Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-05-17
BOW in The CLOUD
ay Discourse by DR.. Chapman, the
Noted astor-EyangeIist.
A Gospel Message Filled With Sweetness and
fieIp-We Get 0nIy the Half Of
Thisgs at Best.

HeIp-We Get OnIy the Halt Of
Things at Best.
THE Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman, d. d, is
now the most distinguished and best
known evangelist in the country. He was
second only TO DIR. Talmage, but since the
death of that famous preacher DIR. Chap
man has the undisputed possession of the
Pulpit as tine preacher to influence the
plain people. His services as an evangei-
ist are in constant demand. His sermons
have stirred the hearts CT men and women
to degree unapproached by any latter
day divine. j. Wilbur Chapman was born
in Richmond, Ind, June II, 1850. He was
educated at Oberlin College and Lake For
est University, and graduated for the min.
istry from the Lane Theological Semin-
airy, Cincinnati, Ohio. in 1852. His ser.
mons are simple and direct, so that their
influence Is not so much due to exciting
the emotions as to winning the hearts and
convincing the minds of those who hear
him. DIR. Chapman is now in charge OF
the Fourth Presbyterian Church, New
York City.]
NEW York CITY-The following sermon
Is one prepared Cor publication by the
Rev. j. Wilbur Chapman, Americas best
known evangelist, who Is now preaching TO
overlooking congregations in this city. 1t
IS entitled "The Bow in the Cloud and is
founded on the text, Genesis 8: Is, II do
set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be
tor token OF a covenant between Me and
the earth
1t may seem at first thought as If this
were a queer text to choose IRON which 10
give a gospel message, and yet all the
works of God are so wonderful that one
has but TO get the key to unlock the door
- -. L.. 4 =. IL
sweetness and with help. The rainbow is
no exception to this rule. II is hardly
possible for one to look upon the bow that
spans the clouds after a storm without an
exclamation of delight.
One would think that it would grow mo-
notonous, for we have seen it so many
times, but quite the opposite is true Sun
sets differ; they are as unlike as two things
could possibly be. Indeed, it must be true
that one is never like the other. But rain
bows are always the same. And yet in
spite OF this we are charmed as We look,
and inspired as We study.
The first mention OF a bow is In the
text. 1t is not said that this is the first
time the rainbow has appeared, for from
the very nature of the case 1t has always
jeen IN existence since the worlds began
be, but this is said TO be the first use
1t. The last mention OF rainbow is
evelation a: 8: and He that sat was to
there was a rainbow round about the
one, in sight like unto an emerald"
You notice that the expression used is
round about the throne" and here for the
first time we find a rainbow in a complete
circle
We have only seen the half of it here,
which is surely an illustration OF the fact
that in this world at best we only get the
half Of things. We only get the half of
truth. Take the great doctrine of the
Atonement; who is able to understand it?
But it Is very helpful to know that we are
not obliged to understand it, but only to
receive it. God is satisfied with it, and
He fully comprehends it, and when we
stand with Him in glory we shall see the
other half OF the bow, and our hearts shall
rejoice. We only see the half OF life here.
AT its best it is mystery. Over and over
again, when we wanted to go to the right
we were compelled to turn to the left, and
thousand times because OF our perplexi.
ties and trials we have cried aloud:
How can these things be-"
But we must learn the lesson that we
ust trust Him where we cannot under
and Him. The day will come, when
n ated at His feet we shall see the other
st i OF the bow OF our. life, and we shall
Sc. DIV indeed that all things have worked
ha ether for good.
KIN. b. last mention of the bow in Revela-
tog tells US that it is to be like an emer.
I This is certainly very strange, for
ton has never beheld a green rainbow
lid Six other colors must be added TO il
)ne Ike It complete. The color. however,
lere. without its suggestiveness. Green
% ma color that always rests the eye. Ii
5 not this reason that the hillsdes, the
waving branches Of the tree, and the grass
beneath ! our feet, are so restful on a sum-
mer daS !. Is not this hint that heaven
Is a piac e of rest as well as beauty?
There are three primal colors in the
rainbow. red, yellow and blue. If you
drop the red and put the yellow and blue
together y,ou have green as a result. Red
is the col or OF suff ,ring. Surely it is
hint as To the thought that when one
passes Through the gates of pearl he leaves
suffering behind him. There is to be no
red marx Il heaven. Christ finished His
sutferinGs UPON Calvary, and never a pang
shall meet MIN again. We finish our sui.
ferincs. too, \when we say goodbye to this
weary road We have travelled, and the gate
OF heaven thht shuts US in shuts suffering
out. ,r,,r,
flor this text which have quoted has to
do witt mimi. and a cloud in Noah's day
was nor unlike The cloud of yesterday;
but in the bought OF the sermon the cloud
is sin.
II would make one heartsick to read the
history OF SIN. FIST IN the world, Deglns
ming with Adam. going to Noah, reaching
the howiing mob about the cross on Cal
vary, coming Down TO the present day,
wncn the whole world seems TO be touched
with its power, the most terrible thing in
the world is sin. Second, in the home,
blighting and blasting that which is a
tyce of heaven, and wrecking that which
God meant to be a safe vessel to carry US
through the turmoils and strife ever round
about us. Third, in our own heart, giving
Us wrong conceptions of God, and drag,
ging us toward hell, even against our viii.
The blacklist thing in all the world is sin
The cloud does two things: (l) II OBJ
scures the sun. The cloud Of sin does the
same thing. No one ever yet has had a
true vision OF Jesus Christ with the least
particle of sin in his heart or LIE Blessed
are the pure in heart, for they snail see
God"
A poor fellow converted in one of the
missions in Chicago, who was thought be.
fore his conversion to be hardly worth the
saving, was so wonderfully transformed
that committee waited upon him to find
the secret of his changed lire. He answered
their question in just one sentence:
Il have seen Jesus.
This vision ever changes the ife and
transforms character.
~ The cloud compels Us TO Sc things
in a false light God made the works OF
His hands IN he Saan in no cunliOi. We