The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-23
Westminster Church.

The sermon of Mr.. Mott yesterday was
upon the topic OF temptation to sin and
Christ's method OF overcoming 1t. he
said in part that the original conception
of Satan was wierd and as awful as the
imagination OF those days could paint 1t.
The cloven hoof, horns and hideous
features combined the ancient idea of the
revolving nature OF sin. In our day,
though we may have very different views
regarding a material Satan, the thing
which Satan stands for still exists in all
its hideousness. 1t Is q part OF human
nature, deficiency in our nature so To
to speak, and the great question whichw
are to solve Is how to make up this defici-
ency and how to round out our nature
into a perfect whole. We cannot build up
wall Of protection around ourselves as can
the inhabitants of city, for the sin exists
within US and is part OF us. We can not
overcome it by merely subduing it or OPP
posing IL by our will or reason, for that
simply deadens its outward activity with
out affecting the living roots that still
exist i'm our soul. We can overcome it in
one way only, that Is drive it out and
substitutes new desire, new love for
better things so that not only sin itself but
the desire for sin may no longer exist.
The root of all sin Is in moral Incidence,
that Incidence that chooses q morally
wrong course of life rather than morally
better one. IL Is weak yielding to the
brute nature within us rather than
strong cultivation OF the more noble char
acteristics of manhood. Christ would
have us mutualize the evil within US by
substituting for it good, by cultivating
love for the beautiful things OF life. To
do evil is passion of the brute nature.
We may subdue that passion, but that is
not enough. Righteousness is not merely
elf-restrained. We must not ony cease
to do wrong, we must cease to desire to
do wrong. The man who refrains
from doing wrong because OF
fear OF punishment but nevertheless de-
sires to do that wrong is no nearer to a
righteous life than IL he had actually COM
mitted the sin. He is like the tiger be-
hind the bars of cage. The nature Is the
same, it is simply inactive. There is one
way only in which to control
our unlawful, desires, that is
by substituting for them desires for
nobler things. And that desire for better
things lies with each one of US. In the
two charged electric wires lies potency
of power that needs but the contact of
the two to become an active force. SO in
each one of us lies potent love of good
ness that needs but the contact with
Christian life TO make 1t an active, agrees
sve force. The aim of the Christian
is TO learn to love and desire
only the good, and the essence of that life
is in the actual and active exercise of the
teaching of Christ. Love they neighbor
as thyself. When you have done that de-
sire for evil will cease and you will free
from the bondage of sin.
The musical program OF the day was
largely devoted to Mendelsshon's sacred
works. feature that Is frequent in the
music of the Westminster church and one
that is not only beautiful but:instructive,
as the works of most of the masters are
sufficiently varied to meet the require
ments OF church service. Mr.. Tingley
selected yesterday from this composer,
"Come Unto Him." soprano solo; "We
Stand in Deep Repentance" containing a
contralto solo and duet for contralto and
tenor; 80, Come Every One That Thirst
eth," and "It Is Enough" bass solo for
Mr. Flint