The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-12-13
DEAN gRADEEY's LAST SERMON

He CLOSES the Mission at tie Ca'he"
,,yal me Gona Sarpherd--A zine
sermon az the lose of IA Series oil
Great Sermons.
Dean Bradley preached the last ser
mon of the mission at the Cathedral of
the Good Shepherd last night.
Our conversation is in heaven was
the line of scripture from which he
spoke.
conversation" he said, means citi-
zenship, our calling and election, our
life. Paurs citizenship is in heaven,
God is his King, heaven his country,
the New jerusalem his city, and the
laws of heaven the guide of his life"
Then turning to exhortation, Quit
you like men; put on the whole armor
of Christ and fight in the world the
battle of the Lord. The results of tins
mission now rest with you. ! have
tried 10 preach to YOU Of Christ and
His dwelling in this soul of man"
He presented new idea of heaven:
The great white throne and the com
pany of saints and angels descending
from heaven TO earth, and Jesus Christ
to reign here in this earth renewed-a
new earth under a new heaven. A re-
generated earth shall be heaven; a re-
generated life is heaven now. The light
of God coming down into life of this
world. hate melted in love, seltshness
washed away in the blood of self-sacri-
flee: that's heaven, and ! don't know
any other" Speaking of the departure
from this life, he said: "'The spirits of
the dead-'So great "A cloud of wit
neSses'-hover around this earth. Our
angels are ever with MS These spirits of
our dead, they are witnesses of our
life"
Holding up The character of Christ
and His relation 10 man, he asked,
What do YOU think of him-the one
who said, / am the Way, the Truth
and the Life There comes to you the
question that came 10 PLATE, What
shall do with jesus You must ac-
cept him or cruelty him. And men are
crucifying him every day"
Taking up the subject of mans last
hour. he pictured jesus pillowing us in
his arms and soothing rs in death as Il
mother soothes her child. so he
giveth his beloved. Sleep" The end of
the Christians he glory Of his last
hours like the spendors Of an evening
sunset: we can see the angel hosts and
almost catch the melodies OF heaven,
floating doNn through the gloom.
The end of the writing in the
deatli-agony, no hope, no light, all
blacl<ness and despair, like Tom Paine
calling for mercy from the God he had
blasphemed."
\ great sermon il was. a grand ser
mon a fitting close 10 an unsurpassed
succession.
In his after talk be said: Il love to
talk about this repentance and Chris
tianity as contract. \ simple contract
is the Christian religion. Our past,
present and future must be provided
for: Christ's blood washes white
your past, that is pardon; for the
present, God the Father gives needed
strength and life: for the future. the
Inheritance of the kingdom OF JOY,
peace and rapture and life and love.
His part of the contract. aldon, grace.
heaven. Your part OF the contract:
Repentance for the past; for the pres
ent, trust in Him; for the future, all
your life long. obedience; and confirm
alton seals this simple contract"
After the special prayers, and the
thank offering, DIR. Pittinger spoke of
the great benefit of the mission Just
closing. and in the name of the clergy
and congregation offered Dean Brad
ley hearty gratitude.
DIR. Bradley was visibly affected, and
said, II thank you with all my heart.
And may every one of YOU have share
in the song of the Lamb"
And after a few words of admoni-
ton. the Dean raised his hands i'm ben
ediction over the bowed heads: The
Lord bless You and keep you. shed the
light of His countenance upon you,
and give you His peace this night. and
eyermore."