Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-04-18
DOING THE WILL OF GOD"
Sunday Sermon By the Rev. John
Erskine Adams.
Explains the Profound Purpose Which Ami.
mated the Life and Labors OF our Lord
Dangers of Spirit OF MateriaIlsm.

John Erskine Adams, pastor OF the Ross
Street Presbyterian Church. lie took as
his text John 4: IS My meat Is TO do
the will Of Him that sent Me, and to finish
His work" Mr.. Adams said:
These words express the profound pur-
pose which animated the life and labors of
our Lord He has been engaged in that
wonderful conversation with the sinful
woman OF Samaria. and TO her He has I'M
folded truths which have in part at least,
been kept up to this hour even from His
faithful followers. Things which had been
hidden from the wise and prudent are re-
vealed unto babes. Some of the most Won
derful truths that Jesus uttered were to
sinners; some OF the most gracious prom
Uses to those who, like Himself, were de-
spised and rejected OF men. To this out
cast woman whose lie was branded with
shame, He not only reveals His Willingness
TO impart the gift OF God. the living water
springing up into everlasting li!e" but He
reveals to her His divine nature and Mes.
sianic character. 81 that speak unto thee
am He
The woman has gone from His presence
with a new hope i'll her heart and a new
light upon her face, am the disciples ap-
proach their Master. lie must be hungry.
for the fast. like the way, has been long.
and they offer Him meat. He replies: Il
have meat to eat that We know not of: Nv
meat is to do the VIII Of Him that sent Me
y
Lord declare that man shall not live by
bread alone. There is n deeper satisfac-
ton than that which comes from oratif-
cation of the carnal nature: the satisfac-
ton OF outreach toward lost souls: men
and women IN famine. hayward children
OF the Father, and in that outreach: doing
the Fathers will, who desires that not
one of these little ones shall perish. That
philosophy. which proved too profound for
those disciples Is, we fear, just as incom.
prehenslble to the commercial and mater.
ialistic spirit OF this latter age. The cues.
ton: What shall we eat and what shall we
drink! Is more lmperious to-day than ever,
Epicurus has his disciples still. and Nam,
mon its shrine before which countless null
titudes bow. To cat. drink and he merry.
that is the worlds definition of life.
have said that the words of the text
express the purpose of Christ's life. They
are the motive of all His deeds; the norm
by which His every action is judged I'm
the volume OF the book it is written of Me:
10! i come to do Thy will, o, My God"
HE VIII OF the Father was the actuatino
power OF His incarnation. He knew no
other lmpelling force. 1t was this which
turned His face toward Jerusalem for His
final trial and triumph; it was this which
gave to Him the victory in the garden of
Gethsemane. and enabled Him TO put the
Gun 20 His hips and drain it to the drcgs
thority all His powers were brought sub.
Ject, and through its power all temptations
were beaten down. all personal ambitions
were destroyed. earthly distinctions and
emoluments rejected. His responsibility
to the Father pressed upon Him when only
boy OF twelve years: and deepened in His
consciousness till it became the overmas:
tering impulse of His life Responsibility
to Almighty God was Webster's definition
OF the proioundest thought that could
come to man; the Fathers business"
was the supreme business OF Jesus life:
lie knew no other mission or message.
And we are speaking truly when we say
that II was this supreme purpose which
gave power and dignity to our Saviour's
character and work. Without il. His life.
however beautiful. would have been at best
an aimless one; Without that purpose oil
doing. the Fathers will and manifestino
His glory there would have been no coher.
the VIII of God we find all that He was
and did brought to the focus: to do thar
will was His meat and His drink.
Now what was trre OF Christ is in lild
measure true OF every one OF u.s. What
purpose was and gave to the life OF our
Lord, 1t must be aad give to US. We can
no more live lives of strength without tho
deep. impulses OF a noble purpose stirring
within them. thar can the vessel reach
her destined haven without the commas.
or the pole star. Behind all things are tn.
INFINITE purposes, Tennyson gives us the
thought:
Yet | doubt not thro' the ages one in
creaslng purpose runs,
and the thoughts OF men are widened
with the process OF the suns
God takes no delight in chaos or confu
sion. His works are ordered according ia
divine purpose. Not only His works oil
creation, which move in the harmony of q
perfect plan, but those OF redemption and
grace. st. Paul asserts that His manifold
wisdom Is declared according to the ter:
nal purpose which He purposed in Chrisi
gesus our Lord And if God manifests
Ills glory IN the accomplishment of His
purpose IN nature and in grace, and II
Christs life was lived in the light of a 10:
bic purpose, how essential is il for us to
move onward in accordance with well de.
hned plans, under the inspiration, aye,
compulslon OF some aim in life, that shall
give to life definiteness and conference.
Saint Bernard had over his study table
IN illuminated letters these words: Der.
made, ad guild venisti!" Bernard why are
you here" The reference was not to the
routine tasks of his life. These were dc
termined for him. Bat it was: What il
the animating purpose OF your life: What
IS the meaning OF your existence: Is
every pleasure and every task made sub.
servient to the one purpose; the one SUI
preme motive of your being: Amiel in his
journal records, Life is n mass of begin.
nings and endings." We have all expe.
rienced his meaniry. We have begun I'd
build, but did not finish. We have laid our
plans and found them broken in upon and
destroyed; we have SKINNED over the sur.
face OF things, but not gotten 1T their hid.
den meaning. And If we ask the reason IL
Is evident. We have failed because no
presiding purpose has woven the tangled
skein into harmony and beauty. We have
been dallylng with purpose, we have beer
half willing, we have been hanging forever
IN the balance, and so we have been losing
our grip on life.
As a man purposeth in his heart so is
he. The difference between aimlessness
and decision is the difference between the
stagnant pool, lying motionless, thick and
shiny, breathing malaria and breeding
venom, and the cataract, which rushes on.
ward, living, moving, plunging thing,
something destructive IN its energy but
thlng OF beauty because a thing of life.
Better an ignoble purpose even" says DIR.
Plerson, than none at ALL Better to be
Saul of Tarsus, breathing out threaten
ings and slaughter, but breathing, than
such man as Robert Dale Owen, who con-
asses: Il committed one fatal error in nv
YOUTH. and dearly have / bewailed it;
tarted in life without an object, even
1thout. an ambition. My temperament
opposed me to ease, and to the full in
ulged the disposition. / said TO myself:
have all that see others contending for
why should | struggle? know not the
ytrnggle tor anything. Had created for
yell a definite pursuit-iterary, scien-;
artistic, social, political, no matter.
I, so there was something to labor for
10 oyercome-I might have been happy
tins now-too late. The power is