Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-15

A FineSerm0n
By Prof. Clark.

The pulpit of the Congregational
church was occupied Sunday morning
and evcnin' by Prof. Calvin NJ. Clark
Of the ia COR Theological Seminary
In the M ming Professor Clark gave
a parted 'arly scholarly and eloquent
sermon { the text in st. John iii :16
For G d. SO loved the world, that he
gave hi only begotten Son, that who
soevcr lelievcth in him should not per-
ish hut have everlasting life"
Prof. Clark said in part: This verse
teaches the method of Gods approach
to II: a. Tho Bible. it is well to note.
SpeaI $ to the man Of matured mind.
much less to men just emerging from
lilnalisni. In fact. it speaks to men
$ it finds them. The text speaks of
;Od as 4 person and of the exercise of
love. What are the marks of personal
love of God to men?
There are those who think of God
rs. the great Unknown with somehow
a relation to man. Again God is
thought of by some as the name of the
whole of things, and that we are parts
of God. In this conception God has no
personality, except in us as men.
Again, conception opposed to the
Biblical idea of God is that common
t. the most unenlightened, that God
is 4 great architect, great machine. an
ineXnrahlc judge who has laid down
certain laws which men shall follow.
For such Il God there can be no af-
lection. The human heart turns us the
needle to the pole away from these
conceptions OF God to the Scriptural
God. the God of love.
God is n person, the loving One. Man
does not comprehend God but man does
apprehend God. The simple child's inter-
probation of the thought of God is that
ter all is the same.
There are three traits of Gods char
actcr. First, God loves the world. We
all know what love is. We know what
parental love is; we know of the love the
husband has for the wife, the friend for
his friend. But John points out that God
loved the world, meaning that he loved
all men. This is the most sublime, for as
loves circle widens it's strength dimin-
ishcs. Not so with God, for his was for
all the world.
Second. Gods love is transcendant 1t
Is III spite of sin. The estranging influ-
ences of life separate friends. The COM
uniting of sin breaks the bonds Of love.
Brothers become aliens because one has
become a criminal. Even parents shut
out the hayward daughter. Love after
all does not rise to its sublimest height
uhtli 1t faces sin and loves in spit Of it.
Ii 1t stops at sin it is not love-
Third. Gods sacrifice. Men love 9TH
crs better than themselves, and the SUI
preme test of love is the sacrifice of tn,
one we hold dearest. Thus in giving not
limself but his Son, the last supreme test
or love God did not evade. No finer ex-
ample OF sacrifice was ever displayed
What, then, is the best destiny? First,
is 1t to cver-live death? But what USE
is this if it be to perpetuate the evils
within us? Then our best destiny is the
removal of our sins. Second, is it 20 know
God: But what use is this except our
sins he taken away. There can be no
fellowship with God so long as we will
10 keep our sins. Here, then, is the best
destlny-thc removal of sin from our
lives and eternal destiny with God Let
us not, however, overlook the word who
soever' in the text. 1t is for all to choose
AS final thought we must remember
mat love must be met by return of
love- What if ours has no answer? The
question is. shall it be allowed to go to
waste? Gods love is the greatest thing
III the universe for you to have
Inc pulpit of the church will be occu-
pied during the rest of July and Angus.
by out-of-the-State pastors who come as
supplies and not as candidates. The null
PIT next Sunday will he occupied by Rev.
Mr.. Mills, formerly of Belfast.