The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-02
in THE CITY'S PULPITS
SERMON on "THE WAY OF GOOD
MEN, BY MIR. NEWMAN.
The Rev. ID. A. Heron Points Out
True Value of Prayer-Other
Sunday Topics.

The Rev. Charles B. Newman, pastor of
the Third Christian Church, preached yes
terday morning on 1.-THE Way of Good
Men, In his sermon he said:
The Psalms is book of most marvellous
collection. There was a time when l
thought IL was all written by one man ana
under one set of conditions. But we have
long since ceased to think We call
them the Psalms of David. He had more
TO do with their music than any other one
man, and it is perfectly natural that his
name should have been attached to them.
They cover the experiences Of the Hebrew
people for a thousand years.
There is almost wide variety or
subjects and authors as We have in our
hymn books to-day. Take the song book OF
Moody and Sankey. 1t came out first in
gathered into one volume and are called
Gospel Hymns, Parts 1 to Z. The Psalms.
beginning with Moses and coming down
through the centuries, one after another
contributed his part and they were gath
cred at different times and places into the
Psalms as we have them.
''One thing that has puzzled number
of Bible students is the number of prefixes
to the Psalms. These are poems set TO
music and are printed in the revised ver-
sion. as they should be. in poetic form.
The prefixes to the Psalms are like the
prefixes in music which are indications
to singers-as this part by the ladies, this
by the stringed instruments, that by the
wind instruments. Thus particular terms
in the Psalms are indications to the mu-
sicians. The word selah is an indication
TO them and not to the reader.
MAKING OF PSALMS.
There were five parts to this gathered
work OF the Hebrew musicians. Each ends
with a doxology and the entire ends with
Psalm 150-a challenge to praise God. Note
how the opening of the first Psalm has that
word over and over again. which sets the
keynote to the entire book-'blessed. This
same word sets the keynote for man
blessed In the Sermon on the Mount
Christ has a whole bundle of them
blessed blessed blessed The last re-
corded word of Him is that as His disciples
looked after Him He went away He
lifted up His hands and blessed them.
LAS indicated in this Psalm there are
the two ways, no more. There are many
of us who like to make ourselves think
that somewhere between the two ways
there is a broad aisle, middle ground
on which we can step sometime. We do
not think we fully in the service OF
God, but some time we will step on the
right side. But remember this lesson.
There are according to the book of God
between them there is no middle ground
Jesus recognized this same divine line when
He said: He that is not with me is against
me- and He that gathereth not with me
scattereth abroad.
Mote again the contrast between the way
OF good men on the one hand and evil men
Oh the Otner. III Is greater tndn the con-
trast of the strongly rooted tree, lifting it's
branches high in the air and resisting the
tempest, with the wind-driven chaff light.
insignificant, tossed whithersoever the wind
shall blow.
SETTLING 1T RIGHT.
'No question is ever settled until ii Is set
tied right. Over and over again history is
full of Illustrations. as is life around us to-
day, that the way of the wicked is one that
must go down. that is not permanent. that
will not endure.
''Then there is the contrast between the
products of the two lves-on the one hand
fruit, on the other fruitless despairing at
last. When the summing up time comes
the way of the good man Is approved, but
the way of the wicked shall perish.
II would have no one weep, cry and wall
over the coming of the day of judgment,
but I would not have him for one hour for
get that one must render account for
his life and the way of the wicked shall
perish.
II heard Mr. Moody one afternoon ad-
He said: Men, If 1 were told that L must
all my life hereafter preach one sermon
and preach IL my life long the text 1 should
take would be this: BE not deceived. God
is not Knocked, for whatsoever a man sow
eth that shall he also reap" And he gave
us q marvellous message of his experience,
true every word of it, And we may verify
il again and again in the world of nature,
in the world of experience, and ii will be
verified again when the Master shall make
His decision at last"