Birmingham age-herald., 1895-04-01

 name is rather to be chosen than great riches. Take the word of God as lamp to your feet, and fight the good fight of faith. FIRST METHODIST CHURCH. pr. Hosmer occupied the pulpit at the First Methodist church yesterday morning at II o'clock, and was greeted by fair sized congregation. His text was taken from Eighth Psalm and third and fourth verses: "When consider Thy heavens, the work of srhy fingers, tue sun, moon and stars which Thou ordained; what is mar, that Thou art, mindful of Him? And the son of man that Thou visltest him? He spoke of the evidences of God in man- and creation and the accomplishments of the God given mind by men of today and how God is mindful of man. s He spoke of how carefully and intricately, as well as wonderfully, the body of man is formed and of the thousands of avenues of health and disease in this little composi- tion of dust. He told of the perfection in the body of man, and how man strived to grow lofter and loftier In mentai acheve- ments. He then referred to other kinds of animals or Inferior creation and how they followed up the instincts of creation, and said that the grandeur of creation in the begin ning was just as beautiful, but that In intelligence man had increased. He also said that the utmost capacity of the human intellect had never been reached and in his opinion never would be.
 Then, as an illustration, he referred to Newton as boy aud coutrasted him with Newton as philosopher. II, he said, we attempt to imagine what will be accom- pllshed before the end we are lost in imag inaton. All of the wonderful achieve ments of man only serve as mental lense through which we may see the future of mans accomplishments.
 Then he spoke of the superiority of the soul over all of these and how good could be gained, and how the wonderful intel lectual powers of man could serve to better us in the next world.
 FIRST BAPTIST CHUCH.
 Fair congregations attended both serv- ices at the First Baptist church yesterday. Dr. Gray preach at Il a. m., taking for hIs text Cor. l, 10:13. 1sr
 Temptations are found in every sphere of life. The young, the old, the rich and the poor are alike tempted. God permits these temptations and sends these trials, but be never tempts or induces one to sin, We are often times overwhelmed with our af- fictions and trials, but Paul says they are such ta as are Sefttng mau-light and mod: not to try us above what we are able to bear. He gives help in time of need. If we are not delivered from the trial we are sustained in it. God did not deliver Daniel from the den of lions, but he did from the lion's mouths. He allowed the three Hebrews to be cast into the fiery fur mace, but not hair of their heads was singed, nor was the smell of fire on their garments. Trials and temptations are dis clplinary; they are the refining furnace. The wise among us will not so much mur- mur about trials, as we will use them for our good.
 God, with every trial or tempation, pre- pares way of escape. If the fire-e escape is not used when 1t can be reached, the un- fortunate one has himself to blame when he succumbs to the flames. The promise of deliveranoe is not to those who willfuily INi n faf tat i0Frc md tpn kxr Gods way of escape. We are to shun every form of evil and seize every way of escape from temptations.
 If we are only faithful to God it will be all right. The dross will be turned by those trials, but the gold will be left. The dark clouds of affliction may enshroud us for time, but if we bear patiently and trust faithfully the radiance of brighter and better days will burst upon us.
 CHURCH OF THE ADVENT.
 The rector, Rev. Dr. Thomas J. Beard, preached an interesting sermon yesterday morning on ''The Shedding of Blood as Atonement for Sin.''
 He said: 'Passion Sunday is representa- tive of the Savior shedding His blood. We may conceive, and perhaps we do, the ag- ony and suffering of the Savior while He was nailed to the cross. The scriptures de- clare life is the blood. Begin ming with Cain and ending with the Savior, all sacri- fees were made by the shedding of blood. Going back as far as history will carry us, we fi nd as fundamental thought with all Christians the shedding of blood as sacrl- foe and atonement for sins against the Deity. In all history we have the shed- ding of blood as the idea of forgiveness of sin.p 1s.4.B
 Dr. Beard touched upon the evolution theory. He said one great difficulty in the scientific or rationalistic view of the pro- gress of man was the fact that when man, according to that theory, was at his lowest stage of development, his religious devel- opment was greatest. Evolution along the whole line of human progress, said he, would indicate that purifcation and sancti- hcation should begin at the end-that IS, when man has reached the stage of his greatest development
 ..The Lamb of God was slain to free mankind from the bondage of sin. His enemies admitted He was spotless and without blemish. His blood was shed to take away the sins of the world. .hien de- filed by every kind of sin have. by faith, received upon their souls the effacng and cleansing power of their Savior's blood. That fountain is as wide open today as when first opened, and if there are any un- clean they should come in and be washed in the blood of the Lamb"
 SOUTH HIGHLAND PRESBYTERIAN.
 Rev. c. F. Robertson ,synodical evangel--- ist for the home missions, preached at the morning hour.
 The pastor, Rev. John Barbour, is giving series of sermons on the fundsm ,ntai truths of the Christian system. He has preached on the proof of the souls exist ence, on the existence of God, and the Bible as revelation of God. Last night he preached on the divinity of Christ.
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