The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-04-28

Rev. james Stuart Dickson. Of Phila-
delphia. brother of a. w. Dickson and
II Clergyman we'll known and admired
in this city. occupied the pulpit of the
First Presbyterian church yesterday at
both services.
Last night he chose for his text.
I John. va, FOR whatsoever is born OF
God overcometh the world. and this is
the victory that overcrowdeth the
world, even Our faith" He spoke, in
part. as follows:
"1'hese are the words OF a man who
looked persecution fair in the face; Il
man who had seen his fellow Christians
thrown into the Roman arena to be
, made the sport of the wild beasts: n
man who lived in Rome where on every
side could be seen the power and
splendOr of the world.
This man had something which he
believed gave him victory over the at
tacis Of the world though he was one
of the poorest of his time. Our
! conceptions of the forces of the world
| which are constantly seeking to prevent
our Christian life change as we grow
| older. Our boyhood conceptions change
into 4 realization. as we grow older,
that makes us have t; respect for the
cunning and clevcrness Of our adver-
sary.
what is the world as meant in this
text? First, it Is temptation. broadly
| speaking, and, second, it is sum total
OF all the forces OF Gods enemies.
What is the victory over these
hostile forces? and what is Christian
faith?
"Christian faith is not only personal
belief in the fact that Christ, the son OF
God, came into this world and bore our
sins upon the cross of Calvary. That
IS only the ground work of faith. Faith,
as I view it. is a mans own personal
realization of Christs saving power as
| opposed to the powers Of evil.
Faiths victory is the assurance that
III spite OF all Christ will carry us
through safely. if we but put our trust
in Him. 1t is the realization that we
are in what may be called, Christ's
sphere OF influence and true appre-
citation of the fact that everything that
| comes to us comes to us through His
| medium. This is no theory. 1t is real
and practical, and we see evidences of
such faith all about us. The world
| ID full of men and women who are
under attack day by day and who are
constantly being tempted by the devil.
hut who are held close to God by such
faith as have spoken of.
1--WE do not know, perhaps. Of many
| such cases. because there is no clear
| ing house at which the drafts OH Gods
| saving power are cleared"
| Rev. Mr.. Dickson, at this point in
his sermon, made an analysis Of the
! life of Paul as a typical example of the
victory of real faith over the world.
Paul, he said. was under constant fire
from: the devil, and yet was able to see
at all times that Christ was at work
| for the salvation of his soul. Your
| power to stir up the malevolence of the
world is the gauge Of your Christian
| ity." he declared. In conclusion, he
said:
"You may bear every toll set down
| iii the worlds catalogue; you may bear
| thorn always fostering and burning
| in your flesh; you may die in spirit
| ual prison house; but victory can be
| yours-the victory of seeing Jesus al
ways, of feeling His hands unceasing
pressure. of knowing with eternal GER
| titude that He is here and that He is
using every force that the devil can
devise and the world can use to make
you more really His child"