The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-23
THE GOSPELS AND CHRIST.
Rev. j. d. Chapman's Lecture Before
the COIOred College.

the COIOred College.
The last of the series of lectures on the
Bible before the Georgia State Industrial
College, was delivered by Rev. ]. D. Chap
man, D. D.. on THE Gospels and Christ"
Dr. Chapman said in the beginning that
he did not intend to give any very learned
talk on the subject, but rather a plain
talk.
1.-THE four gospels" he said, "were writ
ten by Matthew Mark Luke and John.
Matthew was a publican, tax-collector
and a disciple of Christ, and John, the last
writer, was also disciple of Christ, while
Luke, the physician. and Mark were not
OF the four gospels, Luke tells more Of
Christs history, Matthew tells of his mir
acles. All speak of Christ and the king
dom of heaven. Christ came to set up this
kingdom, and his theme was always the
kingdom of heaven THE whole doc
trine," Dr. Chapman said taught by our
Lord Jesus Christ revolves about this
polnt-the kingdom of heaven. What Is
this kingdom of heaven? When was 1t
established? Who are its subjects? What
are its laws, privileges; its fruits and re-
wards?"
The first question, the lecturer said, many
people misunderstood. The Jews, to whom
the promise was made, thought Christ
was to come to set up a kingdom on earth
to rid them from their oppression. They
thought that the Messiah would conquer
their enemies and make Jerusalem the
center of the world, and the Jews, the dom
mating race. They looked not for a spir-
itual, but a temporal kingdom And to-day
many misunderstood the kingdom of God
Many think it is only In heaven after
death. They misunderstood that the def
milton of Gods kingdom is the reign OF
Christ in the heart, producing supreme
love.
The subjects of the kingdom of God are
those who are born of His spirit. The
natural birth has nothing to do with the
entrance into the kingdom, but only the
birth OF the spirit of Cod mot every one
that saith Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the
will of the Father which Is In heaven"
Form Of worship, DR.. Chapman said, had
nothing to do with the inheritance of the
kingdom, but all who possess the spirit
of Christ and worship him In spirit and
truth are subjects of the kingdom of God.
For these was the kingdom prepared from
the foundation of the world.
There is but one law in this kingdom,
said Dr. Chapman, land that law is reel
procity." Jesus said what We would that
men should do to you do We even so to
them He spoke Of this law, and what a
happy world this would be if the law were
always practicedl Speaking of its privl-
leges, he told of the difference in God s
kingdom and i'm worldly kingdoms. In
Gods kingdom there are no gradations
of rank, no favorltes no special favors
and no need for them. A man is not better
or worse on account of his condition. God
says to all, ask and it shall be given, and
that Is one great privilege of the king
dom of God that God gives to all what
seems best to him. The fruits of this
kingdom are righteousness. joy and peace.
These, all who are really subjects of Gods
kingdom will have.
The last topic was the rewards OF
| Christ's kingdom. DR.. Chapman spoke al
length of the rewards, both present and
prospective. He said all the reward of q
righteous life is not after death, but there
| Is a great deal here. He exhorted all tc
strive to make most of life here, and per.
| haps In the great hereafter they will bC
better able to enjoy the rewards.
The lecture was one eloquent and in
structive. After it President Wright in
troduced Rev. Thomas Hazel of the Con
! gregational church, Savannah, who made
| short talk Following him shor
speeches were made by Rev Travers anC
| Rev. S. d. Roseborough.