Evening journal., 1907-02-18
DR.. Wyatt Says We Owe All
Our Influence and Prosperity
TO Christianity
GROWTH OF THE
MISSIONARY SPIRIT


a day Of good tidings, and we hold
our peace; il we tarry till the morn
ing light some mischief will come upon
US" Kings, z 9.
DR.. Wyatt said.
The city of Samaria was invested
with an armed soldiery. Every ave-
nue. was closed, so that no provisions
could enter the city 1t was the plan
to starve the city into surrender. We
have in this narrative a recital OF a
horrible domestic tragedy. A mother
was reduced to such desperation as TO
give up her own child for food. Thous-
ands roamed through the streets in
search of a morsel to prevent the ox-
tinguishment of the hickering flame OF
life. Their eyes were sunken. their
bodies wasted within was famine.
without was q besieging army. AT
the gate of the city sat four lepers
who resolved to cast themselves upon
the mercy Of the Syrians. But before
they reached the camp the Lord made
the Syrians to hear the sound of
great host. They thought two hostile
armies were approaching to relieve
Samaria and they became panic
stricken and fed. leaving the camp as
it was. His was a supernatural illu-
sion. whether subjective or objective,
we cannot tell.
1T was a miracle wrought directly
for THE deliverance Of 1saerl. The
lepers went from one tent to another,
eating and drinking. They took gold
and silver and raiment and concealed
it. For miles were TO be seen the
frFk
reveling sometime in the luxuries
which they found, their consciences
smote them for concealing the dis
covery from their starving country
men. They said one TO another: We
do not WELL this day is a day of good
tidings and we hold our peace; if we
tarry till the morning light some mis-
chief viii come upon us.
1T WAS a day Of good tidings. Yes
tenday they we're starving for food.
and suffering all the pangs of hunger.
/ To-day they are feasting. In Samaria
are thousands dying for want of pro-
visions. Nearly nineteen centuries age
while Judian shepherds were watching
their fiocks the Angel OF the Lord ap-
peared TO them saying: I bring you
good tidings of great JOY. which shall
be to all people. For unto YOU is born
this day in the city OF David a Savior
who is Christ the Lord This an
nouncement came at an opportuni
time. The world was sinking hope
lessly into ruin. Judaism was dying
the priests were teaching for doctrines
the commandments of men. The sys.
TENS Of heather philosophy and relig
ION had failed to regenerate society o
satisfy soul-hunger. But when th'
fulness Of time and the fuiness Of th'
worlds need had come. Christ wa.
born in Bethlehem of Judea. He cam'
to show US the father-heart of God
to redeem US from sin. to give us
perfect example and to open up tbs
J way to heaven. This is a day Of goot
tidings. What a treasure we have il
the Bible which is the documentary
basis of our faith. Locke's definition
Of the Bible has not been improved
upon. Tt has God for its author, sal.
walton for it's end and truth withou
any admixture of error for its matter.
'rhis Book is the message of goot
tidings. When DR.. Fisher. Bishop O
Rochester. one of the holiest an,
noblest prelates in English history
was on his way to execution. he tool
from his pocket a little Greek tesla
ment and looking up to heaven said
Now, o Lord. direct me to some pas
sage which may support me through
the awful scene As he opened th'
book his eye fell upon this text; 'Thi
is life eternal that they might know
Thee the only true God and Jesu
Christ whom Thou hast sent He thel
closed the book and said: Praise God
this is sufficient both for time an'
eternity
AFTER the battle Of Inkerman II wa
found that the leaf OF a book was glue'
with blood to the finger of a dea'
soldier. The leaf was from the New
Testament and the words to which hi
finger pointed were: I am the resur
= rection and the life, he that believed
[ on Me. though he were dead. yet shall
: he live The soldier while he breatheI
cut his life among his dying comrades
] found Gods word a light to guide hin
! through the valley. Who can estimat
7 the blessing that flow from the gospel
It reveals the only remedy for sin, am
5 the only panacea for our ills.
t IAN application Of the gospel to on
I social and political life would ushe
5 IN a reign of peace and prosperity
Anglo-Saxon civilization is the produc
Of the Bible. Hume. the last grea
r English deist deserving respect. bear
2 unconscious testimony to Christianit
- by showing that until Christianit.
S came to Britain in the second and thir
e centuries there was no unity amon
S the tribes, but after it gained master
; over Druidism and other forms o
e heather worship, the population bega'
g to grow homogeneous and progressive
and that because Of the presence an
power Of this element England de
veloped in constitutional liberty, liter
Azure and arts. We owe everythln
to the influence of the gospel.
1--WE hold our peace.
! "These men were so occupied VT
their own needs that they forgot thei
= starving countrymen. The spirit q
e covetousness seized them and the
concealed the silver and gold and raj
s ment for their own selfish purposes
u Such a course was extremely culpabl'
3 After awhile they remembered III
e starving inhabitants Of Samaria, an
they were filed with the sense
shame for such criminal neglect. The
said: We do not well, this day is da
Of good tidings and we hold our peace
'sWhile enjoying the blessings OF tf
a. gospel, many have forgotten those WI
n are sitting in darkness and the shade
i of death. The church has been Vel
y, slow 10 execute the commission OF h'
is risen Lord. Go We into all the wor'
IS ,r.1 ,.-.a..t f1,a .roouai IA every cralI