The Newtown bee., 1900-07-13

was a dependence truly sublime. "God
must do 7" Not In Peters eloquence,
nor in mems wealth, nor in the might of
numbers was their trust. God must
come down to them, not they up to God.
They were weak but He omnipotent. 1t
is easier for Him in His Spirit to descend
through the infinitudes of endless space,
than for man to climb cubit. One OF
Gods bacteria prostrates world EN-.
peror; child filed with Gods grace
converts that same empire. Wonderful
mplicity-wisdom not Of men but OF
God-at that hour not to 60 forward but
to wait-to wait expectant, ready, and
then comes the Spirit of the living God,
the spirit that dwells wherever man
lives, the spirit of all eternity, the spirit
of the Infinite-the supreme power of a
loving God taking possession of the soul
of man. That spirit makes Peter
eloquent to the conversion of 5000 right
there. That spirit inflamed all hearts
with the courage of a sublime trust and
ministering love that feared no cross.
That spirit gave vigor to the thought of
Paul that stands the test of the worlds
best brain. Verify there was day of
the coming of the kingdom. Unseen, in
calculable are the ways of the Almighty,
but given an obedient servant, as ire
sistible as the overwhelming tides. For
a century, men plan and think and strive,
but then some man waiting is empowered
by tine Spirit Of God and through his
obedience the kingdom comes as thous-
and years.
We are to probe deeper than what men
see. "The kingdom of God cometh not
with observation" 1t is not perceived
by those who say ''Lo here! or There"
Notice for moment the occasion Of His
utterance. This reply Of the Master,
directed to the Pharisees in answer to
their question, is a reprimand to their
dullness of mind which was looking afar
off for the day of the Messiah, when He
was indeed speaking to them; the king.
dom, unseen by them, was truly in their
midst. His thought would apply to any
pessimist who cannot see the presence Of
God in the hopeful conditions of his own
time and place but persists In saying
To-day is He'll; tomorrow, elsewhere
is the Golden Age" Much the same
thought is taken up in Matthew "a,
where reference is made more especially
to the destruction OF Jerusalem, which
also would furnish spiritual crisis to
be followed by the coming of the Son of
Man. The warning is sharply against
those who would lead them astray, say
ing II am prophet" or sthe Christi"
Not so-''watch, be faithful over your
trust, be in my spirit, pray; for ye know
not the day nor the hour" So are we
enjoined to be watchful for His coming
among us day by day to better life; to
be found faithful when He comes per-
sonally at any hour.
When In connection with the thought
OF the text we ask the question, SHOW
shall the kingdom of God be built up in
the world2n the two methods of our in
PRODUCTION appear. Shall it be by cul-
tivation Of the arts and sciences, by
increasing education and power to pro-
duce wealth, by the multiplication Of
churches and benevolent institutions
These are the fruits Of self culture and
success, Of intelligence, and in some
measure OF the Gospel, too. Or shall
MAIN RELIANCE BE PLACED ON THE UP
WARD LOOK IN FAITH
for His guidance and Inspiration, q re-
generating power coming into the hearts
Of men, a being born again by the spirit
Of God.
In measure this ID to contrast civil
izAtion and religion. Such questions as
these arise and require answer: fare
civilization and religion distinctP Are
We then to disregard civilization and seek
for religion simply, or il the spirit OF |
Gods kingdom to be brought into civil
zation9 Are our institutions Christian |
and do they tend toward justice, frater-
1ity, peace, equality, humility reverence? |
How then are we to hasten the coming
II the kingdom-by law, by education,
~ the press, by art; or Ia the life to
'ome down from above, and are We IS
Individuals who will make our nation
,hristian, waiting IN faith TO be empow-
rid from on highs"
W. ~ not wrong, think, II being |
'Eati1ed ~ - enlarged prosperity ind !