The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-25

Rev. w. &. TaylOr's Evening Sermon
ON "Captive ThOughts.o

Rev. w. c. Taylor, pastor of the Col
lege-avenue Baptist Church, preached to a
large congregation last night on the SUBJ
ject of Captive Thoughts" He said in
part: mo sooner is a young soul mustered
into this human existence than all the bat
teries of the pit are turned upon ii. Every
grace of the heart, every talent of mind,
every affection, purpose and desire, every
hope, joy or possible delight is marked as a
target for the fire of the enemy of our i'm
mortality and peace. Happy is the soul that
realizes this fact in time to rally all its
powers and brace all its strength against
them. The author of our text had come
to that hour. He was aware of an enemy
and sharper strategy was never displayed
than is here seen in the measures taken to
secure salvation against his forces. He
brings himself into permanence of strength
by bringing his thoughts into captivity to
Christ.
"A thought is a very small thing. Insig-
n%ificant. we may, say. We seldom notice
how they come nor whittier they tend. Yet
they are the beginning of all moral and
spiritual life: they are our character build
ers. As a man thinketh in his heart so
is he How important that early in life
our thoughts may be in captivity to Christ
and reflect His wishes and love.
"Our thoughts are our monitors; they
guide us on to what we are yet to be. At
first they are like the sane that slips
through the fingers of a little child; at last
they become a chain, from which no one
in his own strength can break away. How
important then that over these elusive
powers there should be a Master and a
King. Search me, o God, and know my
heart, try me and know my ways, and see
if there be any wicked way in me, and
lead me in the way everlasting
so the results of our thoughts are
eternal. Mental science teaches that under
proper conditions every impression ever
words thou shalt be justified and by thy
words shalt thou be condemned No
thought is ever lost. Whether expressed in
the enduring marble, painted on the glow
ing canvas, printed on the written page or
spoken into the listening ear, II registers
itself in an influence that no man can re-
call or determine.
Criminals often trace the beginning of
their downward career to the reading of
some unfortunate tale OF ~wrong-doing
which thrilled them with the spirit of adj
venture, and the consuming thought led
them into the path which ended on the
gallows. On the other hand all our great
human enterprises can be traced back to
the single thought of some noble soul.
w may all become great by thinking
some pure, lofty, holy thought, lifting 1t
up into life and making it shine before
men, till wickedness trembies. penitence
fills mems souls. love, faith and hope take
life ignorance begins TO see, grief TO
smile and the soul of men enslaved in sin
feel the freedom of being like God. Some
are enslaved until they cannot think pure
thoughts, but we can bring the needed
help. Unto Him that is able to do exceed
ing abundantly above all that we can ask
or think How much can a man think?
Fake him when he has been wronged, in
some hour of deep dependency or when
his soul is full of hope and life. how much
then can he ask or Think. Above all that
God is able to do exceeding abundantly
for u.s. Our thoughts are captive to Je-
suS whenever we surrender them to Him.
There are pure, cody men to-day all
around the world who can testify TO His
power to keep them. Il will take away the
stony heart and give you an heart of flesh,
and / will put my spirit within you and
we shall keep my statutes to do Them"