The evening times., 1899-09-04
GROWING IN GRACE.
Rev. Wilson T.. Donaldson nt the
Gunton Temple Church


Rev. Wilson E. Donaldson. of Toledo,
Ohio, preached in Gunton Temple Memorial
Presbyterian Church yesterday on the sub
ject, Growing in Grace" from the text
II Peter, is: For if these things be
in you, and abound, they make you that
ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful
in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ"
He said in part:
The ministry of today often find it i'm
portant TO preach especially TO the Chris
tian people in order to encourage and stim-
ulate them. Peters message was evidently
not 10 the worldly, but TO the Christian.
for he speaks TO them that have obtained
like precious faith with us. through the
righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus
Christ He spoke 10 them for the pur-
pose OF developing, training, and educating
them.
In Peters day new university was es-
tabhshed-one in which ii was proposed TO
give the most thorough training. lis
founder was not generally known as an in
struetOr Its pupils were not gathered as
the result of the record the institution had
made. but by the direct solicitation of its
founder and teacher. personal acquain1-
ance introduced the Great Teacher to
little company one day. Two of them came
10 see him the next day. They spent an
hour with him, and were so greatly pleased
by that first lesson that one of them hast
ened to bring his brother so that he might
enjoy the advantages of such instruction.
One has said that the second brother was "a
diamond in the rough Is it not true?
He was self-willed, headstrong, impuisive,
and addicted to profanity. These charac-
teristics were seen very prominently in the
early part of Peters life. But his associa-
tion with the Great Teacher and the train
ing he received from the head OF that uni
versity was such as to chip off many of the
rough places, grind many of the imperfect,
irregular lines, and polish the surfaces until
there was a resplendence that justified one
in speaking of him as diamond. II is
eminently fitting that one who had been
so greatly benefited in a university should
tell others what that institution had done
for him. Peter explained to those who en-
tered the university its purposes, its course
of study and the application of its teach
ings He told them that, by men learning
TO know God, they might be partakers of
his divine nature. And also that the cor
ruptions incident to this present world
might be overcome.
Peter spoke of the course of study
along which the master had led him.
Therefore he spoke with confidence. He
spoke from experience. There were sew
eral points to which he called attention
in the verses preceding the text, Giving
all diligence Man must be diligent if
he would be successful. He spoke of
faith Diligence is an evidence OF faith
But faith is also illustrated by man
being earnest and persistent. If work is
worthy of being done at all it should be
well DONE Add to your faith virtue.
From virtus, or the root, vir, meaning
"a true man. There must be in him man
illness if he accomplish anything. Then
Peter said there must be knowledge
Peter remembered the day when his Zeal
prompted him to build three tabernacies
at time when he did not understand the
appearance of Moses and Elias with Jesus.
And again when his zeal prompted him to
cut off the ear of Maichus, but Jesus turned
and commanded him to put UP his sword.
There must be a careful study of the truth
in order that zeal may be guided by knowl-
edge. The next study was concerning
'emperance.' l am quite sure that the
word is used in this connection In much
broader sense than in popular speech of
the present time. 1t includes more
than reference to intoxicants. Burrell
speaks of it as suggesting tight rein
on ambition for wealth, pleasure, or
| worldly emolument.'
THE next study in the course was pa
| tience' Christ was the most patient of
men. He bore the burdens, Affections, and
| sufferings of others. Christians of today
should have the same spirit Christ had.
| The next study in the course was 'godli-
| ness Christianity is more than a profess
| sion of faith in Christ. 1t is a constant
witnessing for him. And walking with
our hand in his hand. The next study
| was 'brotherly Kindness There must be
Christian love binding together those
who are following the one Saviour. and
whe believe in the one Lord. BY this we
know that We are his il We love the breth-
| rem The Bible tells US that the greatest
| of the Christian graces is charity. SO
| charity is the last in the course named
| by Peter. There is a certain amount OF
| music in a single tone, the addition OF
| tones in perfect harmony, part being added
to part, gives sweeter music. The martial
| music of the day is an inspiration to SOL
/ diers on the march, and they forget their
weariness. Heavenly notes, sung by those
whose hearts are filled with love of the
| beautiful and through this are led toward