Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-06-21
COME AND REST AWHILE"
Sunday Discourse by DR.. Chapman. TIE
Noted Pastor.Eyangelist.
ny KcE Should attend Church N.;.on
Would Relapse Into Barbarism With.
ont Gods Temple.

NEW YORK CITY.-The Rev. j. Wilbur
Chapman, the popular pastor-evangeist Of
the Fourth Presbyterian Church of this
city, has delivered n sermon in which he
set forth the reasons why men should at,
tend church. He preached from the text,
"And He said unto them. Come We your
selves apart into a desert place and rest
awhile" Mark 6: 81.
John the Baptist had been beheaded
and his disciples were in confusion. They
were truly as sheep without shepherds
The apostles had heard OF the disaster.
and came to Jesus to tell Him of all the
things that had come to pass. and then il
was that He spoke to them in the words
of the text, "And He said unto them,
Come We yourselves apart into a desert
place and rest awhile; for there were
many coming and going. and they had no
leisure so much as to eat" ! am very well
aware that TO some of YOU this may seem
an inappropriate text, for if the church is
a desert then in itself 1t presents to us the
reason why so many men are away from
1t, and why there seems to be a growing
indifference to its claims. Alas. il is true
too often the church is a desert place. 10
Will not help us any in our efforts to lead
men to attempt to blind our eyes to the
condition OF things. A desert is a spot
without water, without habitation, a place
of death and despair, and this is true of
every church where anything is substituted
for the gospel, where the whole truth is
not preached, and where Christ is not pre-
scented to dying men. The sermons may
be perfect so far as their literary excellence
Is concerned, but without the gospel. as
the heart they are sounding brass and tink.
ling symbol in the estimation of Him who
is the great head of the church. Then again
the verse in which the text is found pre-
sents US picture OF the world. The Mas
ter called the apostles aside to rest, for
4har xrnr nd nd
they had no leisure so much as to eat.
This is indeed representation of the busi-
ness life OF the most of men. The pace is
terrific. and If any man fails to keep step
with his competitor in business he is soon
left behind and is counted out OF the race.
One of the greatest needs of the day for
men in all departments of life. whether it
be in the shop, with the ordinary day Ia.
borer or with the great merchant in his
business, or the famous lawyer at the
court, one of the greatest needs of the day
is for rest Rest does not necessarily mean
idleness; when men rest as | have it in
mind they get their best conception of God,
they work out their greatest plans for the
future, they become in the truest sense as
God would have them.
Leonardo da Vinci. tine great painter,
was once employed by the Emperor to pro.
duce a picture. which was to be finished
by a certain date. After working some
time at his task. however, the artist alb.
scented himself from his studio for a week
or more. doing apparently nothing toward
completing the picture. The Emperor hear.
ing of this sent a courtier to demonstrate
with the painter, and when the latter did
not meet the remonstrance commanded
him to come to the royal presence. why
have you neglected the painting OF the pic.
ture we have ordered?" was the question
sternly put to the artist. 81 have not neg.
lected it, sir" was the answer. But we
know that you have not had the brush in
hand for these eight days" said the Won
dering Emperor. True, sir" said the art.
ist, ''but nevertheless the picture has
grown, the work of the brush is the least
TO be done in producing painting. The
last week have been away from my studio
it is true. but wherever | went that pic.
ture has been in my mind, and slowly and
steadily have been getting into place the
figures TO be put upon the canvas. The
picture, sir, will be done at the stated
time" and it was. and this picture is to-
day regarded as the greatest work of the
famous painter.
= Men cannot carelessly approach a great
work. For the disciples it was "Tarry We"
before the going forth to service. and this
is necessary not only in religious life, but in
all departments of life. In paper not long
ago under the caption why do we go to
church," the following was suggested:
Because it is the fashion.
Because it has become habit.
Because it is respectable.
Because we like the minister.
Because we enjoy the music and other at
fractions.
Because we feel lonesome when we do
not go.
Because we sing in the choir or are Off
Gals and must 90.
Because parental authority enjoins it.
Because it helps business.
Are any of these the motives that move
= you to attend church? Some of them may
have subordinate place in ones actions,
but they should never become prominent
or a dominant force Why should we go 20
church? For hundred legitimate reasons,
chief among which are these:
Because the church is the tabernacle OF
the Most High.
Because ii has always been the symboi
and centre of worship.
Because He plainly promises to meet US
there.
Because We need the help the church af-
fords.
Because others need the force of our ex-
ample.
Because of the JOY we find in public and
social worship.
Because without the church the commu.
nifty and nation would soon lapse into bar.
barism.
Because close fellowship with Gods peo.
pie mere Is the trueSt ROAD 10 the lie mere
after.
1t is q fact that men are not attending
church, and it cannot be true that this IL
altogether the fault of the non-attendants
themselves. This is a cold world in which
we live, and naturally the world wants
warm words, warm smiles, warm welcomes,
warm hearts, warm prayers and the warm
spirit of brotherhood, and men have a right
20 expect that the church which represents
Christ upon earth shall exhibit all OF these
things. The man of the world does not
stay away from the church because there is
too much of the Spirit OF God in it, but
rather because there is too little. The
church must be united II the unsaved world
is to be drawn to it.
The following reasons for church at
tendance have been presented to me by
men of great renown throughout the coun-
try, great business men, great phianthro.
pists, great leaders of men generally and
there is not one who has written to RE
but whose name Is known throughout the
whole world.
First-Man needs the church. Tempta
tions assail him on every side: there is no
man that lives without temptation. The
pressure of materialism in these days is
terrific. and unless a man has q strong up
ward pull, at least one day in the week he
will find himself gradually going down
The commercial spirit of the day is some
thing marvellous to think of and unless