The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-10-08
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE sY THE
REV. DR.. S. PARKS CADMAN.
The Distinguished Brooklyn Divine De-
livers Powerful Address Entitled
'The Calling of Life'-Why We Must
Offer to God Genuine Sainthood.

Ofer TO God Genuine Salntnoous
BROOKLYN. n. Y.-Dr Samuel Parkes
Cadman. pastor of the Central Congrega-
tional Church, occupied his pulpit for the
| first time Sunday morning since his vaca-
ton and his return from Europe. A large
congregation had assembled. The sermon
was upon The Calling of Life" and the
text from the First Epistle to the Corin-
thians i:2, Called to be saints" DR.. Cad
man said in the course OF strong sermon:
To-day we enter upon the fifteenth year
OF our church's existence and work. Be
hind us lies the honorable past, conferring
obligation more than feeding pride, holy
prophecy in living deeds and strong root
OF confidence that God, even the God OF
our fathers. who has reared this pillar to
| His name and glory, will not break 1t IN
the midst So this year OF jubilee Is upon
us. and these considerations make it a
priceless possession which our stewardship
must guard and increase.
] These divisions OF time are arbitrary, but
influential. January is but moments
space from December 81, and yet the birth
! of a. new year has witnessed in numberiess
! instances spiritual and moral revolutions.
4 few hours separate Good Friday from
Easter Day, but if near in time, how dis
tant are they in meaning. These distinc-
|
break the crust OF our conventionahty,
they recall Us to our original work and
purposes and they inspire Us with the re-
aiit;eS OF vision and OF hope.
Let us beware oi blaming ouc surround
! insS for our weakness, our failure to IN
strumeutally convert men and control the
present word in the intere. OF the kind
dom. The scant supply OF living waters Is
tco often caused by the choked pipe and
its paucity prevents man; from seeking It.
| Pastors. teachers and workers OF ali
churches should remember that the mighty
tide of Gods life and blessing finds its
way to human hearts through their ap-
pointed agencies. And the greatest church
among us is only like port on the ocean s
shore, dependent on it for increase and for
strength.
Dredee deep the bar and cleanse away
| the silt OF daily cares. Then, when the
text is thus understood and obeyed, COM
merce with the unseen world shall bring
us wealthier frcights, and life, which now
seems far away, and inland shall be lifted
upon this resistless afriuence OF blessing
and brought back to God.
| But sainthood is no passive movement,
dependent on our inaction, hesitating when
we are alert and shy of any effort we can
make to secure its franchise. 1t absorbs
into one fame Of devotion altar and sacri-
fee. 1t insists upon the full employment
of every capacity and new and better obe-
diences. 1t bids you rise from the low
grounds of despair and cease to say:
"What might I no3 have made OF Thv fair
world had I but lived Thy highest" Gods
love and health are yours, willing to meet
your readjustment of energy and OF aim.
Lord Salisbury's favorite advice to those
who pestered him about his world-com-
pelling diplomacy bade them Study larger
maps" And the sweep OF Gods plan IN
your life and mine is wide unto the inf.
mite, tender and wise and capable beyond
wrote these words he was conscious OF
their high supremacy, and yet tney are but
faint reflection Of the weight OF glory
] God has chosen to give perfected char
acter after the pattern of the Master.
If we see the cxcellency OF this calling it
should mean for US the objective point
where the finest energies OF the soul are
constantly in service. The pity of it is that
we are busy overmuch in trivial and iimma..
terial things and struggle in the meshes OF
the commonplace.
Our souls pace is liable to be set to
perishable strains. where noble means are
used for little ends. Strenuous life Is wise
when its aims are correspondingly high,
|
| tian is always busy-catching flies
To be born man and die-not saint,
defeats the central thought OF our loving
Creator. Manhood sacrificed to anything
less than the Makers purpose is manhood
lost We may pursue the petty round un-
til high achievement and its possibility are
paraiyzed. >.
It is spiritual health and moral thoughtful
ness. 1T is" to quote significant utter
ance of Dr.. Arnold, OF Rugby, the inquir,
ing love OF truth sustained by the devoted
love OF goodness" 1t is wholesome. be-
cause it is holy, set about and adorned by
the abiding beauty of holiness. rightly un-
derstood. 1t is practice. not theory; con
secration. not perfection: condition OF
character and not theological definition.
1t is the kinship in willing and feeling OF
yoilr spirit to the sDirit of Christ. who was
! the very will and heart of God in human
! flesh.
Because it flows out of the fulress OF
God and is accepted by our belief, It IS a
catholic blessing. and there has been no
more miscbievous teaching than that which
has limited it to q sect within the church.
Being Gods gift, its only condition OF ex-
istence in YOU is your hearty trust and ac'
ceutance OF the same. followed by constant
| eUOrt 10 VAIN III. Y IL. s't way -hihC Avn
all who profess and call themselves Chris
tans, for brilliant but blameworthy. CORN
thians. for generous but fick.e Galatians,
for Ephesus in her dearth Of first love, as
for Sardis and Laodicea, with Ii lie more
than mere name to live; let none draw
back from this divine election or declare
the boon is not for them.
Many shrink from this term saint be-
cause it has been detained by the charlatanl
and soiled by all ignobe use. Pharsaical
sanctimoniousness and bigoted exclusive
ness and false standards of the real meas.
ure and quality of sainthood have hindered
its free range.
But, rightly known. it is the spirit OF the
heavens within the wheels of earthly inter
course.
Cardinal Newman reflected upon the
church OF his birth that she failed to pro-
I .ce sainthood, and the Roman comnun'
ion. he declared. was first and singular in
this respect. How rudely he challenged
Anglican complacency some OF US know
Capable of much, it was wanting here;
Bishops, theologians. exegists, ecclesiastical
statesmen it could and did afford, but
saints, no. Bishop Kew, John keble and
Richard William Church are sufficient evi-
dence to the contrary. And l only quote
the cardinal to show how segregated ideals