The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-14

A Most Impressive Sermon by Rev. DIR. j.
{. HideD, OF This CITY.

enue Christian church, Washington, ID.
c., by Rev. Dr. ]. c. Hiden, pastor OF
Grove Avenue Baptist church. OF this
city
The subject was Christ Crucihed," and
the sermon follows:
I'VE preach Christ crucihed."-I Cor.
1913.
There are certain forms Of speech which
in brief phrase sum up the whole systems
Of thought-poli,ical, philosophical. relig-
ious. If two men are discussing the prin-
ciples OF government. and l hear one OF
them say. "rhe best government is that
which governs least" If he is not mouth
ing, but knows what no Is talking about.
! know where to rank him as a politician.
He IS a straight-out old-fashioned, States
rights Democrat.
II two men are discussing philosophy.
and / hear one OF them utter solemnly
the words, Know thyselr." II he under
stands himself historically. | know whsrc
to place him. lie is a disciple OF phil
osophica school founded by an old Greek
more than two thousand years ago 4
school whose doctrines have been eX-
pounded by Reid, and adorned by the
genius and learning OF Sir William Ham,
ilton. in his Philosophy OF Common
Sense"
And when two men arc talking about
religion and enc OF them utters rever-
emily the words, Christ crucihed," l
know that he holds the New Testament
view OF Christian doctrine. that he IS an
evangelical Christian. Christ cruclled'
Is Christianity. IL Is our religion. What
sort Of a religion is IL?
First. II is 4 rational religion. I mean
what ! say, tor 1 do not admit that tho
infldels have a monopoly Of the reason OF
the world. When the so-callcd nationalist
charges me with protesting 10 believe
what 1 do not understand | fatty deny
the charge. II is impossible FOR me TO
believe an unintelligibIe statement.
Put" says the sceptic. don't you be-
lleve in the doctrine OF the Trinity
Yes, and understand all shat believe
about it. / believe. from various state
ments made IN the New Testament that
the Father. the Creator. and the Govern
or OF tho universe. IS God. That Is a
perfectly plain statement.
/ understand It. and so does that eight
year-old boy, sitting there before me.
Then believe that the Son. Jesus Christ.
the Redeemer Of the world. IS God-an-
other perfectly plain statement
Finally. 1 believe that the Holy Spirit,
the Comforter and Sanctifier. is God
still another plain statement. have no
difficulty whatever with the meaning OF
any one OF these statements.
But" says my antagonist. how do
you reconcile these statements? How can
three persons constitute one God2"
Well. | don't understand anything about
the "how," and I don't believe anything
about IL. L have no revelation on that
subject. Tho Bible says nothing about
it: and have no creed. and not even an
opinion about It.
But. how about miracles?"
Well. l believe IN them. But you don't
understand them" Yes. l do understand
them exactly as far as / believe them. I
believe that Jesus pastered up the eyes
Of the man that was born blind: that he
sent him to tho pool 10 wash; that The
man cbeyed. and that hts eyes were OPEN
ed. so that he could see; and understand
every one OF these statements, and so
can any average child OF eight years.
But" says the unbeliever. you do
not understand how that was done"
Certainly not; and l don't believe any
thing about the how. II l knew how,
probably could do 1t. Why not? When
l am prepared TO tell how miracles are
wrought l expect TO work some.
IL AA'G INV q llAitb IS uOlltt luttl
that thing is no longer miracle to me.
Jesus Christ explained many OF His par
ables; but He never explains one OF His
miracles, and the preachers who explain
them nowadays always explain them
away. AS soon as the explanation comes
the miracle IS gone.
But how about the sovereignty Of
God and the free agency Of MANI
Well. I believe in both. 1 believe that
the Creator works all things in this uni
verse according TO the counsels Of His
own will; and then | believe that I am
responsible TO Him for my conduct. And
If did not believe that lie Is sovereign
then could not believe that am respon-
slbe TO Him.
But" says the objector, you do not
know how to reconcile the two doctrines"
No; / don't pretend to reconcile them.
The Bible says nothing about il. and I
have no creed on the subject-no, not
even an opinion.
Second. 1t is q practical religion. I
was once reading the Westminster Re
view the organ OF British infdelity. A
sceptlc came to my seat and said, do
you read that sort OF literature?"
Yes" l replied, II want to see the
devils latest dodge. How can hit him
II don't know where he is?"
And then we entered upon a discussion
OF the evidences of Christianity. l called
his attention TO a man whom We both
knew; who had been a notorious proni-
gate. had become a Christian and n most
excellent and useful man. The iniidel did
not even try 10 answer that argument.
IL you ever knew very bad man who
became Christian and a good man, then
practically this religion holds its own
until the inhdel produces a real Chris
tian who was a bad man, and who was
converted 10 inhdelity and became a good
man. Did any one ever hear of such a
man? And yet in1delity IS logically
bound to produce him or else quit the
field.
Now, I can produce my man. / was
preaching in a protracted meeting at 4
country church in Virginia. A man pres
ent was notorious for his wickedness
and his opposition TO religion. His wife
had been converted but he would not al
low her TO be baptized. His mecca
member OF the family-a girl OF sixteen,
had been converted and wished to be
baptized. He told her that II she was
baptized he would turn her out OF the
house.
She was baptized. and no did turn her
out. and she was obliged TO 80 20 a neigh
Dor for shelter.
During the service that day saw this
man rise from his seat. fall upon his
knees, the tears streaming down his