The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-31
FILLED DIR. HARNESS PULPIT.
Sermon by Rev. j. Ross Stevenson, Of
Mccormick Seminary.

Mccormick Seminary.
Rev. ]. Ross Stevenson, who occupies the
chair of sacred history at the Mccormick
Seminary. Chicago, filled the pulpit at the
First Presbyterian Church yesterday morn
ing, preaching a sermon from the text
Matthew xvi, 26. For what is a man
profited IL he shall gain the whole world
and lose his own soul?' Mr.. Stevenson
said, in part:
"Jesus invites US all to engage in the
strenuous life of discipleship To encourage
us in cross-bearing He declares that who
soever shall save his life-make it his first
business to preserve his natural life and
worldly well-being-shall lose the higher,
eternal life. But whatsoever shall lose or
sacrifice the lower life, the life Of the flesh,
for Christ's sake, shall find the higher life
the true life of the soul. Accordingly,
something has to be lost. and the question
arises, in which case shall we gain the
most and lose the least? Does II pay to ex-
change the soul and its imperishable goods
for anything this world has to offer? BE
my disciple says Christ. for what is a
man profited If he gain the world and lose
his SOUL? The question is an argument in
itself. Any right-minded man or woman
should feel that no outward good can be
compared in value to having saved soul.
And yet the great ambition Of the multitude
is to be happy as animals, not to be blessed
as saved, noble-spirited, sanctified men.
Christ's question, old, yet ever new, de-
mands the candid consideration of every
one. especially during season such as
this, when we are closing up the affairs OF
another year.
1--WE have the world placed in the bal
ances over against the individual soul. 1t
must be admitted that this is q beautiful
world and any one would be glad to live
in 1t always, IL he could only keep young
and have what his heart wishes. According
to the estimate OF men nowadays wealth
Is the chief good and the synonym of power
and happiness. The most any one man can
accumulate doesn't outvalue his soul. But
to secure what you wish in this world is no
easy task. The Christian life is not the only
strenuous life. Self-denial is the funda-
mental condition OF success in every occu-
patton and pursuit. But even though you
get what you want, will it guarantee hap
piness? Seldom. for happiness is spiritual
mental state making one content with his
surroundings. and the best surroundings do
not always produce happiness because man
has a higher nature which cannot be con-
tent with things material Furthermore
death must be reckoned with when 1t comes
to estimating human possessions. There
are no pockets in shroud.' as Spanish
proverb puts IL.
that can be gained from ii the human soul
that immortal part OF us which enables us
10 think, move and act, and makes us the
subjects of moral government. This SOUL
with its triple endowment OF intellect, will
and affection, crowns man with glory and
honor. shows a sublime nature and a great
destiny. Though the image of God has been
defaced In man, though the human soul
with all its capabilities for good. has been
corrupted by sin, Christ has redeemed it
with His blood so that we are saved by
trusting Him. following Him. How precious
the soul of man must be when God gave HIS
only Son for its redemption: when Christ,
as the good shepherd. seeks through the
desert far and wide for single lost one.
Then think of that eternal life, begun
when we enlist as Christ's disciples and is
capable of boundless increase In the world
TO come Surely any in his senses
should conclude that the loss OF his soul,
| the forfeiture OF eternal life. is too high a
price to pay for the best this world can
! give. It may be asked: Can't one gain