The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-01-21
M SERMONS AND SERVICES IN THE CHURCHES. y

was the thought Of a thinker who thinks
the thought Of God Africaner was n Hot
entot employed by a man in South Africa
! 10. plumber helpless African tribes. He re.
his employer and that employers wife.
From that time his hand was against every
man. and every mans hand against hiIn
lie crossed the Orange River and became a
terror TO all the country round. Large re-
wards would have been paid for his head.
but no one vas found who dare to aD-
proach such a monster.
"Monat. the missionary. declared his in
tention of taking the Gospel TO him Men
said he would make a drum-head OF the
missionary's skin, and a drinking cup OF his
skull Moffat went TO him and told Of Gods
saving love in Christ. His stony heart was
melted. and people were astopished to Sc
the Wild outlaw peacefully following the
missionary back to the hahitation Of men.
In one year after o Williams dis
covered the island of Raratonga. heather
ism was in ruins. and the people gathered
TO worship God in such crowds as he had
never seen outside his native land. A tablet
reared TO the memory Of Doctor John Gel
die. in the Island Of Aneiierm. bears this
Inscription: When he landed in ISIS there
were no Christians: when he left in 1S12
among the Kerens Of Burmah. founded
there more than SO churches. with a mem
oership OF more than 30o0 souls. The Rev
erend Titus Coan. missionary 90 the Sand
wich Islands. baptized BOO converts from
h~eathenism.
These are but a few Of the many In
diiC VI NrbI : NOTh Nl EIaNS hlsllTk tne
heather. Whole communities have been
transformed. whole races lifted up into light
and life and love. These wonderful events
OF our age speak loudly 20 us OF the plans
Of God. We are living. we are dwelling
In a grand. an awful time"
God Is in history in a real and wondrous
unfolding OF his eternal thought. The his
tor:an who does not recognize this feet
fails TO learn the chiefest thing that his
tory has TO teach. The historian who fails
10 hear Gods voice In history fails 10 catch
the clearest sound she utters- No history
is at all adequate which does not take
of the kingdom OF God. The historian. of
all men. should be deVout. Few are brought
so clearly face to face with deity. The
physician IL called TO study the marvellous
intr!cacy Of God handiwOrk in these physi-
cal frames OF ours. which are so feaffully
and wonderfully made. The astronomer
fringes Of his garments as he moves among
the stars. The lawyer ~ called upon TO
ponder those eternal ~verities which have
their foundation not in Legislative enact
ments. not in a divine decree. but deep down
In the character OF God. But the historian
is called upon 10 walk in his very foot
along the passing ages. and to meet him
face TO face on the field OF his own divine
achievement. And never has God been
more wonderfully present in history thai he
is In that which IS now being maze. He Is
working wondrously in his coming ingdOm
odd false faiths are losing their hold
ED- ~ aAA 4 gill GdhN d-A4G- IA
Empires which have stood for centuries
are being shaken and dissolved Christ is
undermining heather institutions, hoary |
with age. God is using the very wicked
ness OF men for the overthrow OF Govern |
ments which he would have in better hands
and still men fail to see him while he is
so manffestly present In all the world. As
one has written. There was one who was
In the world. and the world was made by
him. and the world knew him not He
came TO his own possessions. and his own
people received him not. This is the one
parable and paradox of all the age. There /
IS one who Is in history. and all history is
bu- his curious handiwork, and yet even 1
recognize him not. He comes TO
the age which Is of his own framing. he
eternal plan. and yet his own people too
often receive him not But TO as many as
receive him be gives authority to become
coworkers with God. sharers In the glory
behind the developments Of our day Is
! divine directing power. A mans hand
iecree Of God. telling of world powers and
'alse faiths weighed in the balance and
'ound wanting; and of a Conquerer about
10 receive the kingdom which human mon
are unworthy to administer.
And yet. in the MIDST OF the most glori-
Jus opportunities and most tremendous re-
to lag behind. In one OF Napoleon's
great battles the fight had been long and
severe Defeat seemed Inevitable. and. de-
pairing OF the field, he called to the trum-
BET boy. beat a retreat. No re-
reat was beaten Again he shouted. Ger
many. beat a retreat, Tho boy turned to
lin and said, Sire. 1 do not know how TO
Ieat a retreat. My master never taught
ne that-but. sire. I can beat a charge that
vii make the dead fall into line Then
,eat a charged cried Napoleon. The charge
beaten and one of the most glorious
Of his career was gained.
The church OF Christ has no business
moving how 70 beat a retreat Her Mas
er does not teach her that. He teaches
Ter to beat a charge which viii wake the
lead nations Of earth and make them fall
rto line with his conQuerInR cause"