The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1895-09-20

missionary society behind him, with no
guarantee of support save his own slen-
der income, with no assurances of well
come from the masses for whom he was
going to give Eis life, with no language
his hearers could understand, and HIM
self 80 years of age. 1t would have
been madness for Robert MeAll to have
gone sol had he not gone only in the
fear and stength of God. He carried no
weapon but the sword OF the Spirit and
the shield of faith, and by ssthe foolish
ness of preaching he went to conquer
all. He got near the masses, he secured
their thoughtful attention, he unclinched
their angry fists raised against their fell
to be lifted in prayer to God. Never
for moment did he falter, he never
tired, he never lost heart or courage;
but, singing hymns of faith and hope, he
moved persistently forward, until he had
brought salvation into thousands of
homes, transformed countless lives, and
given inspiration everywhere to the
churches. It is proven beyond all ques-
ton, the Gospel is the power of God.
Has it occurred to any of you to mark
in the flight of time that on the Sunday
corresponding to this two years ago /
preached my first sermon to you as your
pastor? l have thought to-day that it
might not be inappropriate to reiterate
and emphasize the fundamental truths
which this ministry has during these
two years tried to place before you.
shall not attempt to preach
REGULAR ANNIVERSARY SERMON;
L cannot do that, for the Lord did not
make me in that way.
First, then, / have in these two years
ever striven to remember that | have
come to you to preach the Gospel.
Much criticism is passed on the preach
ing of to-day because it dwells too much
on the love of God and makes prominent
only the attractive side in the story OF
redemption. Modern preaching, it is
said, deals only with "Comes" and "God
bless yous;'' it makes the wrathful light.
nings of Sinai hide behind the Cross or
Calvary. / admit that my preaching
has fallen somewhat into this line, for
have ever held to the conviction thai
the chief aim of this ministry should be
to preach to you the Gospel.
| I sometimes think that we are entirely
letting go the meaning of the word
What does the Gospel mean? Does j
not mean ''good news, "glad tidings?'
L claim, when you tell man that he is s
sinner, that he is under condemnation
of the law, that he is helpless, lost ant
wretched, that he is subject to the wratl
of God, that he is in danger of the judg
ment, that all this may be true, but tina
it is not good news to the man, nor Is
any news at all. need not say to an,
business man or farmer here that he il
burdened and tempted and tried. 81
knows it, he feels it, and wants some re
lief. I need not say to any housewife
here that she is perple xed and annoye'
by the hundred and one petty cares tina
meet her every day. She knows it, sh
feels it, and wants some relief. And SO
when on my rounds Of calling amou,
the people this one and that one speal
to me of the many 7hipgs our churcl
does not do or point out the inconsisten
lives that some of us may be living, it al
may be true; but it certainly is not tn
Gospel truth, it is not good news to me
nor is it any news at all. Once in
while you will find some one who vii
| say to you that he is not sinner, tina
he is not very bad, that he has all h
longing whatever for
SAVIOUR OR AN ALMIGHTY FRIEND;
but the majority of people ar
} not this way--they know pair
fully enough that they are sinners
! and 1t would not be good new
for you to tell them so. The illustrs
ton is old, but it is very good and true
Man has fallen into deep pit and ha
no way to get out. Science comes to til
edge of the pit (and many preacher Q
to-day takes up the word of Science)
and Science says to the man in the pit
"Poor fellow! how did you come to ia
in there ?" Science begins to discuss tn
origin of the mans fall, but 1t make
not the slightest effort to rescue him
Philosophy comes to the edge of the pi
(and many preacher of to-day takes u
the word of Philosophy, and Philosoph
says to the man in the pit: 20 man, 20
are surely in wretched plight, but 20
! ought not to have fallen in there.
Philosophy begins to search for the lay
that was broken, but it makes no effol
to rescue the hapless man; and the ma
in despair cries out: "Why don't 20
! throw down roper Don't tell me no,
: ] came to get in here, or that ough
not to have fallen in here but do some
thing, beg you, to save me-" At las
the Gospel comes to the edge of the pi
(and not so many preachers of to-da
, take up the word of the GospeD, and
: says, not one word to the man in the p
about how he came to get into his sorr
, condition, not one word about the fac
that he ought not to have fallen in there
but it says: 'sHere's rope. Fasten
. under your armpits, and then I'll la
hold this end and help to draw you out.
: That is real Gospel; that is news to th
. unfortunate man in the pit, and it
good news, too
. The Old Testament gave the law.
was flashed from Mount Sinai; it wa
, written on tables of stone; it was cal
, ried about in the Ark Of the Covenant
it was repeated It's blessings fror
Mount Gerizim, It's curses from Noun
Ebal; it was declared by prophet
fnnfrIIa and snno in fhe lofty straina q