The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-13
PASTOR DELIVERS
STIRRING SERMON
DR., Dickinson breaches on Rev.
elation of Nature.
BEING UNDER GODS WRATH
A knowledge Of God is In the constl-
tuition of Mems Inner Lives
and WiIIs-PauI's Teach
ing Clear.
BEING UNDER GODS WRATH

At the First Baptist church yesterday
the Rev DIR. A. ]. Dickinson, pastor,
preached stirring sermon, taking as his
theme, 1.-THE Revelation of Nature" His
discourse was replete with biblical Illus
trations, and was listened to attentivey
by a large congregation.
DR.. Dickinson spoke in part as follows;
THE wrath of God is revealed from
heaven against all unrlghteousness and
ungodliness of men. who hold down the
truth in unrighteousness"- 11s.
There probably never existed q more
cosmopolitan city than Rome in the days
of Nero. Representatives of every people
in the known world one could meet on
her streets, and every class and condi-
ton of men were to be found within her
walls 1t was the worlds capital city and
Just the place for the preaching of the
worldwide gospel which was for any
and all men of every condition of life
So Paul had desired to labor at Rome
but was hitherto hindered, and now avails
himself of the going thither Of Phoebe
to write the church about his worldwide
gospel. His gospel was worldwide for
Jew and Greek alike. for it was power
believeth. It's only requisite was to De
received in faith and this was capacity
of men as men, it matters not what tner
race or temporal condition and nature. IL
appealed to that which was catholic to
humanity.
knowledge Of God.
Men know God. "for that which IS
known of God is manifest in them, for
God manifested it unto them" A knowl-
edge OF God is in the constitution of their
inner life, the mind, the feelings. the de-
sires the will God so made us that we
cannot know ourselves except to know
Him as our Maker and Master. Not only
so, but fthe invisible things of Him since
the creation of the world are clearly SEEM
being perceived in the things which are
made. even His eternal power and diyin-
itv." The world without is vocal with
God.
We read that the fool hath said In MS
heart there is no God, and only the 1901
could say it, But it is most probable that
even the fool did not say this, but only
no God for me-" He does not deny the
existence of God, but only his antipathy
for HIM In his own desires. But the apos-
tle saws we knew the ordinances of God.
+hat tbev which do evil things are worthy
of death.
We know God and His ordinances con-
corning life. Nature within and without
reveals this much to every man. No
man lacks for suffciency OF knowieuge
RI know God and His will. The heathen
know 1t, have always known 1t. They
know that God is and He that Is Is Goo'
They know His moral law They know
enough to know that they are condemned
and rest under the wrath of God, and
are without excuse.
Vain in Their Reasoning.
But men have refused to. have God
in their knowledge They reject Him
as much as may be from their thinking
and their conclusions and have become
vain in their reasoning and their sense
less heart is darkened." They are OPP
posing the truth and holding 1t down in
unrighteousness." They have exchanged
the truth of God for lie and enthroned
the creature over their lives rather than
the creator who is God blessed forever.
.'Knowing God, they glorify Him not
as God nor gave Him thanks. The true
end of tho creature is to glorify the ere
ator, but this they refuse and hold back
their hearts in ingratltude. Processing
themselves to be wise they become fools
and lived for creatures below them rath-
er than the God above them. How many
i men who refusing to have God in their
thoughts live for society, or pleasure,
their parrots, pigeons and poodles; or
think the end of life is learning music
or money; who consecrate themselves to
money, power or fame. Or if they are
religious their religion is selfish as though
the chief end of man was to know God
and enjoy Him forever rather than to
glorify Him as their maker and redeem
er in life.
IT is now as II has ever been IL you
Just put God, out of your life there is
hnothing else worthy of being an end IN
life But to know God in all His deal
ings with us and to glorify Him and be
ever giving Him thanks is the ideal, the
static condition of true man. But in
stead of doing this we hold down the
truth in unrighteousness. / have never
seen one who was an ungodly person for
lack of knowledge of God. But l have
seen many who were so because they
set ON upright eousness in life
It is sin that makes infidels habitual,
determined sin, and repentance before
God will cure the worst case of infideity
IN five minutes What the trouble Is you
are holding down the truth in your I'M
righteousness. Leave off sin; give the
truth a. chance to assert itself and your
heart shall live with God. The cause
of our being under the wrath of God is
that In spite of a knowledge of God we
do those things forbidden by His ordi-
nances and consent with them Tat prac-
tice them.
The Reprobate Mind.
The result is that God has given us
up to the lusts of our hearts," to pas
sons of dishonor.'' to "a reprobate mind"
He has surrendered us to the ruin we
are bent on working for ourselves. And
His outraged heart that made us and
provided and protected us and gave us
tokens of His love is angered and we
rest under His wrath. This is all that
nature reveals. 1t can only lead us to
conviction and condemnation.
But the gospel of Paul as he preached
Jesus brings a new revelation Therein
is revealed righteousness which God
gives to sinners condemned by the law
in nature If they will only receive 1t in
faith. Against Gods wrath as revealed
in nature the gospel puts His grace.
against our unrighteousness 1t puts the
Righteousness God is ready to give,
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