The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-19
need OF REGENERATION
Sermon by Rev. A. ]. Gill at the
Metropolitan M L. Church.
Three Pictures of Life Portrayed in
the bible Observation-Disclosures of
Conditions mt the Coming of Christ
"a Lesson for America In Hebrew
History - Saving Men by Faith.

Rev, A. ]. Gill occupied the pulpit oil
the Metropolitan NJ. E. Church yesterday
morning in the absence OF the PASTOR
Rev f. NJ Bristol Mr.. Gill preached an
eloquent sermon on the Need OF Regen-
Grafton" choosing for text Matthew
xii:37-46.
Three pictures he said, ARE pre-
scented in this story of the man who
chose seven devils TO come in and abide
with him In the first we see the diiap-
idated house occupied in a fitfui way. Its
floors are covered with dust, its doors
and shutters are broken, and its once hne
furnishings going to ruin and decay. In
the second picture we witness the return
of the proper tenant. His interest in the
homestead moves him TO undertake its
restoration. He calls in the carpenter
and painter and decorator. No expense
is spared TO put the ancient dwelling iii
perfect condition. When finished 1T re-
tains its old glory and is besides equipped
with much that is new. But the owner
is satisfied simply with putting the house
in order. He does not occupy it or take
IL for his home. Other interests invite
him away and he leaves the mansion be-
hind paragon of beauty, for the use Oh
someone else.
In the third picture we see the result
of this conduct. An evil snirit returns
notes the restoration. and observes That
the house is swept and in order. Seven
other spirits are invited in TO assist in
the work of destruction, and the last
state is worse than the first. The man
had more TO lose than before the i'm
provements took place, and his loss and
humiliation were all the greater because
of his own carelessness and neglect.
In this series of pictures We see
vivid representation of the time when
Christ entered the world. He came to
find the palace Of his kingdom in ruins.
The people of his realm assigned his deeds
to Beelzebub, and the master charged
upon the Hebrew people greater evil than
that which marked the pagan nations.
when the Jews returned from the cap
tivity they rebuilt the temple and the ma
ton was remodeled upon better plan
II was a bright period of spiritual devo-
ton when Gods people gathered in the new
temple TO worship. But the splendor OF the
new nationality was too great. The He
brew people thought more of the house
than of the worship. Their minds re-
vertec TO temporal things. and they for
got the eternal God They bent their eDer-
gies to the development OF high degree
of material prosperity, to education, refine
ment. and to the progress OF civilization.
T,-ey, beautihed the house but did not take
up their abode there in a spiritual sense.
God was practically though not formally
banished. But their resources were finally
exhausted, and ruin followed, so that. in
Christ's day, the Hebrews had developed
ritualistic worship without devotion aud
a acknowledgements which called forth the
most whitening denunciation OF the Son OF
God.
= "A fine house may somewhat alter
mans manners, but rot the man. You may
give him wealth and surround him with all
that culture can suggest or u 4 money can
purchase. but the man remains practically
The traits of his character will
crop out stnl in all that he says and does.
IL was so with the Jews. They had a better
civilization after the captivity, but were not
better people. Their empty souls became
the fit abiding places Of evil. They were
enthralled by the subtle forces of ritualism.
hypocrisy, and unrighteousness. Jesus de-
clared that their outward observance OF
forms was mere pretence, and that within
they were more vicious than wolves and
more corrupt than the people Of the pagan
world. As a nation. they had descended to
the dead level of self-righteousness.
ITO my thinking. there is a lesson in this
experience of the Hebrew race for us.
Shall Americans have their national house
without tenant? We shall surely do so
n We substitute education for piety, science
for revelation, and civilization for spirits-
ality. II we give more attention 10 the
development of mind than of morals our
d graduation viii finally be complete. Chris.
4. IA l,.s fc sham hfc
dwelling place and greater than his attain
ments and pursuits Tho man is more, in
fact, than all the outward forces and cir
cumstances that touch his life. Men are
not changed by giving them new ideas
nor by transplanting them into higher
grades of civilization. There is a disease
of the soul that cannot be cured except
by the application of the proper remedy,
and unless cured IL Will plunge the man
into deeper iniquitv. Unless a man is born
again, no outward circumstances can save
him from ruin. We do not get further away
from regeneration through education and
progress, but these demonstrate the greater
need for it in the soul. Never in history
has there been greater necessity for simple
faith in the redemptive gospel than now In
this free America.
The supreme mission or religion Is TO
taNt int HulUdu SDui-AO Eobs
In God as the starting point of all progress
for the individual. Religion utterly fails
II its power is limited 10 lettering the
mans outward circumstances alone; IL it
seeks only to stimulate progress. Re-
ligion is not Indifferent to worldly inter
ests. II deals with mans needs and has
always been intimately connected with The
struggle for liberty and the establishment
of human rights. 1t is the most potent
of all the forces of civilization, but only
as il is the living embodiment OF right
eousness in the souls of the people who
struggle for and mold the destiny OF
States and nations. A large part of the
work of the gospel is to inspire men of
talent as the promoters of the rights and
privileges of the people.
Thus the religion of Christ does not
spend itself in righfing things. but in saw
ing men. The modern trend Of thought
calls for the fresh declaration Of this
truth. The soul must be renewed. must
be converted. must be born again, or men
will 60 forth TO sink into greater depths
of inieuity, in proportion as they are
highly educated and accomplished. Mans
heart is wrong. and is the prolific source Of
all our troubles. That must be changed
before peace shall be universal and hsp-
piness shall reign supreme"