The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-12
Services at St. Mary'S on the
 Highlands
HELPFUL BIBLE READING
The Rev. Mr. Matthews Manner of Exposition Is Simple and Direct. Sermon Last Night Was to
 the Unconverted.

NNNNAA with the Rev. John R. Matthews as leader.
 As teacher in simple, direct exposition of the scriptures MT. Matthews is said to have few equals. Yesterday afternoon he dwelt upon the First Epistle to the and the same Epistle will be his subject for several afternoons, the hour for the Bible instruction being 8 o'clock. The preaching service begins at s D. m.
 There will be no services Saturday, but on Sunday at D. m. MT. Matthews will hold a service for men only He will preach at Il a. m. as we'll as at D. m. Sunday.
 Holy communion will be celebrated dur ing the mission as follows Sunday, 7:3C a. m., Wednesday. April F. and Friday, April 19, at a. m.
 At the service last night MT. Matthews chose his text from St. Luke 15:1O, Like wise I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
 He spoke in part as follows:
 The Sermon.
 The terms B. c. and A. D. are well known terms in history, but we should think of what revolution in religious history they record. Think of religion before Christ came and think of it in the year of our Lord. You will see that either consciously or unconsciously Christ is revolutionizer. Hence the terms. Com r1It IA 4 He has given, and by comparing His adversaries' acts and words with His own you can see the difference and the superiority of the religion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
 In one particular we can see the advant- age of the religion He has given us: name ly, His kind attitude to sinners. The Pharisees ostracised and separated publi- cans and sinners and their hatred against Jesus was increased by His receiving pubicans and sinners so that every time a chance occurred they were ready to blacken His character by assailing His position in regard to receiving sinners. Notice their sarcastic words "This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them" How does Jesus answer them? Namely, by showing four attitudes to the sinner as seen in this chapter.
 It so often happens that a minister upon this chapter reverts to the Incident of the prodigal son to the ex- cluslon of the other parts of the chapter. and well he might, for he can't tell us enough of the love of God to the sinner, as seen by this father to his prodigal son. But with your kindness may I say that l think that our Lord expresses four tn ha sin one chapter. First of all, His own atti- tude. He puts Himself under the form of the good shepherd, and the poor sinner under the form of the lost sheep. Notice five acts of this shepherd realized in Christ and realized in Christ to us.
 First of all His marvellous condescension by what He leaves; His wonderful pa tience by what He seeks, His wonderful perseverance in never giving up until He finds and His wonderful security in the strongest part of His person, His blessed safety in never leaving the sinner until he brings him home to Himself.
 Attitude of Christ.
 Second. The attitude of His church to the sinner He puts her under the form of a woman. Notice how this woman is anxions about her lost piece, so the church should be about her lost sinner. Christ said He came to seek and to save the lost, and formed His church to con tinue His mission. When the church ceases to do so, she loses her identity as a church. Hence a parochial mission Is an expression of @ desire to further Christ's mission to seek the lost The joys that are realized In heaven ought to spur Christians on to increase them.
 Third. The attitude of our Father to the sinner. There are six of them, as seen in this father to his son, but espec- tally notice two. Number one. This fath- CT nevep said word to hls son about his past sins The present reconciliation was too joyful and caused him to forget the past, It is not God who is against you, 1t Is you who is against God. It is not God unwilling to forget sins, it is you unwilling to forsake them. Turn your back on your sins and you will find the Fathers arms outstretched to greet you. Number two. The Father runs to meet the sinner. He says He seeks you The question is, will you seek Him? If so two persons seeking each other will not be long in finding one another.
 Fourth. The attitude of these Phari- sees to the sinner How does Jesus show this? He places these Pharisees under the form of the elder brother. You can see them in two acts of this elder brother towards the prodigal brother; one. he was unwilling to own his brother Note the words, This thy son." and compare with them the words, "Tf>> thy borther." '" These Pharisees were repeating His atti- tude towards these publicans and sim ners. Second, he was unwilling to come into the feast himself and he would him der others who would. The trouble with hypocrites is that they not only do not enjoy the feasts of the Fathers house themselves but their attitude flinders some who would. Forsake this way of living and come home.
 Notice the joy is not with the angels as we often sing, but the Greek words are ito enopion." Strange to say these two Greek words are repeated thrice in this one chapter. The other two English translations are. 'fn the sight of or before" Who is in the presence of 'in the sight of'' or "before' the angels to night? For it is with them the joy abounds. Our Father is in their sight so Is our Savior as we'll as the Holy Spirit. and even our loved ones who died in Christ Now do you not see, poor sinner, hat if you come home, you will make the Father rejoice. Jesus rejoice. the Holy Spirit rejoice. and your departed loved ,nes in Christ rejoice. Seeing you will make so many happy, my earnest message s. Come home.