The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-15
TENDENCY OF GOD BEGINS
IN The COMPLETED MAN
Rev. Albert Hurlstone's Sunday
Morning Topic Is Gods In
creaSing Purpose" s.
DEVELOPMENT OF CHURCH

Much interest is taken in the Sunday serv-
ices at Roberts Park Church. Rev. Albert
Hurlstone usually selects a subject that
strongly appeals to his congregation. Gods
Increasing Purpose was his subject yes
terday morning; text, Hebrews xi-S9:4O. He
said in part:
Here we have the scripture statement OF
the truth that through the ages one in
creasing purpose runs. and the thoughts of
men are widened with the process of the
suns. This is the Westminster Abbey chap
ter of the Bible. In it is the roll call of the
mighties; men who wait for us 'pardoned
i'm heaven, the first by the throne Through
such souls God shows sufficient of His light
for us in the dark TO rise by. These menNof
whom the world was not worthy, stood
erect, caught at Gods skirts and prayed
How wide is the scope Of faith. 1t is
defined as the assurance of things hoped
for. the proving of things not seen. BY faith
we understand that the worlds were framed
by the word OF God, so that what Is seen
hath not been made out OF things which
do appear.
Nor is this a perfect age. We are not
made perfect. The evolutionist saws prog
ress Is the law of life; man is not man as
yet, nor shall L deem his general object
served while only here and there a tower
Ing mlnu U SFlOOkS his D~TOSITdIe IellOWSt
when the host is out at once to the despair
OF night, when all mankind alike is per-
fected, equal in full-blown powers, then,
not till then, L say begins mans general in
fancy. This is the Christian evolution of
out text, II begins and ends with God. In
completed man begins anew a tendency to
God.
II period of the world has been per-
feet. Each has contributed to the perfec-
And so imperfect is our age that
the blast of war blows In our ears and
men seek to be as tigers In their fierce
department. There are cancerous growths
upon our body polite. The traffic in intox-
icating drink Slays it's hundreds of thou
sands annually. superstition. ignorance, vice,
anarchy. SenSualism, impurity, crime and
hunger cast our maidens by the thousands
on the street. These are sad signs of an
imperfect age. These evils keep the race
out of that wider, richer inheritance which
Is the promise of prophet. poet and Christ.
The practical duty for us is to lay aside
every weight and the sin that doth so easily
best us that we may run with patience the
race set before us, looking unto Jesus. He
IS the author and fniSher of our faith. 1t
is ever the business of the church TO en-
courage men to look to loftier ideals. To
keep their heads above the waves of sor-
row and despair. As other men have Ia
bored and we have entered into their la
bors, so let us transmit to those who come
after US q rich heritage. With all the bless
ings of Gods unfolding purpose through the
ages upon us. with the forces for good
strongly rooted In our land. with the march
Of science. the keen observance of Gods
work. with the universal spread of culture
and the slow but sure graphing with dis
ease, we have much to encourage us i'm the
spread Of the kingdom of Christ, I'm whom
we have redemption through His blood,
even the forgiveness OF sins; that in the
fuIlness of times He might gather together
in one all things in Christ. both which are
In heaven and which are on earth; even in
Him"