The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-11-28
THANKSGIVING SERMON
Or. CHAPMAN UTTERs A MESSAGE
APPROPRIATE TO The DAY.
Timely Discourse Entitled "Three Meet.
ings OF the ssyiouT'-Render Thanks
10 God = or the Greatest of Gifts. His
Son, Jesus Christ.

Son, Jesus Christ.
NEw YORK CIIY-The Rev. DR. j WI.
bur Chapman, who has recently resigned
the pastorate OF the Fourth Presbyterian
Church IN this city IN order 10 devote him
self 70 evangellstle work, has prepared the
following Thanksgiving sermon Tor the
press. IL Is entitled - hree Meetings Of
the Saviour" and is founded on the text,
Evening, and morning, and az noon, viii
j pray Psalm IS: IL
Ii is quite the custom on THANKSGIVING
Day 70 render thanks and praise unto God
Tor material gifts and material prosperity.
We are accustomed 10 measure the har-
vests and 10 try 10 count out earthly bless.
lngs, and then make an effort 20 put into
language some adequate expression OF our
appreciation OF Gods goodness | leave
this task 20 other ministers, while | IN
their name and behalf cxLAess my grateful
thanks 10 God Tor the greatest OF all gifts.
namely. His Son, Jesus Christ, and II j.
my hope that | may present Him in such
way IN this message that all may see tina:
II Is their privilege 10 come IN closest fe..
lowshlp with Him. With this thought in
mind ] use the text, Evening and at
morning, and at noon, Will ] pray The
Psalmlst determines 10 pray frequently, at
least three times he VIII be on his knees
he determines 10 pray fervently, for he Will
cry aloud unto God. The text does not
run as We would like 1t 10, for we always
reverse the order and say az morning, al
noon, and at evening. but the Hebrews be.
gan the day with the evening and closed
II with noon. We always begin il with the
morning, and one day we shall reach a
morning which shall never end The
Psalmist means that ne viii pray more
than three times. he Is simply saying that
ne Will begin and continue and end the
day with God He takes the natural di.
VISION OF the day and az each point he de-
termlnes to set up an altar Mr.. Spurgeon
says he lays n line straight through the day
and tracks the san with his petitions. 1t
used 10 be said in olden times that we
should pray three times at least, at even
ing, because Christ was on the cross, in
the morning because lie rose from the
dead, and at noon because then He ascend
ed. IL our bodies need nourishing three
times, why not our soulsg We have fre-
quent Old Testament illustrations Of this
habit, notably Daniel. Now when Daniel
knew that the writing was signed he went
INTO his house, and. his windows being
open in his chamber toward Jerusalem. he
kneeled upon his knees three times a day
and prayed, and gave thanks before his
God as he did aforetime.' Daniel g. TO-
We have the early members Of the church
IN the New Testament presenting us an ex-
ample. and If we study the Acts OF the
Apostles we find the disciples many times
IN prayer, but always morning, noon and
night For Jesus 10 be with us is one
thing, and we are all the time in His
thought; He has promised never 10 leave
US and never 10 iorsaEe US, but for Us TO
be with Him IN our contemplation is quite
another thing, and it is that we may learn
this lesson that | speak the words OF the
text. The result of this fellowship will be
cause for thanksgiving These three times
are suggested because the morning is the
time OF feasting, the noon is the tine Of
questioning or resting while the evening
Is the time for the settling OF accounts.
and | have changed the order of the text
for the reason that we are living in the
new dispensation.
The morning But when the morning
was come John p: T. Johns gospel
might properly have closed with the Goth
chapter. The 3lst verse of that chapter l.
most significant and gives the object and
aim OF the gospel. But these are written.
that We might believe that Jesus Is the
Christ the Son of God and that believing
ye might have life through His name"
But John adds this 2lst chapter because
he gives US another beautiful picture of the
Lord, and records the only miracle worked
after the resurrection. May this not be
typlca' and did we but live IN touch with
our Lord might II not be possible in these
days to have filed nets and a multitude
about us of the saved.
The disciples had returned to their
homes in Galilee after the events men
toned IN the previous chapter. They were
probably in the house of Iebedee. They
were doubtless talking of the past They
might have called to mind their first meet
ing with the Saviour and dwelt lovingly
on the glory OF His life. They might have
spoken In whispers OF the disappointment
OF His death, and then with shining faces
have recalled the account of His resurrec-
tlon and His personal appearing 70 them
a tVag - ha
again. They are back amid the familiar
scenes of their old life; the boats are lying
on the beach, the fishermen are mending
their nets and these seven, five of whom
are named and two unnamed, doubtless
stand together. There ! boat pushing
out from the shore, and the women are
wishing their husbands and boys good
speed, while the men answer with words
OF cheer. Fishing Is always fascinating
and so ! can imagine Peter with flashing
eye and twitching nerves and quick beat
ng heart looking about the busy scene un-
til he can stand It no longer and then he
says, 90 a-flsnlng. Instantly they are
all ready to 60 and they push of from the
shore It is a most beautiful sea in itself
and as their oars flashed IN the light of
the setting sun as they are away to the
old scenes OF other days, the vision j. fas-
clnatIng. But II really was q perilous po-
siton. for though the sea is alwavs treacb.
here are these representative leaders OF
the cause Of Christ What if they had
been lost in the night? The same question
might be asked concerning Moses when a
child in the ark What If one OF the waves
Of the Nile should submerge the little ark
or the crocodile should crunch IL! But such
questions are idle and useless Moses j.
not safer to-day than then, and so these
early disciples were safe. because their
hope was centred upon One whose eyes
are ever upon His own by night They
toied and took nothing Every old de-
vice was used 70 charm the fish. but every
time the net was drawn up they knew by
the tug OF It that they had failed As the
hight is breaking they are about 100 yards
from, the shore. They hear a voice saying
Lads, have We any meat;' and they an
swer No Cast the net on the right
side, says the stranger and l53 hsh was
the result of obedience. The disciples |
shout, at is the Lord and Peter jump !
ing into the waves swims ashore. and in
obedience 70 the command Of the Master. |
Come and dine they all sit with Him |
about the fire and ate. May ! suggest sew
tral daily lessons for the morning hour;
First. Jesus stood upon the shore and |
they knew not that u was Jesus He j. al. |
ways nearer than we think. and He has /
been waiting every morning since that day 1
20 begin the dSy with His own d.scinles /
You must begin every day with Him.
therefore, II you would have a day Of /
peace
Il have a Friend so precious,
% very dear % me.
He loves me with such tender love, /
lie loves 80 faithfully.
j could not live apart from Him, /
! love % feel Him nigh:
And 20 we dwell together,