The age-herald., 1901-06-17
il DREW THEM WITH CORDS OF 4 MAN" Rev. I. E. Hudson Delivered an
 Eloquent Sermon AT CUMBERL AND CHURCH "lf We Do Not Love Any One We Care Not How Far They Are Remov- ed from us"-Two Great
 Questions.
AT CUMBERLAND CHURCH

sermons of the year at the Cumberland Presbyterian church yesterday morning.
 Dr. Hudson took his text from Hosea, 11th chapter and 4th verse, and began by saying:
 T drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love-" said MT. Hudson, Love always wants it's object near; that is why the good mother is not willing to be away from her children. The greater the love the stronger the desire to be near to each other. If we do not love any one we care not How far they are removed from us If you love Me you will keep My com mandments' and they are not grievous unto you. No trouble to obey when we love. But man in a state of nature does not love God. The carnal mind Is not subject to the will of God, neither indeed can be- The great question to be consid- cred is, How can man be brought into this loving relation to God?' Ample pro- visions have been made. It is possible for all men to be saved What are the provisions? How is the work to be &C., complished? In the first clause of our text we find these worlds drew them We can not drive men to the cross; we cannot compel men to be religious; we are to persuade them; we must charm them across the line. Almost thou per suadeshme to be a Christian If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto my self. Christ Jesus came Into this world to seek and to save sinners
 With Cords of a Man.
 We could not comprehend God we could not take hold of Him: He seemed far away beyond our reach. He became flesh and dwelt among us' We can com prehend the child on his mothers knee, talking with the lawyers, walking the streets of the city, watching the birds and the foxes going to their places of rest. We see him hungry. thirsty and tired, hence he appeals to us as man to man. We will therefore notice some of the cords by which he draws us to himself.
 SeIf-interest.
 This Is a very strong card. We are al- ways asking. will 1t pay. The banker, the merchant. the lawyer. the teacher, and, fear, sometimes, the preacher. Men of the world have long since learned this element of strength. The lightning rod man will tell you he wants to pro- tect your house from danger and your children from harm He understands fully he must make you believe 1t is to your best interest to purchase this so- called life-saving instrument The in- surance man and the banker all realize 1t is only necessary for them to make you believe it would pay you to patron ize them. Should we not as ministers, get valuable lesson here. We must show that it pays to be religious. It pays a hundred-fold in this present life, and eternal life in the world to come. I am glad it pays in this life. I don't like to invest much when have to die to get it. am not fighting life insurance, but there are some things about 1t I don't like. When you apply for membership they take you into a back room, and thump your lungs, feel your pulse and hear the beating of your heart. If there is a cavity in the lungs, they don't want you. They are looking for the strong, healthy man or woman who has promise of many years. The banker does not care for you if you have no money. But Christ will accept you without money. I care not how sick. or poor, he stands ready to receive you and place about you the beautiful robe of righteousness and on your finger the golden band of love, "Ceme unto me all ye that are sick. weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest This company will never fail. It is backed by the universe and Christ himself looks after the business. How many restless nights you have spent wondering if your company would break, your bank fall or your business collapse. But not so here. 'I was once young, I am now old and I have never known the righteous forsaken or his seed begging bread. If we are truly in partnership with God, heirs of God, and joint 9heirs with Christ, we have his wisdom, his power; he is interested in all we under take. know in whom I have believed and I am persuaded he is able to keep that I have committed to Him
 Conscience.
 .IIe has placed in every one of our na- lures the peariess jewel conscience, and it draws us toward God and right. l am not here to tell you that conscience is always a correct guide. Yet we have but one thing that is better. Conscience is better than law, the civil law may say you are right, the jury may say you are right, but conscience says your are guilty. Conscience goes very much farther than law. To illustrate this" said MT. Hudson. you engage to pay a man so much to do a job of work; after it is finished you find it is worth more; the law is satisfied when you pay what you promised. but the enlightened Is not. Self-interest may cause you to speak evil of another. but conscience condemns. Let us have the voice of conscience and be drawn nearer to our Lord.
 Through His Providence.
 His purposes will fipen fast, unfold fng every hour, the bud may have a bit- ter taste but sweet will be the flower. We cannot understand His ways. As the heavens are high above the earth so are His ways above our ways We must al- ways remember that God is dealing with us in reference to eternal things. No christening for the present seemeth to be Joyous, but grievous, nevertheless af- terward 1t yieldeth the peacable fruit of righteousness unto them which are ex- ercised thereby We cannot understand why that great calamity. that fearful misfortune, why snatch the babe from the devoted mothers arms, why blow out the brightest light in the home, the fathers pride and the mothers hope. Not now. but after awhile we'll understand We walk by faith not by sight, we know in whom we have hs,lfavad Ali %hta,.,