The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-04-29
MOODY AND
SANKEY WRONG.

UClp nc bou. MAY my touS w
cleave to the roof OF my mouth, if
ever attempt to utter a word that
would lead men to postpone thework
of life to the time OF death, And may
nv hand be palsled if ever attempt
to write anything that would lead
men to put of preparations for the
future until the hour and article Of
DEATH
In this extraordinary emphatic
manner Rev. DR.. Harcourt tonight
declared his displeasure with deaf h
repentance. The VOWS were vehc-
mently made in the course OF ser.
mon delivered from the pulpit OF
the Peoples Church. III this city,
of which Rev. Harcourt is the MN
istcr.
10 say that many in the congre-
cation were startled by the Rev.
Doctors emphaticness is putting it
mildly. The sermon created a SEN
sation, but much favorable com.
ment. The people are beginning
to expect, at any time, startling
declarations from Rev. Harcourt.
lie has certainly taken some extra
ordinary stands in what should
and should not be embodied in true
religion, Many free thinking ,peo-
pie coincide with his views. All,
or at least nearly all, men who
know him. believe DR.. Harcourt abb
soiutely honest in his convictions.
Rev. DR.. Harcourtis the minister
whose recent declaration that the
sick room Is no place tor the long
faced minister attracted SO much
attention.
The subject OF Rev. Harcourt's
sermon tonight was "Deathbed re-
pentance an immoral doctrine.
spiritual swindle. turning honest
living aside and giving the prize TO
gamblers. who risk their all on a
last throw Of the dice.
His text was taken from Isaiah,
third chapter, l0-ll verses: Say
sc to the righteous that it shall ba
we'll with them, for they shall eat
Of the fruit OF their dCings. Voc
unto the wicked. 1t shall be i'll
with them, for the reward OF their
hands shall be given them. "
DR.. Harcourt said IN part:
"Tle importance ol the subject
contained in the text cannot well be
exaggerated. Our conception OF
the future has much to do in mould
| ing and shaping our conduct in
the present lite We must be ready
10 welcome light, no matter IRON
whence it comes, and in doing this
we will have no small task in down
ing our pre- jndices.
ut is an awful blunder, my
hearers to think Tor moment that
religion is for the diving bed and
| the hour and article of dcath-a
thing only to be secured as the dis
tracted seaman secures n lie pre-
server when bis vessel is going to
pieces in the storm. No! ro! Re-
| lgon does not mean that. 1t is for
lie aud llle's work-!or life $ trials
and necessities.
ave ministers have placed too
much stress on words spoken aud
| professions made in the sick room,
and we have led men to think that
religion is for the diving mau more
than for the living.
1--WE have, by our sermons, ex-
hor!ations writings and songs, led
men to believe that
Jesus paid it all.
All the debt owe.
And nothing either great or
! small,
Remains for us to do.
"Nlen have takeIus at our word,
through the teachings OF our songs
and have folded their arms and
gwen up the thought OF working
out their own salvation.
"Moody preached and Sankey
sang this erroneous doctrine
throughout the world aud the pull
pits OF protestantism have re pre- ach-
ed it steadily and persistently. To
pet sinner to accept OF salvation
10 the now, seems almost lmpossl-
BILE. Men have taken it for grant
ed that all that is really required
OF them is that they shall say with
the diving thief, Lord, remember
ME when Thou comest into Thy
Kingdom, then presto, change,
and they shall wake up in glory.
No wonder the percentage OF con-
versions in all our Protestant
churches is humlliatlng to record!
"Where lies this trouble! Why,
in this We have failed to lead men
10 see that it is right living, rather
than right dying that lnsures a
bessful hereafter.
"Christianitv is a life, not a
dogma, not creed, not comics
sion, not profession. 1t is the life
we are now living; aud not the
creed we have subscribed to. by
which we are to be Judged here
and hereafter. The dying cry Of
Lord Lord! may come too la.e
and the awful response may be,
Depart, never knew you.
1.-The doctrine OF dea thbed re.
pentance is not only dangerous
aud mlsle aiding. it is immoral! 1t
makes a mockcry Of real religion.
1t Is spiritual swindle by which
millions have been bankrupted
eternally.
"lIeaven and hell are not places
but states Of the soul. not outward
realms but inward spiritual reali-
tics. We are no. toget into heaven
but get heaven into US.
IL do not say that ministers gen
orally encourage death bed repeu
tancc, but this l do say, that BY