The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-30
GODS KINGDOM FIRST.
Rev. T. e. Montgomery at the First Con-
gregationaI Church on Sunday
breaches an Interesting
Sermon.

Interest in the First Con gregatioDalist
Church Of which Rev. Z. Il. Montgomery
Is pastor, is becoming general On Sun
day services In Finn Hall, on Madison
| street below Fourth, werc largely attended
and the sermons of Mr.. Montgomery In
terested them. The morning text was
from Matthew 6, SO, and tho subject "Tho
Kingdom of God First" Among other
things Pastor Montgomery said:
The New Testament Is the ripe fruit OF
tho Old Testament and tho sermon on the
Mount is the kernel of the gospel.
Since the days of Solomon the essence of
wisdom and original principles aro com
pretended in the sermon OH the Mount.
The Bcatitndes are facts that melt man
would never discern Mans first duty Is
to the first table Of tho law. If the first Is
Observed tho second will he embraced. j. 4.
sus said, "Scek ye first the kingdom OF
God and his righteousness. Jesus was
just beginning his ministry and was full
Of the buoynncy Of youth, innOcency, hope,
when he stood on the mountain and saw
the people in IL multitude and told them
to seek God first
Mr.. Moody regards this as his favorite
text to young men, but it should be tho
favorl'c text Of every man until he has
mastered it,
Jesus said seok yc, and Ho intended 1t
to be n personal matter. The man that
inyents some method of saving people
without requiring them to think about it
will be counted great and be given great
power. All are anxious to escape this
personal responsibility. Many would be
very religious II q mother or sister or wife
could hc lcputlzrd to serve by proxy. In
this matter n man must il necessary
accept the teaching of Jesus in due timo
will bo like him; he Is the first heir to di.
vine presence, and ho will nave his KIND
with him.
The Kingdom of God is first in impor-
tance and should be the first in time.
Those who have some knowledge Of the
nature of the Kingdom of God are made
sad when they hear Intelligent people say
that some time thoy will attend to this
duty themselves but they are not ready
yet. The ttuGght ought TO make man
blnzc with excitement until he has
cleared hi conscience toward God. Then
he is free and II true man. Slavery to con-
science and thu devil must bu broken up
il bis nature i. to expand to thefu! devel-
opment. God in tho day of judgment
VIII not and can not make man what no
Is not If man musf hate his father and
niothcr and brother and sister and sec to
this himself.
Tho kingdom of God and his righteous
ness does not como withuuta an effort. 1t
must he sought after. BY accident or in
herilnncea man may be rich. by acci-
dent his reputation may be great and
good. shakespeare says, Some are born
great, sone achieve greatness and some
have greatness thrust upon them" Into
the kingdom of t;od there is no royal road
and no patent method. Those that ara
great in tho kingdom of God must achieve
greatness and cume up by regular promo
ton in tho limo Of service
In tho Kingdom OF Goa there is no Place
for jealousy ur"nvy or rivalry. To serve
God Is TO help rather than hinder Others
In the service
Tlo.c Lat are:ir, want others with them
Gods love for TIA sinner makes him love
tho souls OF others. The devil thinks he
is Gods rival, but God has no rival.
he church hi- no rivals. The chri =
tian has 10 rivals.
;o,n.u nrc.c.. people of a low and COM
nor ....t':.c may ~ it were ruf1le up their
feathers, nut If IA spasm of picty or civiliiy
should seize them they would be smooth
and kind.
The church is standing in its own was
when it rivals the theatre as a place of en-
tertninmcnt The Y. M G a. LocOmes
feeble when it says, come to our rOuns, we
have good singing.
Tho Salvation Army becomes disgust
ing bur!esque when the drum ana tam
BOURNE are not used among the noisy
crown on tue CrOWunu SUTeeIS Un WlEn inc
drunkard and tho vagnbond that the iudg-
mcnt day is cunning and q blazing sink.
ing hell for the impenitent.
Tho Salvation Army ought to be arrest.
ed when they march out in civilized New
York TO pretend to glorify u man who has
thousands TO give to them when they are
in earnest marching down the Bowery to
storm the devil.
Churches deserve to be disregarded by
tho people when they depart from thcir
commission.
The Kingdom Of God is first and the
agents and methods first when tue to
their nature but last when they become
like salt that has lot its SAVIOR
Gods righteousness is no accident nor
incident. Man may give reputation but
God gives and ustanS character.
Gods commandments must .bo in the
heart when his righteousness, shows in the
actions
Regulations may vary but characters
are constant.
Your mother your father your sister
say seek the Kingdom of God first" Tho
church tcstifles that The kingdom should
DO first. Jepus now enthr0ned said, Seek
yc tho Kingdom of God first" Dives in
he'll said to Abraham, Il pray thee, there.
fore, that thou wouldst send him to my |
that He may testify unto them lest they |
Earth, heaven and hell testify on this sub- |
jcct. Tho witnesses are all heard and Tho |
cnse il submitted. Let tho unanimous |
be first"