The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-05-02
CHAPMAN'S SERMON
pkpAY DISCOURSE BY The NOTED
PAsTCR.svaNcEuST.
beet; A Discouraged Msn-Most People
Because They Lead Too
- Life-So Room in the King
hom of God For Pessimism.


hom of God For Pessimism.
he Rev. j. Wilbur Chapman, d. D., is
the most distinguished and best
|wn evangelist IN the country. He was
Ind only 70 DR. Talmage, but since the
b Of that famous preacher DIR. Chap
has the undlsputed possession OF the
)lt as the preacher 10 influence the
n people. HIS services as an evangel-
are IL constant demand. His sermons
K stirred the hearts OF men and women
b degree unapproached by any latter
divine. j. Wilbur Chapman was born
Richmond, Ind, june II, 1859. HIS
her Cied when he was but twelve
rs of age, and has father died seven
ts afterward. Consequently he was
only deprived OF a mothers care at
formative age OF bcyhood, but he was
own upon ms own resources before he
! reached early manhood. he was edu-
i ed at 0beriin College and Lake Forest
+versity, and graduated Tor the ministry
IA the Lane Theological Seminary, Gin
hiatt, Ohio, IN lsS2. While there be
Infested tie character and the spirit
tch have followed him as an evangelist
over the country. They have made his
kistry 4 continual success as pastor and
Tevivaiist. His sermons are simple
4 direct, so that their influence Is not
much due 10 exciting the emotions as
winning the hearts and convincing the
Ids Of those who hear him. DIR. Chap
IN is now IN charge OF the Fourth Pres
lerian Church, New York Gty.I
EEw YORK CITY The Rev. DR.. j. Will
Chapman, Americas most famous pas.
|-eyangelist, who took charge of a MORT
u, la en# i
Is now preaching 10 an oyertiowIng
kgregation, has furnished the following
|quent sermon 10 the press. 1t was
|ached from the text: / Kings, 10: I,
Tut he himself went a days journey into
wilderness, and came and sat down
der juniper tree, and he requested Tor
lself that he might die"
The history OF Elijah begins with the
Eenteenth chapter Of ! Kings and starts
tn the word "and." The preceding
apter tells US Of the idolatry of the peo-
: of the reign of lawessness and the
parent triumph OF iniquity. Ii seemed
If the end of all things had come, and /
ppose everybody living in that time
ought so, but ii this was the impression,
c fatal mistake had been made because
ID is left out OF all consideration. 1t is
II for US 10 remember that He is never
a loss The land may be overrun with
quity, His witnesses may be silenced,
{ all the time He Is preparing man IN
me quiet village as He prepared Elijah,
d at the right time He viii send him
-th with no uncertain testimony! There
really no place for pessimiSm in the
ngdom OF God. He has never made a
lure in the past, lie never will IN the
ture. "lf Cod be for US, who can be
ailst us" 1t is literally true that when
e enemy comes in like a tlcod this spirit
the Lord shall hit up standard against
m.
The story of Elijah is most interesting,
d we trace him from his sudden appear
ce here flashing like meteor upon the
enc of action, down to Chcrith, where
is fed by the ravens, over TO Zarephath,
lere he relieves the distress of the wcm.
who meets him, but the most remark
lie scene in his life Is on Mt. Carmel,
lere, facing the prophets of Baa!, after
cir inability TO call down fire from heav-
he produces the fire from the very
I'd of God, which consumed the sacri-
G, licks up the water IN the trenches
d gives him victory of a most remarka-
: Kind. The prophets Of Baal are dis
essed, and the news concerning their de-
It is carried TO JeZebel. She Is intensely
CRY, and declares that Elijah shall be as
r prophets are at certain hour OF the
y. Instead of looking up to God and
umphing over this wicked woman Eli.
q does quite the opposite, and thus 1t Is
at the text Is written 10 describe his sad
How are the mighty fallen? II would
difficult to imagine man IN whose lite
ere was more OF real contrast; now he is
lster in prayer and the pendulum which
incs one way toward glory swings In
; life in the other direction toward de-
air, and the prayer for victory becomes
wall of distress; now he is locking up
G heavens and holding the key and ap.
reptly at his own will the rain tarries or
lis, and now utterly Gismayed he is rush
, to the wilderness aud wishing that he
ght die, but Elijah is not alone in this
sire. TIE most of men have at one time
another wished that they might end all.
oses did, And if Thou deal thus with
;, kin re, pray Thee, out of hand, if !
We found favor in Thy sight. and let me
I see my wretchedness." Numbers IL;
SO also did Jonah, Therefore now, o
,rd, take, | beseech Thee. my life from
;, for II is better for me TO die than to
Dostle Paul said, 81 am in a strait be-
ixt two. having desire TO depart and TO
with Christ" but the trouble with the
ost cf rs is we want 20 Gle cur own way.
ijah was not willing 20 die at the hand
JeZebel, bat he was quite ready TO sleep
nself away into insensltility under the
niper tree in the desert. Elijah made a
eat mistake in running away. IL he bad
)cd lis ground he might have saved his
untry. Prevented the captivity OF the
ople, for | doubt not the 1000 that had
t bowed the knee 20 Baal would have
me forth, and they would have rushed
-ward conquering and 70 conquer, but
ijah is a picture of ourselves, and we al,
e him have been times without number
der the juniper tree. The object of this
rTncn is 10 ask the question, why we
e thus discouraged" and then TO deter
ne if possible what the difficulty was
tn Elijah.
Why are we? There are thousands of
oDle to-day who are utterly dissatisfied
tn life because they are living too artiti'
Il an experience. We have very many
lrgs that our ancestors did not possess.
le possession of these things ought 70
ing TO US great blessings in every way,
Il as matter OF fact II is true that
ither happiness, nor brotherly love, nor
e least. We have indeed gone IN the OPP
site direction, ard many of US are Of
men most miserable. We are discon.
nted because we are trying 10 he some
ing that we are not. The business man
inks he must keep pace with his compet-
" whatever the cost 20 himself. and in a
tie time he finds himself out OF his lati-
de. In society thousands Of people are
ing the customs and manners Of those
DO are in an entirely different set from
by whose side they can Lever
md. and II they Gid they would be only
e more unhappy. and there are thousands
homes where instead OF living a simple
c the members of the household are liv-
z at a pace that is terrific, and all this
killing the business man, the society
,man, the parents and the children. and
stead Of Possessing JOY and peace We are
der the juniper tree. The thirst for
sasure in these DAYS is 50 great that We
We become absolutely unscrupulous IN our