Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-16
SERMON ON ENEMIES.
Dr.. Hatcher Tells How to Get GooQ
Ont Of Our Foes.
NOT ALWAYS AN AFFLICTIoN'
Those Who Seek Oar Destr"c'""
sometimes Becomc Helpers IN ""'
s,,x,,,on-yictorio Power In
Patience.
Patience.

| DIR Hatcher preached to a large con-
eregatlon at Grace Street Baptssi ch"iS"
Sunday morning on the subject oil Het'iis
| Good Out of our Enemies" His text WIS
taken from the incident OF Gideons VISIT
10 the camp Of INDIAN, IN the NaieF vi
Jezreel. Gideon went, the Doctor S"'N'
at the command OF God. and went a'
time when he was filed with ahNie''.
His army had been reduced - Sp' anu
he could not rise to the assurance that ne
could, with such little banu' destroy
the vast INDIAN host. AS ne stoou near
tho tant I'm which two INDIAN soIdlefs
were talking. he heard one OF them Ten
the dream of the barley cake rohins INTO
the camp of the Midianites ana khoch-
ing 10 pieces one of the tents lie aiso
heard the other sodier-heatn.n as ne
was-declare that the incident Was
prophecy of the overthrow OF .he enemies
Of Israel by the power OF Gideon. Inc
! words of this indian foe fell upon Inc
ears of Gideon with revivins and uplit-
ing power. He derived more inspiration
from his enemies than he ever received
| from his friends.
NOT AN T'NMITIGATED AFFLICTlON.
Continuing, DIR. Hatcher said mat IL
| was not an unmitigated afiicdOn 10 have
enemies. Not that IL was pleasant OF
desirable TO have to endure the eniniy
and hostility OF our fellow-men. but that
4. sometimes came 10 pass that those VINO
! seek our destruction become helpers in
! our salvation.
1--WE could. he said, "harlly hope 10
| derive good from enemies who are the
fruit OF our own mlsdoins. II Is
grievous sin IL We, by our ingratitnde, or
Injustice, or oppression provoke the wrath
and lncls- the vengeance or others
| Against this every devout AMI co'scien-
tious soul should constantly watch.
Enemies made in this way are at once
our peril and our shame. II any II NJ
/ are conscious to-day that anywhere on
/ the earth there are those VINO have heeh
alienated and embittered by the w:Jogs
which We have done them, We cannot
| too soon nor too humbly seek ihei! fCr-
| giveness. But not alone IN this way
| are enemies made. They are born OF PIE
| judice, jreachery. suspicion. peryerslty,
! and inarattude. 1t was the pathetic com
| plant OF our Saviour that the Pharisecs
! hated Him without a cause, that IL. with
| out any provoking cause In Him. The
| casus belh is often found in the Offender,
| and sometimes bad men are whipped into
/ Irritation and bitterness b. me very
! klndnesses which they have received.
The cynic was wrong who always tn
/ quired when he heard that any one was
( hostile TO him. why, what kin1ncss have
/ done him that he should seek To de-
stroy me-" And yet. 1t sometimes comes
to pass that those who 1--we on cur
bounty turn into foes when our bounty
| gives out or is denied. We need not
think II strange II those we help most
will sometimes withhold help wnen we
need 1t NEST.
I'VE need not disguise the painful view
Of having enemies. The TACT lhat tnty
are hostile TO our interests, to or fcr-
tune. safety. comfort and honor must
always be distressing. But theIe Is one
thing which mortal enmity cannot do
IL cannot impair our integrity nor put a
stain upon our character. As long as we
stand guard over our own virtue, and
remain interrupted by temptation and
| unemblttered by wrongs, II is no great
injury that our worst foes can inlet
up1n us The gravest peril which comes
from our enemies Is, after all. in ourselves
/ They may tempt us 10 DO ourselves more
| harm than they can bring upon Us. As
a fact enemies are useful. IL Is lr1pos-
sibe 10 get along well without tnem.
They are no mean part OF our earthly
Inheritance. They are often made TO
contribute to our welfare.
OUR ENEMIES HELP IS.
For one thing, they help us TO attain
to a better estimate Of ourselves. ten
dency with all OF w. is to think more
highly or ourselves than We ought 10
think. and friendship and love often fail
TO rebuke and arrest this disposition. The
! hostile critic is not always just lie may
set Us out in a color too dark, but ne VIII
at least give US a view OF the weak side
Of our character. II we have iraiIties or
errors he will be quick to unveii them.
The sight may not be agreeable, but II
will probably subdue our pride and give
sobricty 20 our thoughts.
Enemies Put us on the alert. An army
cannot straggle or reyel WREN in the
presence Of the enemy; it must keep in
battle array. when We know that I'M
friendly eyes are watching Us. and SCOT
nng and bitter tongues are ready TO pub
l.sh cur shame. We are sure 10 be more
watchful. A sense OF peril is wholesome.
IL holds US on our guard, and teaches US
to be cautious and not TO expose our
selves to the fire Of the foe. II is only in
having enemies that we have the oppor-
tunity OF exercising the highest graces
OF which we are capable The supreme
characteristic Of our Redeemer was his
kindness to the unworthy. He lNed us
while We were yet sinners. Just as we
come 90 cherish and eXempllfy the spirit
Of mercy, forbeardnce. and forgiveness
We become ike Christ. The most for
giving man il the most Christ-like man.
and N we did not have foes we would
never have need Of these gracious quail
ties II Christ had never had enemies Tie
would never have had the opportunity TO
pray that matchless prayer on the cross
! for His enemies. IL Is possible that We
= may truly love our enemies. Ii is a
beautiful and exalted spirit. Ii gives us
kinship with the best Of our race, and
adds a sweetness and loftiness to our life
! which We could get in no other way. II
gives us more reverence for our race
| when we go back TO the martyr days and
recall many Of Gods children after giving
up all for the Cross, and who, when finally
! summoned 10 pay their blood for theiI
= faith. spent their dying breath In pray
ing for Gods mercy on those who thu:
cruelty dealt with them. Blessed, in.
deed. are they who can use their foes a.
an occasion for cultiyating patience anC
: mercy.
MAKE US MISSIONARIES.
"Our enemies are a divine means o.
2 converting us into missionaries. When Z
: man does YOU a wrOng-Whcn he tres
passes against you'-he at once becomes
a the object on which you are to expene
>. you. most affectionate and faithful labors
You must go TO him, 20 alone. 90 II
\ grace and discretion, and show him hi
e error and save him from IL. This 80,
| are 10 do not 10 upbraid him nor 70 in
e dulge in censure, but that you may reall.
! save him. This work OF Cancellation w