The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-24
A POSITIVE GOSPEL
THE CHRISTIANS DELIGHT.
The Reverend Gilbert ireland Tells of
the Men Who Have Been
Strong Supporters.

| Inc reverend Gilbert E. Ireland preached
yesterday morning in the CarondeIet Chris
(, tan Church on "a Positive Gospel" His;
text was Acts xiii. IS: BE it known unto
you therefore, men and brethren, that
through this man Is preached unto you the
forgiveness of SINS" He said in part:
Wherever the apostles went they preach
! cd always on exalted themes. They varied
their manner of address according to the
conditions of the audience that confronted
them. In the Jewish synagogue the learned
scribes and the more unlettered listeners
heard the wonderful unfolding of their an
cient Scriptures and were amazed at the
fesolute assertion that in their own day
and in their own midst one had arisen.
meek and lowly, and by many despised, who
should fill David's throne and fulfill the
sacred books.
In the Gentle assembly, among classic
scholars on Mars Hill. with courteous bear
ing. or amid the untaught people in the
streets of Lystra. moved by the momen.
tary impulse of heather frenzy. they told
of the Only God. the Living God, who made
heaven and earth. and that garlanded oxen
and golden shrines were naught TO him.
And through all and over all rang out
the clear, strong, decisive message concerns
ing SIN righteousness and judgment to
come and the trumpet call to repentance
and to a high and noble life of separation
wrong. knowing that the gospel would be
an ofense TO the jew and folly to the
Greek, these heralds never relaxed its
claims nor lowered lis standards, The OBJ
lection of. the pagan world TO the gospel
was that it proclaimed Jesus as the only
Lord. But 1t was this forceful and tremen-
dous preaching that placed the cross even
tually on the highest pinnacle.
The most Industrious 'dosmatist. as he
has been called. was gentle Christ The
ance he gave to those who believed on
him; sprang from what has been termed a
sublime subj re egotism He not only spoke so
himself; that he was before Abraham
that he had glory, with the Faith
sI effoFf 'ss Tssa snat
life then he declared that he that
believethS, on me shall never die
To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise? p
With him the father was no theory, eternal
life was. no illusion. Gods love was no
Utopian dream. They were facts. and on
these facts we build our faith. our hope
and, therefore. too. are resolute and posi-
"All gospel preaching should be positive.
Negative preaching not only undermnes
S Sods Of faith I but also lovers the e standard
structive This defniteness has been char
have led in great onward religious move
ments. Luther. with siedge-hammer force:
beat DOW the f fS of
sound. the absolute necessity of holiness OF
life in an age when purity and sincerity
were out of fashion.
grievous and fatal evils of sectarianism
and sounded a clarion call to the scattered
tiandom to take their stand again on the
old rallying ground of Gods Word-the
rock from which they had mSve d sssd
that. throwing human creeds; schemes ana
traditions to the winds. all lovers of God
should Join hearts and hands on Gods own
Word and present to every man such terms.
only as God offers for the forgiveness OF
sins: ,o 80 .,,,. ,r,-
tive gospel. Disquisitions on science and
philosophy and other learned lore, when
Mod fonay or allure men to-
without the Scripture requirements of re-
pentance and obedience VIII, which ., are al, al
avail. When Augustine listened to high,
flown sermons on great themes that tailed
to set forth the sh ae wad Which hes
bring me the sun and moon. instead OF
thee. r,,.,s.,. ,,f.
following should be as definite as the gospel
which persuades to them. conversion Is.
spiritually. the very crisis OF life. yet some
seem scarcely to know Whether tney nave
passed 1t or not.
'sTrace the steps briefly. The Scriptures
point t. but With 81 as
Aaron or David. yet priest and King Of
Gods appointment the CHI, Christ ane rs Son OF
mont of sin. for sin requires 1t, and God |
demands dera it. and the cross. might well break
the heart of stone. Now be ready for bap,,
For IN this public confession is a positive |
ness. that. cannot be misunderstood. It Is
the embodying OF surrender and cnnsecra-
recruit to the forces Of sin. It is David.
arrning himself with the simple weapons
ctny md ho mn nj
Lord, bidding defiance to the world. the |
flesh and the devil. It is once.ssr.aH
breaking with the old life Of unhelief- 1t is |
s.Scme young soldiers were standing on |
when I passed the other day. They had but |
Just enlisted. hut every one of them was |
ready to say. 'Henceforth. whatever is hos
is my enemy, So let the positfvenese Of the |
Christian life BIO maintained, ~ IN: