The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-22

Rev. DIR. W. G.. Simpson, pastor of
the Asbury Methodist Episcopal
church. preached an eloquent sermon
last night from the words found in
the fifth verse OF the third chapter of
Paul's epistle to Titus. mot by
works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to his mercy, he
saved us, by the washing of regenera-
tion and renewing the Holy Ghost" He
said. in part:
This text is a clear statement OF
human experience. Every saved soul
knows its meaning experimentally.
There are two courses of life implied
in the text. The one is the course
taken by those who ignore God. who
do not accept Jesus Christ and who
are voluntarily dancing to hell's mu-
sic down to hell's fire. They may
be- good people. they may be honest
and upright. but they are without God,
without Christ and without hope"
"The other course Is the one pursued
by those who are day by day and hour
by hour rising up into the light of the
celestial realm and who are being ele-
waited by power divine into a full
realization of Father, Son and Holy
Ghost.
A GLANCE BACKWARD.
81 have been here for twenty-five
years living in the heavenly light Of
the gospel and sometimes 1 look back
ward and scan memory's pages.
think of those in years gone by who
laughed at my piety and who called
me psalm singing Methodist. They
were happy and their cheeks were free
from the burrows of care, but where
are they now.
"They are gone. They have left no
fame, no memory, no inspiration. They
did nothing that was worth doing and
are forgotten. They laughed and
scoffed and that was all. Then there
are the others I think of, those who
were the blessed of the Lord. These
shall meet bye and bye and 7 am hap
py at the thought. Let us die the
death of the righteous. / say. and let
the others laugh and scoff if they WILL
"The decision lies with ourselves.
Shall we be students Of God, children
Of God. co-laborers with God? Shall
we be lights set on high to guide the
wanderer to the paths Of peace and
righteousness. or shall we be lights to
lead astray and to send men down the
ways that lead to death?
TT is amazing to know that there
are men who know that salvation lies
only through Christ, and yet who go
on ignoring the very remedy which
God is holding out to them
I'VE cannot explain away the great
truth that all men experience a radical
change of life and heart when they
are really saved. No man can say In
fnI1 iSrnr1 flNy hn Il to-. H.
has experienced this change within
himself.
"Christianity with all its scope ana
range Is based upon this fundamental
fact. You may seek a substitute any
place you please, but there must be
a power of God to rebuild the man
as he has never been rebuilt before.
SPIRITUAL REMUNERATION.
"There must be total spiritual re-
juvenation of the man after this ex-
perience has become his. He feels
the old things passing away and
strange, mysterious new life of peace,
happiness and joy tells him that all
things are new. He awakens to
new life. New principles govern and
guide him and dim truths which were
before as phantoms stand out clear
and bright.
There must be a. complete rejuven-
alton. Let no man be deluded into
thinking otherwise. 1t must be COM
piete change. A Furnishing and bright
ening up of the outside surface will
not suffice. There must be a complete
rew structure, new foundation, new
walls and new roof"