The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-29
DR.. NEWCOMERS SERMON
IA. PAsTOR AT ECOND
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Rev. Marion CrossIy's Sermon to Odd
Fellows-Boy Preacher Addresses
Two Large Audiences.

Rev. DR.. Ezra B.. Newcomb. pastor of the
First Westminster Presbyterian Church, of
keokuk, la. occupied the pulpit of the
Second Presbyterian Church yesterday
morning. DIR. Newcomb is visiting at the
home Of his brother, II. G. Newcomb, on
Capitol avenue. He came here from Du-
buque, Ia, where he delivered the com
mencement address at the German Theolo-
gical Seminary. He will leave tomorrow
night for Chicago and on Thursday even
Ing will deliver an address TO the gradual
Ing class of Mccormick Theological Uni
versity. DR.. Newcomb is president OF the
board of directors of that institution.
Second Presbyterian Church was almost
hllec to the doors yesterday morning, DR..
Newcomb's reputation as one or Iowa's
most brilliant pulpit orators having evil
IDENTIFY preceded him to indianapolis. The
eminent divine selected for his text IL Cor
inthians iV, Is: while we look not at the
things which are seen, but at the things
which are not seen; for the things which
are seen are temporal, but the things which
are not seen are eternal" DIR. Newcomb
spoke in substance as follows:
This text was thrown by Paul squarely
across the line of materiaIistic conceptions
and ideals of his own time and bears the
same relation to the conditions of the pres
ent day. The things which are seen and
tangible are considered to be the real and
permanent. That which does not appeal TO
the five senses is considered by many TO
have no place and power in life. We are
taught on every hand that only that which
submits itself to the tests of the laboratory
or the rules of current philosophy is worth
mans following or believing, but we should
remember in this connection that many
things which are unreal and unapparent
to the scholar of the primary department
is evident and simple to the more advanced
student. We are but In the primary de-
partment of our Christian experience and
the truth Is the truth even though il may
run counter 10 our current Impressions or
even our convictions. What is needed in
life to-day is a conception of the reality of
spiritual things, unseen but none the less
real and true.
I'm our thought of the vision of the in
visible We snail get helps TO realize il as
we remember the evanescence of apparent
Things. The fashion Of this world passeth
away. the face of nature changes, the ever
lastlng nils disintegrate and lose their
iorm. me sea swallows the land and the
islands rise in the midst of the sea. The
creations of human genius and industry
vanish. The literature and art of other
days. greater In man respects than the
literature and art of to-day, are known and
tunes are dissipated, conditions of city life
changed. hin of Paul in the connection
of this text.
The material magnifcence of the world
he knew has vanished. Jerusalem, with all
It's glorles, Is a recollection. Corinth, the
eye OF Greece. has lost its beauty. Athens,
wnere the literature and art of Greece
round their fullest expression, is a ruin and
the beautiful marbles on which Paul may
nave looked are In their fragments treas
uTed IN the museums Of Europe. The Rome
lndI BAul knew and lOnRaA IN nrannh th.
gospel in. Is buried and we dig out its
glories with the spade. The things that are
seen truly are temporal. The things that
are nearest our vision and realized to our
experience are real, but for a little time.
we shall get help also towards this
VISION OF the invisible as we realize the
power OF things not apparent. The great
forces OF nature are unseen and silent. In
iarge part the great men of the world VIII,
nave done the things best worth the doing
nave done therf without proclamation or
noise. 1T was the Silent Man on Horse
back who led the armies to victory, and
Germany great commander could be silent
nave had some vision of the invisible we
snail discover some such things as these.
that after all mans real need is not riches.
put righteousness; not reputation, but char
acter. 1T is true. as one has said, that in
every John there are three Johns-there rs
other peoples John and my John and
God $ john. What other people think or
what John supposes of himself is of little
Importance. Gods John, the real man, that
when Is the root and fiber of him, that is
the thing which counts.
And We will discover also that Jesus
christ Is the supreme possession of hu-
manity, that for every need He is an an
swer; Tor every demand He Is a suficiency;
for every longing He is a realization. He
came TO supply mems deepest and most real
need Tor righteousness. TO save a man and
keep him saved. 1t was because Paul had
this vision, wide-eyed and true. of the
Lord Jesus Christ, that he went forward
with such confidence and with such con-
quest in the work to which he was called.
He endured as seeing Him who was in
visible. as did the heroes and the martyrs
or the earlier days. And when we shall
have come thus far we will begin to realize
that vision of the invisible makes possible
the patient endurance of present trials.
makes possible a heroic endeavor for pres
emit duties. II makes possible a splendid
success for loyal serving.
And II We are TO realize our longing for
this larger and fuller and truer life. this
Christ. if we are longing after the real
things and for the city which hath foun-
dations. then there will come to us in our
daily life the diligent endeavor to deepen
the heaven-ft character and the spirit of
other-worldness which shall in some sense
prepare us for that which lies beyond, for
which we long.
What we need in the midst of the trials
and the burdens and perplexities. the push
and crowd of daily living, is not more of
strength for this contest. but more of faith
in Christ who is above US. the Christ who
cares for us, who though unseen by the
eye of flesh is real to the eye of faith and
helpful to the life of faith. So for all your
needs. and the needs are many and heavy
In these crowded days. get your vision
clear to see the things which are true, the
things which are real. the things which
are permanent. Let the horizon Of life
widen and let Jesus Christ in His person.
ality, in His power. in His grace and His
glory grow larger TO your sight and more
real in your life. and understand that
amidst every change and chance, amidst
every disappointment and delay. amidst
every defeat and sorrow. there is nothing
that shall be able to overwhelm the life
that has really by faith come into touch
with the Son of God. the life that has
looked i'm faith and seen clear and full the
vision of the Worlds Redeemer."