The herald., 1896-10-12
UNITY CHURCH
Rev. Mr.. Thomson's Sermon Upon
Christ's Open Door

The pastor. Rev. J. s.. Thomson, de-
livered sermon yesterday morning at
Unity church upon Christ's Open Door,
taking the text, II have set before thee
an open door, and no man can shut IT,
Revelation Ills.
There are seven trials in the message
Of the spirit to the church in Philadel-
phia. The holiness, truth and keys of
the opener Of the door; His recognition
OF the church's work, His pointing to the
open door, and the security Of the door;
the little strength. the obedience and
loyalty of the church; the three prom
ises of victory over enemies, of victory
over temptations and Of corona ton; the
three offices, pillars in the temple, per-
manent abode, and wearing official
names; the three names, the name of
God, the name of the holy city and
Christ's new name; and fidelity, pa
tience and victory.
The open door is the entrance to the
highway of destiny before the human
soul. That highway has no end; for
the spirit of man progresses forever to-
ward perfection through all the worlds,
existences, heavens and hells. That
door cannot be shut by any man, angel
devil, mistake, sin, hell, or d. ath. The
soul has always divine right to an en-
trance into the kingdom of heavens pro-
L,
patient and faithful. These virtues
make the passport which can gain ad-
mission into any realm of bliss.
Every person is born with divine
right to the opportunities of life for the
exercise of his powers, and with right
to such an education of those powers as
will fit him to succeed in the way of his
destiny. Then the task of working out
his own salvation develops upon himself
Neither the church nor the government,
nor relatives, nor God, nor Christ nor
angels can do mans own work. When
God gives man faculties, and when
his country educates him and gives him
opportunities, he can ask no more. If
he sinks 1t Is his own fault and If he
rises 1t Is his own honor.
So long as a nation has corrupt courts
and politics, so long as 1t has dishonest
merchants, manufacturers, preachers,
servants, so long as 1t encourages an
archy. murder and robber, with trials
which mock justice, and so long as 1t al :
lows some criminals to make it's laws.
and some anarchists to govern it's states,
it Is not a free country. nor is 1t law
abiding country, because 1t does not
protect the lives and property Of it's
honest, Industrious. economical and
peaceful citizens. A free country Is one
that has just laws, wisely and consci-
entiously executed, and national lib
erty for every sane person to pursue
happiness along the line of his des-
tiny. No grander constitution was ever
! evolved from the brain and heart of
man than the American constitution. 1t
honors laws and liberty alike; and con-
| fers priceless blessings on our land. But
| today that constitution, with it's two
children, liberty and law, Is like the
J brave priest LAGOON, with his two sons,
! it is in the tolls of the two serpents,
| corruption and anarchy, strangling it
| to death. Our nation has an open door
! into the grandest prosperity, peace and
| happiness; and nothing will prevent us
from having that prosperity If we be
| loyal to that constitution and to the
memory of our fathers and mothers.
righteousness exalteth a nation, but
sin is the disgrace of any peoplef'