Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-21
IS GOD ABLE 70 DELIVER?
Question Which Christian BeliEers
Are Held to Answer.

N"'~SA~ ~ AASA Oul OOl1N4 va
Are Held TO Answer.
Christians Are, in the Eyes of the
World, the Exponents Of Christ
Are Held Sign of the Power and
Character of Jesus Christ AS
God Delivered Daniel from the
Lions So He Can Deliver Us from
Our Sins-A Practical, Eloquent
Sermon Delivered by Rev. L. w.
Doggett, of Fairmont, at ST.
Luke's P. E. Church Yesterday.
Yesterday Rev. L. w. Doggett, OF
F'armont, preached two sermons at
ST. Lukes T. E. church, on the Island,
TO large congregations. Rev, Mr. Dog
gett has preached here before, and his
sermons are always greatly appre-
ciated. He is minister OF marked
ability. as the reading of his discourse
delivered yesterday morning will show.
His sermon was a strong, practical
lesson in reference to the ability Of God
to give men actual deliverance from
their sins. The force of his argument
was Illustrated by the help that was
extended to Daniel by God when Daniel
was thrown into the lions den and
when Darius, the King, came the next
morning and called to Daniel, asking
him If his God had been able TO de-
liver him. The speaker explained that
as Daniel was at that tim the repre-
sentative Of the power of God in the
issue between the true religion and
heathendom so are Christian believers
of to-day regarded as opponents Of the
same power and by their lives the
world estimates the ability Of Christ
to do what he taught and his followers
profess. Rev. Mr.. Doggett's discourse
was as follows:
And the king spake and said to DAN
iei: o, Daniei, servant of the living
God, is thy God, whom thou servest
continually, able to deliver thee from
the lions.-Daniel $40.
In his Introductory remarks, the rev.
erend speaker dwelt at some length on
the Bible incident mentioned in his
text and Of the lessons which it
teaches. Continuing, he said:
Having by this analysis suggested to
your minds, and in some degree, hope,
proved the strictly moral and spiritual
lesson which this history teaches, let
me offer it to you as a great and prac-
teal lesson wholesome for our day,
and most worthy to be steadied and
nract iced nv pVpry one 0f JS
If Daniel was held by Darius and
the men of his day as the representa-
tive and exponent of the power and
character of Jehovah, it is.eQually true,
both upon principles of sound reason
and by the direct statement of the
word of God. that Christians, in their
corporate and in their individual ca
pacity, are the representatives of the
Christian God, and are held by the
world around as a sign Of the power
and character of Jesus Christ, our Lord
and God.
Let US contemplate first the ser
wants of Christ in their corporate
capacity. | affirm that the Christen-
dom of this age is justly held by the
heathendom of this age as witness to
the power and true nature OF the
God of Christendom. If any one who
knows the history Of States and gov
ernments ruled by professedly Chris
tan men shall shrink from the asser-
ton; if he says the wars, the wrongs,
the vices, the eXtortions of civilized
Christian nations, equal, and even ex
coed at times, those of the heather;
so that the God of Christians, if we
argue from His servants actions as to
his nature and power, is as feeble as
idols to restrain and purify the pas
sions of our humanity. | answer,
whether you shrink or not, the heather
will not fail to pass judgment after
this rule; and they have judged, to the
disgrace of ourselves and to the him
drance of Christian missions, that our
God is not able to deliver us from the
dishonesty and sins which Cypress
themselves. Would that Christians,
in their corporate character, only real
ize how the world is daily making the
issue which Darius made between
truth and error; and as it marks the
sins of the Church or Of Christian ma
lions, is asking in mOckery: is tiny
God. whom thou servest continually,
able to deliver thee from the lions
When one looks at the history OF our
own Christian nation in its dealings
with the Indians; when one considers
the dealings of Christian Spain toward
the ancient people of Mexico, and lat
terlv with Cuba: or of England IN the
opium trade with China, can we con-
slider that the nature of the God whom
we profess to serve is judged OF by
beathens and unbelievers according to
the moral character of Christians them
selves? Can we wonder that they
think him cruel and weak, when they
see exhibited such signs of rapacity,
combined with feeble morals?
Whether we believe it or not, wheth-
er we admit the justice of the rule-the
world, the heather, the infidel, of all
sorts. are deciding the great question
between truth and error in our actions.
The cry of heathendom Oh. how la
mentable often in its tones Of dlSap-
pointment has gone up, 1t ought to be
heard by us. saying: Servants Of the
living God. is your Cod whom you
serve continually. able to deliver thee
from the lions?" Is He able to save
Won from these sins. and vices, and in
fuences of evil which our gods have
not been able to do for us? Is your
God. whom you serve, able to deliver
Won from the power of lust, and licen-
tiousness, and intemperance, and love
of gain9 'Is thy God able to deliver
thee from the lions?
But let us turn for a moment TO
ion