The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-26

81 = r +if,
stantly declare flat nothing is permanent;
1t is&wsll for a man to occupy his nina
+ and order his conduct according to tho
Himtnu.able teachings of Jesus.
SECURITY. Verse 90 But why is It
we'll? Jesus illustrates still further, call
rock. The rain descended, the floods
came. the winds blew, but the house fell
not When the storm ceased and the
waters sunslded Wnen nature Tie
noble structure rested secure upon its
rocky foundation, no part injured. !, by the
fury OF the blast or the force Of the Gle,
obeys the teaching of Jesus. Tho many
{vicissitudes OF. this life shall not over:
whelm him. Sickness and poverty may
their sway he may feel himself for the
time greatly AFFLICTED. John, i: 2l)
Friends may desert him and prove I'M
tf % ea na sn a fyo Fss tSs1 pna
and Anxiety he may look about him and
know not the path best suited for his
journey. And yet, IL he but hold fast to
shall enter into his mind AND heart, and
& i he shall live day by day according to
its holy requirements e. Peter, III: 49,
and :" Timely Vas tie let teaching for the
twelve who were to suffer SO much.
(Acts, viii 20.) IA
DISASTER. .tVerass 26 and 21;) Not
withstanding the value Of Christ's words
and the security Of those who heed them.
many turn a deaf ear to His sayings;i or,
If they hear, they do not heed. In some
instances they praise writing beautiful
the greatest of teachers. but refusing to
incorporate these things into their lives.
Perhaps they consider their own judg-
ment ADEQUATE to decide all questions
guidance OF the lnaxims Of the world,
or float on the stream of popular SEN
and practices OF, the world are marked
by hckleness and folly. The ,yisest and
best Of men have but little knowledge
AS result he who rests on such u
foundation will be overwhelmed in disas-i
ter. Days and weeks OF. quietness may
pass, during which lie will consider hi him.
will overtake him, and then, like the
house built upon the sand and broken
lin the storm, so hc will fail and "a! u.
How many lives provo this statement to
a be truel
e EFFECT.-(Vcrse rs and oo) The
by its immediate results. Generally It's
influence increases With the Lapse Of 5me,
words 40 OH doing good, T his is likely.
to be the case when Important truths are
delivered SO profound that only ais y ~
II is probable that the sermon on the
mount IS to-day more influential than at
any former time. And yet there was an
effect produced at the time of it's dcliN-
cry When He ceased the people a &c
tles) were astonished, The variety Of
the themes discussed, tho range and depth
\ OF the thought were extraordinary. Fur
}thermore. the entire discourse was deliy-
cred with that consciousness which ono
possesses who is vastly superior to his
subjects. Jesus was the Incarnation ,,oof
truth (John, xiv: %, and He spaka with
n readiness and ease, Il simplicity and
power, unknown to other teachers. This
record here Is important, In showing how
His contemporaries thought or Him.
REFLECrIONs.-1 a sermon may be
Into It ought to be crowded the product Of
Il preachers thought and living for all
tho previous years. He comes TO speak
for God to men,. 2, There are not many
sermons. Jesus left us but one. What
mentary and incidental teaching on pass
Ing events. 8, Why may not every preach
or aspire to prepare and deliver one dis
course that shall immortalize him? The
struggle to reach q high standard Will
billty rests upon those who hear! H'9w
much good teaching Is lost on inattentlve
and careless audlences! 1T is a great
privilege to listen to ono, who has grap,,
pled With a. theme, who has himself felt
lis mower. s, The sermon ought not only 4,
heard and obeyed. Not until the truth
has been welcomed into the heart and
life has tho sermon done Its intended
work. q. Woe unto those careless ones
Who content to say *, prayers ana ooseftSHs
divine will. In the Judgment they VIII be
are they who love the truth and I've by