The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-07-19

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RIGHT Use Of Power.

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Right Use Of Power.
All ages have tugged at the problem
Of power. We touch it first in b ma
terial. 1t is in the wave, the storH
the volcano, the lightning, the eartn
quake. But what Of those restless
forces, those earthquakes Of poWe
that burst from the mind? GraV1ls
ton binds every atom and world ID VI
universe, but it cannot bind the m,n9
that solves the intricate problems, ID
terprets the literature of the stars
thinks the thoughts Of God and dWeH
in a sphere but little lower than tia
throne of the Eternal! Yet as might}
and marvellous as Is the mind. 1t Z
powerless to grapple with the problen
of sin. The world is full OF lfterdture
the musical thunders Of Homer, Y
enhancing. e%loquence Of DemostheneS
the inductive philosophy Of Bacon, Jpn
dramatic creations Of Shakespeare, sbu
what power is there in literature to re
generate the human heart? Take th9
grandest man the ages has produced
or take all the superb intellects of tn
centuries and by some power OF az
tenuation concentrate them into one IN
comparable genius, holding in himself
the illimitable reservoirs of wisdOH1
and let him attempt to speak the woff
of pardon, and what q nockery, whal
blasphemy!
God alone can forgive the sinner
His power alone Is able to track tao
secret paths of sin, pluck out its sting
purify the; heart, reconstruct manla
fallen nature, and lift him up into thu
high places of power and vision! Thla
is the power, specified in Dur text, th4
power Of the Holy Spirit. It's a sim
gular truth, but the more carefully we
examine the faith of the ages, we seeI
somehow, like q hidden star, this doc}
trine of a divine influence coming intq
the heart Of man, throwing its glow
over the horizon of the world. Tb4
P%antheism of the Brahmins involved
this; it is the inspiration Of Theosophyy
the light Of Manicheism, the inne4
radiance of platonism, the full orbeq
glory of Christianity.
When Jesus Christ said to His dise11]
pies, "Tarry until We are endued With
power from on high" and interpreted
that power in the language of our
text, "Ye shall receive power afte4
that the Holy Ghost has come upon
you" He was bringing to light the
innermost and uttermost power of the
gospel. Christianity IS more than 4
system, it is spirit and life. ut is the
power (dynamite) Of God unto SALVATION
to every one that believeth." Paul says1
Our gospel came not in q word only
not like q Homeric song glistening with
incarnate genius, nor a cold Platonid
speculation that chills, but newer
warns the heart, 'but in power and
in much assurance and the holy!
Ghost"
Now that the power Of the Holy
Spirit has been given to the church, the
great problem confronting the church
is the right use Of power. One had
better crawl in the dust than to have
the erect body degrade the mind. Bet
ter make haste slowly" than to rusf1
wildly to certain ruin. Power is one
thing, the science of its application
quite another. Education brings power,
but it does not always give power over
power. The need Of the church is
power to direct and apply power, to-
adapt it's methods to the new age OF
thought and life, to bring its vast re-
| sources to bear upon the problems OF
the day in the practical spirit OF the
day and to keep step with the world
| wide movements Of civilization; with
that quick response to human need.
born Of principles adapted to universal
conditions.
aye. shall receive power after that
the Holy Ghost has come upon you,
and We shall be My witnesses" saith
the Saviour. All the power Of the
Spirit is TO be put forth in witnessing
| for Christ. The Holy Ghost is not
promised to restore bodily health or
work dazzling miracles. HiT power is
| given to be utilized in witnessing. Life
is only OF value as it witnesses to some
thing better, higher than itself. Mar
tin Luther was lifted into Immortality
by the high tide of the Reformation
John Wesley was enthroned by the
mighty e%vangelistic wave that rolied
forth from his fire crowned ministry.
Abraham Lincoln was lifted into death
less light by the divine principle OF
liberty for which he stood!
1t is only as we stand for and wit
ness to some exalted principle Of right.
eousness that life is worth living. The
need of the world is for, a witnessing
church. The need of the church is
for the baptism Of the Holy Spirit. q,
that He might descend with qnicken-
ing, purifying, e~nergizing power upon
us! Then the conquest Of the world
will be an easy task.-Dr. John Wesley
Hill, in the Brooklyn Eagle.