The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-16

Notwithstanding the extreme heat, a
large congregation gathered to hear
Rev. Dr. J. Z. Price, at Elm Park
church yesterday morning. Among
those present were many friends from
other churches in the city. Mr.. Pen
nington presided at the organ, the con-
gregational singing was led by Miss
Perry and Thomas Gushing Jones, both
of whom also rendered solos with fine
effect.
DR.. Price spoke from the text THAT
they without us should not be made
perfect" (Hebrews II, 40). The sermon
was, as his sermons always are, schol-
arly, brilliant and original.
In the beginning the speaker said
that this is a somewhat delicate theme,
because views, as Protestants, touching
the doctrine of Purgatory, have, per-
haps, led us to close our eyes to the
truth of a belief in an intermediate
state. In what may have grown to be
an error 1t is always we'll to look for
the half truth, which may undsrlie it's
original principles. John Wesley taught.
that there is an intermediate state
that after death the soul continues in
state of consciousness-"Abse from
the body, to be present with the Lord"
But it will not be until the judgment
day that the record will be complete.
In the interval between death and that
consummation, is what is known as
the intermediate state. Observe that
is not place." but state" This
country is the same country from year
to year, from decade to decade, but
there has been a far different state of
industrial and commercial interests in
ma ct hot in xyhioI,
were a few years before.
EULOGY OF PATRIARCHS.
The chapter in which the text is
bound is O. eulogy of the patriarchs
and the prophets, yet these all having
had witness borne to them, received
not the promise. God having reserved
a better thing for us that they with
out us are not made perfect. Why were
they not allowed to receive the full
reward of their works?
Enoch, Abraham, Moses, Jacob must
wait. They cannot come to the highest
bliss until the time when all the ram
somed are brought home, for without
us they shall not be made perfect. The
patrfarchs, the martyrs, are but part
of the great plan.
The transcendant gifts of religion
OUly tugOySu III Iluludl ltllONSHlp.
Although the essential principles of
religious life may be found in soli-
tude. There was a Bedouin Arab isolat-
ed and untaught by men, and yet he
lived out the divine commands. The
theological conception of children in
our Sunday schools today are better
than the conception of Abraham. Our
notions of morality are far in advance
of the notions of those who lived un-
der the old dispensation, and yet their
ignorance and isolation formed no part
to their enjoyment of the principles of
religion. They had the witness of the
presence Of God, as by signs, dreams,
visions, they were led to a knowledge
of the truth.
They could not have been preserved
from idolatry, they could not have
kept the faith in those perlous times
unless they had this constant witness
of their acceptance by God. The doc
trine is more important in all theology
than the witness of the Spirit; without
it a man may strive intelligently,
steadfastly and yet make but sorry
work.
ABRAHAMS COVENANT.
1t is equally true that the crowning
gifts of Abraham's covenant are
vouchsafed to men only by mutual fell
lowship. Thus the gray haired pa
triarch and the little child must be
brought together to sit down at the
banquet Of the King
Noah, Moses, Abraham, David
cannot be accorded their supreme bliss
without us. God has contemplated
that all those who yet linger or who
are to follow after must be Joined to-
gether in one harmonious whole.
Nature is essentially social. There
is no such thing as an isolated orb
among the stars, that are bound to-
gether in infinite space.
1t Is the same with the flera and
fauna of earth. Each flower is a men,
ber of a series, for the great artist
never paints a flower to bloom alone.
The forest resounds with not a soli-
tary note but chorus of voices of
birds and insects. After the season of
winter comes spring, and all to make
perfect summer.
God delights in the influence Of the
aggregated effects, the birds, the flow
ers, the sky, to compose that perfec-
tion. Only in His right summer time
shall we see the life of any age brought
to its real consummation, in the all
| outshining glory resulting from ear
nest Christian endeavor.
We work out our little lives almost
| alone. Perhaps salvation is a matter
for individual consideration. We must
| repent alone, bear our own burdens for
the most part, singly, and pursue our
own progress in solitary toll; but yon-
| der we shall see that life interbraided
| in the great whole that will go to make
| up perfe' tion Here we are singing
| our rude ong alone, but is the solitary
training for anthems beyond, where
| in the grandest grafton ever lifted
shall the saints Of all ages in harmony
meet and blend their voices before the
throne Of God.
IN POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
In political affairs the truth is sim
ilarly shown. There is no such thing
] as detaching a city or a country from
all others, The woes of distant Ar
menia lay their burdens upon us here.
A furry in the stock market of London
is felt Immediately in Wall street; the
particles of dust set quivering in the
air in Java make the rare afterglow
we behold in the western sunset. While
the spots on the sun produce certain
phenomena ON earth the universe is all
one sensitive organization. You can
not lift your hand without sending
shudder to the stars; for all parts of
the universe are most intimately con-
nected.
/ This truth is the same as regards
| all parts Of the human race. Enoch,
Abraham. David, Moses must wait
yonder until the last child is sum-
| hnnaa fn eta