The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-05
DR, DICKINSON ON
 ON THE POLITICIAN Baptist Divine Delivers Eloquent Sermon at First Church. TAKES ABNER FOR A THEME Discourse RepIete With Historical Illustrations Applicable to the Re
 llgious and Civic Duties of
 the Present Day.
TAKES ABNER FOR A THEME

Dr. A. J. Dickinson, pastor of the First Baptist church, preached an able sermon yesterday on the subject Was Abraham Statesman and General of Israeli or "Politican Without Religion" His dis course was replete with historical illus trations applicable to the religious and civic duties of the present day. His text and sermon follows in part:
 And the King said unto his servants, know ye not that there is prince and great man fallen this day in Israel? And I am this day weak though anointed King, and these men, the sons of Zenuiah, are too hard for me- Jehovas reward the evil-doer according to his wicked ness. III. Samuel 3:SS, S9.
 Why Statesmen Are Great.
 We are often prone to overlook the fact that rulers achievements are mainly due to his cabinet and council. William Is called the great mainly because of the statesmanship of his Bismarck Victoria was the greatest of all the queens because of the succession of great statesmen who constituted the ministry of her majesty, and wer the power behind her throne. So was it to some extent with the house of Saul. Not a little credit is due to Abner, his lieutenant general and prime minister who led the forces on the field of battle He was a near kinsman to Saul, either his uncle or cousin. He was the next man to Saul in the Kingdom and served his master as Bismark did his l William.
 During the civil war between David and l Joab, his general in chief and the House of Saul, with Abner it's prime minister and general of the army, we are told that Abner made himself strong for the House-of Saul.
 Fortunes Were Doomed.
 "Abner must have seen that the for tunes of the house of Saul were doomed. 1 That Ishbosheth was a weakling became
 manifest to all, and but for Abner the
 name of Saul would collapse. So he an- nounced to Ishbosheth his determination
 to transfer the kingdom to David and ! proceeded to open up negotiations with David to that end
 1 But Joab, returning from forary, find . ing out what had been done being sus- | picious of the foxy old soldier and states ! man and seeing that he would be super i seded by him in the United Kingdom | sent to recall Abner and assassinated him
 at the gate under the pretense of aveng- | ing the blood of Asahel, Joabs brother, whom Abner had slain in battle. So died the Birmarck of the house of l Saul. He stands out in the scriptures as | a great man; a statesman, careful con ! siderate wise and strong; a soldier si<ll- f..I E.ta ,Nnr1 fl1. 1 devoted and true; politician and patri- ! ot In all his countrys fortunes and mis- fortunes. But nothing more than pol itician and patriot.
 Types of Today.
 1 In Abner we have type of character 1 often seen in the cabinets and civil coun- ! cils and offices of nations-a great man. ] a patriot, politician and soldier who has no genius for religion. In Abner also we
 see the mistake of such statesmanship. | After all, it was not his wisdom in state craft, or prowess in battle, or strategy in
 manipulating politics that united Israel. ] This was done in spite of most of his
 work by the plan of events he often 1 tried to hinder. It was the power which l Ee neglected and ignored which worked
 out that end he and everyone else saw
 was the salvation of his country.
 Jehovah is after all the true king as | samuel had taught ana the Wlsest policy | is that which on the part of both king and people seeks to know and do his
 will amid the changing events of life 1 Nor can the eye of any statesman read alright the meaning of this flow of events who does not regard their author whose
 will determines the direction of this pro-
 gress. Statecraft and diplomacy are not secular, but sacred acts to lead men to | know the will of God as concerns great nations of his people. The God of na- | tions must needs be consulted in the | affairs of his world and his doings read | in the light of Jehovahs immaculate character and benefcent purposes. By 1 ignoring this Abner spent his life work | ing against the only thing which could have brought about the end he most
 desired for his conntry's salvation. He | saw the end but knew not the way to