The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-30
Interesting Discourse at the First
Methodist Church.
TEXT FROM REVELATIONS
IMPORTANCE OF FINAL WORDS
OF GODS MESSAGE.
"And the Spirit and the Bride Say
Come, and Let Him That Is
Athirst Come, and Whosoever
Will, Let Him Take of the Water
of Life Freely"

Rev. Henry of the First NJ e. church
spoke on '@The Salvation of Man" last
evening, before large congregation. He
chose for his text Rev. xxi. II.
And the spirit and the bride say come,
| and let him that heareth say come; and
let him that is athirst come. And whose
ever will let him take of the water Of life
freely"
In the course of his remarks the speak
er said: These words are found on the
last page Of the last chapter of the last
book of Gods written message to men.
They are the conclusion of ali that has
| gone before. They explain the purpose of
all that has preceded. And in turn their
| urgency and Importance gather force from
| the considerations, facts and arguments
| that have already been set forth.
| Let US cast an eye backward over the
pages of this volume in search of what it
contains to give force to the gospel invi-
| tation. God in the world is the author
| of all things. He is the supreme ruler,
the lawgiver and the judge, yet of in
finite kindness and tender mercy. Creation
| is the object of his care.
When We come to man We see him en-
dowed with moral responsibilities, holding
his life in trust TO the great giver of
| life. He is living in a reign of law, and is
accountable according to his light and
| to the very limit of his knowledge. We
see him, through his disobedience, alien
ated from God and in bondage to sin.
The long record of mans doings is dark
because of mis- guilty disobedience
AGAIN. we see plan OF SaIva 4bn s Pe
| respects mans power of choice-the in
sigma of his manhood-that does not
make it impossible for him to sin. But
that arrays against his shining conscience
and reason. gratitude. self-interest, the
love of happiness and all the noblest pow
ers of the mind and soul.
This plan does not rob sin of its conse-
Quences, but reveals those consequences
SO clearly that in themselves they must
call the sinner to halt and think;
In this plan certain considerations and
influences are brought to bear upon the
power of choice" that although leaving
it free, while leaving man the arbiter OF
his own destiny, are yet calculated 10
direct his return to righteousness and
obedience.
What are some of these considerations?
The value of the soul; the superiority of
spiritual to sensual enjoyments; the re-
lationShip of time to eternity; the pro-
gressiveness of character: the barrier at
the door of eternal life; Punishment from
God; the divine love and tenderness.
These considerations were all brought
to a focus in the character. teaching and
career of Christ. He showed relationship
between sorrow and sin. He revealed the
beauty of q life of obedience. His death
upon the cross is an illustration of in
eXoraole character of law, but also of the
infinitude OF divine mercy. His resurrec-
ton confirmed mans hopes Of immor-
tally.
His last message to his deciples was that
the SOOU news SHOuiu De DuUllSilEu 10
every nation and announced to every in
diVidual.
A fountain is opened in the house of
Israel, and the invitation to come and
drink and live is for all people, as shown
in the words of my text l am ready to
grant that salvation is illogical. IneXora-
bic logic would argue that the debtor
must pay his obligation; that the spend
thrift must come to irretrievable ruin;
that the guilty must incur punishment.
Salvation is as illogical as love You can
hat hot
bear. what sacrifices it will make. what
it will forgive or how often it will for
give. A mothers love or a fathers love
will welcome the prodigal son, and saliva
ton is Gods love. Not sentimental, blind
or foolishly indulgent but a love that
offers help without reserve; that forgives
when forgiveness will help a life TO re-
deem its own ruin.
Reason has its part to play, and if con-
suited will teach that to seek God with
the expectation of finding him is not alb
surd. Although this is true, the invita-
ton given to man through Jesus Christ
is directed not 10 the intellectual nature,
but to the heart. Salvation is not a prob
lem to be solved. but a gift to be accept
ed. The needs of the heart are terribly
real. 1t is not satisfied with food and
drink, warmth and light, wealth and
power, knowledge and accomplishment
but the rich man, the scholar, the poor
man and the illiterate. are brothers in
their deepest need. There is a hunger
and thirst peculiar to the soul that moth
ing earthly can satisfy. To this need of
the heart the glorious invitation is adj
dressed, even as bread to the hungry, as
water to the thirsty.
Christs invitation is full and free. 1t
is given in knowledge of your need. Sin
ana guilt should keep you back no more
than the fact of thirst should keep you
back from the cooling spring. The gospel
of Christ is adequate to supply your need
VIII you accept the gracious invitation?
The spirit and the bride say come; and
let him that heareth say come: and let
him that is athirst come, and whatsoever
will let him come and take the water of
life freely