The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-09
people who wonder what good
churches a do


churches do.
The church is the only institution ek-
isting to stand before the Lord, and say,
"Show me thy will, and then turn TO.
ward men with "thus saith the Lord"
We know right well that though men Sc
cretly understand, IL they are listening TO
conscience, what the word OF the Lord
is, II still remains to utter 1t, and that
the consonant echo of the spirit by
thousand people rs thing OF blessed
import 10 any city. We cannot look upon
it as anything else than divine plan
that there are in ten thousand cities men
standing today who are vigorously held
by the outside public to declare the whole
counsel OF God; men who are so trained
and sustained that they feel themselves III
the solemn situation of ambassadors,
who. unless they speak that divine word,
are the most miserable hypocrites on the
face OF the earth.
Furthermore, this organization repre-
sents bond of affection such that with
all the strains TO which it is subject 1t
furnishes human souls with something TO
live for, a rallying point for the weary
spirit; the most magnificent agency In
the world for an introduction into the So
ciety of earnest minds, and the only
worldwide channel to administer benevo-
lence. i boast of no unreal things.
know and feel deeply
THE IMPERFECrIoN OF THE CHUR1H,
but at the came time all that has been
said is distinctly true of Christ's church.
The church also seeks to be he servant OF
men by helping the education OF the
race. Missionaries are the pioneer lingu-
lists Of the world. They have reduced to
writing and made grammars for more
languages than science and politics com
bined. They have done more for the
diffusion OF the ideas OF the age than
other agencies, because they are con-
stantly engaged, week by week, in Illus
trating the truth of God from the prog
ress OF history.
They have been the most numerous
stud ents into the literatures OF the an
clients, that they might know those
tongues in which God was revealed TO
man.
The church is the base of operations
for service in the world. Ii does not in
clude in itself all the service that is per-
formed for the love of God and the good
of men. Far from it. But it is the or
ganiZed expression of that service-the
meeting point for conference, for en-
couragement, for inspiration and de-
fensc. IL Is said to exist Tor God. IL exists
for God, that II may do the work OF
Gcd, but that work is to serve men.
Therefore the church exists for men.
When Jesus came into the world he
changed the general opinion as TO the
character of God. Hitherto il was sup
posed that theology was included in this
one word: Service to God. But now
hath God revealed His inmost nature
teaching that men also exist to be served
of God. The son lives for the father,
the Son? This question opens the
door TO multitude of sell
fish questions, as to which of the par
ties shall do more for the other. But the
manner in which God has answered the
question leaves us without alternative.
Undoubtedly God has done all that he
could, aud is still doing all that He can.
CAN ANY LESS BE EXPECTED OF US?
The thrifty man who seeks to get even
with God, to give him a certain amou t,
with the idea of being free from obliga-
tion In the future, seems to have forgot
ten entirely that he cannot get even with
God until he has done as much for God
as God has done for him. God gave him
life; can he give God life? God has de-
livered him from some temptations at
least. Can he deliver God from any temp
tationY God has enriched him with some
gifts. Can he enrich God? We see that
God cannot be paid in kind. in any par
tlcular whatever. He does not intend
that we shall be able to overcome our
sense of obligation to him. He has made
no provision for that effort on our part.
: know gentleman who always tells
me that he will help the church when
ever i wish 1t. lie seems to think that
this offer excused him from everything
else. He can't possibly see what need be-
yond money the church has. But money
never ruined a church. Money pays for
churches, but there was church before
the edifice was built, and there were
ministers before any OF them had q salary,
and SO far as can see they were Just as
good as the ministers of this day. The
laborer, Jesus said, was worthy of his
hire; but then he does not always get 1t
from the man who hired him.
Now, the friend Of whom / speak, sup
pose i wanted something else than mon
ey from him. Can / ask him to pray?
Yes, / can ask him. but he won't DO it.
Will he pray for other people; will he
love his enemies; will he follow up some
one who N eds it, and bring him here,
or bring him to repentance; will he con-
duct his business on Christian lines en-
tireiy; will he establish Bible reading in
his home; VIII hs come into the Bible
school himself; will he treat all men
alike in business? He will do none of
these things IL he can help 1t. He treats
his minister better than he treats other
people. / would rather he would spread
his kindness around. Let him be SER
want for Jesus sake, not to some only,
but to all. Let his conduct be uniform.
There are people in the world yet who
think they have done a great thing when
they have tolerated truth. Sometimes
grown men, with a Christian edu-
cation, is held up to me as a prodigy
of goodness because he listens to
the truth without flinching, and
does not get angry. This is not much 10
do. The pew on which he sits will do
trat; his horse will not object to that.
Toleration is very small part of Christ
ianity.
The Jews listened to Jesus, but we see
that they were not around on the morn
ing OF the triSl.
We must not only tolerate the truth
that the church, and I'll who are worthy
of the great name Christian, are the
worlds servants, but we must do the SER
vice. We must make IL evident that we
live to serve, to answer needs not other
wise met: TO condemn sins elsewhere
CLOSED over; to. love with deep r love
than others, and TO outlast with our per-
slstency the latest temptation.
At the Roger Williams Free BAPTIST
Church last evening the last OF the reded
ication services was held.