Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-07-29

anxious 10 learn OF this Jesus Wbo
had caused such n connection among
the people OF ncr nation. and herein
may have been the cause OF tho apOS-
ties first invitation to the palace.
II is said that the greatest wonder on
earth Is man himself. aud indeed /
believe this 20 be true. Take. for in i
stance. this man. Felix. and he Is but .
the type OF n numerous family. No 4
man who walks the earth to-day who 4
may not find representative In some /
Bible character. and n you diligently /
study the different characters recorded 4
in the sacred book you can easily I
prove the truth OF this statement. /
FcsiN lived I'm sin. Paul knew his man.
and ne suited his sermon to his audi
cnce / am not sure that that sermon
would escape criticism IN these days.
am OF the opinion fhat many good
souls would say &c was not cvanGeli-
chi. He was invited 10 preach con-
corning the Faith in Christ. and his
sermon was on righteousness. temper
ance and Judgment 90 come-topics
\ that any good man OF any faith might
I well discuss. Many might say. lis that
\ Christian prcacb.ng2 I say 10 IS. and
/ more than that. BE- is the kind that this
/ age needs. and we need BE- every day.
/ III Paul had begun an argument re-
\ spCctinc Christs divinity. or rcsurrec-
/ ton. or any kindred topic he would
/ probably have had most interesting
discussion with Felix. but thiuk YOU
/ that ne would have made him tremhles
J Most men thiuk that Christianity ls
Theology 30. Christianity is morality
Con tho light of eternity. And shat is
not the best preaching which delights
us with It's close reasoning and high
; speculation and profound theology;
/ that fist Tie best preaching which makes
MS. if we are living iu sin. turn uneaSily
I'm our seats and tremhle as we listen
90 its truths The law is our school
master 90 bring MS 90 Christ. and 90 fist
only when conscience lis aroused within
Ms that we seek the grace which is iu
b Christ and which came hy CHRIST The
, end OF preaching iS not 90 make men
r thcologians. the end OF preaching is GO
, build MO character and while some of
2 MS may Doe FAR enouch on Che road To
= hear sermons ON the deep things OF
, T God / ann not pe~Siui ~tic when I say
4. that. taking the world in its totauty,
I most 90 as are still where we need TO
\ hc reasoned with concerning righteous
D ness. temperance and Judgment 10
4, come
I Preaching TO the times" is favor
2 Ito expression nowadays. It- purpose
4, seems to Dee that men are t0 he amused.
r MS Felix had Paul in from The prison
to amuse him. Tie and Do alone
. breaches TO the times who makes us
. restless hy showing AS thc demands oi
. Gods eternal law aud then points Che
way cioar MP to Calvary and to Him
who said Come unto 1ie au So chat
4 labor and are heavy laden and ( VIII
give YOU rest" THESE are eternal vcri
I. ties ana They 90 au times. All others
- change and pass away with The chang
, + ing hour. social political. aye. ever
: theological questions have their day.
= and cease t0 DE-. but tho eternal Nee,
10 is for-iveue~, anna The everlastn,
4. want. rest Tor the SOUL
And $50 Pau. reasoned ot rl-htcous
, ness 90 a man Twins in sim. az tcaper
=, ance 90 q woman who lived to grarf.
every desire and wicked passion an'
90 Judgment t0 come to two who uevc
30 looked beyond the present worid-th
10 first steps. the first necessary steps @
the pointing ont % TIim iu whom alou
- is forgiveness and from whom alon
. we have the power 90 live So that "a
~ His coming in glorious majesty Q
- I judge the world we may not Doe put @
~ shame.
G And now. in the last place we motto
that this preaching was conviuclu.
~, That is clear enough. for man do.
ri / not trcmhlc without occasion. a mo
~ does not trembie in thc presence e
spiritual truth except his Intellect ha
-, been reached and his conscicr,
- touched Paul did hiS duty but Fen
-. / shirked his and turned his back up0
~ the truth. He tremhied hut hc oil
not move. Are there not many mt
like him with us today eco tl
T. way" said be- "whon / have couy
~ nient season ] Will send for thee
r not that what we often hear. II
~. when do those who Say $50 and th
- that convenient season ever come'
What DO we think OF the man who
0 matters OF this world. Isl given 90 pu
- ting of and waiting r0 another tim
~ our worldly wisdom tells us that sac
s a man viii never come to any 40.
,r and mo- one has amy confidence ln hli
~, You see through him. and smile ar
-, his excuses for delay. and think W
IN that 81 man cannot deceive his q
-, lows In this respect De can deceive g.
ga, and his own Souls The Bible knows
,. no time but now. "NOw Is che accept
time" And this is TRUE not only
the greatest Of an transactions
VIZ ceDtancc OF Jesus ChriSt-but OF ail c
III duties that devOlve upon MS Is Chr
ueS tian men and women. We may ha
vH- To-day am opportunity of dolnc good.
'u>. OF receiving good. III we let ID slip Oh
'nu door that opened 90 MS Will be SIN
use and it viii never be opened again. l.
mas opportunities 90 not return. OH,
uh- may come. but the lost cnes come B
'hS. / AGAIN. Let us. then. seize every ODD
and fn~itv Ior rs re9iiz,. fh,t the nres.
5 only is ours. ana as we hear the We
OF life let Us embrace it In its fuin
Sln and live in its strength.