The herald., 1896-03-09
DR.. j. 4. EoM,er

AT the Y. NJ. c. A. hall yesterday morn
ing large audience enjoyed the fine music
of the choir and the sermon by Rev. DR.. j..
X. Fowler of the Central Presbyterian
church. His theme was the Mediator OF
the Ages, and his tex Acts 10 :43, TO him
give all the prophets witness, that through
his name. whosoever believeth in him shall
receive remission of SINS This speech of
Peter marks an epoch in the history OF the
gentle world. The centuran is ac-
cepted and the way open TO the gentiles.
But what of the gentiles before this time?
What of those before Moses. before Abra-
ham, before the flood? Did God make no
provision of mercy for them? The sermon
turned on the question, has the essential
OASIS OF human souls salvation ever
varied since the fall of Adam? The
preacher said no, and proceeded to prove
it.
First the New Testament plainly presents
Jesus Christ as the worlds Redeemer His
forerunner points to him "Behold the Lamb
of God that beareth the sins of the world.''
Paut declares "there is one God and one
mediator between God and man, the man
Christ Jesus, who gave himself ransom
for ALL" He said again, HE tasted death
Tor every man." 1t does not say every man
that was living after bis crucifixion. but
every man without limitation. Hence
Christ's atonement had influence for sin
committed before as well as after his
death. Christ is "a priest forever''-'the
Lamb slain from the foundation of the
world" and referred TO by Peter as verify
"foreordained before the foundation of
the world, but was manifest in these
last times for you.' That indi-
Gates the difference between the
world before Christ and after Christ
He was manifested to the eyes of men
at the incarnation and on the cross. But
he was foreordained to the cross 'accord-
ng to the eternal purpose which he pur-
posed in Christ Jesus our Lord 1t was
as II he had been actually slain from the
moment Adam fell. God treated with
men the same. but deferred the actua
manifestation for some reason on maus'
SIDE. The atonement cnme "once for all
and 'in the fullness of times" Thus the
delay for 1000 years was not to introduce
some new terms of salvation. 1t was to
lead men up to a condition when they
would more largely receive it, when they
might. through its historical connections.
the better prove its reality. But its suf-
fciency as a ground of pardon with God
1t became fact in history. The text as
serts this. The prophets of the Old Testa-
ment all join witness that salvation is in
him.
Moses, Job. David, Isaiah and on to Mala-
chi we're cited. The witness of the outy-
ing world was also nentloned-how the
Greeks, the Egyptians, the Hindoos and
the Gauls felt the need of substitutionary
offerings.
The speaker next turned to the condition
needed in order to salvation and found it
has been the same from the first. 1t has
ever been penitent faith wrought by the
Divine Spirit.
Jesus declares the Mosaic economy never
taught Pharisaic legalism or salvation
through natural descent from Abraham,
But Gods attitude was II will have mercy
rather than sacrifice" plainly implying
that God wanted heart of penitence ard
love back of and before all sacrifices. And
to Israel. trusting in hollow, outward cere-
monies, the summons is trend your hearts
and not your garments"
Jesus says to the Jews" Your father. Alb
raham, rejoiced to see my day. and was
glad" Thus it has been the same gospel
from the beginnipg-a gospel of promise.
received by faith. This has been the con-
dition of return to Coda heart TO trust
and rejoice in his mercy in Christ Jesus.
And so all the prophets, the apostles and
the confessors since give witness that
'whosoever beleveth in him shall receive
remission of sins" Thus are the old and
the new all one in Christ. Calvary is the
center of history. Calvary is the
center of hope for us. If we are saved we
are eaved by Gods lamb and in Gods way.