The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-18
CONSCIENCE POWER THAT
LEADS TO HOLY THINGS
Rev. Pearson Says There Are Two
Powers in Man, One for Good
the Other for Bad.
STRONG WILL NECESSARY

At the First Friends Church yesterday
morning the pastor. the Rev! Morton c.
Pearson, had for his subject The Great
Conflict" His text was, For the good
which 1 would / do not, but the evil which
! would not, that do. Romans, vii 49, He
said in part
Some has said that If the gospel were
a ring the Book OF Romans would be the
set Of It and the seventh and eighth chap
tiers the most brilliant point OF that set
OF all the books OF the New Testament,
Romans surely takes first rank in keen
ness of logic, prOfoundness OF thought and
strength of statement 1t is the MASTER
piece Of New Testament literature.
The sequence OF the eighth chapter on
the seventh is a study always interesting
and helpful They are inseparably con-
nected and should be studied as a whole.
There Is connection at once OF contrast
and compliment. In the seventh there IS a
portrayal OF mighty conflict. II sets forth
nerce struggle OF two powers, two ma
lures, each seeking control and possession
OF the citadel-man We must be impressed
with the fact that Paul is speaking out
OF his own lips and experience. He recog-
nizes that there was a nature in him whose
tendency was toward that which was good
and true and nOble-finally toward God
But he was as fully conscious that there
! was within him another law or power
which like the force OF gravity. was in
tensely pulling him downward toward
/
toward hell. Here and now this eternal
conflict was being waged. and who has
not felt the power of these conflicting
agencies in human life, a strip between
conscience and will.
Paul set forth a universal fact not a
theory. Augustine, centuries ago, said L
had two wills. an old and a new a carnal
and a spiritual. which warred against each
other until my soul was shattered Seneca
said, What Is IL that draws US in one d.
rectiOn while striving 10 go IN another and
impells Us toward that which we wish to
avoid Euripides declared, I know what
sort OF bad things / am going 10 do, but
passion Is stronger than my purposes
All Our lives have been like a troubled
sea, composed OF GIBBS and floods Man sees
the good and times without number yearns
and reaches forth toward il. but at his very
elbow Is another power which pulls him
back again. Conscience leads toward holy
things. but a weakened will made SO BY
sin, is all too frail for the endeavor with
such conflict. Is il any wonder that Paul
should give expression 20 that Oft-reueated
phrase. o, Wretched man that / am Who
shall deliver meT We ask the question
here: Is there any deliverance? is there A
power which. when infused into as will
enable us 10 universally do that which IS
good and avoid the BAD Paul may answer
i thank God through Jesus Christi Here
lies victory. BY Jesus Christ I can say.
Get thee down. Satan. and like one OF
old. stand on the very neck OF nay Zoe with
Jesus Christ. / can put my heel on the
head Of the serpent sin until IL is bruised
and crushed and overcome. With such a
supreme victory the eighth chapter be-
comes our song OF praise"