Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1907-05-02
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"A SERMON x%&62
pY THE REV. X@A
|lAWhENDEeSoNWt ;
Subject: The Gospel of Christ.

brooklyn, N. Y.-Preaching at the
irving Square Presbyterian Church,
on the theme "The Gospel of Christ.
Partial Message to It's Messengers.
the Rev. Ira Wemmell Henderson.
pastor, took as his text Romans 1916.
For am not ashamed of the gospel
Of Christ" He said:
The last and perhaps The greatest
privilege which our Savior has given
unto us is contained in that COM
mand which, it is reported, He gave
to His disciples nineteen centuries
ago: go We into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature"
Paul writing, as we have seen, to
the Church at Rome, but few years
after the death of the Master, has
| given to us record of his personal
and profound conviction of the
| worthiness of the good news of the
| Christ.
| This, the opinion of the pre-emi-
nent evangelist of the Apostolic
Church, still stands uncha1lenged.
Through all the schisms Of the CEN
turies the Gospel has come down to
| us as pure and beautiful in its mes
sage; as strong and as potent in its
power for good, as it was when first
our Master preached, with His own
dear lips, the message of salvation
and abounding love.
| To-day, as we stand just within
the threshold of another century,
with the memories of mighty eras
lingering in our hearts, let us glance
over the achievements of the church
| of the living God. Let us, as we
stand at the parting of the ways,
/ hon to t. ~
responsibilities and to receive re-
newed opportunities for service, look
critically at the field before u.s. Let
us determine what course, as Chris
tians, we must pursue. Let us con-
slider the message of the church to
the men Of to-day. Let us decide,
as God may give us power, our duty
as the messengers of the risen Lamb
of God Of whose gospel we are not
| ashamed.
About the year of our Lord the
thirty-second certain Pharisee, Saul
by name, journeyed from Jerusalem
to Damascus, breathing out threat
enings and slaughter against the dis
ciples of the Lord" His intent was
to bring bound to Jerusalem all
Christians whom he might find at
Damascus. While on his way and
when but few hours distant from
Damascus the spirit of God came
upon Saul and marvellous conver-
sion, worthy of the mission and of
the magnitude of the man, took
place. Saul's question, "Lord, what
wilt Thou have me to do?" was the
handspring of action in his life. In
the answer of our Lord came pro-
phecy Of that work Of evangelization
which was destined to change the po-
litical aspect of the world, and to do
much to ameliorate the social condi-
tions and surroundings of human
kind.
Paul was the first world-evangelist.
His mission was to sow the seed in
all the first century world. And SC
in the outpouring of grateful heart
"a heart thankful for success as a
spiritual seedsman-Paul declares, 81
am not ashamed of the gospel OF
Christ
This same gospel 1t is which
claimed the allegiance of Paul and
which holds the fealty of men in
every cline to-day. which has taught
men the principles of right living and
of eternal truth. To the influence
of the gospel is due that esteem fol
woman which has raised her from 9
J chattel to her rightful position as {
forceful factor in society,". To the
gospel is largely due that benefcen1
scheme of education and that grand
er conception of the liberty of the in
divfdual.
The words Of Christ foretold tht
: 4 doom of slavery. The eternal princi
/ plies of the new commandment couli
not but be hostile to system of hu
| man chattelhood.
The gentle teachings of the man O
peace have entered into hearts il
every epoch and in every land
strengthening and mellowing the in
dividual character and life. Wher
! ever the example of the Christ is fol
( lowed there is prosperity and peac
and purity Of heart. Widely sprea,