Delaware gazette and state journal., 1899-11-23
LUTHER AND THE REFORMATION.
An Interesting sermon by the kes' A'eAA"
der \. Bowser.


of his moral and religious conylctions'
topetherwith his indomitable will MS
immense vital energy, and ms mar.
yelous ability to stand alone ior Whae
he believed TO be right II ever wo
can trace the influence of Divine. Irovi-
dence In human affairs, 1T may be seen
here in the birth, education and char-
meter az this son OF German STATE
cutter. Not that his character was
without fault. God makes use OF
human agents in the development Of
tho race. in the evolution OF the soul,
who are not perfect in all respects
Thus Moses had grave defects; but ne
was chosen to deliver his people from
Egyptian slavery. David was man OF
wild impulses and cruel passions; and
vet that shepherd lad hccame the king
Of Israel, and WAS called u man after
Gods own heart. 1t was the over.
bearing, arrogant Paul, that persecuted
the Church Of Christ. who received tho
divine commission 10 preach the gospel
10 the Genties, and who is today the
leading teacher Of tho teachers Of the
Christian world With all their faults
such men may rightly be regarded as
nj oyjdential men-men raised M OF
N1Dtl duu 6DuONou Nloh eh' SP'' $3.50
power
OF welding. moulding, gathering, Welding,
banding.
The hearts Of thousands till they beat as one.
in tho great convictions and purposes
which vitalize and inspire their own
master-spirits. And If God ever sent
such a man into the world, ha sent
Martin Luther, having chosen him to
do tho greatest work in the Christian
| Church since the time when Saint
Paul gloried in the cross of Jesus Nor
can We yet forsee all the fai reaching
consequences, or predict the final results
of his movement in the development
Of Christian thought and work. It
was the beginning of a new epoch III
history, the commencement of a new
era in civilization. For modern science
and art may be said TO date from his
time. Even the Roman Catholic
1 Church, whose order he defied, and
from whose fellowship he was excum-
lnunica.ed as felon accursed OF God
and man, was benefited by his life,
since through his influence its priest
hood was purified and its policies
elevated. When be was born, Christen
dom had for many years been going
backward and downward; but at his
death the tide Of human affairs had
turned on its upward flow, and the
course OF civilization has moved
steadily forward ever since.
After many sad struggles and bittel
experiences, Luther discovered that
simple trust in the divine love, as re.
vealed by Jesus, filled his heart with
1.-THE peace Of God which passetf
understanding In his earnest desire
to share this priceless treasure witt
others, that they, too, might enter int
fellowship with the Christ and enjoy
this inward sense of peace and happi
ness, he began TO preach. wherever ht
had opportunity, the sublime doctiint
that the Heavenly Father was in init
mate personal relations with every on,
OF his human children; and that pen
ance, ceremony and sacraments wei,
not necessary in order to obtain divin,
forgiveness and the hope of salvation
Have faith in God, = he cried. "Trus
in the heavenly love, as revealed il
Christ That is all you have to do
all the gospel requires. ," And he urget
this principle Of justification by faith
In season and out of season, and will
such marvellous lower, with such Ero
found conviction and insight, that
great wave OF religious interest swep
over the land. 1t inspired all heart
with strange enthusiasm to feel tina
God was near to each of them an,
cared for every one of them persona "
that the Holy Spirit was actuall
round and about them, and woul,
make his home in the hearts of al
believing souls Again, as when Jesu
told the stories Ct the Prodigal Son an,
the Good Samaritan, the commo
people listened gladly to the good new
of the gospel, and felt once more tina
the kingdom of God was in their midst
that nature and human life glowe
: with the divine presence. Once MOI
the heart Of man became conscious q
personal communion with God; and il
this conviction, in this faith, lay tn
spiritual power Of Luthers work.
The principle of Professionalism, how
ever, was not allowed full course Thi
great leader of men had his linita
tions Moreover. he either could nc
or would not admit this fact. Beyon
the advance of his own thought he wa
unwilling to let his movement 20
! "Uhus far, and no farther" was write
all over the teachings and practic
OF the new church. Hence the Spiri
of Progress was checked. Wisely SC
perhaps. ''The fulness of tho time,
for absolute spiritual f,cedom, wa
! not yet come. Nor has it arrived eve
now, though the watchmen on the wal
OF religious observation may behol
the glow of its risirg sun.
Then, too, the PIotestants loft benin
much of truth which belongs to th
church universal. There is a power i
Catholicism that the Protestant churc
should assImilate. Its appeal to III
: right Of private judgment in religion
thought could well be moro closel
united with the Catholic method {
discipline and organization. 1t shoul
! ser that the training Of the child
vastly moro essential to growth of chal
, acter and spiritual development, tha
! tho conversion OF its soul in matui
! years. That to be born of spiritual
minded parents has more influence @
the child's destiny, here,and hereafte
I than to be born again through I'll
! regenerating influences of % revival ,
! religion. That the conviction of Ii
! souls filial relationship to God, an
= It's obligation to live in way worth
! OF oui divine origin and eternal DR.,
9 gress, gives an immensely higher mott,
' foi q life of purity and truth an
9 devotion to duty, than the idea OF
supernatural regeneration whereby 70
are adopted into the family of Coz
y very much as a man Of foreign birt
u becomes a naturalized citizen of tf
State. That the law of love is MOI
powerful influence than the law {
fear; and TO belong to the church frol