Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-03
PREscRrPTIo n FOR SAVING SOULS.
DR.. Herring says some of Them COme
from Quacks.

DR.. Herring Says some of Them Come
from Quacks.
Rev. Hubert c. Herring Of the First
Congregational church preached Sunday
evening on THE Spiritual Physician" He
said:
I'm the text the false prophets are rep
sented as quack doctors, who have healed
Israel's spiritual bruises slightly and have
pronounced the cure perfect. 1t is very
plain that the species is not extinct; there
are plenty Of people still to be found who
have a ready panaoea for public evils and
private ills. Perhaps the most conspicuous
example Of this is to be found in connec-
ton with great organized enemies OF So
ciety. like the saloon or the gambling
house. There are not a few who Imagine
that with some mild regulation we have
sufficiently protected ourselves from their
attacks. They say peace, peace, when there
Is no peace.
but 1 desire to apply the text to the
question of personal salvation. When a
man Is stirred with consciousness OF his
unworthiness, a variety Of quacks present
themselves to cure his malady. No. 1
assures him that there is nothing the mat
ter with him; that he is morbidly con-
scientious; hat God will think twice be-
fore He condemns as good a man as he Is
All that he needs to do is to go on his
way, lead an exemplary life-nothing re-
mains to be desired. Sometimes the man
knows better; sometimes he takes the
bogus prescription and lulls his conscience
to sleep.
"or 1t may be quack No. 2 undertakes
the case. He does not trouble himself to
deny the fact OF sin, but is confident that
Coo is too good and loving to infict PEN
atty upon His children, especially when II
is remembered how many temptations they
have and how many sorrows they must
bear; Just as we smile to ourselves over
the little faults OF our children, so God
looks leniently upon pecadillos OF the
creatures He has made. This sham doctor,
as one has said, Makes God not so much
a father as a doting grandfather
"Or It may be the third quack who pre-
scribes. He says that there is no such
thing as sin: disease and evil are negative
qualities; they have no real existence;
they are a delusion OF the mortal mind;
God is all and we live In Him. The cure
for the sense of guilt is to get. rid Of the
delusion that there is such a thing.
There is still one more who may be
| consulted. He tells you that your case Is
indeed serious; radical measures must be
taken, but that you are not incurable II
you follow the regime he lays down. You
must be baptized; you must fast at certain
times; you must do .penance for your sins
and keep your church dues paid up. II
these things and their ,like are attended
to. all will be we'll. You may rest at
ease that you will at last reach the City
of the Blessed. p
"All these are in sharp contrast with
the True Physician, the Great Physician.
Jesus Christ. He, made no attempt to
conceal the gravity Of mans condition. He
said: Except We repent, We shall all like
wise perish He came to seek and to
save the lost, and when one would know
what is His cure for that sin. He leads
to the Cross upon Calvary and there shows
as Gods cure for mans transgression. The
cure is found In the divine sacrifice. APP
piled to the heart, which learns the lesson
Of faith. The cure is continued and per-
fected by the struggle of the soul toward
holiness, under the guidance of the spirit
and truth Of God"