The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1895-11-27
s Powerful Sermon.


Rev. G. Edwin Stokes preached
one Of the most powerful sermons
in the Methodist church last Sunday
morning, that We have heard deliv-
cred at this place. He laid the
foundation of his remarks from tie
words, "Why persecutcth thou me-"
The leading thought of his discourse
was the Importance of conversion.
He contended that there was some
thing more necessary in order to OBJ
tain life everlasting than mere educa-
ton of the mind, and tie conscien-
tious discharge Of duty, but there
must be Regeneration of nature and
change of heart; the carnal mind was
at enmitY with thepure commands Of
Gods law and no amount of human
education, worldly attainments and
culture can reconcile God to man or
change the nature of man. Saul Of
Tarsus, said the preacher, was one Of
the most finely educated men of his
day and times; he was active and
Jealous in the service of his God &C
cording to the training and tradi-
tions Of his fathers; that in the per-
secution of the Christians he was
conscientious; that his efforts to ar
rest the spread Of the teachings and
doctine of Christ which were, with
out the experinces and teachings Of
this change of heart and nature
wrought by conversion, were at vari
ance with the doctrine of the old
dispersion; that the obedience of the
law was the outward manifestation
of the approval of God, and from
this outward obedience, his educa-
tion taught him to look for an out
ward, or visible, not spiritual or in
visible kingdom of Christ, and it
took a heavenly light while on his way
to Damascus, the brilliancy of which
prostrated him on the ground and
made him blind for the space of
three days, to convince him of his
fatal error and conversion, or regene-
ration Of the heart, to change his
nature, and to prepare him for the
accomplishment of the great work
for the upbuilding of the kingdom
of Christ which he afterwards did.
Saals education made him a perse-
cutor of Christians; but Pauls conver-
sion and change Of nature made him
an humble follower of the lowly Ma
zayene desiring to know nothing but
Jesus Christ and him crucifed.
You may edacate hog, by way Of
Illustration, to such an extent as to
enable it to play cards and win at
poker, but allow that hog to follow
the inclination Of his nature and be
will get up from the table, go out
and return to his wollow in the mire.
Another thought advanced by tie
preacher was, that in orGe' to pcrse-
cute Christ it was not necessary to
stone, load the Children Of God
with irons and incarcerate them in
prison, burn their bodies at the stake,
Or rack them in torture on the IA *;
but Christ could be ehectQally perse
,uted by mocking, scofing and treat
ng lightly bis religion and by ridicul
ng his children.
In giving the above outline of the
sermon. We do not wish to convey
;he idea that We are using the preach
9r's words to convey his thought, b ut
ire only stating the impression the
sermon made on our mind.
This being his last sermon before
Conference, Mr. Stokes bid his con-
yregation in a few touching and pa
hetic remarks, in which he referred
% the kindness of the people of Lex
ngton toward him and of his two
years labor among US.
Mr.. Stokes is a gentleman of high
Christian character, earnest and
energetic il all matters tending to-
wards the moral and spiritual inter-
,st of his people and community and
. faithful worker in his Masters
By his Cody life and con-
'ersion and high social qualities he
las endeared himself to the hearts
IF all with whom he came in contact
# whatever name, sect or denomina-
ion, and it is the unanimous wish
If all that Conference will return
1im to this people.