The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-04-26
| The PUXI/ |
eSSSSI~.~<N
A SERMON ENA
pY ThE REV X~y
rAMHtNDERSSNWS
>ahjecti The Gospel of Christ.

Brooklyn, y. Y.-Preaching AT the
Irving Square Presbyterian Church.
on the theme The Gospel Of Christ.
Partial Message TO Its Messengers, ,"
the Rev. Ira Wemmell Henderson.
! pastor, took as his text Romans l:16.
For | am not ashamed of the gospel
OF Christ" He said
The last and perhaps he greatest
privilege which our Savior has given
unto us is contained in that COM
mand which, 1t is reported, He gave
70 His disciples nineteen centuries
ago: Go ye into all the world and
preach the gospel 10 every creature "
Paul writing, as we have seen, 10
the Church at Rome, but few years
after the death OF the Master, has
given TO us a 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 unchallenged
Through all the schisms OF the cen
turies the Gospel has come down 10
us as pure and beautiful in its mes
sage; as strong and as potent in its
power for good, as il 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
when to go forward is 10 accept new
responsibilities and TO receive re-
neWed opportunities for service. look
critically at the field before us. Let
us determine what course, as Chris.
uans, we must pursue. Let us con.
slder the message OF the. church tc
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
thlrty-second a certain Pharisee, Saul
by name, journeyed from Jerusalem
10 Damascus, breathing out threat
enings and slaughter against the dis
ciples of the Lord" His intent was
70 bring bound TO Jerusalem all
christians whom he might find at
Damascus. While on his way and
when but a 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 mar took
place. Sauls question, Lord, what
VIII Thou have me 10 do?" was the
handspring of action in his life. liz
the answer of our Lord came a pro-
N nf hnN
which was destined to change the DO.
htlcaI aspect OF the world, and 10 do
much 10 ameliorate the social condi-
uOne and surroundings of human
kind.
Paul was the first world
His mission was TO SOW the seed in
al the first century world. And so
IN the outpouring of a grateful heart
"a heart thankful for success as a
spiritual seedsman-Paul declares. Il
am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ"
This same gospel it 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 for
woman which has raised her from a
chattel TO her rightful position as a
forcSfll factor in society. To the
gospel is largely due that beneticent
scheme of education and that grand
er conception OF the liberty of the in
divid Lal.
The words OF Christ foretold the
doom OF slavery. The eternal princi-
Piles cf the new commandment could
not bat be hostile to a system of hu-
man chattelhood
The gentle teachings of the man OF
peace have entered into hearts in
every epoch and in every land.
strengthening and meilowing the in
dividual character and life. Wher-
ever the example OF the Christ is fol-
lowea there is prosperity and peace
and purity OF heart. Widely spread
throughout a people It has made of
that nation a mighty and a moving
element in the political history OF the
world. Applied 10 the lives of men
and women in whose hearts the love
OF Gods law was uppermost IL has
given TO us our Luthers, our Wesleys,
our Lincolns, our noblest and our
best.
But N is within the space of the
past century and half that the true
mission OF the gospel has been com
pretended and advanced Little
more than a century is II since our
first plans were considered TO send
Protestant missionaries 10 the East
To-day we have the missionary of
Christ In every land. The message
Of salvation through the Son is reach
ing round the world.
But lot us for the moment forget
the things which are behind and
look rather upon the present condi- |
tion OF humanity. Let US consider !
our duty as thoaz who are mot !
ashamed OF the gospel of Christ" 10 |
carry that gospel into every acting. |
longing soul. What application has |
the gospel 10 the needs of today? |
How eau We make IL a force In the |
lives OF men and of nations.
We find ourselves confronted by /
diverse and distracting social condi- |
tions. The tendency Of the times is |
toward congregation in large cities. |
The olden country life becomes dis