The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-12-02

lowed Him S-,e- child loves and rejo!ces
IN you when he obeys you. Christ the
great captain os righteousness Is asking
men 20 follow HIM. III We know these
things happy are ye II ye aS them ms
means more than mere intellectual assent
10 the doctrines and teachings OF Christ,
FOR this NAV remain only profession and
no. pass into feeling and action.
You recall the searching words OF Chrlss
speaking 20 the intellectual failures 81 the
Pharisees IA Matthew XIV \ This peo-
ME honoreth Me with their lips, but their
worship Me. teaching for doctrine the
csrhmanimsnts OF men And again.
when He was speaking 80 this same arls-
tocracv Of the intellect and stlcklers for
the strict letter ot the law, lie said. And
why call ye me Lord Lord and do not
the things which L say Man'iestly;
then Christ was eager that men should
give honest. hearty assent 20 HIS claims
OF disclpleshlp. He then promised poten-
| ,ial freedom. personal liberty But the
mere exercise OF faith was not enough.
| Christianity Is something larger and finer
| than even the genuine exercise ot ialth
in the person and work OK Christ.
Faith unfolds itself N many forms ot
| Christian experience AID activity, all ot
SroT1h w@iS1 SrS and s%OfcSF" seTScc When ST. Paul
wrote TO that ht,lc bard Of men at Ephe.
| sus, who had exercised their faith IN the
personal Christ. he bade them grow up
in al things into Him, who Is the head
| even Christ" But lest there may be some
| among us this morning who. IN thinking
! this whole matter over. do not find lt 50
| difficult 10 believe this Divine Son of
| God. but who do not quite appreciate the
| relation OF man 10 his sln, 10 his fa,l'
ures, has deliberate acts ot wrong and evil,
| Is it necessary 90 repent: And what "a
| -t...l
| John the Baptist. MiuifestlY it - neccs-
sary. And what Is itg 1t Is = deep
change OF the entire thinking, feeling and
| willing man; and involves as It's elements
enlightenment. Contvltion and confession,
| prayer for pardon and peace counting the
cost and endeayor after new obedience
Look at these for a moment Euhghttn.
ment This Is the work of the Holy
| Ghost. Il was not until the prodlgal son
came 20 himself that he started on that
! wondrous pathway TO lifelong blessing.
! Enlightenment IS TO hls own FOLLY and
| sin and consciousness that A fathers love
awaited his return. My brother, If some
| things are uncertain, pray Tor cnhshtcn.
| ment and lie who IN the same chapter
! proclaimed Himself To he tho light of
men will reveal the path 20 contrtioa
| aud confession Il have slnned against
heaven and IN Thy sight was a life Civ.
| ing confession and prayer. lt showed
that faith IN the Fathers love was sorry
and asha.ei for It's past lngrautudc. In
that heart cry for pardon was the sou, =
! receiving Christ, aud because He received,
he had the right TO be a son ot God Man
repented and God by His divine act re-
| generated.
There arc others here to-day who will
admit the truth OF much that ! say. but
IN whom and about whom there are OBJ
stacles which YOU have not the courage
and the determined patience 20 overcome.
Some OF these obstacles are the power ot
sin in the soul, for like st. Paul OF old,
YOU find law that when YOU do good
evil Is present. a false pride IN ones
own personality and achievement, for
there are not few Of Us, with Il thanl,
Thee that ! am not rs other men are
tendencies. the environment OF worldly
interests and friendships, and the insin
cerlty Of many processing Christians. Nh
how many of Us does this latter include
Nevertheless, not A few are enabled to
rise above these obstacles and become soma
OF God
Again I ask the initial question Of this
message, can | do as | plcaseY Or must
do as another plcascs2 And ! believe
an honest study of the New Testament
will show Va that the only freedom which
Is comprehensive Is the freedom and IN
| crty which God gives TO our whole nature
| when we have accepted or received III.
| Son Jesus Christ 90 be our RedCcmer and
Master. May YOU this day. my earnest
seeking friends, find the Christ Whose
sacrhcial love, represented IN this atoninl
blood. and receiving HIM by faith. b'
called children OF God and II children
then heirs heirs OF God and Joint her.
with Christ, II 50 be that we suffer will
Hum, that we may be a,so glorlhed 70
| gctber