El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-02-15
FIRST METHODIST CHURCH.

FIRST METHODIST CHURCH.
Sermon BY Rev. Mr.. Hyde of Ala
mogordo.
Rev. A. A. Hyde, pastor of the Me-
thodist Episcopal church at Alamo
gOrdo, preached Sunday evening 1T The
First M. E. church of this place The
following 10 the text and part OF the
discourse
Text: John 3:7 "Ye must be horn
again"
The proofs that sin is in the world
ing heart testify that Indifference an d
GOODNESS and cruelty exist where
sympathy and love ought to abound.
Courts, prisons, asylums all unite In
giving evidence that this is not an
ideal world. When we look into our
own hearts and lives we are startled
for we see there, what the world does
not see, that even when we have sue
ceeded in living fairly good life 1t
has been by great effort. "When we
would do good evil is present with u.s."
why this conflict? why must we be
born again?
first. Because of the nature of the
first birth: the law of heredity. IN the
individual is conferred the life 1nt1uen-
ces of both his father and mOther-all
their thoughts and purposes, their af-
fections, and passions have combined to
form the new life. He suffers from
their weaknesses and is blessed by
their virtues. His parents before him
had flowing into their lives the infuen-
ces of their four parents, each of them
having had father and mother, and
carrying back the count twenty five
generations it is apparent that in that
. har IrtU mi l..
lions of human beings. Every life Of
that vast number has had some in
influence on the life one now
lives. The whole race is affected, all
human blood is taint ed by its heredity.
The little springs flow down carrying
some impurities into the stream they
form. We must be born again because
of the character of the first birth.
Second: We need to be born again
because of environment. Evil infuen-
ces are all about Us com blning with the
inclination to sin that is born in us.
The eyes are looking out upon sinful
deeds; the ears are open to evil words;
the example of those about us is hard
to resist. The winds are blowing into
the stream of our life so much of dust
and dirt and filth that it is not surpris-
ing if the life becomes contaminated
and needs new birth.
Third: The perverse choosing of the
soul has been such that
new birth is absolutely
essential. Notwithstanding the nature
is depraved one might fight the evil
nature and bring under subsection his
spirit, one might resist the evil in
fuences coming from those about him.
The fact is we have not always done so.
The constant tendency of the stream
is toward clearing itself except when
it cuts under the bank compelling the
earth to cave into it's bosom. So with
the human soul it is always striving
against sin, trying to become pure, eX-
cept at the time of perverse choosing.
This ought to alarm US more than all
else. There are many persons always
about US. Only those whom we choose
as our friends enter much into our
lives. The friendships we have form |
ed affect US greatly: he habits more.
We are of the earth earthly, by our |
first birth. Although many of US have /
reason to rejoice that father and moth |
er lived pure lives yet they were faulty. |
We have born into our make up much |
that Is evil-nOw we need the heavenly |
birth. Great blessings have come to |
us from the love of earthly parents;
the love of our heavenly father is
stronger-his blessings are greater. So
q Christ life lived by any man or wo-
man is more powerful than the
The iniquities of the fathers are visit |
ed on their children only unto the
third or fourth generation for the |
stream is always trying to become |
clear, the sediment is being deposited |
and left behind. while the righteous :
life flows on and on to thousands of |
them that love God and keep his COM
msndments.
The first birth has brought sorrow |
and signing. The second birth brings |
purity aud peace. Tears here, there |
God wipes away all tears. Trial here, |
triumph there. If we are born again |
some day we shall be like his other |
son, the perfect One, for we shall see
him as he ia