The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-24
PECKVILLE.


Sketches of sermons preached in the
Presbyterian church, Peckville, Sun
day, oct. %, by Rev. ). II. Moon, d. D.,
pastor:
Morning sermOn-TcXt, Acts, 5:32:
And we are witnesses Of these things,
and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom
God hath given to them that obey him."
The subject of this text may he called
the spirits amen to our witnessing for
Christ. AS the spirt-filled Christian
breaches, Christ, the Holy Spirit,
breaches with and in and through him,
to the hearers.
Our work for Christ is that Of
Messing. We are not to be advocates
nor pleaders; we are simply to bear
witness to what we have seen and
heard and known Of Jesus Christ. The
testimony is about Christi If we wan
der off to other subjects, and preach
politics and science and philosophy, and
seek to air our own opinions we shall
have to preach alone. But if we con-
fine ourselves to our commission, the
spirit will give his powerful amen to
all we say. Without the spirits aid,
the most learned and eloquent and
Scriptural sermon has only a human
power But with the spirits concur
rent witnessing, the testimony of the
feehlest saint has the might of divin-
ity in it, Here ID the pledge and as
surance Of success to every Christian
who witnesses for years-to the one
who gives his humble testimony i'm a
prayer meeting, or gives a word of COM
fort to the afflicted, or tremblingly
teaches a Sunday school class, or
speaks a wCrd In due season to the un-
saved. 1t is not he that speaks, but
the Holy Ghost that speaks in him, and
his word shall prosper in the thing
whereto the spirit sends it.
Evening sermon-TeXt, l Cor, 1:24:
But unto them which are called, both
Jews and Greeks, Christ the power Of
God and the wisdom OF God" The
Greek was, in Paul'S day, the common
language Of the Roman empire, anil al
who were not Jews were called Greeks,
or Gentilos The Jews and the Greeks
comprised all men, in the phraseology
of the day. Paul breaches, therefore,
in this text the all-sutiiciency of the
gospel of Christ.
The gospel is the good news about
Jesus Christ, or from Jesus Christ. 1t
is the way of salvation, through faith
i'm Christ.
The gospel is the power of Cod
When Paul preached it, it was mighty
TO the pulling down of strongholds. tt
is mighty still. Every weapon used
against it is broken, but it remains.
THE hammers are broken,
The anvil remains"
Consider these to whom the gospel is
eliiCacious. 1t is the wisdom and power
Of God tothose who are called Of God.
God is a sovereign, and the gospel is
saving to those who are effectually
called. 1t is necessary that we should
understand this, particularly i'm these
days, when the doctrines of free grace
are so faithfully preached, and the doc
trlnes of the divine sovereignty are so
faithfully unpreached, or ignored. But
we must make our calling and election
sure, and ratify Gods election by our
own free will and choice
The gospel is, also, the wisdom and
power Of God to those who believe
Romans, l:l6. Here We stand on
familiar ground. Everything in the
Christian life comes 10 us by faith Do
not adulterate the gospel As It stands
It is perfect and entire, wanting moth
ing, and it's author is able TO present
those who receive It, "faultless before
the presence Of his glory with exceed
ing 10y"