The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-23
UNITED CONGREGATIONS
LISTEN TO DR. HURLSTONE
Pastor of Roberts Park Church
Takes for His Subject "Ret-
rospection and Progress.
EARTH is SIN-CURSED

EARTH IS SIN-CURSED
"Retrospection and Progress" was the
theme on which Or Albert Hurlstone spoke
at Roberts Park NJ. Z. Church yesterday
morning TO the united congregations of
the First Baptist and Roberts Park Church
es Text. Isaiah xiii. 1913 He said in
part:
This is one of the most comforting and
reassuring chapters in the Bible. Here we
see that Isaiah has a gospel for the indi-
vidual well as for the church. Fear not.
for have redeemed thee; have called thee
by name. thou at mine. When thou pass
est through the y'aters. l will be with thee;
and through the rivers. they shall not over
flow thee; when thou walkest through the
fire. thou shalt not be burned; neither shall
the flame kindle upon thee. For / am the
Lord, thy God, the Holy One of Israel. thy
Savior Remember We not the former things.
neither consider the things of old. Behold.
/ will do a new thing IT is the duty of
the minister of Christ 10 take large themes.
so that the soul of the Christian must of
necessity grow when he meditates thereon.
These great themes are God, the human
soul, probation, free will. the inspired Bible.
the evangeizatien of the world, miracles,
the imminence of Cod Christian ideals. dis
ciples, sorrow, Providence, the problem of
pain, sin and it's direfu consequences, re-
pentance, faith, regeneration. justification.
the atonement, the incarnation, Christ's life
nollneSS, immortality and eternal life These
lotty topics touch life at many points. and
man is ennobled by their consideration.
Inc preacher who in the light of revealed
truth, ancient and modern, presents these
themes to his people need never be unin-
tefeStlnS; the pulpit fed by these secret
springs of perennial inspiration will always
have message to satisfy the heart hunger
OF the children of men.
RETROSPECTION HELPFUL.
Sometimes retrospection may be helpful
1t is good to remember the way in which
the Lord our God has led us in the pill
grimage of life. but the Bible condemns
the spirit which is ever brooding in pessi-
mistic strains over the good old days and
sees nothing for praise and comfort now
Forgetting those things that are behind WIG
are to press toward the mark Remember
we not the former things neither consider
the things of old. Say not thou what is the
cause that the former days were better
than these. for thou dost not inquire wisely
concerning this. In our retrospectioI we
should remember certain great principles
Ihe test OF love is sacrifice, not emotion
The test of love is obedience The test OF
love is confidence. We walk by faith, not
by sight. The flashing diamond was fash.
Toned in the dark rock, the crimson flower
painted in the closed bud. and through per.
picking episodes of thought and feeling dc
we arrive at immortal perfection.
student artist, sculptor musician, Chris.
tan must each remember the past only as
containing the foundation principles or
which to build, not as containing the real
ization of ideals. or there will be decline
but in the true spirit of our text remember
the things of old, say each day: Behold,
Will do new thing. Monotony may bs
the ordinary experience of many, but prog
ress is the true law of life. Speak to tn,
Forward TO Sinai, forward to Calvary, for
ward TO the new heaven and the new eartf
wherein dwelleth righteousness.
God is constantly doing the new thinl
promised in the text. Revelation is no
finished. 1t is evolution. There is fol
the true disciple constant advancement il
knowledge. For this he must watch. anC
wait. and listen. New mercies each re
turning day hover around us while W.
pray; new perils past, new sins forgiven
new thoughts OF God, new hopes of heaven
we find the new in the old, as does th'
scientist. New interpretations, new con
victions. new visions. Thy mercies are new
| every morning Progress is our law, anC
not only must the intellect advance al
We must have more confidence in God
more earnest communion with God; mor'
enthusiasm for humanity. All our lofties
ambitions, our religious joys, our expert
cnoes as We taste the good word of Coo
and the power of the world TO come arr
| but as an earnest, a foretaste, prophec,
OF glorious realization. fuller joys and un
| ending pleasures. We should advance il
character We are tempted TO self-satisfac
| ton But having these promises, that Go,
| win do new things for US. we must go oil
nlr hnl in
| fear OF God. To the rich young man VIII
come to Jesus, saying, What lack / yet
| Jesus revealed new things. 1t is His will
concerning us that we become more eQuita
| bic and just: that We have a nicer sense o
| honor; a more forgiving spirit; more gen
| erosity; spirit of contentment- That con
| science should be enlightened by the mora
| law, pardoned and cleansed by the atonini
| blood of Christ, regulated by the New Tes
| lament, that IL may become lofty, clear
1 tender, decisive. If the average professin,
| Christian would submit TO God and let Hin
! do for him new thing he would become
| living epistle known and read of all. II
would adorn the doctrine of God in al
| things. Society is yet to feel more full.
| the new life-giving touch of God. Senti
ments laws. institutions are TO be NOR
| completely imbued with the spirit of tn
more generosity. more faith. Christ vii
| be prea ched as love knows how, by kindl
| words and virtuous life.
| SIN-CURSED AND SORROWFUL
| 1.-The earth. sin-cursed and sorrowfu
! ripped and torn with graves, wet with tear
! and blood. shall be made to sing joyously o
| the Savior's reign. Men shall lift up thei
| songs. while fields and floods, rocks, hill
| and plains, repeat the sounding joy. Our
| is a religion of progress, because ii is re
| ligion of life. Life under God is constant
| ~ exhibiting new manifestations of power
| new developments, new beauty When tn
| individual submits 10 the conditions of ney
| life in Christ, old things pass away and a
| things become new. Then the lofty pun
| pose is TO conform the daily living to tn
\ divine ideal. Righteousness has a marvel
| Gus power TO transhgure. Holiness, whic
| is right living. touches all things i'm life a
| expressed in Channings symphony, To liv
| content with small means; to seek eleganc
| rather than luxury and refinement rattle
| than fashion; TO be worthy and respectable
| and wealthy, not rich; to study hard. thin
quietly, talk gently. act frankly; 10 liste
| TO stars and birds, to babes and sages. wit
| open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do a
| bravely, await occasions, hurry never /
| word 10 let the spiritual unbdden an
| unconscious. grow up through the common
| this is 10 be my symphony. This is TO IL
| God do a new thing for me. This is to fee
| the earth move sunward to join the grea
| march onward, and take by faith, while Ii,
| ing, my freehold of Thanksgiving"
|