The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-10-02
AT HARMONY HALL.


Remarks OF Rev. Eric Lewis, sunday
Morning.
The subject of the sermon preached
Sunday morning ut Harmony hell by
the Rev. Eric Lewis was Willingness
to Learn-An Element of Obedience"
He pointed out that mans RESPONSE
bility is two-fold. first to learn Gods
will, then to do it when learnt. To re.
fuse investigation for fear a truth may
come to light which we do
not wish to obey - this is
the attitude of disobedence. Like
the schoolboy, who, anxious to
tread on forbidden ground with a quiet
conscience, is careful not to read the
notice "rrespassers will be Prosecuted
so that if caught he may plead ignor-
ance.
To complain as some, why has
not God made truth palmer, so that all
must see? Why has He not given a
plain do this or don't do that. for
everything? Is to desire to go back
gospel principles to the bondage OF
childhood under Mosaic preceps.
Duty bows to law, and says, II must
obey" Love accepts principles, and
says, Il want to obey" The willing
heart longs to put principles into prac-
tice, and cries, "Lord, do Thou lead
will follow For this the spirit has
been given us; and thus, "as many as
are led by the spirit of God, they are
the sons of God lied, not carried; for
we are to be sons, not infants.
This Willingness to learn receives
threefold illustration in the story of
shown by his willingness not merely o
accept the evident literal meaning OF
the God sent vision. bidding him "Risc,
kill and eat" contrary to Mosaic pre-
cept, but also to accept and apply the
wider spiritual principle which the
vision taught in symbol: God hath
showed me that l should not call any
man common or unclean." Actions
prove his readiness to learn; his recep-
ton and entertainment of the Gentle
messengers; his journey and greeting to
Cornelius; his sermon, and finally his
inference that the pouring out of the
Holy Ghost on these Gentiles proved
them fit subjects for Christian baptism.
Jewish national prejudices and theo-
logical preconception have yielded to
the combined evidence of the vision,
the Spirits voice, and providental cir
cumstances: and Peter has learned three
new great truths in one. The Mosaic
law is ended, Gentiles and Jews are
brethren; salvation is for Gentiles as
well as Jews.
Second-Cornelius, the Roman CEN
turion, is a religious man who has lived
up to all the light he had. Hence God
gives him more light God never teaches
anything fresh TO a man who is not
obeying what he already knows. He
obeys the angel, sends for Peter, gathers
his friends and announces his atti-
tude and theirs to be that of
anxiety to learn in order to obey.
| Hence Peter has not to eXhort them to
believe and repent; it is enough to tell
them the simple Gospel facts and prom
Use; and as they listen the Holy Spirit
falls. and Gentiles speak with tongues.
Believing and baptized in the Holy
Ghost, What need have they of water
baptism? we ask. Not so the Apostle
Peter: "Can any forbid the water, that
these should not be baptized, who have
received the Holy Ghost as well as WEI
Third-But you say, 81 have had no
angelic message like Cornelius, nor
heaven by vision like Peter; my evi-
dence is not SO good as theirs" Be IT
so; the story provides parallel for
your case, too. Here are Jewish Chris.
tians Directing on Peters return t.
Jerusalem, Thou wentest in to men
uncircumcised, and didst eat with
them" They had heard no angel, had
seen no vision; their prejudices wert
dead against this novel truth; they
have nothing to convince them but the
evidence of Peters story; and yet wheT
he has told it to them in order from tine
beginning, they accept the evi
dence, they lay aside their pre-
: conceptions, and we read They helC
their peace, and glorified God, saying
Then to the Genties also hath Goo
) granted repentance Ito life" Blesse'
progress! From the criticisms of rreju
dice to silence in the place of evidence
and from silent acceptance to joy tina
glorifies God for fresh light given. Ma
I this experience be ours! God asks n
7, man to believe on insufficient evidence
: He gives us three witnesses, tn
r preachers message, the spirits inwar
4 voice, aud the written word, by whic
last to test the other two. The truth
4 in our hands, we are responsible
e search it out: and every obedient hear
5 that desires to learn in order to do sha
: know the truth, for he that willeth to d
d His will shall know of the doctrin,
whether it be of God or not.
e PLEASING PERFORMANCES.
3. DaiIey's Company Seen in shakespeaI
and Comedy.