The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-06-27

WHICH LEADS TO THE THRONE
OF GOD THE SERMON WAS
SOUND, PRACTICAL AND IN
CLOUDED IN IT'S SIMPLICITY.
Rev. John \. Cass, Of Philadelphia,
yesterday occupied the pulpit of tie
Green Ridge Presbyterian church in the
absenc" of the pastor, Rev. DR.. /. j.
Lansing.
In the morning the service was at
tended by n large congregation, Dos-
pitc the intorse heat the seating CapaC-
ity of the large auditorium was oc-
CupiCd to nearly the limit. The con-
grogatiOn was privileged to hear a
sound, practical sermon on the essen
tal qualifications for a CHRISTIAN char
aCtcr. The discourse of Mr.. Cass was
free from any verbiage or theOrism
that might rob it of commendabe SIM
plicity.
Mr. Cass preached from the tevt "And
there were six steps to the throne
III Chronicles, ix:1S. lie said in part:
AS there were six steps to SOloman's
throne there are six steps to the seat
of God according TO facts laid down in
the Bible
We shall say that repentance is the
first step. As a boy ! can recall SOr-
row for sin but that is not repentance
in the scriptural sense. Sorrow is to
repentance what a cover is to a book.
Determination to give up sin is the
second part Of repentance which goes
toward making up the whole. No per-
son lives who is or has been free from
this obligation. As a noted evangelist
| in England said to a nOhleman who
owned the larger interests of a certain
town. there was no altar fitting espc-
| Cially to his IorsOn, because IN doing
| honor to God no distinction is made
| between the rich and the poor. The
ncblaman admitted the point and re-
| pented in public and helped ny his
| example the hundreds of employees de-
pendant upon him.
EVERYONE ELIGIBLE.
| 'Not only must everyone repent but
| everyone may repent. No degree of sin
| preCludes a man from the salvation Of
| repentance. Argument to the contrary
| is a whisper of the devil. Jesus would
| have forEiver Judas, had he asked it.
Faith is the second step. 1t is an
| intellectual phase of the situation.
| There is a difference betW cen belief and
| faith There are few men who fail to
| believe in the existence of God; the
| very devils believe, but it requires
| more than that to he saved. Faith on
| our part requires some action Conss-
| tent with what we believe.
The Bible says that without Faith
| It is impossible to believe God. Well.
that's true Of everything. We think
| it is a simple proposition in its rela-
| ton to worldly things-it is just as
| simple as regards our spiritual selves.
| There was no hesitation when Moses
| told his people to march between walls
| of water according to command Of God
| through him. There was belief and
| faith, in Moses or God, as you viii;
the illustration applies In either sense.
Humility, the third step, is not that
| by which Ona is willing to shirk duty
| in favor of another Humility is that
| of which we get an idea when man
compares himself with God. This ster
of humility is important to take be-
cause of its effect upon us. Tho worst
| enemy we have to fight j. ourselves,
| Our selfishness is to MS what Sandy
Hook bar is to the shipping entering
New York harbOr We find it difficult
to overcome il.
"A persons degree of humility may
be ascertained by the amount of his
usefulness in the church Humble mor
you will always find useful. Pride is
not known in the matter. If useful
ness gives a man a name, humility will
do it. He that humbleth himself Will
be exalted 1t may not appear 50, hut
YOU will find that all great men who are
truly good are humble at heart.
1T is the province of prayer, the
| fourth step, to make the man who
prays become more and more ike hin
to whom he prays. 4 model youn-
man in the church whose religious
faith is fixed goes to the city ANA be
comes fascinated with association!
with which his soul formerly revoltcd
his habits change and he becomes lik,
that which he loves So with mankinC
everywhere. Those who worship tht
prince Of Wales ape him in dress anC
manner. While he prayed ana as h,
prayed the scripture tells us. the ligh
of his countenanCe was raised That il
the result Of communion with God.
HOPE, THE FIFTH STEP.
1--WE are after prayer prepared fo
the fifth step hope. Here is SOmothns
different from trust, from faith. 1t il
like expectation; it leads to the future
After repentance, faith, humility anC
prayer it is natural that man shCul,
have hope, because if it was absen
the first four steps would have led t,
an abrupt ending or a backward move
Hope is like an anchor which hold
a shin in position; hope is a Christian
mans mairstay. Sailors anchored il
the narbOr have no fear though IN
anchor is something they cannot see
Though unseen, they know it is there
A man who loses friends ard relation
and home is safe if he has faith in tn
anchor Of hope.
Love, the sixth and last step is no
the one materially figured in the text
but we know that love expresses sCIne
thing given 10 the one loved. This sen
tmcnt is the central idea Of love an,
!. it brings us 10 the platform whore Go,
: is; it is the most important step Of all
1t is the last crOwning Christian grac
\ and by it We may know that We ar
{ | Christians. How? Because We lov
( one another. Repentance, humility
2 prayer hope are steps but none is tn
, end of the flight.
} 1T requires little or no argument I
} emphasize the truth that the elcmen