The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-05-15
The BOW IN The CLOUD
Sunday Discourse by DR.. Chapman, the
Noted Pastor. Evangelist.
A Gospel Message Filled With Sweetness and
fieip--we Get Only the Half OF
Things at Best.

1.-The Eev. J. Wilbur Chapman. ID. d is
now the rost distinguished and best
known evangelist in the country He was
second only to DR.. Talmage but since the
death of that famous preacher DIR. Chap
man has the undisputsd possession OF the
Pulpit as the preacher to influence the
plain people His services as an evangel-
ist are in constant demand. His sermons
have stirred the hearts of men and women
10 a degree unapproaohed by any latter
day divine. j. Wilbur Chapman was born
in Richmond. Ind. June II, 1859 He was
educated at Oberlu College and Lake For
est University. and graduated for the min
istry from the Lane Theological Semin-
ary, Cincinnati. Ohio. in 1882. 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 DR.. Chapman is now in charge Of
the Fourth Presbyterian Church, New
York City.]
NEW York CITY.-The following sermon
Z one prepared for publication by the
Rev. j. Wilbur Chapman, Americas best
known evangelist, who is now preaching to
oyerfiowing congregations in this city 1t
is entitled THE Bow in the Cloud" and is
founded on the text, Genesis 0: l3, 81 do
set My bow in the cloud and it shall be
for token OF a covenant between Me and
the earth"
1t may seem at first thought as if this
were queer text to choose from which to
give gospel message, and yet all the
works OF God are so wonderful that one
has but TO get the key to unlock the door
leading into them to find them filled with
sweetness and with help. The rainbow IL
no exception to this rule. 1t is hardly
possible for one to look upon the bow that
spans the clouds after 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 it has always
been IN existence since the worlds began
to be, but this is said to be the 6rst use
OF it. The last mention of a rainbow is
Revelation 4: g. And He that sat was to
look upon Ikea jasper and sardine stone;
and there was a rainbow round about the
throne, 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 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 1t. 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
q 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
must trust Him where we cannot under
stand Him. The day will come, when
seated at His feet we shall see the other
half of the bow of our life, and we shall
know indeed that all things have worked
together for good.
The last mention of the bow in Revela-
tion tells us that it is to be like an emer-
aid. This is certainly very strange. for
one has never beheld a green rainbow
here. Six other colors must be added to it
TO make it complete. The color. however,
is not without its suggestveness Green
is for this reason that the hillsides, the
waving branches of the tree. and the grass
beneath our feet, are so restful ON sum
lner day. Is not this a hint that heaven
is q place of rest as well as beauty:
There are three primal colors in the
rainbow, red, yellow and blue Ii you
drop the red and put the yellow and blue
together you have green as a result. Red
Is the color of suffering. 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
sutierings upon Calvary, and never a pang
shall meet Him again. We finish our suf.
ieriags, too, when we say goodbye to this
weary road we have travelled and the gate
oil heaven that shuts us in shuts suffering
out.
1.-THE CLOUD.
We know what the cloud was for Noah
(for this text which | have quoted has to
do with himl and cloud in Noah's day
was not unlike the cloud OF yesterday;
but In the thought OF the sermon the cloud
ts SIN
1t would make one heartsck to read the
history OF sin. First in the world. begin.
ming with Adam. going to Noah reaching
the howhng mob about the cross ON Cal.
vary, coming down to the present day.
when the whole world seems to be touched
with its power, the most terrible thing in
nne Worlu Is SIN. second, IN the home,
blightng and blasting that which is a
tyce of heaven, and wrecking that which
God meant to be 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 will.
The blaekest thing in all the wsrld is sin.
The cloud does two things % 1t OBJ
scures the sun. The cloud OF sin does the
same thing. No one ever yet has had
true vision OF Jesus Christ with the least
particle oil sin in his heart or life. Blessed
are the pure in heart, for they shall 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 life He answered
Their question in just one sentence:
"l-have seen Jesus"
This vision ever changes the life and
transforms character.
~ The cloud compels us 20 see thing,
IN a. false light God made the works ol
His hands to be seen in the sunlight We
mhst not judge them under the cloud And
with the cloud of sin across a mans mind
ne can have no real conception of the
la L..