Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1902-02-10
SERMON ON GOD OR BAAL?
BY The Rev. George S. Bell,
Pastor Of First Presby
terian Church.

the Rev. George S. Bell, pastor of the
the First Presbyterian Church, of An.
napolis. Sunday morning. January 26
Subject--I Kings. 1871, "If The Lord
Be God. Follow Him; Blu. II BaaI, Then
Follow Him."
"You have been reminded by our
Scripture lesson how Gods power was
invoked TO work miracle that should
be startling in its significance. The
argument of the miracle was so convinc-
ing that the people fell on their faces
crying, The Lord, ne is God, the Loid
he IS God This has been called the
most dramatic event in the history OF the
world. II undoubtedly is, with the ex-
ception of the cruci6xion OF our Lord.
The beginning OF the causes which led
up TO this terrible scene was when Ahab
married beautiful Jez=bel. the Zidonian
princess. She came into the Kings heart
ard home, bringing her household gods.
Wonderful is the power OF clever
and beautiful woman This is especially
true when TO unique physical beauty is
add d high nlle. Cleopatra. Queen OF
Egypt, transformed two OF Rome might
lest men into dwarls. One tells us that
Lady Macbeth screwed her husband S
courage up to the point of numbering
Duncan. We learn also that an evil
propensity in The De Medlci family
from Catherine on grows like the deadly
nigh,-shade in the lives of kings of France.
We make these reflections because wo-
man is all powerful in social life. and
social influence is the power behind the
throne everywhere. 1t is bad enough
tor a man to tarry long at the wine cup
and the punch bowl, but tor sOonaH,
it is ten fold worse.
"God has endowed woman with such
natural gifts. that she approaches omnip-
otence. nearer than any other human
power. What a responsibility. therefore,
is laid upon her to throw safeguards
around her life. and use her great gifts
to save and bless humanity Jezebel
possessed this power in the superlatve
degree. but used il for base ends. She,
first OF all. coaxed and wheedled Ahab
to cease worshipping God. The next
thing The spiritual worship OF Jehovah is
converted into religious feast, and the
tickle people sit at tables laden with
bak, meats, spiced dainties and sweet
scented wines. The nation had exchang-
ed IT'S master for mistress who sent out
armies. who burned the synagogues, slew
the priests and worshipers, until there
were but a handful lett who had not
bowed the knee TO Baal. After a time,
when the night OF evil had grown into
midnight, Elijah emerges from his cave.
and dreading nothing under heaven but
shining, boldly faces Ahab with mes
sage OF FIRE.
1.-The king quails before the burning
words of the prophet. and sends out the
messengers. who gather the multitude on
Carmel. The picture OF that awful scene,
and the turning of the people back to
God, have read to you this morning
from the inspired penman. remind
you that Elijah challenged the priests OF
Baal, but Jesus Christ challenges the
world. What religion or philosophy
gives the finest type OF character, the
highest degree OF purity ? What religion
fosters schools, asylums, hospitals and
charities 2 What religion creates hap.
pies, homes, fountains. swelling stream )
10 refresh, bless ard to gladden. the worldl
What religion iorgives mans sins, ele.
Yates his views, gives him the highest
aspirations. offers him peace while living.
and hope when dying What philosophy
or religion can dry the mourner's tears.
and plant on the grave the flowers OF
hope OF the resurrection This is the
challenge of Christ. II is true, Christian
countries are disgraced by some OF the
foulest crimes known in any age OF the
world, but. as il has been we'll said, that
hat f-tt nd
red, goes to prove the enlighiening
power OF Christianity
These sins brought to light tim. and
again, are common every day occur
rences in the countries OF heathenism.
Go to Pompeii, and look upon that pic
ture Of human society, unearthed after
1900 years, and you will blush for heath
enism. and thank God you live in a
Christian land, Here are our modern
false prophets who. by their cold. pitt
able reasoning, would put out. if they
could. this holy fre--ihs inspiration OF
the Scriptures. They would rob God cf
| his power to work miracles, and Jesus
Christ of hi divinity and authority to
| forgive sins. But there is great cloud
OF Witnesses 10 testify that Christ forgave
their sins, comfort, them in trouble,
strengthened them in weakness, and
kindl their lamp oi hope when the
fierce blast OF temptation had blown j,
| out. The question is of.en asked whether
the world is growing better. | answer
yes. the world Is growing better. Never
the less. the answer to the question de-
| pends on our point OF view. II is certain
that the leaven OF wickedness is working
for mans destruction as surely as in the
days OF Elijah. Christ's word is better.
/ II is larger. lis channels of influence run
| deeper. but the world OF which Satan is
the god. is as selfish, as sinful. as much
oppos to the gospel Of Chiist and the
govern ment Of God as it ever was.
"How do know this We read TIE
negvsbate,y An annual increase OF mur.
der ano manslaughter far exceeding the
percentage of proportion OF other days.
Losses OF integrity in business relations.
and illgollen gains by both men ard
women in stock gambling at the card
| table. Marital Infdelity in startling ire.
| quency and easy divorces have multi
| piled so astonishinely for Christian
land, that many Of cur courts Of justice
| are called divorce mills. The world o.
| which Satan is the god. Stems to have
gone mad. Selfish gam and pleasure
| rule not only six days OF the week. bu
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