The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-28
PREACHED ON PARALLELS.
REV. j. ID. JORDAN's SERMONS AT
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

and the Pearls Formed the Theme
of His DiscOurse-The Lessons He
Drew From the ParnbIes-Rev. j.
l.. White to Begin His EvangeIistic
Meetings Tomorrow Night.
Two short parallels formed the
theme of an Instructive sermon
by Rev. John D. Jordan of the
First Baptist Church last night,
in which were given out many beautiful
thoughts of an edifying and practical ma
ture. The weather mad little effect in
causing vacant pews, the congrega lion be-
ing its usual size.
Again the kingdom of heaven is like
unto treasure hid in a field" proceeds
the first parable. 1.-The which, when a man
hath found, he hideth, and for joy there
of goeth and selleth all that he hath, and
buyeth that field The second parable is
that of merchant, who sought pearls,
and when he found one of great value sold
his property in order to buy it.
Rev. Mr. Jordan prefaced his sermon
with an explanation of the construction
and application to be given parallels. lie
said the two parallels in question went to
emphasize the preciousness of salvation.
The two men mentioned in the para bles
discovered what was of great value and
used the utmost diligence and labor in or
der to find it, All parallels were designed
to convey a controlling thought he said,
but it was often their meaning was mis-
construed. In the parallels quoted the les
son was the supreme value and precious
ness of salvation.
zone may dig in a field and perchance
10 :o,
had been stored there years before" he
said. Finding valuables in this manner
was more customary in former ages than
now, because of better methods of safely
storing things. In this day we have the
safety vaults and other places for de-
posts which make ii unnecessary to bury
Yaluables or store them In unfrequenied
places 1t was not uncommon in early
years TO bury treasures and then die sud
denly, be swept elsewhere by war or 9th
er invasion and leave the wealth for
posterty to find. In this instance. the
man found the valuable and TO acquire it
as MS own, bought the field without max
ing known to the owner that the treasure
was there. Drawing the analogy from this
parable, some say the field is the church
and that in order to be saved. one must
get into the church. But that is not the
idea to be taught, because the church can
not lmpart salvation. One may be con-
nected with a dozen churches and vet be
as far from redemption as is possible.
Churches are for the redeemed. Rev.
jordan said, and their scope is to uelp
and hold in unity the Christian people CT
the world. It is quite as possible to be
saved outside the church by seeking *
clusiveness and there pleading for the re-
demption which is promised and given all
for the asking. But en- applicant for mem
bership in the church should first be saw
ed and this is contemplated as a prece-
dent condition to membership. After sal
walton is acquired the church welcomes the
newly saved into its folds and throws
around them the rich blessings of Christian
love and association. Agein in this same
parable the erroneous idea is conveyed
that salvation can be bought, whereas it
is offered, in fact without money and
without price. Chaucer said that pardons
might be bought from Rome, but all the
CITIZENS of Rome had not the power TO lift
one to eternal life. Sinners can only be
quickened in Christian life by the tender
touch of the Holy Spirit
But the lesson drawn is the exceeding
preciousness of salvation, which is not 10
be compared to price or earthly value. +" lie
said There is no profit if the soul is lost.
and the whole world gained. Alexander
the Great who could conquer the world
ana make each individual bow TO his uni
Versal sceptre, was not equal to any who
bowed the knee as a child of God
with much force Rev. Jordan proceeded
10 snow how the poorest citizen in the
land could humble himself and reap the
blessings which could not otherwise no
obtained even for money or price He
also spoke of the different WAYS bv which
men found salvation. A merchant in
search OF valuable pearls failed TO find
any, while a man digging for another
purpose, he said, came into possession of
Them. The good Samaritan woman. he
SAID, VINO went TO the well to perform
DeT oally task, found there the Savior, who
told her of the rich blessings of a re-.
| deemed life. But the case was altogether
different with Nicodemus. of Jewish re-.
llglon and law, who heard of the Savior
ana went to learn and investigate. John
buhyan SAID the longer he waited the fur
ther he found himself from the life he
sought, and the argument against pro-
crastlnation was eloquently and convinc-
ingiy put by Rev. Jordan.
The concluding thought was as to the
appropriation one should make of the
Dement'S derived from religion He said
that' the anchor of faith would not
reach TO the bottom there was no use cast
ing 1t, and If those redeemed could mot
take Christ to themselves and profit nv
what they had gained, there was nothing
10 value. In this connection he also spoke
OF the willingness to dispossess in order to
be possessed He emphasized the fact char
to acquire religion implied an agreement
70 give up everything and not. to under
take requiring conditions. There should
be complete persuasion and total sur
render of all things which would prevent
living within the bounds of Gods Law.
Agrippa said to Paul, Thou almost ner-
suadest me to be a Christian but Rev.
Jordan said there was a hindrance which
1t was necessary to overcome.
Almost" can not avail.
Almost" is but 10 fail
Sad, sad that bitter wall,
Almost" but lost.
Rev. Jordan annOunce1 that D., p