The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-15
TRUE TEST OF LIFE
And Some Abiding Experiences
= of Human Life.
ABLE SERMONS SUNDAY
RY THE REV. DIR. SIMMS AT TIL
TABERNACLE,
We ARE JUDGE BY WHAT WE DO

WE ARE JUDGE BY WHAT WE DO
That Nature Which Licenses Vice ana
Throws the Protection Of Its
Laws About it is Not
Christian Nation.
"Who am I. whence am l and whittier
am geing|
These are the questions asked by DR..
Simms in the beginning of his sermon
on "The True Tests of Life" at the
Tabernacle Baptist church Sunday morn
ing.
"Who am L? Shall / rely on the testi-
mony of others? Too Often-almost in
variably-people bubble and lie when
they talk to you abost yourself. They
fear to talk freely. They are afraid
that it will sometime, in some way COM
promise them. Shall / rely on records,
written history? Alas, too often that is
untrue, colored by the views and preJu-
dice of the writer. NEen now-thirty-
six years removed from the late war 1T
is impossible to get true impartial his
tory Of that memorable conflict. There
is now a bitter fight in Texas over this
question of prejudiced histories.
1.-THE true test of what man is is
himself. In your own heart Is the true
witness. 1t makes no difference as to
your condition or calling. Your social
standing or your wealth or poverty. 1t
makes no difference where you were born
or what the circumstances Of that birth
were. The incidents of your birth will
neither degrade you nor elevate you in
character. What are you? What is your
character? Where do you stand in life's
great struggle? Are you for truth or are
you against truth? Are you On the side
Of the oppressed or the Oppressor? Are
you for the people or against them
Where do you stand in the battle against
sin? How do you live? These questions
settle it, as to who you are. This is the
test.
''And yet, a man may have the repu-
tation of being q good man, he may have
all the ear-marks OF christian, and yet
he may be a mass of fostering rottenness.
1t lis In the spirit, the inmost heart
does that burn and glow and rise ever
God ward.
$50 also is it with the church organ
ization. 1t makes no difference about
the organization. 1t must be judged By
it's spirit, by its works. Does it make
the world betAr? Is Raleigh better for
your being here? Is there are good in
fuence going out from here? Is the wild
sw fed, the orphan comforted and the
sick cared for? By their works We shall
know them.
CT ord ha n
10 nations. 1t is often asked is this
christian nation 1t does not make any
difference how many churches and
schools you have. That is not the test.
What is the nation doing with its men
its human minds and human lives? Is
it legislating for good or for evil? Does
it license evil and throw the mantle of
its protection around it? If it does it is
not a christian nation. 1t is legislating
its subjects hell-ward when it should
be lifting them heayenward.
SOME ABIDING EXPERIENCES.
Some Abiding Experiences in Human
Life" was his subject. He took as his
text the incident as related the fifth
chapter of John, of Christ healing the
sick man who had been lying for thirty
ing to get in to be healed when the wa
tiers were troubled, only to always see
another step in before him. Among 9TH
er things he said:
Life is a circle. He who is on top
to-day way tomorrow be at the bottom.
But this is due to Gods retributive JUS
tice Opportunities are lost, wasted. We
cannot stand continued prosperity. We
wax fat and kick, fail to honor God and
the highest retributive justice takes hold
of us and we descend by short direct
road from the highest prosperity to the
deepest darkest poverty; yon are made
to beg of those who yesterday asked
aims of you.
''This is the reason nations and cities
have fallen. They have neglected and
scOffed at the great laws of God and
nature. The law of retribution took hold
of them and they went out like a candle
The sons of princes and kings become the
hewers of wood and drawers of water for
barbarians. He who neglects opportuni-
ties must expect to suffer for it. 1t
is as inevitable as eternity itself. 1t is
the law of laws-the soul, the nation, the
city that sinneth, it shall die.
1.-THE saddest thing in all the world,
is the man who once had power and is
now powerless. Forsaken, deserted-the
by-word and scott of those that once
cringed and covered before him. When
a man that has money loses his money
his power is gone mighty quick. They
are the have-beens.
He who can lift up, revivify these
have-beens is society's best friend.
Where is the man that is not waiting
for something? Where is the man who is
not dissatisfied with his present condition
and looking forward to something better.
Waiting, waiting-all the world is wait
ing-some for one thing and another for
something else. Hope is the food upon
which we all feed and from which we
draw strength and inspiration. Take "a
way mans hope, however, feeble it be,
and he lis impotent, worthless, dead.
Humanity is selfish You may talk
in poetry of the nobleness OF humanity
as much as you please, but it's bundle
Of selfshness. Crush the rival freeze
out the competitor, hold on to what you