The St. Louis Republic., 1903-01-30

syn0G WaB presented IN Inc play DOuSeS Otuer
Than what was displayed on the billboards
and walls of every great city.
'1f the actual plays >come up to the pic
lures spread for the public gaze" continued
Mr.. Morgan. then God help our youth who
frequent the places. I have been asked for
an interview on Ben Hur' and had to de-
cline for want OF time. now give my opin-
ion publicly, and glory that am permitted
TO do SO.
TT is debased and cursed by the sin OF its
surroundings. The book is beautiful but
have no sympathy with persons. who.
from mercenary motives. attempt to present
on the stage what is the most holy and
beautiful character Of all the ages
There were other features OF the sermon
last night that stamped II as one of the
most popular the preacher has delivered
during the series Of meetings.
Mr. Morgan seldom uses illustrations to
make clear point When he does, how
ever, they are apt and timely. One analogy
last night made particular impression on
which 1t was told than because Of its orig
hality.
He pointed out that the forces of sin are
always at work in the world, and that when
even the slightest particle of II comes into
. persons life, II 1t be not at once stamped
out. It grows and grows until It brings
about his downfall.
AEocON or HE lhEfS
To impress his meaning he spoke of a
noble tree. the monarch Of the forest.
There II stands, its head in the sky, the
superior of all its fellows" said the evan
gelist. appearing so strong that nothing
can harm It The hurricane comes and the
smaller trees Withstand its force. The great
one goes down, and why? Long. long years
ago little worm had begun to gnaw at its
heart. To all outward appearance the tree
A. 49,
tenness.: When the crisis came, II was hur-
ried to an untimely end"
Interest In the meetings is still increas-
ing. Mr.. Morgan is to open a meeting in
Cincinnati on February 4. and It was ex-
pected that the St Louis series would come
to an end Sunday afternoon. Mr.. Morgan
has found that II will not break into his
hra sNRgemerts to leave on a late train Mon
1aV 4EEhA, aud --a-Aassaans or thss evening
NAl take place
As yet the place has not been chosen
definitely. The Odeon Is not available, and
It Il probable that the service will be in
Music Hall.
The text of Mr. Morgan's sermon last
night was Acts. Xxx, q: .Testfying both
to Jews and also to Greeks. repentance to-
ward God. and faith toward our Lord,
Jesus Christ"
He said In part: =,
'dThis is the simplest formula Of the
KO9pel HuuidIl tOWdio "
God. Paul was tarrying at Miletus. before
starting to Jerusalem and had called the
elders Of the church to him that he might
speak with them. He begins in a tone Of
sadness, inspired by the belief that he was
talking for the last time to persons he
dearly loved. He did not shrink from de-
clarfng the profitable. He preached the
gospel Of the grace Of God and Of faith. the
gospel OF the resurrection Of Jesus.
GOSPEL OF GRACE
''How do persons derive benefit from this
gospel Of grace? The question 10 answered
sty bur text. And that text takes certain
things for grantee First, the existence OF
0odi mans distance from him. 1t does not
ny how distant but the fact that repent
ance is mentioned presupposes that It is
neceeRary. The necessity for the mans re-
turn. Then suppose that man asks how am
again comes in the text with emphasis and
disttnctness.
LET me remark here that it is possible
Sracs Of Cod. No reason exists that the
arses q God When you have est once made a the the
why you should h,pe for salvation.
We know Of his grace and love. 1t is
not necessary for US to consider whether
back through the nineteen centuries and
see q green hil far without the wall where
our dear Lord suffered death-death for us
cross glowing and radiant with his love,
see the daming letters God is love- and
then that sweetest. mightiest expression Of
that he gave his only begotten Son, that
Whosoever believeth in him should not
:per1.h. but have everlasting life.
n. strange to say there are those here to-
night who have never received the benefits
of that overlooking grace, who have never
heard the infinite music OF his invitation
HOW can you come into contact with the
INFINITE. all-healing stream? Repentance and
latin. l know not which comes first: in
fact. they seem to me the two facets of the
and attitude OF life.
INABILITY OF REPENTANCE.
Repentance! must clear the ground by
negative declarations. Repentance is not
self He may reform his habits. but not his
character. 1t Is not turning over new leaf
The last portion of your book may be
clean. but how will you atone for the first
part, which is blotted and blurred? It is NOT
sin over sorrow. This is the common defiri-
uon. but 1t is mere sophtstry. There are
ns En- nesa sti 5osns who in sorrow over their
Repentance is change of mind which
producer q change Of attitude. Repentance
II turning toward God and turning YOUR
hack on the old life; repentance is reyolu-
ton. It is the supposition of the text that
your back isi toward God: you are living
on all sin and sin as the habit Of life. You
;do not end sir to turn to God; you turn to
Il God TO end sin.
BELIEF INSUFFICIENT.
"BeIief In Christ is not sufficient. Plenty
Of people to-day believe in God, but that
docs not save them. Repentance is Induced
Fundamentally by the influence of the spirit.
Conviction of sin produces surrender Sin
10 rebeilious and takes hold Of you with a
Arm grasp. and masters you, and marks
the continuity Of your pathway out beyond
the limits OF time and sense to an awful
end.
The word is robbed Of its meaning. Per-
sons even chant to music that they are
sinners, and the blush OF shame IN nof
brought to their faces It is cyeryWhere.
In car literature and on our stage But not
only thefe do you fnd II. Put down ,-onr
novel, which makes. it seem beautiful and
strong. get away from your .playhouses.
where q drama IL sometimes given even a
holy name. and 20 into your prisons and
asyluu1 and sec what It has done for what
were once men capable Of the highest
tnsugx and for women who were once
q = and pure and virtuous, until It makes
very salvation Of God appear as the
! z6pt Of the apples Of Sodom.
- sYou are playing with sin, but sin Is
not playing with you. You know what your
I'm +. Your mother does not, your neigh
Nm does not. but It will grow and increase