The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-27
RELIGIOUS GROWTH.
Rev. S. 9. Meeser's Sermon at First Bap.
list Church.

'The intolerance of anti-expansion.
Christian life is imperialistic, and ex-
tends its sovereignty over the most dis
tant islands in a mans soul"
These were the eloquent and signifi-
cant words uttered by the Rev. Spen-
rcer B. Meeser at the First Baptist
Church last evening, and is one Of the
frankest utterances of the Worcester
clergy upon the burning question of
the hour-expansion. The thought
caught the spirit of the congregation,
and seemed to reflect it's unanimous
opinion. The utterance was in the
specification of the negatives of Chris
tlanlty, as the limitation of limitations.
A very thoughtful and scholarly adj
dress upon the narrowing influence of
Christianity it was, and there was ac-
corded the earnest attention of the
congregation.
The topic of the evening was, rs
Christianity a narrowing influenceT'
the text being john x:10, II am come
that they might have life, and that they
might have 1t more abundantly." Said
the able divine, in part
is Christianity a narrowing infiu-
ence? MOI Some ideas and interpre-
tatlons OF Christian truth may be; some
church influences may shrink the soul;
some Christians may have the shriv-
cling touch, but Jesus Christ, who is
his own religion, came with avowed
ana dlstinct purpose to deepen. inten-
sity, broaden, lengthen life, and to fill
1t full Of meaning and JOY.
Christianity. of course, has some
| negatives. There are some pruning
| processes. 1t cuts off sin, it cuts off
| mallce, 1t cuts off hatred, envy, licen-
tlousness; 1t cuts off the branches of life
that bear no fruit. The negatives of
Christianity are the limitations of lin
ltat1ons; the roofing out of weeds, the
cutting out of cancers, the prohibition
OF bonds and slavery, the wiping ont
OF boundary lines, the intolerance of
! antl-expansion, the forbiddal of mar
rowing influences.
Jesus invites men to receive. not TO
give up any of the good things Of life.
me fact is that the narrowest life is
the life of sin. Sin narroWs. binds with
thongs, and destroys the power to live.
The drunkard who once found a sur
fclent pleasure In one Intoxicating cup.
now finds his power to enjoy benumbed.
The licentious fellow who began wilh
lease Of love, lost the pure Joy, and
found at last fire than kindled dis
! ease. He is an exile from home 10y.
Pity the man who thinks that Chris
'ARAiIy 10 hrlIONs UGtduSc II cannot
go into sin and self-seeking interest.
As well condemn the battleship whose
deep draught cuts tine wave at its base.
because it cannot glida into the shall
low waters Of the bay. Christianity is
too big and great to sail in shallow
waters. Pity him who thinks that 60
ing into questionable pleasures widens
life or gives him liberty.
Most things in life are holy things
The path Of opportunity widens, as we
near the goal Of goodness.
There is more room for activity along
good lines than along the path of evil
The field Of goodness is immeasura-
bly, greater than the field of sin.
Christianity instead of leading into a
narrow inlet, leads lis out on to the
wide sea of opportunity and power In
stead of putting up the bars of ten
acre lot, it let's us out into the forest
and field Of culture.
Sin is never satisfying long. Few
men want to see sin glorified in art.
No work Of art can be immortal I'M
less it portrays a noble and pure idea.
Sin won't sing Sin IS discord, and evil
makes noise but never music. The fact
is that the unchristian, pleasure-dom-
mated self-seeking life always has
been the narrowed, depressed life.
The Christian life is imperialistic. and
extends its sovereignty over the most
distant islands in a mans soul.