Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-04-18
Bishop Goodsell's Sermon.

III elOqueup n0i1Oh
Bishop Goodsell at the late M. g.
Northwest Kansas conference:
Text: II Thes. 3; /; "Pray for
us that the word of the Lord may
have free course and be glorlfed."
There is no book so great as the
Bible. None 80 lntrenched IN the
memory and so available for mans
benefit. 1t is live book to live peo-
pie, and a dead book to dead people.
Those who know God find it full OF
grand and glorious truths, to others
it is dull, inslpid and meaningless.
This text has entered into the common
speech of the church. Preachers
make this request Of the people, and
the people pray this prayer. This
familiarity makes it more difficult to
find the interest of novelty. l care
not for this, so that it may build up
and bless the children Of God. The
word free is not in the original, but
supplied by the translators, because
it supposed to express the sense bet
ter, but correct translation of the
following word would obvate this
difficulty. The correct translation is
"cdreer" instead of 'course"-that the
word may have career. The Apos-
tie sees a movement Of great force
aud power, and desires for it an open
way. He was ignorant of the forces
of the steam engine, whether in draw
ing railroad trains or propelling the
steamer at sea, lie knew the force of
strong man and illustrates his
themes by snch terms rs fighting,
wrestling and running. He beats
himself to keep his body under sub
lection. The idea of motion is fami-
liar. The gospel is an energy at
work for which he desires u career.
He had an experience of this power
when on his way to Damascus, and
all who have experienced this power
desire to recommend it to others He
had a full feast of power in his soul,
and recommends it, not from theory,
but by experience. Changed from a
selfrighteous pharsee to an humble
and devout christian, from bigoted
selfish Jew, who desired only Jewish
success, to one who wanted this Power
to reach and save all mankind. The
Bible was not complete. Revelation
was not written, and several other
books of the New Testament We're
wanting. The cannon had not been
completed. Yet there was definite
word of the Lord. 1t included the
Old Testament and the words of
Christ from the memory and expert
ence of the apostles, including him
self, as one born out Of due time yet
an apostle. This word Of the Lord
stands the same in all ages
There are differences in persons aa
to what they see. Some see nothing
that does not hit them in the face
others see every thing that transpIres
about them. / was privileged to
know one whom l esteemed it valu-
able lesson to walk half mule with.
He saw and knew every bird, where
it built its nest, what its habits were
could classify and name every plant
and tell all about them; could give
information about every thing We
find whether in the animal, vegetable
or mineral kingdom. So Paul had 6
great mind and great learning; he
would have been great in any wall
of life. l dwell upon this to show
that one whose intellect was stupen
dous did believe in hepower of God'l
word, and counted it an honor to d.
something in this work If yoU
wonder why he chose this calling yoV
will understand it when you expert
ence this power. This power which
the work knows not, gives comfort
peace and joy never ending, by in
creasing till we reach the glory lane
on high.
Paul quotes from the Old Tesla
ment constantly, also from Greel
authors, to show that whom the!
ignorantly worshlped was our Father
We have, in addition to what he haC
in the first chapter Of John, the living
word of God, hoard and seen by men
The last words Of God were spoken
by Christ.
A word is the expression Of ~ Ile'
or relation. Jesus Christ is the ex