The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-27

He Preached Very Powerful Sermon
Which Deeply Impressed Large
CONGREGATION.

He Preached Very Powerful Sermon
Which Deeply Impressed Large
Congregation.
Rev. J. N. Cole last Sunday morn
ing at Edenton Street NJ. Z. Church
preached big sermon. Toe house was
filled and the sermon was longer than
usual, but everybody listened without a
movement, almost as one listener. The
sermon has caused general comment
since it was heard. When any kind of
speaker-preacher or otherwise gets in
the atmosphere of great thought that
makes great talking Mr.. Cole was there
last Sunday morning. Sometimes the
touch of seeming inspiration was upon
his word, and everybody was deeply i'm
pressed with the unusual power of this
always earnest and Cody nan, much
beloved of his people.
''Yea, doubtless | count all things but
lost for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus, my Lord"
DR.. Cole opened with the statement
that the faculty of knowing is one Of
the attributes in which man approaches
to knowledge of God. Il was in this e. !:
dowment that God impressed upon man
the signet of His own image and power.
In the intellectual endowment Of mar,
God lifted His CT cation into con m lnion
with Himself. 1t brought the workman
and the workmanship face to face
The realm of mans intellectual ac-
tivity is as broad as the universe itself.
1t takes cognizance of all material OBJ
jects, and brings them in,o contribution
TO the happiness and well-being of man.
No 10
ton of the visible world into the invisi-
BILE and contemplates God This is the
highest reach of intellectual power. The
mind finite comes into contact Wi the
mind infinite, and man knows God in
the chamber of his own being and in
the unspeakable witness of his own con-
seriousness.
From His Book: Here we see Him not
only in His creative power and glory,
but we see Him as The long suffering
one toward guilty man. In His Book
we read the story of His love for sinners.
1t was this love that nature could not
utter. The meadow streams with their
gladstone voice" could not sing it; the
"pine groves with their soft and
soul like sound" could not whisper
mountain cataract in their perilous fall
could not shout il; the deep plaintiye
murmur of the oceans neaying bosom
could not wall it; the swift energy of the
storm king with all the artillery of
heaven could not speak it, 80 that
the nations might hear it; God
must give it a living declaration
and dying seal; Christ must suffer;
He must be lifted up upon the Cross in
order that men might know of Gods
love. The words of this life and of this
death of Christ are in this book, and We
may know Him from these words. 9~~ae
By Experience: 1t is to take these
words of christ and live by them.
Passing to the Second division, the
speaker said:
Now this is the most excellent knowl-
edge:
Because God is the one perfect Being.
The mind never comes to the contem-
plation of truth and virtue in their
highest excellence until it knows God.
Hence the progress of the race toward
its better and higher life has been in the
ratio of its knowledge OF the truth Of
Deity.
Because Of the certainty Of this
knowledge There is nothing else that
/ can put my hand upon with such abso-
Lutte conviction Of the truth as the Bible.
Because it seems eternal life. This
is life eternal to know Thee, the only
true God and Jesus Christ whom Thou
hast SENT