The record-union., 1899-03-27
Sermon to
Young People.

young people were audeu 10 lhe eaiui ~
by the rite Of confirmation. The Lutn-
Grams believe In we'll instructing their
members in the truths of the Blple De
fore admitting them to the cnurcn-
The church was beautifully and taste
fully decorated with palms, potreo
plants and flowers, and the choir rem
dered several excellent selections of
church music. Miss Frances Bauer
also sang a soprano solo, ON the
Cross" by Meyerbeer. Every available
space in the church was occupied, ana
the congregation listened attentively TO
the pastors impressive sermon
In the evening Mr.. Oehler again
preached to a large congregation In
the English language. especially to
young Christians, ON Ps. 70, 90 the
subject being, God Our Teacher" He
said:
A company of three friends, men OF
high social standing and of great
achievements We're speaking about the
greatest day in their life. 'The great
est day of my life," said the first, a
warrior and General, was when gain
ed that glorious victory over the en-
emy, putting to fight his army and
conquering his might stronghold. That
day is the greatest Of my life, for on
1t was crowned with honor and with
glory
THE greatest day of my life," said
the second, a banker and million
aire, was when my financial plans
We're carried out successfully; when my
specuia tions brought to me their first
and great returns. I consider lit the
greatest day of my life, for it was
then when I laid the foundation to my
immense riches" At last the third, a
statesman and pious Christian spake.
The greatest day of my life was" said
he, when I found my Lord and Sa-
vior; when the burden of my sins was
rolled away; when received the bless
ed assurance of heaven and eternal
life. I consider it the greatest day of
my life, for then the peace of God came
into my heart and I found the secret
of blessed life"
My dear friends, the greatest day of
your life was not when you laid the
foundation for any outward success,
but the day when you embraced the
Lord. your Savior and Redeemer; the
day when you forsook your sins and
found pardon in Him who died for you
on Calvary. My dear young friends,
did not your soul tremble with sacred
joy when, kneeling upon the steps of
the altar, your pastor laid his hand
upon you, invoking Gods grace and
blessing upon you? Did you not feel
that burning of your heart, which the
disciples felt as they walked to EN-
maus in the company of Jesus?
If henceforth you faithfully follow the
footsteps of your Savior, walking with
Him the way of life, this shall be the
happiest and greatest day of your Life;
but the sting of remorse and of
troubled conscience over a broken
promise will follow you, if henceforth
You become backslider and forsaking
your Savior, betray and sell Him to the
world for thirty pieces of silver. That
you may be guarded and preserved
from such a great calamity let me give
to you especially and also to all that
are present here tonight good advice
for Christian pilgrims.
Show me thy ways, o Lord. teach
me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy truth
and teach me, for Thou art the God of
my salvation; on Thee do wait all the
day."-Ps. 25, 40
We see, firstly. that we all need a
teacher. If a. baby were born with
the wisdom and knowledge of its father
perhaps there would be little need of
a teacher; but as it is, we are all born
In utter ignorance, and all that we
know now we have learned of our
teachers. But if this is true in secular
knowledge 1t is even more so in the
sOr< n hn CT IN, >f <-ix,
to each one Of us as we come into this
world. We are born in sin, and if left
alone we would be as wild and wicked
as the savage Of the South Sea Islands.
therefore, you may we'll thank your
God, that you were born in a Christian
country, of Christian parents, and that
you were taught the sacred truths of
the book of life and the way of saliva
tion
And let even the scofflng infldel admit
that all that is good in him he owes to
Christian teaching, and not to infidelity
s3ut do not think, dear friends, that you
now have learned all that you ought
to know. and that you are graduated
Christians. You will never graduate
in your Christian life until you rise
from earth to heaven; and henceforth
you Will be even more in need of spir-
1tual guidance and instruction, for your
temptations shall be greater and
stronger, because in these years you
enter from childhood into manhood and
womanhood, and from fathers house
dnto a wicked world of sin and dark
ness and deceit
This is a critical time in your Mfe
Statistics show that most Of those who
to-day are Christians commenced their
Christian life in their early youth. and
that the chances for conversion grow
fewer as man grows older. Experience
teaches that few backsliders, those who
have grown unfaithful to their Savior
and Indifferent as to their souls saliva
ton, come back to Christ. Let ms.
therefore, forewarn and forearm Won
against the enemies of your soul.
against evil counselors and teachers,
that would rob you of your Christian
faith and hope and throw your soul into
the same destruction that is awaiting
them.
Satan and his devilish deputies. the
fallen angels, the infidels, the enemies
of God and the slaves of the flesh. will
boldly teach you doctrines different
from the ones you have just learned
and professed. as contained in the word
of God. Seek ye first" they say, "the
world and its pleasures; enjoy your life
and satisfy the desires of the flesh,
and then, when you have enough, when
you are weary and tired of all this, you
may serve the Lord" How often do
we hear such foolish advice. 1t is the
devils snare and the poor souls that
are caught therein are most surely lost
forever. Christ says: Seek We first