The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-03-29
PAUL LOOKING BACKWARD
REV. ID. r. KIDDER'S SERMON Al
TRINITY NJ. u. CHURCH.

N'@SF' ID Re hADDENS oEhuON ~
TRINITY NJ ~. CHURCH.
Powerful Discourse on the Christians
Confiict-Men Should be True to Their
Principles-Choir Rendered Some Choice
Music.
Last evening at Trinity NJ e. church
Rev. B. F. Kidder preached a powerful
sermon on 1.-THE Christians Fight,
The discourse was a discriminating
analysis of the aged Paurs outlook up
on his past life
The quartet choir rendered some SOL
EMMY impressive music suitable for the
subject of the evening.
Mr.. Kidder's text is found in Timothy
ii., AT, 8, II have fought a good fight;
have finished my course; have kept
the faith"
The reverend gentleman said, in part:
"A prison is not good place from
which to look back upon the past or 10
gaze into the future. A modern prison
is a palace beside the Roman jail, in
which Paul wrote these words. The Sc
cret which inspired this lofty express
sion is that Pauls Master was with
him; he was already looking forward to
a future life in God. He can be imag-
med as a soldier looking back upon
pleasures which a coward can never
know. Only brave man can know the
brave mans joys; only a Christian can
realize the Christians joys.
There are some characteristics Of
this battle which might be woven into
every mans character. Paul had con-
quered himself. No man who has not
won the mastery over himself can rule
others. Paul had seen Christ face to
face. Hitherto he had thrown his whole
life against Cod But from that hour
he surrendered all. Then he won his
first victory.
Again, Paul said, I keep my body
under This was the same victory
that Christ won in the wilderness when
He refused to turn stones into bread
for His own sustenance Paul won a
battle over his pride. 1t is a good thing
for a man to have strong convictions,
but a poor thing to have them when
paraded around If you wish to edu-
cate a man to your way iof thinking
you lIlu SOHlG SIOuHu lIOll
which you can agree. Certainly you do
not bubble with him over thousand
minor matters Paul conformed to all
that he could without giving up his
principles
To the Jew ] became q Jew he
says. This does not mean that he took
the position of some great financiers,
who are republicans in a republican
district and democrats in a democratic
district. This is only dilly-dallying
with principle. Paul won the victory
over life. I am ready to lay down my
life for the gospels sake he said. He
had placed all upon the altar. No
man can serve God until he has surren-
dered all.
paul looked to God for aid in his
warfare. He did not go fighting his
own battles hence he will submit his
plans to God; hence his joy when look
ing back upon his past. That which Is
done for Christ is done for humanity.
Here is an ideal for men. In business,
when making bargain, how would
Christ act in this case? In the home
life what would Christ have me do?
The man who does this, his whole past
life will be benediction.
again, Paul fought through till the
end. He did not Just preach a few
sermons, make one missionary sermon
and then quit. He kept on till he could
work no longer. We have too many on
the retired list, both in the world and
in the church. Note the way he uses
the word have'-I have fought, I
have finished, I have kept the faith
These are his three watchwords. Jesus
hanging on the cross, the veil of the
temple was rent. Had the Master stop
ped short of the end He indeed might
have left memories of being a. wise
philosopher, but He would never have
been the worlds Redeemer.
'This, then, is something every Chris
tan can do. Keep on to the end There
is something said in the text of a
crown and of a Judge. The judge does
not so much give the crown as does
the man win it for himself. The judge
merely interprets the facts of the mans
life. When mans life is righteous he
is living out his crown"
Mr.. Kidder closed his discourse with
an impressive appeal to his hearers to
so live that they could look back upon
their life and feel that it all was salts
factory.