The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-18
THE DUTY OF THE CHRISTIAN.
Rev. DIR. Fairs Sermon on the Dam
gers of Religious Indifference.


The sermon by Rev. James Y. Fair. at
the Independent Presbyterian Church last
night, was replete with advice TO Chris
tIans on the line of awakening to their du-
ties. not only to themselves, but also those
for whose welfare they are responsible.
And that, knowing the time" says the
text in the 18Th chapter Of Romans, that
now 1t is high time to awake out Of sleep:
for now Is our salvation nearer than when
we believed"
DR.. Fair prefaced his sermon with re-
marks on the natural, human sleep, which
as most like the state of the soul Beng
IN a state Of insensibhity, one is perfectly
oDIivious while asleep 10 everything which
would otherwise affect them greatly, and
IN this connection he spoke at some length
20 lay the foundation for thoughts he in
tended to offer. 1t vas s4cep that dis
PEELED care, fortified tie physical man for
other and greater eXertions, ana gave re-
newed vigor to all the faculties. Death
nlght be lingering near the pillow, but
those asleep know nothing of il. The
sleeping man knows nothing of the great
events Transporting around ham, ne said,
and is perfectly Indifferent to elevating
himself, or endeavoring TO set nearer to
God
There is a time for this sleep. which
When the curtain OF night fell God intend
ed IL a time for all men TO rest, but the
dawn was the time 10 go forth to shape
great events. 1t is then the time for the
world TO be subJued and beautihed And
in the splendOr of the days blazing light,
he said 1t is the time for the principles
OF the gospel to be dimused. The day is
nigh time" for activity among all men,
both for the edi1cation of themselves and
the building up of Gods throne.
DR.. Fair spoke of the efforts of the Ro-
mans to hold up the banner of Christ in
imperial Rome, the center of influence in
the Occidont. One influence generated an
other as the city moved onward, until she
became the mis- tress of the seas. The en-
pire was wide and there was a great field
for the early Christians in diffusng the
gospel, but they slept, which caused the
apostle to proclaim the warning among
them, Now il is high time to awake out
of sleep" Their eyes were closed, their
ears dumb, their feelings for the cause of
Christ deadened Sin was rampant on
every hand, idOlatry swept the empire,
and incense went up from a thousand al
tars. There was not that activity which
brings good, as the workers were indiffer-
emit careless, supne
Even n the present day he said, there
is to be found a melancholy example of
this indifference, this spiritual sleeping
among Christian. There is great work
waiting for them, but their eyes are closed
to the magnifcence and excellence of it.
Are all Christians wideawake, he asked,
and laborng in the Masters service?
If fire should start in a neighbours house
and one were informed of il, he said, and
that people inside would soon perish if
prompt assistance were not given them,
all would, of course, use great haste in
getting to the scene. He urged that the
truth of God is a flame drawing near the
pillow of those many Christian beloved. 1t
is not a flame that consumes houses, fur
niture, and goods, but one that scorches,
and withers, and blghts the immortal
soul. This soul can even be heard drop
ping into eternal death. DR.. Fair said
there is no time to sleep in the Masters
service, il being high time all engaged
themselves in the rescue Of souls soon to
pass into the beyond
The duty of church workers was urged
in eloquent words by DR.. Fair, who told
of the growing cry for spiritual help. He
spoke of the sleeping lifeboat crew, the
sleeping employe, and others having re-
sponsibiities, at the same time urging his
hearers not TO be Obvious to their Chris
tan duties.
Il thunder in thine ear from my Cod"
concluded DR.. Fair; sit is high time for
all to awaken to their Christian duties"