Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-10-14
JOURNALS
SATURDAY
SERMON

The speaker opened by description OF
the life OF the subject OF the text. Illus
trating the character OF the man who was
after Gods own heart" Touching
briefly upon some Of the darker spots in
the character OF the sweet singer Of Is
raeIss he showed how different was the
divine-the Bible-method OF biography
from the human. The apOtheosis Of the
hero was the human method. DE NOR
tubs NIL nisi bonum." But the Bible meth
Cd was the pure mirror OF the natural
man. Every dark and bright spot now
lurid as OF the glow OF he'll and anon ra-
diant with the light OF heaven" Is por-
tEayed By holy writ with unsparing f1del-
fty. He then In contrast with the few
but marked errors OF King David singled
out some Illustrations Of the noble char
acter OF the man The midnight scene
IN the Grotto Of Engedi. the tableau un-
der the moonlight on the field Of Haehi-
lah. etc.
In the text especially he gives to the
world a revelation Of one OF his noblest
ideals, shall / offer unto the Lord OF
that which doth cost me nOthingT' Is the
indignant query. A useful principle this
for the contemplation OF our commercial
age. The commercial spirit is rampant
today. in the church OF God Salvation
IS emphasized throughout holy writ as
free gift"-man cannot buy it's power
less 70 offer anything In exchange for the
royal gift And II is this spirit. this at
titude-gfft without return-in relation 10
mans Gifts TO God. that IS emphasized
practically BY King David and demanded
By the law divine. But the spirit OF bar
gain and sale which we discover at the
counters OF our stores we recognize now
plainly and sadly In the church OF God
AS an illustration. man OF ample m
come enters the church on pew rental
day. He has usually no specified and pre-
determined plan OF systematic Christian
giving. He selects the pew that suits
him best and pays the price. IL Is usually
one OF the best pews in the house, or, II
as Is occasionally done. the pews are auc-
toned on: he bids steadily 70 any nee
essary amount until he secures the object
OF his desire.
Itisa nee church. we viii say. A hand
some organ Is 70 be obtained; a costly
choir soioist Is engaged. The man Is
devotee OF music. and he would Ike TO
hear the talent OF the grand opera In sa-
cred music on the Lords day. He sub
scrihes with eagerness and alacrity 10
both objects As vestryman. he offers to
double his pew rental II the vestry viii
ean the eloquent DR.. Blank. whose income
must come higher than the originally
stipulated parish income. And thus he
continues to the end Of the chapter. At
the conclusion OF the year he hears incl
dentally a discourse on Christian giving.
ne aELr OAL Ms CLICK lUQA anu NA@
his purchases in his church. say ''pur-
chases." for the principle OF bargain and
sale has dominated them just as radically
and essentially as though the matter were
a counter transaction. He counts up the
figures and takes the total. With a smile
OF satisfaction he meditates upon his sur
passing generosity TO the church OF
G0dr' But IN no instance possibly has the
donation cost him dollar. So far as the
general proposition goes. Il must worship
God and viii contribute 10 the support OF
my church." his heart IS right and his
action creditable. But when Il comes 20
the practical application OF his principle
the whole question dons a commercial as
pect instead OF that OF free viii offer
ing 70 the service OF God and the upbuild-
ing OF his kingdom He gets the chief
seat IN the synagogue. Ease and pride
are the Inducements 10 pay the price. he
hears a prima donna. accompanied BY
grand organ. in the church service. His
usual box price at the grand opera once
a week would cost three times the price.
No man, be he saint or sinner, fails TO en-
Joy the gifted discourse OF the Rev. DR..
Blank. His glowing imagery. his musical
and resonant voice. the not OF delightful
emotion reused and sustained BY his gift
ed eloQuence, either in pulpit or rostrum,
are worth far more than they cost; conse-
Quentiy he has received ''quid pro quo"
leaving the spiritual aspect OF the case en-
tirely out OF the question. and his dOna-
tions have cost him nothing. Again the
too frequent delusion that the recipient
OF q delightful church entertainment has
made the little offering involved in the
church OF God rather than himself is q
deIusiOn OF the same kind.
No, my friends, We must draw a sharp
and distinct line between those offerings
which are offered on the altar OF our own
selfshness. pride. luxury. ease and en-,
Joyment, the offerings which have cost
Us nothing, and those offered on the al
tar Of the service Of God and the love OF
our fellow man. When you begin 70 drive
bargains with the church Of God. II viii
give so much II so-and-so IS offered me-"
Do not caj0le yourself with the idea that
that gift is unQualihedly accepted as such
By God
Notwithstanding the great sacrifcial
cloud which hangs monumentally over the
worlds great altar, in every age, cline
and religion Of the present and the past.
many minds OF those who call themselves
Christians even in this decade OF the 10Th
century have practically failed 10 realize
that. beyond abstinence from those gross
sins and indulgences which popular senti-
ment and public laws as well as divine
prescription interdict. there is any definite
or systematic sacrifice required OF man.
They. OF course. know that there is an
altar IN the church Of God. and that there
are noble and unselfish men and women
who are constantly Offering there. But
their personal obligation-what the Lord
God-the necessities OF the wOrld-require