Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-16
THAT AWFUL SIN.
DIR. sitter breaches on Biasphemy
Against Holy GhOst-War Situation.

Against Holy GhOst-Mar SItuuuOn.
The objectionable Sin" was the sub
ject Of Rev. DIR. j. M. Stifler's discourse
at the Second Baptist church Sunday
morning. The congregation was right
large and gave DIR. Sitter the closest at
tention throughout the sermon. A num-
Der of visitors from other churches and
denominations were present, attracted by
the distinguished speaker and his theme.
DR.. Sitter read from Matthew. twelfth
chapter, and selected the thirty-second
Verse as his text: whatsoever speaketh
a word against the Son of Man, 1t shall
be forgiven him, but whosoever speaketh
against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be
forgiven him, neither in this world,
neither in the world to come"
The "Unpardonable Sin" DR.. Sitter
defines as follows: 1.-The sin then
lies in Notwithstanding against
the Holy Ghost--lies in the re-
fusal to own the Holy Ghost as the
agent of all good. Mark declares that
Jesus uttered this warning because they
Baid He had an unclean spirit-that is,
lie did His work by means of this I'M
clean, or satanic, agency. Do we not
now see with some cearness what the
In a theory, in a vicious and unjust
theory to account for Christian works.
This sin reaches the objectionable stage
when men say the devil is the father and
promoter Of these works. To ascribe the
good works Of the Gospel, the facts of
tho Christian system TO satanic agency,
this is the objectionable sin.
Look once more how He came to
utter the words of the text. He was
preaching, great multitude surround
ing Him. These Scribes arrive and be-
gin TO PROFOUND their theory-'by means
OF Beelzebub He cast out DEVILS Jesus
sees their danger and summons them to
Him. He says: How can satan cast
out satan? How can the devil divide
against himself and destroy his own
works? Does not Jesus argument show
that they had theory and what it was?
He goes on to say: How can one enter
into strong mans house and make a
spoil of his goods?-that is, how can i
go into the devil's kingdom, for he is the
strong man, and deliver these poor mis-
cradle captives of his unless / have first
bound him? You sayI am serving him,
that / am in league with him. Does not
my work prove / have bound him? Now.
what does this argument show but that
He is driving at their theory? II shows
in His conversation with them is the
text: Beware. you may commit other
sins and be forgiven: but to sin against
the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness.
What else now can this sin be but TO
ascribe divine works to the evil one
TO say that the good facts which we cam
not deny, have their source in evil. In
devlish evil? Jesus does not do His work
because God is with Him, but because the
devil isl He does not draw His in
spiration from above, but from beneath!
Work He does-and apparently good
workout satan prompts Him TO il and
helps Him do IT. God is not in II, has |
nothing to DO with IT, This is disappearing |
the Holy Ghost And this sin hath never |
forgiveness
DIR. POTTS ON THE WAR SITUATION. |
Isaiah xxxii.. l-S. was the text of Dr. |
Thomas n. Potts at the Park-Place Meth |
odist church Sunday evening. The theme |
suggested our own present situation, now |
that the war is ended and speaking in |
this conEection, he said: 1--WE have
just gotten TO the protocol stage in |
our war with Spain. The treaty /
must be made. terms be settled upon. |
and then peace. Thus far the people of /
the United States have gone on follow !
ing their leaders. But now another |
stage has come The next stage is the
frial of its leaders. Were we right I'm
going TO war? What are to be the nnal |
issues Of IL? What Is TO be our future
p0iicvP These are questions that are
10 he settled now. The next fight IS the
fight OF right Were we right? II not.
what? Thanks to the King of Righteous
ness. right is something that viii not
down. And administrations rise or fan |
in her scales.
"But again, princes shall rule In judy
ment The reign Of Christ's kingdom
vN'ends not only over kings. but also
over subjects. Increased degrees of ndg-
ment must be shown By the upper classes.
Inc TIME Is ooming-aye. and rapidly
coming-when enlarged and more potent
morality must show itself among such
~ REQUIRES no spirit OF optisism run mad
70 see the Improvement here being made |
broad and liberal and charitable re-
Iie'on is enough 70 disclose the fact that
mere men acting as hiding places from