Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-13
TWO ABLE SERMONS
Bishop A. NJ. Wilson, and Rev.
Tom Dixon, Jr.
The Learned PreIato or tho Nj. f..
church, south, Prenched at Ep.
worth on ''Christ md Him Crucia.
ed'- Rev. Dixon Disoour.ed on
'the Larger church.

IL
day night a large congregation heard a
powerful discourse from Bishop AL
pheus w. Wilson. D. D.. LII. D., on the
Character of the Apostle Paurs preach
Ing taking as his theme
CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED.
The Bishop read by way of an intro
duotory to his sermon the 18th chapter
Oh the book of Acts. and then selected
his text from LIST Corinthians, I'd chap
ter. LIST to the 5th verse, inclusive.
After referring to the great apostles
travels. which included his visit to the
city of Athens, one of the proudest
cities in all the East, whose people,
though the most learned and cultured
of any with whom he had come in con-
tact, who were known for their idola-
trous worship where he had TO meet
with the vast body of Greek literature
anu with people who were ready to
controvert every question and were
always seeking for new things. After
llniShlnS his ministry there he went to
Corinth, another proud and populous
city, Very much like Athens, though not
So much cultured in the Greek element
and power. but deeper in corruption,
ana had suffered much decadence of
Greek life and in art Here was where
III,
and where false apostles had tried to
confound him by their sophistry and
wicked devices, but his strength was
not in himself but in Christ. He SAYS:
L came not with eXcellency of speech
or of wisdom declaring unto you the
testimony OF God. l was with you in
weakness and in fear and in much
trembling and nay speech and my
preaching was not with cnticing words
or mans wisdom. but in the demonstra-
~ t,A .s,-tA
your faith should not stand in the wis
dom of men, but in the power of God"
Paurs preaching consisted in the re-
cltaI of testimonies or truths as found
IN the Scriptures of the Old Testiment
These were brought forward and their
application to Christ and their fulfill
ment In Him and by Him were simply
declared.
Paul, although learned in all the
wisdom of Greece and Rome and al
though in the presence of these cuI-
tured people, who had their own fixed
views OF religion was not careful about
his rhetoric. philosophy or oratory, be-
cause these to him were not the means
Oh spiritual power and success.
Paul knew that wisdom of words
could not exercise the truth with such
power as souls dead in trespasses and
sin demand
Indeed. If wisdom of words could
add anything In the way of saving en-
ergy to the word of Gods grace. then
would 1t be settled that the divine
word like musical instrument. would
nave given forth better or worse
sounds. according to the skill of the
performer.
This is not so with the true minister
or the gospel. He strikes the key of
Rospel truth and-Eraca and disdaininp
all the artistic rules of fastidious taste.
he thuncers forth the truth from Sinai
leaving the issue to Gods holy spirit
Paurs theme throughout all his
preaching was Christ crucified. Before
me preaching of the cross. all stained
with the blood of Christ superstition.
idolatry and systems Of false religion.
venerable in years and powerful in pa
tronage, fell like morning mists before
the orb of day.
1T was this character of Paurs
preaching that brought forth fruit
wherever he went This was the effect
or preaching Christ then and has been
ever since.
Our preaching must be done upon
the simple basis of faith, faith In the
word. faith because it is the word of
the Lord that endureth forever. Our
falth must not be in tho logical argu-
ments used, not in the captivating
style. not in eXcellency of speech. or of
wisdom. but in the great doctrines of
the cross. If we catch the proper in
spiration of this doctrine, like Paul. we
Will restlessly strive to make Christ
known TO all men.
Like Paul. we must plant ourselves
on the truth of Gods revelation. and
demand belief in it and conformity of
life to 1t. BY his preaching the cross
undraped and rugged stood out naked.
the center and soul of the gospel and
the only hope of sinners
The aggregated thought of this
world pales before eternity and its
foundations will not stand the thunders
and lightnings of Gods judgment day,
and the grave to you will be a dark and
a dismal abode, with no light of gospel
truth to radiate its gloomy confines"