The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-07
CHRIST MEANS PROGRESS
SUPREME AUTHORITY UNRECOG-
NEGOTIATIONS BACKWARD.
"VaIue of Experience" Theme of DR..
Albert Hurlstone's Sunday Night
Sermon at Roberts Park.

"The Value of Experience" was the theme
Of DIR. Albert Hurlstone's sermon at Rob-
erts Park NJ. E. Church last night. Text:
Romans V: IA.
The Christian religion appeals to think
ing people. Its claims may be tested by
experiment. Certain lines of evidence APP
peal most strongly to certain men. Some
are impressed with the claims of divine
revelation, when they consider its necessity
arising from the intense moral darkness
which has rested upon the wisest and best
men of all lands who have been ignorant
of the Bible.
Darkness and doubt as to our origin,
manner of life. duty. as to the possibility
of obtaining peace with conscience, with
men and with God, the uncertainty as to
the future life. these questions all make
a supernatural revelation necessary. The
possibility of revelation is manifest when
we consider that human intelligences can
communicate their thoughts TO each other
and even talk for a thousand miles over
copper wire, or transmit messages by
wireless telegraphy Such a revelation be-
comes probable when we consider the ma
ture OF the Supreme Being and the needs
of man. To other minds the prophecies
are remarkable proof of the divinity OF
revelation and others are impressed by
the miraculous manifestations of super
natural power given to authenticate the
representatives of the new religion.
Internal evidences abound. Consider the
wonderful unity of the sixty-six books
bound up in the Bible, written during a
period OF fifteen hundred years by men of
conceptions which the Bible has furnished
of the Deity. The clear and consistent ac-
count which the Bible gives of the redemp-
ton of man. The light which it throws
! around the destiny of man. 1t has opened
the portals of Immortality; its glorious
sunshine has dispelled the darkness of the
grave. Additional evidence is derived from
the character OF the writers of Holy Writ.
From the successful propagation OF Chris
tianity, 1T has triumphed over all forms
OF opposition. The monopoly Of sustained
progress by the professedly Christian ma
tions is the most remarkable feature of
human life and history.
| This wonderful progress in everything
| only in those nations which recognize the
| supreme authority of Christ.
CHRISTIAN NATIONS PROGRESS.
| 1t is not too much to say that to-day
every Christian nation is rising in material
| and moral good, and that no non-Christian
nation is rising mentally or morally except
! by contact with Christian nations. Then,
too, the additional strength of our argu-
ment appears when We consider the adap-
tation of Christianity to human need.
But submit that the pre-eminent claims
| OF Christianity upon the life and thought
| of the world are based upon the character
| of Christ and the fact of Christian expe-
| rience. Christs character has called forth
| the admiration OF many who have not sub
| mitted to His authority. AS We follow His
| footsteps and listen to his teachings VIC
| are impressed with His profound devotion
| to the Fathers will. His self-denying be-
| nevolence. His tenderness and condescen.
| sion. His firnness of principle and intense
| hatred to everything that is evil. No de-
| Walton from principle, no compromise with
| evil ever furnished his character. He Was
| meek and lowly in heart and yet he put
! forth claims so lofty that no mere man
| could make. He claimed to be free from
| sin and to be the arbiter of the eternal des-
| TIMES Of men. His miracles showed Him tC
be invested with divine power. But the
| browning miracle of Christianity is the res
direction of Christ from the dead. On this
] fact Christianity is built. Two institutions
| of our religion attest this fact. The sacra-
| ment of the Lords sunpper has been OBJ
| served from the very first in remembrance
| of the Savior's DEATH and as an expression
| of the appropriation of His sacrifice foi
| spiritual strength and life. We trace back
| the history of Christianity from the presen,
| day to the time of the apostles, and we
| find this institution distinguishing the sys
| tenn and setting forth the death of Christ
| as its greatest and most momentous fact
| From the very first. too, the Christian
| church has observed the first day of the
| week the day of the Saviors triumph
| over death. From age to age the LORD.
| Day has been the standing memorial of the
resurrection. The Fourth of July and the
| 10th of May commemorate facts in the his
| tory Of our country. The birth and redemp
| ton of the Nation. The Lords supper ant
| the Christian Sabbath are standing me
| MORALS of the historic facts on which
| Christianity Is built.