The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-28
RALEIGH CELEBRATES
Bv Attending Divine Services
In Body.
REV. DR.. slMMs's SERMON
nTha World is In Need To-Day of Men
Who Come With Power to Fill
The Heart With Good
Cheer"

quite two hundred strong, marched IN
a body to the Baptist Tabernacle 70
hear an anniversary sermon 10y Rev.
A. NJ. Simms, d. d., pastor Of that
church.
TT was an earnest, Gospel sermon,
delivered with the orators accustomed
sincerity and effect, and made an I'M.
pression for good upon those whose
creed is expressed in Friendship, Love
and Truth
After reading Matthew 9:36, and the
whole of the tenth chapter, DR.. Slmms
said in substance:
What different thoughts fill our
minds as we look out upon the world
with its changing landscape-lts How
ing rivers, its towering mountains, ITS
fertile valleys, its beating ocean and IT'S
teeming millions of heaving souls.
One sees its agricultural possibilities,
another its commercial opportunities,
lis mineral wealth, Its water powers,
and while yet another sees the great
mass Of humanity as so many animals
to be harnessed up and driven into ODE
dience to his will.
What did Christ see, for we can feel
sure that he saw the main facts to be
emphasized, and can correct our faulty
vision.
As the first words of Job when under
sorrow revealed his true character, 50
we may be able TO tell the fire that
burns. upon the altar of mans soul
bv the words that he utters when he
sweeps the world with his vision.
Christ, in looking over all that ar
rests the view of the cold. the calculate
ing and the mercenary, saw this world
as O great field for missionary. opera
fions, a harvest white for the glory of
God.
IF to-day we see less. we see too little,
and no man can see more.
To work in this great field men need
power, and hence Christ gave power to
his disciples.
The Bible tells in other places Of
rower being given to beings for work
ing In this world.
The ten Kings OF Revelations, t7:13.
gave their power to the beast. But that
was against the Lamb, to blacken char
acter and disrupt homes, and turn TINS
fair earth into a pandemonium.
Christ, on the other hand, gave power
to do good, power to r6bulSe Its wrongs,
so0the it's sorrows, resist its forces, to
heal its maladies, and TO bind up the
broken hearted.
This is power that comes not from
two coats, or two pair Of shoes, or scrip,
or money, but from God.
1t is power against evil and the
world should have a song for Christ
each day, for he Is the eternal emmy Of
all that is wrong. No one else has
looked out upon the earth in its sorrow
and sin and launched against it forces
that will never furl banner or ground
arm until the last foe is conquered.
he has done this, and you and
should carry that power as we 60, or
else we mock men in their despair.
The world is in need to-day Of mon
who come with power to heal, to uplift,
and to fiji the heart with good cheer.
These men must get their power from
Christ. As an illustration of this fact,
he quoted the case Of the Jewish exor-
cissts, to whom the unclean spirit said.
''Paul / know and Christ / know, bnI
who are you?''
This power is IN sympathy with suf-
fering humanity, and will not pass Il
BY. The man who can turn his back
upon the cries Of devil-ridden people
IS not from God.
1T Is power to be used freely. 1T was
limited in this case, but afterwards
all restric tons we're removed and they
were to go into the great world and
huTl this power against the forces Of
darkness. To them was to be no hea-
then tongue, but the cry Of every man
was To be the cry of a brother and q
neighbor.
Re then made the point that we all
carry too little power into the world to-
day. This is the age of power, the Splr-
it's power to be used for the god Of men
and the glory Of God, and yet we do not
carry it either in society or in the
church. Instead of healing, we nurse;
AND instead of casting out devils, W.
send groceries.
We must restore our connection with
God, whose power alone can do these
things.
But the power was to be for more
than healing
Jonathan not only gave David his
clothes and bow, but he carried to him a
gospel Of hope in the assurance that
God would establish him as King. And
so Christ sends ms not only to heal, but
TO preach bttE hiiiStt01A VI o0hs l~NEA y
one of us should tell men Of a better
day-a new heart, a new life, and new
relationships Never close your visit
to the widow and orphan, nor turn
from the side of the stricken, until you
have told of Christ.
But every organization and indiyid.
ual who seeks to carry the power Of the
gospel to the world will meet with OPP
position
There viii he opposition to your heal.
ing. because it is not done in some 9th
er name, or because you do not follow
some one else. As ii was when Christ
was here. and 50 you have found it.
The average man has to grow a good
deal before he can say Of other work.
ers, YEA, therein / do rejoice and viii
rejoice"
And it was because Christ foresaW thi,
oaaosition that he comforted his dis.
Us before sending them out. The
touching illusions TO the sparrows and
the numbering Of their hairs, laugh.
them fha rninllfeT4.Ss of his obgprva fiQr