The times., 1897-03-22
GREATEST WORK OF ALL
Sermon of Rev. NJ. ]. Cramer at
Ryland Church.
The Conversion of Soul More I'm
portant Than the Working
of Miracle.

The pulpit of Ryland Church, Tenth and
d streets southwest, was yesterday morn
ing occupied by one OF the best pulpit
orators of the East, Rev. NJ j Cramer,
d. D., of East Orange, N. j. 1t is in
teersting to note that DR.. Cramer is
quite prominent in diplomatic circles.
He was for eleven years United States
minister to Denmark and was also United
States minister at Berne, switzerland, for
five years. He was warm personal
friend Of Gen. Grant, having married the
youngest sister OF the latter. A large
audience heard DR.. Cramer preach. His
text was, Ephesians xiv:12. He said:
In considering the text, three ques
tions are presented. First, What does
comparison imply? Is it a comparison
between the miraculous works OF Christ
and His disciples? 1t cannot be, because
our Lord performed miracles such as no
other human beings ever did
Second, is 1T comparison between
the spiritual works of Christ and those
of his desciples?- 1t cannot be, because
only He says, Il am the TRUTH and He
taught new spiritual doctrines never be-
fore known. 1t must be between the
miraculous works as such and the spiritual
works as such. Our Lords life on earth
was to the disciples minds characterized
more by the miraculous than the spiritual
and He meant TO say that if they truly
believe in him they shall perform spiritual
l.S oh tbap
lous works.
Three thoughts are suggested by the
text: First, that the conversion of a soul
is a greater work than the performance
of. a miracle, because it is performed in
higher sphere. Miracles are performed
upon outward nature; spiritual works are
performed upon spirit or soul 1t is greater,
secondly, because it is a work whose
effects are lasting, or permanent, while
the effects of Il miracle pass away; thirdly,
the conversion of a soul is greater be-
cause it requires higher power of God,
which is His love manifested in the gift
of His son, of His SPIRIT OF His word,
and Of the church.
1.-The second thought suggested by the
text is that true faith in Christ qualities
any believer for the performance of his
spiritual work. This faith requires the be-
lief in three things: first, in the efficacy
and universally of Christs atonement;
secondly, faith in the adaptability Of the
Bible to rightly influence men: thirdly,
faith in the Holy Spirit to aid us in the
successful prosecution Of these spiritual
works.
THE third thought suggested by the
text lS that the resurrection and a ascenSion
of Christ are guarantee of these works.
Christ assembled on high, first, to inter
cede for us, and, second, to obtain the gift
of the Holy Spirit for us. Earnest, be-
lieving prayer to God will bring the great
gift of the Holy Spirit to every belieyeres
well as to the church universal
The greatness of the work which is
presented to the church, the conversion Of
the world, is a greater work than that
OF any statesman, scientist or artist The
effect of theirs will sooner or later dis
appear in the flames of the final con-
flagration, but the effects of the con-
version of souls will continue through the
cycles of eternity
Dr. Cramer and wife will attend the
of the Grant monument, at River
side,N. Y, April 27 next. upon the an
niversary Of Gen. Grants birth, and VIII
eRve for New York about the middle of |
this week. They are now the guests of
Capt. Frank P. Gross and wife, who re-
'ide at No. 507 T street northwest Capt |
Gross is well known as adiuster of The
mint bureau, Treasury Department, and
his wife is warm friend of Mrs. Cramer,
they having attended college together.