The news & observer., 1897-04-22
I TABERNACLE MEETING
AN EFFECTlVE AND POWER VI
sERMON sY DR.. BARRON.


CSL ItahllCSitu as uuHy increasing. IlCA-
DIR. parron, of Charlotte. has u'r2ad>
impressed large congregations Wi;a ha
e!oquence and power rs 4 speaker u.
Barron is a most effective preacher Il,
is smooth-shavcn man of most pleasing
appearance in the pulpit. He speaks
with charming ease and with impressive
cl0qUence. Ills sermon last night was
based on the scriptural text: eye are
Witnesses and with his characteristic
power he stirred his auditors, and at the
close of his sermon, when he asked all
who could testify to the saving grace
Of the gospel to stand up, two-thirdS Of
the vast congregation arose.
''Ye shall receive power and ye shall hg
Witnesses" began Dr. Barron. ''ih,
power is not ours I've continued. 'Tho
Eoly Ghost comes upon us for Il purpOs...
not alone for an individual benefit. hut to
he put into execution by us so that we
may do something for the glory OF Coo
and the good Of our fellow man.
Il would like to see a great mOutil
opening with wide and hearty acclaim i'll
sacred songs and holy laughter over the
blessings of God that have come to us as
Christians.
peter declares that Gods people are
witnesses-nOt apolOgists.
There may have been a time in the
infancy Of Christianity when it was ne
ccssary for defending the gospel of Christ,
but thank God we don't have to go
about taking off our hats to infde's and
apologize for our defense of the gospel.
I'VE need have no fears, and we need
not tremble in apprehension as to what
is going to become Of the Bible.
We need not get into any holy
spasm for fear that only the lids Of this
blessed bool, is going to be left to uG.
"Oh, no. no. The Bible, Gods blessed
truth. has stood the test of all the
critics shat ever came up out of the
blackest pits of al the ages. 1t was the
lamp that lighted the way of our fathers
and our mothers. and thank God it is here
yet rs a lamp to guide our feet into the
paths of righteousness.
"Oh, no. NY friends. we are not called
upon to defend the Bible; God Will take
care Of thai.
I'VE are called upon to be each a little
Bible ourselves; to write its truths upon
orr hearts and bind its promises upon
our brows, aud be witnesses of its ever
lasting truths.
n witness is expected to so upon the
stand and tell what be knows--not what
he !hinks--t0 tell the truth and the
whole truth.
Every man and every woman who IS
4 lover of Christ is called upon to stand
IN and preach the truth, to testify to the
saving grace of his gospel. We, as vi
nesses, must have story to tel. We
must know -ef the efficacy of ms saving
grace and be ready to proclaim it.
"Oh, yes, my friends, we need to know
Jesus and to know him well.
"If you are Christian. you can't testi-
fy that there is such thing us conver-
sion, that the gospel of Christ regenerates
men.
"One day a man stood on that great
platform at Ocean Grove to testify H
fore a great crowd. He was n Colonel a
the army. and he used the military te MS
in his testimony. + was going hef aid,
'::n double quick step down the TO ID to
hell: heard voice say, Halt, right about
face. / stopped, turned my face the
other way with my back towards Satan.
Forward, march, called out the
voice, and lead by the captain Of my
salvation am marching home to God.
''If God had only taken my feet out
of the m;re and the clay and placed them
upon the rock and then said. Go along
by yourself, | will aid you no more'-,f
he had done this, my brethren, | should
have fallen by the wayside, but he has
been always with me; he has stood by me
and praise his holy name, he is with me-
tonight.
And some of us can testify, too, to the
comforting power of the religion of Jesus
in hours of deepest gloom When the
darkest shadows fall; when we stand
beside the coffin that contains our loved
ones, Jesus whispers, 1T is well,' we can
turn to him and say, The Lord gave,
the Lord has taken away, blessed be the
name of the Lord
Il have been testifying tonight. ! have
not been preaching; don't known how to
preach, burt thank God know Jesus in
the salvation of my soul, and can testify
of him."
DR.. Barron preached with much fervor
and feeling and his powerful sermon made
a great impression upon the large con-
gregatiCn present, and when he called for
those who desired to know Jesus in the
pardon Of their sins TO stand up, large
number arose.