The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-01-23

cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside
every weight, and the sin which doth
so easily beset us, and let us run with
patience the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and
finisher of our faith
The author of our text has taken his
illustration from the Olympic games,
especially the races.
The Stadium was surrounded by ele-
waited seats upon which 100000 wit
nesses could be seated The contestant
prepared himself by many months of
careful training. Upon entering the
race course every hindrance was laid
aside and with the most intense
earnestness, his eye fixed only upon
the goal, the race was run. Friends
Iapplauded, enemies missed. but with de-
termination TO win the race the sue
cessful runner could not be hindered.
The Christians stadium is the
church, the called out" In the great
cloud of witnesses are several classes
of persons. The world looks on; moral
men, with Indifference, open enemies
with scOffings, abuse and evil prOph-
estes; friends and relatives, with pro-
tests and discouragementS. The saints
are the most interested witnesses.
They are the noblest and the best men
among scientists, philosophers, states
men and all the professions and trades.
| Not only those who are in the body,
| but the departed, on the higher seats
| of the spirit world, with cohorts of
| angels, anXiOuSly watch and willing
encourage and aid the runners.
Many of you who hear me today,
| have entered or are entering the race.
| If you win the prize there are many
| things to be laid aside. Two classes
are mentioned, sins and weights. Some
| things are not wrong in themselves,
| but may become weights that hinder
and must then be laid aside. In the
| previous chapter Moses was mentioned
among the crown winners. He refused
| riches, honor, royalty and worldly
| power. They were not sins, but they
would have hindered him. To some
wealth is an aSsistance-tO all if prop
erly used-to others it is a crushing
weight and must be given up though
| it be dear as an eye or a hand
| Some are hindared by cares and sOr-
| rows. They will come to us all while
there are tears to shed and graves to
of his, but he did not allow them to
hinder him; he rather made them a
cause of rejoicing. But now We also
put off all these: anger, wrath, malice
blasphemy, filthy communication out
of your mouth" My brother look al
that bundle of sins and see if you are
not trying to lug some of them along
| with you. Cast them aside or you viii
lose the race and forfeit the crown.
There are some persons names or
the roll of every church who claim tC
be successfully running the Christian
trace, yet they are angry, wrathful, ma
licious and sometimes blasphemOus
They will be dreadfuIy and eternal!
: disappointed when the Judge award.
the prizes.
Again the Director Of the stadium
says: lay aside all malice. and al
guile, and hypocrises and envies anC
all evil speaking" Evil speaking
killed Jesus Christ and it is one Of tn
most deadly influences among thos'
that run in the Christian race today
1t differs from other sins in that /
often kills both the sinner and tn.
sinned against.
The sin which doth so easily beset'
is undoubtedly the sin Of unbelief. H.
who fosters it will drop out Of the ract
in sham and disgrace Are you troubled
with it, my friend? Be afraid Of it, la!
it aside. Do not say you can't. Il ma!
require an effort, a great effort, but yol
can afford the cost.
Looking unto Jesus" Stop lookin: