The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-08-19

Rev. DR.. Warren u, Partridge, 1Or-
merry pastor of the Penn Avenue Bap-
tist church, but now pastor of a large
institutional church in Cincinnati.
prea ched two sermons to the members
OF his old congregation yesterday, in
the absence of the regular pastor.
Rev. DR.. Robert +. Y. Pierce, who is
sojourning at Ocean Grove.
The church was thronged to the
doors at both services with old friends
of Dr. Partridge, glad to welcome him
back to the church where he labored
in other days. He expressed, on both
occasions, his great delight at being
back once more at the scene of his
former lahors, and spoke with much
feeling Of the wonderful Christian fel-
lowship existing between the various
denominations in this city. His even
ng sermon was based on the follow
ing text taken from John /: 6. :. s, ..
There was a man sent from God,
whose name was John. The same
came for a witness, to bear witness of
the Light. that all men through him
might believe. He was not that Light,
but was sent to bear witness of that
Light That was the true Light,
which lightcth every man that COM
eth into the world"
In beginning his sermon. Dir. Par
fridge told how John the Baptist was
sent by God to bear witness to Christ
and described the scenes on the banks
of the Jordan when his preaching was
listened to by tens of thousands. He
referred to John as "the incarnation
of lprniSn1 nd Sinppritv -
WITNESS OF THE LIGHT.
Johns first and greatest function. 3"
said he was to be "A witness of the
Light 10 come. There are many rea-
sons why the Savior needed a witness
then and why he needs witnesses to-
day. In the first place, il must be re-
membered that the Messiah came in
cognito. As the Gospel says, the word
was made flesh and dwelt among
men, Christ's divinity was veiled by
His humanity and John was raised as
witness to the truth that this Man
was God.
THE people of that time. though
they had been prepared for centuries
for the coming of the Messiah. needed
witness, because their eyes were
blinded with sin and they were ac-
cordingly unable to perceive the pres
ence of Deity swathed in humanity.
Il read recently Of a physician in
Vienna who by constant experiment
and great patience succeeded in re-
storing the sight to the eyes Of child
who was born blind. The eye of the
child was perfect organism, the
ict
The physician placed it in a dark room
and by keeping circles of light revolv-
ing before its eyes for weeks and
weeks. finally succeeded in getting it
to distinguish light from darkness.
The rest was comparatively easy.
THE work of this physician should
be the work Of every preacher, every
professor and every parent. They
should he patient with the little chill
dren. They should try by every means
in their power to lead the great hosts
Of young people out of the blindness
or sin into the light of the gospel
There are such hidden capabilities and
such latent talents to be found among
the young people OF this land that they
should all be led to do service for
the Master.
TRACEABLE TO CHRIST.
Jesus Christ is the light that has
lighted every man who has come into
the world. The Scriptures tell us that
he was the light of Adam and of Eve
of Moses, of the prophets and of the
psalmist. His influence may
be traced in the writings of some OF
the great leaders of other faiths. such
as Confucius and Zoroaster. In the
writing of these sages we find great
deal of wheat amongst the chaff. w,
find deal of ethical truth. and
believe firmly that it can be traced
to the influence of Christ.
Are we who have received the light
giving it out in all its fullness, beauty
and power? Are we disseminating II
as We should? Let us be more and
more missionary churches. Let us re.
ceive the Light of the World into our
souls and let us go and preach The
gospel to every living creature"