The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1902-08-07
DIR. CHAPMAN'S SERMON
A SUNDAY DISCOURSE BY THE NOTED
PASToR.EvANcELlsT.

Subject: The Noarness OF God Alph abet
of Divine Love - Not Enough Of God
I'm Nature to Satisfy Our Souls - Need
of the Lords ''Nearncss."
New YORK CrrY.-The Rev. j. Wilbur
Chapman's sermons continue to excite the
greatest interest and to give the greatest
satisfaction to that large body of American
people who demand a striking discourse for
their weekly reading. The distinguished
pastor-evangelist has prepared the follow
ing sermon for the press. It is entitled
"The Nearness of God" and is preached
from the text, "Thou art near, O Lord"
Psalm 1l9: Isl.
This text is taken from one of the long
BILE not onlv on account of it's length, but
because of its teaching. Like the celestial
city it lieth four square: the heighth and
the depth and the length and the breadth
of it are the same. There is but one theme
in all the Psalm and that is the word OF
God, and reminds one of nothing SO much
as a diamond which as you hold it as the
light touches it from every side it sends
out to all beholders the evidences of it's
beauty and of its worth. and this 10th
Psalm is the makeup Of the word of God,
for everv verse except two, namely, the
J22d and the 132d refer in some way to
Gods word, and it is mentioned either an
der the figure of law, or testimonies, or
word. or precepts.
The writer of this Psalm must have been
inspired with the word of God as he knew
It, I have heard of an old Christian who
meditated his way through the Bible three
times. Surely this is the secret of a wholly
happy life. In 1889 at the time of great
political excitement William Wilberforce
made this note in his diary. ri have walked
this morning from HYDE Park corner re-
peating the 10th Psalm. and having great
comfort" Martin Luther said on COM
menting on this Psalm. "David must have
shaken everv fruit tree in Gods garden
and gathered fruit therefrom." Like other
portions of the Scripture this Psalm has
the alphabet of divine love, perhaps be-
cause of its division. because it is separ-
ated into groups of eight verses. and each
group is under letter Of the Hebrew al
phabet until the alphabet is exhausted. II
is really the Alpha and Omega of the word
of God. In the New Testament the incar-
rate word or Saviour is represented as the
Alpha and Omega. May it not be because
the alphabet has been exhausted in display
the Old Testament the alphabet has been
exhausted in speaking of His glorious word?
1t has also been called the paradise of all
doctrines. and have been amazed to see
how many are here presented. Pardon.
justification. sanctifcation, they are all
here. 1t also has been represented as the
storehouse of the Holy Shirt, for really in
no part of the Bible is He more wonder
fully presented. and it has been spoken of
as the school of truth. for really nothing is
omitted. We might lose all the rest Of the
Bible, but if we had this we would know
God and might find our way up to Him
Through $50 verses David has been speak
ing of all these things and has been talk
ing of God, when suddenly as if he were
impressed with the fact that He of whom
he had been speaking was near he bursts
out in the cry of our text, ''Thou art near,
o Lord" 1t is possible thing for one to
preach so profoundly that he loses sight of
Him of whom he speaks; or Sunday
most to be unconscious of the presence of
Christ OF whom she has been teaching. It
is good thing for us all to stop again and
again and say. 'Thou art near, o Lord"
for He is indeed nearer to US than any
earthly friend.
Kindred texts. There are certain texts
in the Scripture which are akin TO the one
| have chosen, as, for example, Psalm l2l:
5: "The Lord is thy keeper; the Lord is
thy shade upon thy right hand" If the
Lord is our keeper why need we go astray,
for He neither slumbers or sleeps. Psalm
3D. l8. is another text, "The Lord is nigh
unto them that are of a broken heart; and
saveth such as be of contrite spirit" ]
am sure / am Speaking for you all when
say there never has been heartache If we
have accented our discipline as He intend
ed, that He has not been graciously near to
US. Philippians the fourth chapter and the
tifth. verse, the last clause. is another illus
tratlon, and Is, very much like the text.
Let yomr moderation be known unto all
men. The Lord is at hand" Paul has
been speaking of peace and the JOY of
Christian fellowship. when suddenly he
speaks out like David of old. "The Lord is
at hand" and Immediately he begins with
this sentence, "Be careful for nothing" OF
course we need be careful for nothing if
the Lord is at hand, for He will bear every
burden with us and HELM us to overcome
every trial; The 23d Psalm is another
beautiful illustration. It has been nv
privilege within the past few days to sit BY
the death bed of a young man who may
even now be passing out into the eternity.
and when I told him that the end had
come for him he said, '1t is a long journey
to make alone. is it not?" Nv only answer
was this 23d Psalm, ''Yea, though walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
l will fear no evil. for Thou art with me-
anu Ao DIusueu CHe Tears OUT OF his eyes
and said. "Then I am not afraid" nor
need we be at any time, for He is always
with US. We learn by contrast to admire
many things. Those who have studied the
paintings of Sir Noel Patton must have OBJ
served that part of their peculiar beauty
lies, by trick of art, in their partial ugli-
ness: There are flowers and birds.
knights and ladies, gossamer winged fairies
and children of seraphic beauty, but in the
corner of the canvas, or just at their feet.
some uncouth and loathsome form-a toad.
lizard, Shiny snailto lend, by con-
ttrast with its responsiveness, a lovelier
beauty to the rest. So in ancient sculp-
ture the griffin and the dragon grin among
the angel faces on the cathedral 'front.'
frightening the surrounding beauty OF
their deformity. Many of the literary sit
nations Of the New Testament DOW erfulIv
exhibit this species of contrast. The twelve
dlsciples-one of them is devil. Jesus
upon the cross, pure and regal-on either
side. thief. And here, az conspicuously.
IN this fifteenth chapter of Luke. the most
exquisite painting in the Bible Is touched
off at the foot with the black thunder
cloud of the elder brother-perfect az a
mere dramatic situation. And so here we
understand better that the Lord is by our
side when we imagine for moment all He
frov,, Iv