The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-09
confidence IS AN EVIL
Dependence on Self" Will Undo the
Work Of IN Individual. ID.
REV. ROGERS ISRAEL'S SERMON
Mnst Have Made More Than flcettus
Impression ON Ills Hearers : Man Dc.
vclOps tho Spirit which In Turn
develops the Soul. lie said.

"Self- Confidence" was the subject OF
Rev. Rogers lsra-rs discourse at st.
Luke schurch last night. and his hear
ers We're treated to one of the brief Dut
energetic. solid and forceful efforts Tor
which st. Luke's rector Is noted. HIS
last nights sermon was delivered with
a vigor and intensity calculated To
make more than fleeting impression.
and IL the substance and style of MIR.
lSraels remarks Is any criterion. his
auditory could not fail to cherish what
was spoken to them.
1t was not increased confidence that
he urged: on the contrary, he dtscour-
aged 1t. and aimed to impress upon his
congregation that dependence upon
self no matter how great the ac-
complishmsnt. would surely work the
undoing of the individual. He strove
to make emphatic the need of looking
on high for power and the benefit Of
divine communion in all things. To
Illustrate this one point he drew vivid
contrast between the pride and arro-
rance of Nebuchadnezzar and that
rulers later humility when he admitted
the being of the God Of Daniel.
Controls this and the Future Life.
MY subject" said Mr.. Israel. 'is
one upon which this life and the life
tn come depends in a great degree.
There is within us a spirit that we are
developing. and this in turn Is develop
ing the soul--it is called 'self-conh
dence' and is an infirmity of pride,
direct contrast to the divine churac-
teristic of humility. What this pride
may cost one in the present day is
aptly shown by an illustration of long
ago Nebuchadnezzar built a great
city. az large as any of the larger
cities Of today. but possibly more mag
ni;icent than any the world has ever
known. Its magnificent palaces, gar
dens like unto that of Eden. n gover:,-
ment of rich and costly splendor. things
made of gold. silver and precious stones
these and more than the limits of
the mind can imagine. and all sur
rounded by towering wall. on which
chariots Were driven, We're acquired
through this one mans power. He ac-
complished his great work without
seeking Gods aid, but in the heighth
of his success he proclaimed from the
temple that he was God
"NebuchadneZzer was proud of his
work and from his standpoint he had
reason TO he proud. for 1t as truly
wonderful But his proclamation that
he was Cad was the final act of his
life Of arrogance and he was made to
become as a beast of the field, and
W bc btIcit VI HIS ItdSOI after
three years of reign of splendor such
as the world has seldom known. How
different his position and that of Him
who did great works in Gods name.
and said. i come. not through my
own viii. but through the will of Him
that sent me; Him who created and
will create all things Truly it is a
striking contrast-the one built him
self reign and a city of splendid
magniticence that cost nations and hu-
| man lives. while the other. acknowl-
edging God. saved the whole world.
Where Great men Have Failed.
"Napoleon's great achievements.
which We're being shaped to terminate
only when he had conquered the whole
world. died prisoner on the barren
and rock studded island Of st. Helena.
We might cite other characters. COM
monty termed great and instances
without number Illustrations might
be made in our own city or of men in
our political history who rise by their
own arrogant power, but disappear
| like shooting stars drop from the
heavens.
Young men particularly should
| cherish the assurance that lasting sue
cess depends upon their trust in God:
your walk will be brighter. The spirit
| within you. I say, Is gift from God
and you alone are responsible for its
development. 1t may not follow that
you will literally become, as did Neb-
uchadneZzar. 'as a beast of the field
and at all events your reason may not
be returned to you, but the practice of
divine communion at the start is bound
to bring the most profound success
Looking to God means not only
worldly power but power over the devil
| and evil Influences"