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

the promised power came. We are
told in the Scriptures that we in like
manner can obtain it. Listen to the
familiar words of the Book: "Ask
and it shall be given you; seek and
ye shall find; knock and it shall be
opened unto you; for every one that
asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh
findeth; and to him that knocketh it
shall be opened" And when the
blessing came to that early church,
never, | pray you, ever forget the at
titude of those first heralds of the
Cross. Christ had promised them
the Spirit. His word was enough; it
could not fail. They were told to
wait in Jerusalem. How did they
waltz How did they occupy them
selves during that period7 Not in
selfish Incidence did they fold their
hands and wait. There was mighty
and earnest voice ever going up from
their midst to God. So it may be
with our church in these days. God
will open the very windows of heaven
and the richest blessings of his Grace
will descend upon us, but we must
plead for them. and ask them, or they
never can be ours. The strength of
our church today and in the future
must rest in the united and spiritual
prayer of our people. Possibly one
good result that may come to us out
of some failures that have marked
our efforts may be a revelation to us
of our utter weakness, save as we de-
pend upon God.
What a renewed activity would be
manifest in all departments of our
UNCONVENTIONAL work if only these
conditions of success could be full
filed. There would be general ad-
vancement all along the line of church
work. Much has been said and writ
ten of late concerning a forward
movement for the Universalist Church.
This would be one worthy of our
Master and one worthy of our
past record as religious people. One
great blessing would be clearer Wis
ion and deeper experience of truth.
The great principles of our beloved
faith would become broader at the
base and more perfect in their splen-
did proportions. There would be
| truer, because more spiritual, con-
ception of the great verities of Chris
tianity We should be more spirit
ually-minded as a people, and our
spiritual mindedness would produce
very remarkable effect on our men
tai perceptions and judgments. In
every discussion of doctrine and
statement of belief, there would be
no temptation to neglect the intel
lectual, but the intellectual aspect of
truth would ever be subordinate to
the spiritual.
Nay, more, the presence of the
spirit would show itself in more
consecrated pulpit. The heart of the
Christian pastor under the domina-
ton of this power from above would
yearn for the salvation of men. A ho-
| ly passion for souls would control his
speech. Every word would live, every
sentence would burn, every utter
ance be melodious with the words Of
divine entreaty: Come unto me, and
l will give you rest" From our pull
pit would issue forth in tones of pow
er the prophetic word of old: "Thus
saith the Lord" "What we have
seen and heard that we declare unto
you," would be the burden of the
preachers message; and such preach
ing, coming forth from the depths of
| individual experience of men, would
have power with men, and prevail.
There would be no room for subtle
speculations in such pulpit, ration
alizing truth, bewilderipg and mysti-
flying men, but not helping them;
no dreamy and sentimental essays
indulging in poetic imagery instead
of practical thought. but the living
word of God instinct with the power
of the Spirit, and full of light and
truth. The church led by such min
istry would grow in numbers, and be
multiplied in all resources. Questions
affecting our attitude toward other
religious bodies, profile ms of finance,
questions concerning the extension of
the ministry and the propagation of
our faith at home and abroad, would
all find their solution facilitated in
the presence of this spiritual power.
MY time is gone. Ileave it to you,
my brethren, and to your ripened
Christian judgment, whether we shall
find satisfactory settlement of these
and any difficulties that may pre-
sent themselves to our cons;dera-
ton, on any other basis than the
spiritual one which your pre- acher has
very imperfectly presented to you.