The Penn's Grove record., 1894-11-02
REV. DIR.
THE BROOKLYN DIvINE,s SUN
DAY SERMON.
subiect: "The Looking GLASS;"

TEXT, "And he made the laver of brass
and the foot OF II was OF brass, OF the look
ing glasses OF the women assembling
Exodus ~xxxviil., 8.
We often hear about the gospel in John.
and the gospel In Luke, and the gospel in
Matthew, but there is Just as surely a gospe
gospel OF David. In other words. Christ Is
as certainly to be found In the Old Testa-
I,pnt as in the New.
When the Israelites were marching
through the wilderness they carried their
church with them. They called 1t the taber-
nncle. It was a pitched tent. very costly.
very beautiful. The framework was made
Of forty-eight boards OF acicia wood set in
sockets OF silver. The curtains Of the place
were purple and scarlet and blue and
fine linen and were hung with most
artistic loops. The candiesticks Of
that tabernacle had shaft and
branch and bowl Of solid gold, and the
figures OF cherubim that stood there had
wings Of gold, and there were lamps OF gold,
and snuffers OF gold, and tongs Of gold. and
rings OF gold. 40 that skepticism has some
times asked. Where did all that precious ma
terlaI come from2 1t is not my place to fur.
nish the precious stones. 1t Is only to tell
that they were there.
I wish now more especially to speak OF the
laver that was built in the midst OF that
ancient tabernacle. 1t was q great basin from
which the priests washed their hands and
feet. The water came down from the basin
In spouts and passed away after the
cleansing. This LAYER or basin was made
out OF the looking glasses OF the women
who had frequented the tabernacle and
who had made these their contributions to
the furniture. These looking glasses were
not made Of glass, but they ware brazsn.
The brass was Of a very superior quality and
polished until 1t reflected easily the features
OF those who looked into 1t, SO that this
layer OF looking glasses spoken OF in my text
did double work. It not only furnished the
water in which the priests washed them
selves, but 1t also. on its shining, polished
surface, pointed out the spots of pollution
on the face which needed ablution.
l have TO say that this is the only looking
glass In which a man can see himself as he
Is. There are some mirrors that iatter the
features and make you look better b you
are. Thenthere are other mirrors that dis
tort your features and make you look worse
than you are, but l want to tell you that
this l~ooking-glass ofthe gospel shows q man
Just as he IL. When the priests entered tbs
ancient tabernacle, one glance at the
FURNISHED side OF this LAYER showed
them their need Of cleansing. SO this
gospel shows the soul its need Of divine
Washing. All uhV6 9lUubu huu COu1b SuOtt
OF the glory of God" That is one showing.
"All we, like sheep, nave gone astray."
That is another showing. "From the
crown OF the head to the sole OF the foot
there Is no health in u.s." That Is another
showing. The world calls these defects,
imperfectfons. or eccentricities, or erratic
behavior, or .'wiid oats" or "high living
but the gospel calls them sin. transgresston,
fth-the a%bominable thing that God hates.
IA ,xaa tnef ma avlanna af That vaIrpNr that
made Paul cry out, "Oh, wretched mar
that I am, who shall deliver me from
the body OF this death?" and that made
| David cry out, purge me with hyssop, and
1 shall be Clean" and that made Martin
| Luther cry out, .'0h, my sins, my sinsi"
am not talking about bad habits. You and
l do not need any Bible to tell US that bad
habits are wrong, that blasphemy and evil
| speaking are wrong. But l am talking o.
a sinful nature, the source of all bad Thoughts
as we'll as OF all bad actions. The Apostle
| Paul calls their roll In the first chapter Of
| Romans. They are n regiment OF death en-
/ camping around every heart, holding 1t In .
| tyranny from which nothing but the grace
| OF God can deliver II.
Here, for instance, Is ingratitude. Who
/ has not been guilty OF that sin7 II a mar
hand US a glass OF water we say, 'Thanh
| you" but for the Il, 900 mercies hal we are
| every day receiving from the hand OF Coz
| how little expression Of gratitude-for thirs
slaked, for hunger fed, for shelter. and sun
shine, and sound sleep, and clothes to wear,
how little thanks! | suppose there are
men fifty years OF age who have never We
been down on their knees In thanksgiving z
God for His goodness. Besides that ingrati
tude of our hearts there Is pride-wno ha.
not felt it2-pride that will not submit to
God that wants It's own way-a nature tina
prefers wrong sometimes instead OF right
that prefers 10 wallow instead On rise up.
II you could catch a glimpse ofyour natur
al heart before God, you would cry out IL
amazement and alarm. The very first Trims
this gospel does Is to cut down u prid'
and self sufficiency. IL q mar does not fee
his loss and ruined condition before God, b
does moi want any gospel. think the rea
son that there are so few conversions In till
day is because the tendency OF the preach
ing Is to make men believe that they ar
pretty good anyhow-quite clever, onl
wanting a little fixing up, a few touches Q
divine grace, and then you will be all rlgh
instead OF p~roclaimlng the broad, dee
truth that Payson and Whitefeld thundere
10 a race trembling on h verge OF infnit
and eternal disaster. SNOW" says some on,
s.can this really be true? Have we all gon
astray? Is there no good In usY" l
Hampton Court I saw a room where tn
four walls were covered with looking
glasses and 1t made no difference whic
way you looked you saw yourself. And so
Is In this gospel Of Christ. II you once ste
within Its full precincts, you will find you
moral deformity, every spot of moral taini
II / understand the word of God, its first an
nouneement ia that we are lost.
Glory be to God, I find that this laver 9
looking glasses was filled with fresh waite
every morning, and the priest no soon,
looked on its Furnished side and saw hi
need Of cleansing than he washed and wa
clean-glorious type of the gospel OF m
Lord Jesus, that first shows a man his 81
and then washes 1t all away
/ want you TO notice that this laver !
which the priest washed-the laver OF lool
ing glasses-was filed with fresh water ever
morning. The servants of the tabernac
brought the water In buckets and poured
into this laver. SO 1t is with the gospel
Jesus Christ. It has a fresh salvation ever
day. 1t 10 not a stagnant pool nlled with a
cumulated .~corrnptions. 1t Is living waite
whish Is brought from the eternl
rock to wash away the sins OF yesterday, {
one moment ago. "Oh,' says some on
"I was q Christian twenty years ago
That does not mean anything to me. VIII
are you low We are not talking, n
brother, about pardon ten years EGO, b.
about pardon now, a fresh salvation.
II l want to ind out how a friend feels to
ward me, do I go to the drawer and fin
some old yellow letters written to me ten c
twelve years ago7 No. I go to the lett,
that was stamped the day before yesterda
In the postotice, and I find how he feels t.
ward me. II Is not in regard to old con
munications we a with Jesus Christ. 1t
the communications we have now Are "
not in sympathy with Him this mornin,
and is He not In sympathy wit
80 NJ NAt aNnnd an fIalah
YOUR time In hunting In II
wardrobe for the old, wornout shoes
Christian profession. Come this morniu
and take the glittering robe of Christ
Righteousness from the Savlour's hand. Ye
say you were plunged In the fountain OF Il