prosecuted, whipped, bleeding and dying In
the keenest agony. "Vctory" he made his
motto. and he would conquer or die; And
now when he has taken his stand on the 9th.
er side he is just as determined as before. and
all the powers OF earth and hell cannot stop
his mouth, drown his voice or intimidate him
takes In the name Of Jesus OF Nazareth whom
he before prosecuted with such terrible vigor,
and dreadful success. All the world could
see that he was an enemy OF the cross before.
OF the cross. Glorious hour for the cause OF
the truth where all this great engine of zeal
and energy was converted by the Almighty
power OF Almighty God
The world likes q man like that: man
W no wears his badge that we may see where
he belongs, where he holds his membership.
II you are son OF perdition put on your
eaage 9
Christ" The world wants TO see the sign
board that they may be able TO fix you. Let
no man be afraid OF his colors. Honor the
devil enough TO confess 1t, II you are his SER
want.
Be wise enough to lift your banner to the
breeze If you have taken your stand with
Jesus the NaZarence.
In the second place, I would have you no
tIce the strength Of Paul's purpose. He was
man who weighed things In the balance OF
reason, and when once he reached conclu:
sion he pinned to 1t as matter OF life and
death TIL new light dawned. He made res
olution or promise 10 himself and God, and
set him about to do what he intended. And
10 those people Of Corinth who could not un-
derstand his wonderful Zenl and activity In
spreading this new doctrine, be answered 81
determined IT," What Is the matter with you,
Paul? 1t seems you have gone Wild about
sqNa 9ow
ed and l will perform It," Let us learn TO
keep our promises, however unimportant
they may seem. What thou vowest, friend.
pay 1t, and God will reward your faith lulness.
# is better, says the wise man, that thou
shoudest not VOW than that thou shouldest
VOW and not pay, and believe IT..
Do not promise COD or man Lnat you VIII
perform what you do not Intend for God
knows IL to be O lie when thou speakest and
man VI III discover 1t to be q lie afterward. For
time thou wouldest reap distrust with man
and disfavor with God, and for the time that
is coming speedily eternal fire and compan-
ionshp with demons. Yes, II IL BETTER much
better, intellectually better, Infinitely better
and everlastingly better that every VOW be
paid az made In the presence of Him who
shall. without fail, bring everything into
judgment
Allow me to give all possible emphasis to
the necessity of hXedness of purpose. Deter
mination IL q talent worth all other talents
com blned. man with one talent OF power
and this talent OF determination will do more
In The world for his God and his brethren
than he who has nine shining talents OF pow
er ithout the steam o the other talent-de-
termination.
The man who Wills to do will do. and earth
and hell can not keep him from II, If he be
sell on doing the right.
Mountains and seas and deserts may delay
hm-but they only make his success the
more certain and substantial, and his triumph
more glorious. UP, young friends. dare for
God and do or die. Upward and onward be
Thy motto. and praise. honor and blessings
shall be thy reward,
Notice again the specific character OF Paurs