Arizona republican., 1899-09-04
THE CHURCH OF GOD
SYnopris of Rev. Dr. HaIsey's Sun 7
 day Morning Sermon.

At the Baptist church on Sunday
 morning Rev. Lewis Halsey preached from First Timothy, iii, 15: The
 church of the living Gcd. the pillar and ground of the truth" He said in
 part: T will endeavor to give this morning some reasons why we should honor, defend, build up the church uf Christ. First we should cherish it because it is Christ's church. Every
 American who wants to enlist in the
 navy would like to be a sailor cn Dew ey's flagship. Christ said: On this rock Cof confession) I will build my church Where two or three are as sembled in my name there am l. The
 name church comes from the Greek
 word meaning of the Lord. In the
 church we meet Christ and those who are like Christ The bible tells us that
 @he church is H'the pillar and ground
 of truth" You can strengthen CT
 weaken that pillar. The church is to
 judge the world. Christ is the head of
 the body, the church. The church Is
 represented as the bride Of Christ.
 We should love the church because Of
 it's origin, it's honors and it's authority.
 S1OuIu
 Of it's glorious work. It has carried the gospel to the nations living in dark ness. It brightens the lives of all who
 come under it's influence. It fights
 to the death slavery and licen-
 tiousness. If the saloon ever dies the
 church will kill it. It is the bulwark
 of society against every moral evil J. gives a rest day to the labOring man,
 and says to the rich man: You are ycur brothers keeper It teaches par ents to be faithful, children to he obe- dient. citizens to deal justly and love
 mercy. It cones with blessing to the hcma, the social circle and the state.
 Again, we should cherish the church because it satisfies the needs of the soul. Too often men feed to thelr souls the husks of sensual pleasure The soul needs heavenly fCOd-needs place for rest and refresiment. As an Arizona flower garGon under ore or our grand canals, will soon become a desolate waste if the water is not turned in upon it, so our souls will De- come desolate unless they are revived by the water Of life. The ancients had o legend that men became like the an ir1als they loved Men today become miserable as they become mlserly; ] and more sensual and daVillsh as they ! love that which is sensual
 -Four thly, why should you wish to i unite with the church?
 Because ,xcu may thus show love i to Christ, it's founder. Because God | says: Come out from among them | and be ye separated Because only | thus can you ob.ay Christ's command: | This do in remembrance of me- as you i observe the ordinance which He left in 7 charge of his church. Have you Obeyed : that command? There are many eX- cuses for net joining the church What is any excuse worth which rises | in opposition to the law of God? T am not good enough No one said f that YOU were The church has un- worthy members Yes, Judas was one of the twelve; and as you are so good, l the church needs you the more. can be as good a Christian out of the church as in it. What, and disobey { Christ's command to be baptized? Being a good man does net make you a Christian or an American. l want | to be free In the church you are fre2 to do everything which will be for tho good of man and the glory cf Goa. I want to drink, to dance, to play cards. VIII you let these lnIuSo 0loIl" between you and your duty to your God? Things innocent in themselves, become evil when they prevent us from Obeying Gods commands. Have, you obey9d His commands? This do i'll remembrance of Me?' If not, why not?
 These who begin by neglecting the church often end by consciously or lnconscicusly hating the church.
 : No criminal felt the halter draw,
 But with a bathing of the law
 'Is your example as far as the church is concerned what you believe it ought to be? May you net be block to some loved one? Are you not adding to the burden of some who are serving Christ? Is your fife a vC:-e against the church, or for t? Why net say with King David. I vas glad when they said unto me, Let IS go into the house of the Lord? :? Is t not duty you eve to God, your leighbor and yourself, to uphold, de- tend and upbuild the church of Christi"