The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-10-23

divine power that was DestoWeu upon
them on that eventful day. How
otherwise could they have pro-
claimed the good news of the gos-
pei of Christi This whole narrative
is splendid inspiration. Think,
nv brethren, of these first champions
of the Cross going forth with JOY and
helpfulness, burning with zeal for the
cause of the Christ born of this new
life which had come to them. The
power of the Spirit of God has en-
tered within their souls. Feeble and
distrustful before, they are now con-
fident and strong. The story oftheir
heroism, their self-sacrifice, their en-
durance, their loyalty to Christ, is
applicable in the light of this whole
narrative. Periods of depression
they might have and did have after.
wards, but the might of the Spirit
finally enabled them to conquer.
Its a noteworthy fact, and one L
would urge upon your respectful at
tention, that these same disciples had
worked and toiled with their Master
all through his earthly career. Look
ing at it from the standpoint which
would be likely to impress us most,
their opportunities for spiritual in
struction had been of an unusual
order. They had listened to his
words of wisdom, and seen him per-
form his wonderful works. They had
come under the influence of his char
acter, and felt the majesty of his pres
ence. Moreover, they we're not defc
lent in natural gifts and qualifica-
tions for the work that lay before
them. In calling them to his service
by the Lake of Galilee, the divine
Master must have seen that they
possessed those gifts in greater or less
degree; and yet, with all these ad-
vantages which were theirs, there was
a something they all lacked. They
needed power. What was that pow
err Notthe power of logic. or knowl-
edge, or eloquence. All these they
might possess and yet be unfit for the
work committed to their trust. This
is fact which cannot be ignored,
and is full of serious suggestion for
us today. Fullness of knowledge,
eloquence of speech, mere force of
logic, are not sufficient to accomplish
the work of God in the world. Nay,
more, if this be so, as recent writer
has we'll put it: THE sublime story
of the Cross the history of the life
of Christ, no matter how eloquently
or how impressively told, will fail to
impress and convert, unless the power
ofthe spirit accompany the proclama-
ton. Not by might, nor by the learn
ing or eloquence of man, but by the
spirit of God, is the truth of the ever
lasting kingdom to touch and impress
the human heart. Let US heed in
these later days the manifest teach
ing of Olivet and Pentecost."
The promise of Pentecost was first
made to the Apostles, and, through
them, to all who should carry on
Gods work in the world. The
church in all ages is to have share
in these spiritual gifts. The treasury
of heaven can stand all the demands
that may be made upon it. Not
a note but will be honored to its full
extent. There can be no failure in
God. There can be no limit to his
resources. In the further develop
ment of our subject today, | will ask
the question: How has the promise
of the Spirit been fulfilleds Has the
church been faithful to her holy
trust? Has she depended upon the
strength that comes from above9
Let US turn to the pages of the his
tory of organized Christianity for an
answer to our question. What do we
find as result of careful examina-
ton? Has the church availed her.
self of the privileges vouchsafed at
Pentecost9 Has the dispensation of
the Spirit been steady and continu-
Gus Development Would to God we
could answer in the affirmative. In
place of an humble dependence on
his power, history tells US Of trust in
kings and princes, in m~serial forces,
in ecclesiastical rites and ceremonies,
in systems of theology. The Apostle
Paul, in addressing the church at
Corinth, uses these forcible words:
"For the weapons of our warfare are
not carnal, but mighty through God
to the pulling down of strongholds."
Already the apostolic eye may have
seen, even in that early day, dis
position on the part of the leaders
which needed just such an admoni-
ton. What are the carnal weapons
but simply human agencies and in
strumentalities operating apart from
God' How sadly the Apostles dec