The Penn's Grove record., 1905-07-28

and he suited bis sermon TO his audi
ence. l am rO5 sure that hat sermon
would escape criticism .n these days.
l am Of the opinion that many good
souls would say IL was not evangeli-
cal. He was invited to preach con-
corning the faith III Christ, and his
sermon was on righteousness, temper
ance and judgment to cOme-topics
that any good man Of any faith might
well discuss. Many might say. is that
Christian preaching? I say it is. and
more than that, it is the kind that this
age needs, and we need it every day.
If Paul had begun an argument re-
specting Christ's divinity, or resurrec-
ton, or any kindred topic, he would
probably have had a most interesting
discussion with Felix. but think you
that he would have made him tremble?
Most men think that Christianity is
theology. No; Christianity is morality
in the light of eternity. And that is
not the best preaching which delights
US with it's close reasoning and high
speculation and profound theology:
that is the best preaching which makes
US, If we are living in sin, turn uneasily
in u seats and tremble as we listen
to its truths. The law is our school,
master to bring US TO Christ, and it is
only when conscience is aroused within
us that we seek the grace which is in
Christ and which came by Christ. The
end of preaching is not to make men
t~heologians, the end of preaching is to
build up character. and while some OF
us may be far enough on the road to
hear sermon on the deep things OF
God, l am not pessimistic when 1 say
that, taking the world in its totality,
most of us are still where we need to
be reasoned with concerning righteous
ness, temperance and judgment to
come.
preaching to the tines is a favor
tie expression nowadays. Its purpose
seems to be that men are to be amused.
as Felix had Paul in from the prison
to amuse him. He and he alone
breaches to the times who makes US
restless by showing US the demands OF
Gods eternal law and then points the
way clear up to Calvary and to Him
who said "Come unto Me all We that
labor and are heavy laden and 1 will
give you rest" These are eternal veri-
ties and they fit all times. All others
change and pass away with the chang
ing hour; social. political, aye, even
theological questions have their days
and cease to be, but the eternal need
is forgiveness and the everlasting
want, rest for the soul.
And so Paul reasoned of righteous
ness to a nan living in sin. of temper
ance to a woman who lived to crafty
every desire and wicked passion, and
of judgment to come to two who never
looked beyond the present world-the
first steps, the first necessary steps to
the pointing out Of Him in whom alone
is forgiveness and from whom alone
we have the power to live so that at
His coming in glorious majesty to
judge the world we may not be put to
shame.
And now, in the last place, we notice
that this preaching was convincing.
That is clear enough, for a man does
not tremble without occasion. A man
does not tremble in the presence of
spiritual truth except his intellect has
been reached and his conscience
touched. Paul did his duty. but Felix
shirked his and turned his back upon
the truth. He trembled, but he did
not move. Are there not many men
like him with US to-day? go thy
way" said he, "when 1 have a conve-
nient season l will send for thee" Is
not that what we often hear. But
when do those who say so find that
that convenient season ever comes?
What do we think Of the man who in
matters of this world. is given to put
ting off and waiting to another time?
Our worldly wisdom tells us that such
a man will never come to any good
and no one has any confidence in him.
You see through him, and smile at all
his excuses for delay, and think you
that if a man cannot deceive his fell
lows in this respect he a deceive God
and his own soul? The Bible knows OF
no time but now. "Now is tho accepted
time" And this is true not only Of
the greatest of all tranSactions-our &C
ceptance of Jesus Christ-but of all the
duties that devolve upon us as Chris
tan men and women. We may have
to-day an opportunity of doing good, or
of receiving good. If we let it slip that
door that opened to us will be shut.
and it will never be opened again. Lost
opportunities do not return. Others
may come, but the lost Cnes come not
again. Let us. then. seize every oppor-
tunity. let us realize that the present
only is ours, and as we hear the word
of life let us embrace it in its fulness
and live in its strength.