The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-06
THE TAIACRn or CAIN.
DIR. Fair Tells About the First VoyaGer
Upon LIES Sen.

Rev. James !. ar, y. H. bf'd'Heu
two able sermons Sunday 20 large con-
gregauous. At the nignt service the
Graco-Street Presbyterian church could
scarcely accommodate the crowd. The
text was taken from Genesis, f.. p His
subject was Gains failure as man.
Daring the sermon Dee said.
The character Of Cain is intensely Inter
cstiug because he was the first human
being that passed through lil, from the
cradle TO the grave. Adam was created
fun grown. ln that wonderful moment
when he awoke 20 consciousness, ne was
q man i'm perfect possession of all his
magnificent faculties. Cain was the first
to attain maturity through the slow UNI
folding Of growth. the first voyager upon
the ocean OF Time. like the Ancient
Mariner. "the first that ever burst into
that lonely sea"
Everything was propitious for a sue
cessful voyage: he had been reared I'm
home Of piety. took his departure from
the gate of Eden. his beacon was the
light Gods hand kindled on the first
great typical and prophetic altar. What
was the result Of this FIRST experiment in
lfe2 Disastrous failure. Why?
The roc, ON which Cain made shipwreck
was freethindng Ia religion I'm the brief
record Of his career. two things are
the only acceptable form of worship was
through the sacrifice Of a lamb; the other
is. Cain was disposed 20 ignore il. 10
think for himself. and formulate his own
ideas i'm regard to religion. The cause Of
this is very probably TO be- found in the
pride of intellect. overwhelming conf
dence i'm his own ability, and the tendency
of the natural heart TO rebel against
the restraints Of religion: its consequence
was his rejection and subsequent wretch
edness.
The lesson Of Gains life is the danger
Of cxalting reason above revelation. In
the sphere Of natural truth, reason is
competent guide. but when it reaches the
spiritual realm its function terminates.
for the facts Of the infinite lie beyond
IT'S limited horizon. Hence the necessity
of revelation to supplement the incom-
piete teaching of reason. This is no
displacement Of reason.
II you want TO go TO Europe YOU take
the cars TO Jersey City. but at the wa
ter's edge You leave the train. is this
any reflection upon the perfection Of the
railway No: IL is only competent 10
traverse the land that IS the purpose
for which IL is constructed. and 10 which
DO is limited. When you reach the ocean
YOU need another means of transporta-
ton more perfectly adapted TO the new
and different element. So reason is ade-
Quate to convey us to the confines of
life. but il is unable TO explore the mys-
terry of the illimitable eXpanse that lies
beyond. The imputation therefore that
Christianity degrades reason is unfound-
ed.
Another lesson Gains life illustrates. is
the necessity Of a correct belief We Of
ten hear the assertion that is immateI-
ial what a man believes provided he is
sincere That was apparently Gains doc
trine. and we see 10 what IL led. Laxity
in belief. inevitably leads TO laxity in
practice Indifference To the forms of
religion ultimately extinguishes the
spirit of religion.
creed is the soil from which religion
springs the mould in which character is
cast. hence the paramount need that
our beliefs be founded in truth. Let
every young man learn well the lessons
of Gains melancholy failure. Beneath
the daring spirit Of youth is q hidden
rock ON which many have foundered.
Follow prayerfully and implicitly the
teaching OF Gods word: it will guide
into truth.
The Evangelist Lsymen At Trinity.
Professor Winston had his love for stu
dents gratned to the fullest measure I'm
their large presence from the medical
schools. college, and institute at the First
Baptist church on Sabbath night His
answer 10 the question. "Nin the Coming
Man Find his Religion Supplauted by
Science was clear and cogelt. The Won
derful scientific progress of the hundred
years past had not yet supplanted IT, nor
was 30 likely 10 do so as long as man S
religious nature remained as il is with
the facts of God. personal sin. and the
need Of Righteousness. Belief in truth dis
covered and trust in God. I'm whom all
truth consists. are not opposed 10 each
other. ard the coming man Will need re-
ligion just as much as the present man.
The service was q great pleasure to all
present.
Dir Schoolheld the layman evangelist,
OF panville who has recently conducted
grand REVEALS I'm Lynchburg and Norfolk.
f. holding meetings twice a day at Trinity
Methodist church. lie is an earnest and
impressive speaker. and his talks are
making a fine impression
Rev. 4. c. Brown, ID. d., preached sun
day morning at Centenary Methodist
church and assisted tho pastor Rev K.
n. sledd. d. D.. in administering the
communion 20 a very large congregation.
Two members were admitted by letter ana
four on profession Of faith
Rev. DR. n. =. Kerr after an absence OF
q month or more on account or sickness
occupied his pulpit Sunday morning.
In his Introductory remarks Or. Kerr
returned his grateful thanks for the kind
ness and sympathy extended % him BY
his congregation and others during his
recent severe Illness.