The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-24
THE TABERNACLE REVIVAL.
a Very Able Sermon Last Night on
Naaman, the Syrian.

NoaAidH, tue Syrlan.
Another most interesting meeting was
held at he Tabernacle last night, large
number asking prayer and several pro-
Tossing conversion.
"Naaman, the Syrian" was DR..
Needham's subject, and his text: "He
was also a mighty man Of valour, but
he was a leper," e Kings, V. -
The preacher began his discoursee by
drawing a parallel between the prodigal
son and the Syrian leper. Then speak
ing more particularly of the latter, he
said:
"Naaman was alarmed about his con-
dition. 1t is only when some people be-
come alarmed that they turn from their
wicked ways. 1t is when you get close
to the glory of God and see your life
as it really is that you repent.
"Naaman was great man-but he
had that dread disease of leprosy. He
could ride through the streets and the
people look up to him and shout, but
he was leper. You may walk the
streets, outwardly pure and righteous,
but the eve Of God, that al-searching
eye, is upon you. You can't deceive
him. Unless you have been washed,
purified by Goa S spirit, you are only
q whited sepulchre, outwardly beauti-
ful, but within rottennesS and moral
ieprosy.
"Naaman was leper and he knew
1t, but how was he to be cured. Every
body waa interested in him, but nobody
could tell him how to become well. There
was in his household little captive girl
who became the preacher and told him
The way TO become healed. Would God
my lord We're with the prophet in
Eamaria.'
'But there were many difficulties in
Naaman's way. He took out his money,
100000, to pay for his healing.
"Thus the sinner wants to do some
thing to appease God-to help him to-
ward salvation. This is not Gods way.
His salvation is free. All the wealth Of
kings cannot give life.
'There is only one way to be saved
that's Gods word. We are now talking
to God by prayer and He is speaking
to us through the Bible. The days Of
dreams and visions have long since
passed. You must be saved in Gods
way or not at all.
'sThen Naaman went to the King and
got letter. What cares God for kings
and queens, if they are living in sin?
Why not go right straight to the
prophet?
again Naaman was very preju-
diced man. So when he came to the
prophets door, the man of God wouldn't
come out, but sent his servant to say:
Go battle yourself in the river Jordan
Naaman got mad, and said: I've got
rivers in my own country and they are
better than the Jordan
ut is a good sign that Naaman got
mad. The worst man in the world to
preach to is the man that you can
neither make sad, nor glad, nor mad.
"Then Naaman was proud man.
Pride is the sin by which the angels |
fell. 1t is the devils most dangerous
instrument. 1T is the first sin to come
into mans life and it is the last to |
leave him. He that exalteth itself shall |
be abased.' The proud naughty spirit |
must be crushed before you can be
saved.
"Notice the remedy: Go and dip
yourself seven times in the river Jor-
dam How simple. The gospel is 50
simple that it is stumbling block. Take
God at his word, as Naaman finally did i
and was healed.
when he did, how sudden was the
healing. Salvation is in a moment; but |
then there is a life-time's growth in |
grace. Because he obeyed he was healed. /
Obedience is better than sacrifice"