The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-08
THE BLESSINGS OF BAPTISM.
DIR. Clnyton's Discourse mt the Second
BAPTIST Church.

Rev. Benjamin Clayton, at the mornir g
services yesterday at the Second Bdptis I
Church. Fourth Street and Virginia Ave
nue. southeast. founded his sermon on He
brews xii:i: ''Ye have not resisted unto
blood. striving against SIM" He discussed
at length the blessings which mankind re-
ceives through baptism, the strength gained
thereby to resist sin, and TO lead life
which Is pleasing to God and man alike
He said that every man who is not resist
ing sin unto blood, is resisting his own sal
walton. is resisting righteousness; indeed,
is resisting God himself. There are lev
that have the strength TO resist and conse-
quently those who are saved will be select
and few in numbers. But with the help Of
the living Christ man will conquer sin, and
50 the will Of the Almighty God viii be su-
preme. No man has any right TO say that
he cannot resist sin. We have tremendous
powers of resistance. There is no ienpta-
tion that man cannot resist with the he'p OF
God We want to make sure and keep our
eyes open TO sin, and when we feel It's
temptation, hear its voice. resist ii unto
blood, even though il he death itself. God
has sent his son to redeem us from sin, a1d
his holy ghost to strengthen Us TO resist IL
But the devil has an advantage. There 10
evil. and when the devil tempts Us we are
more than likely to grant him a hearing.
But there are men and women in this world
who have walked with God all their lives,
and who are good, who are victorious over
the devil. and who resist sin. Their hearts
are always aglow with happiness and joy,
knowing that they are pleasing to God.
knowing that they are saved GCd has LETT
a message to this world, which is en-
phatic. positive and undeniaoie; Thy
sins are forgiven, go and sin no more, and
God also gave us strength TO sin no more.
Look at those men of the Bible WHO have
conquered sin, why cannot you also do as
they die?
Further on in his sermon DIR. CLAYTON
said: II cannot imagine how any mar can
look upon sin in sport and Jest. | cannot
see how any man can have lost all sense OF
propriety and sobriety as to forget the
prayers of his dying mother not to sin any
more. IL man can afford to make sport
of sin. he comes under the condemnation
Of Cod
'The Bible speaks the truth when ii
says sin is pleasure but it speaks
greater truth when 1t says. sin is pleasure
only for season. The Bible also says
He that endureth shall be saved.
Mr. Moody. when he was twenty years
old. declared that he would resist tempta-
ton until forty; after he had resisted sin
twenty years and conquered it. the devil
would have no power against him: but
when Mr.. Moody was forty years old he
said he had a thousand times more tempta-
lions than when he was twenty. OF course.
IL we only half try. We fail. We must
give our whole soul to God and we must
succeed and conquer God Is never &c
blame when We sin. Let no man. when he
is tempted say that he is tempted by God.
God desires our salvation and E,s given
us power to resist the temptations of the
devil, and has sent his only Son to Sc
cure for us eternal salvation.