Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1895-06-21
A Sermon by Ed. W. | Williams.

One OF the most obstinate oOstfuctlOns
to the Advancement OF the gospel Is the
tenscity with which the human mind
holds its earliest religious Impressions.
Under normal conditions this character
istic OF the mind would prove adyanta-
geous in facilitating the rapid and sure
triumph Of the gospel, but deprsved az
human nature is, and by nature, the vic.
tim OF the dominion Of moral evil that
which was intended for good has been
perverted to evil. All nations and tribes
have their gods. Truly there be- gods
many and lords weary" Each human
soul is born under certain religious en-
yironments. This environment becomes
the necessary force that directs and con-
trolls the religious life.
Whatever is sown shall be reaped
whether Il be truth or falsehood. What
each character is, ia the product OF an
antecedent cause. What then is true re
lgion? II is a life in harmony with
mans relations to God. But rs God is
one and mans relations 10 God are one
as a logical necessity, there can be but
one true religion. Hence God 80 loved
the race OF man az 10 give his only son
to die for the sins Of all, that whatsoever
believes in him might be saved. For re.
demption and the salvation OF the soul,
there lie only zone Lord and Savior, the
Christ, the Son of God" All people
who truly accept Jesus as the Son Of
God, trusting in his atoning death for
the pardon OF Gin and eternal salvation.
have essentially the same and the only
true religion. For "other foundation
can no man lay than that is laid, which
is Jesus Christ" Nor can Christ "be di-
yided." In Jesus Christ, all iullness OF
the Godhood dwells. In him ia involved
all saving truth, and from him is exciud.
ed. As the object OF faith and the tounda.
ton OF the church, all other truths.
Truths that have no essential relation TO
the salvation of the soul, do not sustain
any essential relation TO Jesus Christ as
the foundation OF faith aud of the church.
Ch.st himself alone is the foundation Of
the church. "On this rock | vii! build
my church" But DO not. the leading
protestant denominations in England
and the United States accept Jesus
Christ as the Son Of God and trust in
him alone, for pardon and eternal life
They certainly DO. As TO their faith in
Jesus Christ as the Son OF God, there is
not the shadow OF difference. Their
faith, hope and love are one. The divine
cause that il essential TO the production
OF one Christian is equally essential TO
the production OF every other Christian.
But Jesus has said, without me ye can
do nothing" aud an apostle has said, 81
can do all things through Christ, who
strengthens me-" All persons then be
come true Christians by faith in and snh
mission to Jesus Christ. Then it follows
thst all true Christians are included
within the spiritual body, the true
church OF Jesus Christ. In the begin
ming OF the gospel this unity OF the spir-
i,ual body OF Christ found an external
expression in a visible organization OF
believers in Christ, but even then, under
the eye OF inspired men there we're false
professors. "crept in unawares" in order
TO corrupt the church, so that at no time
did tie external organization OF the
church coincide exactly with the bOun-
diaries Of the spiritual body OF Christ.
Nevertheless the holy spirit directed
the apostles to deliver such instruction
10 the churches from time to time as
might enable them to contend earnestly
for the faith, and az the same time to
preserve 1.-THE unity of the spirit in the
bond of peace" and in this way, "the
man Of God was to be fully equipped for
every good work" This purpose OF God,
that the visible unity of the spirit might
be maintained in all time TO come, found
expression in the memorable prayer Of
our Lord in the upper room on the night
of his betrayal. That they all may be
one; as thou Father art in me and in
thee, that they also may be one in us
that they may be made perfect in one"
"Neither pray for these alone, but for
them also, who shall believe on me
through their word, that they all may be
one, that the world may believe that thou
hast sent me-" Moreover all divisions
among the children OF God are treated
by inspired apostles as works OF the flesh,
the fruits of carnality and contrary to
the holy spirit OF God. Now this say,
q Cor. ll2) that everyone of you saith,
am OF Paul and Of Apollas and OF
Cephus and | OF Christ. Is Christ di-
yided? was Paul crucitied for you, or
we're you baptized in the name of Paul?"
II Christ is not divided, his disciples
may not be. II Paul was not cruciied
for YOU, you may not divide and build
parties on him nor Peter.
The fact that Christ was cruciied for
A = 4 n l.