The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-29
YOUNG MEN AND THE CHURCH.
REV. ARTHUR ]. SMITHS PLEA FOR
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP.

His Advice TO Young Men to Join the
Church and Why They should Do
Soft Is an Obligation to God, an
Obligation to Themselves and an
Obligation to Their FeIIOwmen.
The Sermon the Last of Rev. Mr..
Smiths Series to Young Men.
"Why Should Young Men Be Members
of the Church" was The subject Of Rev.
Arthur J. Smiths sermon at the First
Presbyterian Church last night. 1t was
the last in a series on young men and the
church.
Rev Mr.. Smith took for his text the last
Clause of the eighteenth verse of the ninth
chapter of Acts: And he arose and was
baptized" The text is in that portion
of scripture that gives the details of the
conversion Of Saul of Tarsus.
This prominent young Hebrew" said
Mr.. Smith. was on his way to Damascus
to take all Christian ne might find there
and bring them bound to Jerusalem On
the way ne met the Lord. He then real
lied he mad been doing a grievous wrong
to Christ and his followers in jealousy
prosecuting them and when convinced OF
it, he Immediately renounced it ali and
turned from judaism to Christ and His
service. His baptism was his confession
of Christ before the Jews, Gentiles and
Christians at Damascus and in ali the
world.
THE scriptures say he was young man.
He was conscientious. When he realized
his duty he did it Immediately. Young
men of to-day can well follow his exam
pie, said Mr.. Smith.
God has a church in the world. 1t is
composed of al. of those who have for
saken sin, received and confessed Christ
and separated themselves from the world.
The church is called Gods peculiar people.
This really means a people for GODS own
possession. If we are to be His He de-
mands that we unite with the church.
Christ said, 'Ye cannot serve God and
Mammon.' He that is not with Me is
against Me Come out from among them
and be ye separate saith the Lord"
Mr.. Smith said there are three
great reasons why young men should be
members of the church They are, first
because of his obligations to God; second
because of his obligations 20 himself, and
third, because of his obligations 10 his fell
lowmen.
He is under great obligation to God for
bringing him into this world where there is
so much of beauty and pleasure. Though
sin has entered in il has not robbed man
of his appreciation of the beauties of ma
ture. He is under obligation to God be-
cause he has redeemed him. OF His own
free will, God provided a redemption for
man when he fell This was because of
His great love for man. He also is pro-
viding a home in heaven for US, where
we may, if we will spend an eternity free
from sin, pain and sorrow.
There are many obligations man owes
to himself This many fail to appreciate
He can have fellowship with Christ if he
is in the church. Christ does not bless
with His presence the man who does not
| obey Him or endeavor to please Him. The
man who is unwilling to confess Christ
cannot expect Him to bless him with His
| presence. In the church he can have full
fellowship with believers. This he cannot
have if he remains outside. lie may meet
and know Christian people, but the real
| Christian fellowship cannot be his until
| he joins the church. The blessings of the
sacraments are not his unless he is in the
church.
He cannot expect to claim the promises
of God if he is outside the church. If he
| is unwilling to obey God how can he ex-
! pect God to bear his progress? Outside
| of the church young man cannot be
| trained for the highest and best SER
! vice Of God. He cannot be developed
! in the spiritual life. He owes 1t to him
| self to become associated with Gods peo-
| pie in this world
! 'In the last place, there are the obI-
cations he owes to his felowmen. They
| have expectations from US. We influence
| all we meet. Our influences is for or
against God. The man who leads a good,
| moral life exerts en- influence against
! God as much as the man who is an
| outbreaking sinner. Others see him and
| say he is a good man, that he is NOT in
the church, and, therefore, they do not
need to be, and they are influenced TO stay
out of The church and away from Christ.
1t is only in the church that a man NAV
exert his greatest influence for God His
| fellow men then will not misunderstood
him and stumble over him into the lost
| world"
The church was filed with large con
| gregation. The number Of young men
present was marked.
Mr.. Smith has announced that during
the month of June there viii be no sermon
at the evening services, but there viii be
services Of song