Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-03-09

| impOlitic and little understood as III a
physician should talk to an ordinary
patient about the pericardium and in
tercostal muscle and scorbutio symp-
toms. Many Of us come out of the theo-
logical seminaries so loaded up that we
take the first ten years TO show our peo.
pie how much we know. and the next
ten years get our people 10 know as
much rs we know. and nc the end find
that neither Of us knows anything as we
ought to know. Here are hundreds Of
thousands Of SHINING. struggling and dy-
ing people who need to realize Just one
thing-that Jesus Christ came TO save
them and will save them now. But we
go into profound and elaborate defini-
tion Of what justification is, and after
all the work there are not outside Of the
learned professions 5000 people in the
United States who can tell what justifi-
cation is. Twill read You the definition:
justification is purely a forensic net,
the act of judge sitting in the forum.
in which the Supreme Ruler and Judge,
who is accountable to none, and who
alone knows the manner in which the
ends OF his universal government can
best be attained, rcckons that which
was done by the substitute. and not OH
account Of anything done by them, but
purely upon account of this gracious
method Of reckoning. grants them the
full remission of their sins. -
The Multitude Of skeptics.
Now. what is justification? Twill tell
you what justification is. When sim
ner believes, God lets him off. One sum
mer in Connecticut went TO large
factory. and / saw over the door writ
ten the words, mo admittance." I
entered and saw over the next door,
mo admittance OF course en-
tered. l got inside and found il a
pin factory. and they were making
pins. very serviceable, fine and useful
pins. So the spirit Of exclusiveness has
practically written over tho outside door
Of many church. mo admittance. Z"
And IL the stranger enter he finds prac-
tically written over tho second door,
mo admittancc." and IL he goes in
over all the pew doors seems written,
'No admittance. while the minister
stands in the pulpit. hammering out his
little niceties Of belief. pounding out the
technicalities Of religion. making pins.
In the most practical. common sense
way, and laying aside the nonessentials
and the hard definitions Of religion, go
out on the God given mission, telling
the people what they need and when
and how they can get IL.
Comparatively little effort as yet has
been made TO save that large class Of
persons in our midst called skeptics, and
he who goes 10 work here will not be
building upon another mans founda-
ton There is q great multitude Of
them. They are afraid Of MS and our
churches, for tho reason we do not
know how 20 treat them. One Of this
class met Christ, and hear with what
Tenderness and pathos and beauty and
success Christ dealt with him: Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart. and with all thy soul, and with
all thy mind. and with all thy strength
This is the first commandment. and the
second is like To this-namely, thou
shalt love thy ncighbor rs myself
There Is no other commandment greater
than this. And tho scribe said to him,
well. master. thou hast said tho truth,
i0r there is one God. and 20 love him
with all the heart. and all the under.
standing, and all the soul. and ali the
strength. is more than whole burnt Of.
ferings and sacrifices a" And wheE
Jesus saw that he answered discrectly
he said unto him, "Thou art not far
from tho Kingdom Of God. =" 80 skep.
tic wat saved In ono interview. But few
Christian people treat the skepiic in
that way. Instead II taking hold Of him
with the gentle hand Of love, we AFRO apt
20 take him with the iron pinchcrs Of &C.
| rle-iasticism.
You would not be- 80 rough ON that
man " You knew by what process no
had lost his faith IN Christianity.
havo known mon skeptical from tho fact
that they grew up IN houses where rcli.
gion was ovcrdonc. Sunday was tho
most aw ful dag IL the week. They had
religion driven into them with trip
hammer They were surfcited with
prayer meetings. They were stuffed and
shoked with catcchisms. They were
often told they were the worst boys tho
parents ever knew because they liked
% ride down hill better than 10 read
Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress When.
ever father aud mother talked Of rcli.
gion. they drow down tho corners Of
their mouth aud rolled up their eyes II
any ono thing will send boy or girl TO
ruin sooner than another, that IL IL. II
had had such father and mother, l
fear ! should have bocn an infdel.
When was boy In Sunday school, nc
one time we had teacher who. when
wo were not attentive. struck MS over
tho head with New Testament. and
there is way Of using even the Bible
90 as 10 make IL offensive.
Others were tripped up 81 skepticism
from being gricvously wronged by some
man who professod 10 DO Christian.
They had partner In business who
turned out 10 DO first class scoundrcl.
though n profcsscd Christian. Many
years ago they lost NIL faith by what
happened in an oil company which was
formed amid tho petroleum excitement.
Tho company owned no land. or II they
Wv th'AN ne7 NV riHu W. WI IFonut'us
but the president Of the company was
Presbyterian elder. aud the treasurer
was an Episcopal vestIyman. aud ono
director was "a Methodist class leader.
and tbe other directors prominen. mem.
bcrs ~ Baptist and Congregational
churches. Circulars were gotten out tell.
ing what fabulous prospects opened lie.
fore this company. Innocent men and
women who had n little money 90 IN
vest. and that little their all, said. n
don't know anything about this com
pany. but 80 many good men arc nt tho
bead ~ II that IL must bo excellent, and
taking stock IN IL must bo almost ~
good ~ joining tho church. "
~ they bought tho stock and perhaps
received one dividend 80 ar 90 keep Thorn
still. hut after awhile they found that
the company had recognized and had
ldiffcrcnt president aud different treas.
grtr aud different directors. Other en-.
sagoncnis 90 III health had caused tho
former offices II tho company. with
many regrets, 20 resign Aud oil that
the subscribers ~ that stock had 10
show for their investment was u bcauti.
fully ornanontod certificate Sometimes
that man looking over his old papora
comes acfoaE that certificate. and IL IL 40
suggestive that ho vows no wants mono
~ tho religion that tho presidents and
frust..a aud Ite.efara 80 that .iI c....