The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-27
MARRIAGE lore.
Rev. Mr.. Hite Saws 1t is the Purest and the
Most Patient.

The Rev. Lewis f. Hite preached in the
morning Sunday at the Mission Room,
No. IL west Marshall street a sermon
which was highly appreciated by the few
who heard il and the wish was warmly
expressed that more might have gotten
the benefit Of it. The sermon was based
upon the second chapter OF the Gospel Of
John. IT brought together the two acts
with which the Lord began His ministry,
viz: The changing the water into wine
at the Marriage in Cana Of Galilee and
the pureing Of the Temple at Jerusalem.
Mr.. Hite said that marriage is the most
important Of human institutions it is the
foundation Of orderly society, the germ
out of which civilization grew, the ground
of Christianity
Marriage love is the purest. the most
potent the most Heavenly the divinest
thing I'm human life, and II is at the same
time the most liable 10 perversion and
misuse. Through marriage love the
things Of the divine life flow down most
abundantly into humanity. I'm marriage
love the Lord operates most directly and
most powerfully to cleanse human life OF
it's impurities and lift it up from earth 10
Heaven. II is this raising Of the
thoughts in marriage from natural TO
spiritual things that the Lord represent
wine at the marriage feast
The publication of mind and heart
and life which the Lord works by means
Of marriage love connects this miracle
with the purging of the Temple The
Temple represents the state Of mind and
heart in which we come TO the Lord 90
worship Him and the cleansing of IL rep
rescnts the casting out Of the selfish af-
fections and thoughts which We find 20
be occupying our minds when we look
into ourselves and test what we see there
by what we know Of Heavenly life. The
besettng sin of religious people is the
disposition 10 make gain Of holy things.
and this state OF mind was represented by
the temple being In the possession OF
vendors Of oxen and sheep and doves and
money changers. These thoughts were
brought out clearly and enforced 10y
showing the spiritual meaning I'm detail Of
the two narratives.
In the evening the sermon was a study
Of the spiritual meaning OF the Lord
work and ministry. 10 was based upon
the fourth chapter of the Gospel of
Luke. The chapter was regarded as an
epitome for In II we see that the Lord
endured temptations, taught in the syna-
gOgues and elsewhere. cast out devils,
healed the sick. and preached the gospel
10 the poor. Inc three temptations III
the wilderness were regarded as types
and examples Of what the Lord endured
throughout His life even 10 Ills suffering
on the cross. In these temptations lie
overcame the devil This was one OF the
most important and necessary parts OF
the work lie came to do. which was 10
overcome and bring under His own hui
man control the power Of hell and thereby
free men from It's bondage. We also see
that after the temptations were over, He
went out 10 teach and preach and heal
and cast out devils. In other words lie
brought out into exercise for the good
Of men the divine life which re made
use OF I'm overcoming the devil
This making use OF His powers for the
use or men was the other side OF the
divine work He came 20 do. His temp
tations were due 20 His inherited human
tenderness to make a selfish use Of His
powers and of the divine life which was
His.
His victories were due to His determine
ton 10 use His divine life for the saliva
ton Of men.
The meaning Of the temptation and the
victories will be more fully brought out
IN the discourse next Sunday evening. the
subject OF which will be The Glorihed
Jesus