Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-31
THE CHURCHES SUNDAY
A Profound Discourse by Rev. Dr..
Stricken.
rhe Awful Fate Rcscrvcd for the Un-
Eodty md the simmer Eioqacntly
Portrayed Row. w. IL. Edwards.
ut Centenary.

Ne'. W. Is. STRICKEN, ID. D., or the
Union Theological Seminary. of Rich
mond, preached at the Second Presby-
terian Church Sunday morning and
night to deeply attentive and thought
full congregations.
at the evening service he delivered
a profoundly learned and impressive
discourse. founded on 1st Peter, 14:1S:
And if the Righteous Scarcely BE
Saved. where Shall the Ungodly and
Sinner Appear" He said:
THE righteous here spoken of are
true believers. the Lords people, all
who are saved. They are called 'righte-
GUS not because they are without sin.
NO such person merely human has ever
been known. Abraham was not such
person. though the father of the faith
iul; nor Moses. though most highly
honored of God as HIS law-glver: nor
.he prophets or apostles. Not Paul,
VINO SAID at the close OF his career:
Not as though l had already attained
either were already perfect This was
MS confession. though he had been
caught up TO the third heaven, and
thoush his attachments in grace were
probably the highest ever made. These
are called righteous for two reasons:
list. Because they seek after righte-
BUSINESS and live lives that are con-
formed in some degree to the law of
righteousness
I'd. Because they have the righ.e-
BUSINESS of Christ imputed to them,
which righteousness is perfect in quail
ity and infinite In degree
Ihey are invested with the. righte-
BUSINESS OF Christ. This righteousness
Is higher than that OF the highest an
gel: IL is Divine.
''nha aNpracein,
includes all unbelIevers; not simply the
gross and vicious. but the refined and
moral. even the blameless in conduct
who yet reject Christ. These two
classes include all humanity in all ages.
not only those who lived in the days
OF the Apostle. but ourselves as well.
The question is rhetorical 1t is not
asked 10 receive an answer, but to i'm
press mighty and solemn truth.
The righteous are scarcely saved
or saved with difficulty Let us en-
force this propositions:
list. Because OF the costly provision
made for saving men. In creation it
was not so. God called the universe
into existence by n word-'He spoke
and 1t was done II He could have
saved men by word He would have
done SO. Men do not pay great riches
Tor what can be purchased with
farthng. God would not give an in
finite price for what could have been
accomplished by His simple fiat. The
law involved the necessity of n ransom.
The law is the transcript of Gods char
acter. 1t is holy, just and good To
have ignored it would have been to
| Ignore His own projections. to deny
Himself. No being in the universe as
matters stood, could meet the require
ments of the case: not man, for his own
quit was upon him: not an angel. for
his own obligations demanded his best
service. his highest attainment Not
the Deity, for he was law-gIver and in
capable of suffering penalty. The in
carnation solved the problem. In the
Goldman was found infinite merit and
capacity to majesty and meek
ness. sovereignty and obedience
The incarnation OF Gods son was
the only answer to the question, How
shall God be just and the justifier OF
the ungody?'
I'D. The righteous are saved with
difficulty. because of the power needed
to apply redemption.
| Truth alone cannot bring a soul to
Christ. The gospel In all its simpli-
city and beauty Is inadequate to this
task. The most learned and eloquent
preacher is incapable of bringing n sin
gle soul into the Kingdom OF Grace
The apostles could notify their preach
ing; Jesus could not by the power OF
truth alone. The thousands who heard
| | -seorned- rr1ssTge and only
| iN dlStu du 10 receive His
| death. The Holy Ghost must come-the
Divine Dispenser of Spiritual Life.
| Christ said: If I go not away the
comforter will not come. When he is
come he will reprove the world of sin,
| of righteousness and of Judgment
F'rail man cannot do SO mighty a work
as give life TO a dead soul. He can
not give life to fallen leaf; not the
| simplest insect form. not a breathless
human body. How much less to
dead soul? The third person in the
adorable Trinity must produce a new
creation and work faith and repent
ancc unto salvation.
I'D. The righteous are saved with
| difficulty. because of the Astounding
grace that is needed to keep them in
condition of salvation. What for
bearance and long suffering is God
ever exercising toward His weak and
hayward children? See His dealings
with the Israclites. Hear their muir
murings against Him, their lustinr for
the ilesh-pots of Egypt, See their re-
bellion against His authority. their re-
lection of His counsel. Behold their
dolatry. The thunderinEs of Sinia
had scarcely ceased and the earth
| quaking beneath their feet before they
are bowling down before the image of Il
beast. He is brought To the verge of
giving them over to their own hearts
lust. when their leader intercedes that
God may yet bear with them. Their
history is but the portrayal of our own
| lives. Infinite patience and faithful
ness can alone preserve us unto His
eternal kingdom. Believers are Sc
cure. but only by sovereign grace, kept
by His power through faith unto saliva
ton.
II. where shall the ungodly and
sinner appear? Our reason and con-
science answer; no inspired answer is
needed. There will be two classes
one on the right, the other on the left.
To tina opa JJa will cav. .Co,,o -