The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1907-02-01
FARMvIILE. VA FRIDAY FEBRUARY l, 1907.

ment OF the cross. We fritter a"nJ ou'
gospel peace and usefulness by ASKING
imnosslble questions and In trying 10
solve impossible mysteries. Now my
friend. why cannot you follow the au-
vice OF Paul7 Why do you not cohcen.
trate all your faith on Jesus Oh'ls'
WHY not accept him at his word ana
20 forth and work in Gods vineyaru
Is there today any doubt or mystery III
vour mind which can outweigh the lh'
finite fact that Jesus was born lne
Son NJ God. that he died to save you
and me. that he will pardon all our
sins and that in him we may nave eF-
erlasting lifei
But. II the great mysteries OF the b'-
BILE should not separate us from ule
love OF God, why should the great III
vine mysteries keep one Chrls'''n
church from working in gospel ieiio".
shin with other Christian churches I
Recause one Christian church puts spe-
clal emphasis upon one Of Gods atuF
butes I'm its creed or practice Is that
any reason why other Christian church-
es which Law stress on another Of Goa :
attributes should not affiliate win tna'
body OF Christians or cooperate WIN
If? Because one gospel church loves 10
sing the old psalms and another loves
to use liturgy and another church
loves to put emphasis upon immersion
and another church makes the sermon
the chief part Of It's service is II any
reason why all these Christian churcn-
es should not be united in working TOT
the same master and for salvation "
the same divine bloodf
When you look over the ecclesiastica'
history Of the world you Will notice one
striking fact-the church Is apt 10 De
generate when It becomes prosperous
After the crucifxion came the dark
davs Of persecution. But the grows Oh
tbe wild beasts, while crunchlng the
bloody bones Of the Christians In the
Roman Coliseum. only welded tna'
Christian church closer together. Ihe
fires Of persecution only purified II
The Christian church began to grow
It's foundations became stronger. As
the early church grew 1t was not only
able 10 resist and drive back It's perse
cutors. but II became stronger ah'
; stronger until at last II was able 10 Ia.
claim upon the temporal as well as th'
spiritual life Of the nations. Then TN
, Catholic pope became the acknowledg
ed spiritual ruler Of the world. Incl
/ what happened? As the Roman cam
T ollc church financially prospered did !
t spiritually prosperl Nay. The Natical
t became a cesspool Of sin. The Bibl
) was n closed book. The torture cham
j. Der was the holy OF holies. Flagran
sin was everywhere in the church
!. Then came the divine mission OF ne'
church.
( The reformation came to its brit
g Martin Luther led the fight In Gel
= many. John Knox in Scotland an
) John Wyclf In England. The grasp o
3, the pope was shaken OF. but soon !
t the English church came laxity and II
e difference. Another reformation wa
J. needed. and John Wesley and Geore
y Whltefeld began to preach, and Metl
d odism and Congregatlonalism bega
e their mighty work. Still later Willlal
Rooth has stirred the stagnant water
II with his Salvation Army. So as II
y need has arisen God has unfailing
3 raised up men to do his work.
" Wherever the churches. growing
u numbers and In financial strength al
= mower have drifted from God and tur
Oh the,r Masters temples into places
= merchandise. wherever their preache
have become unlike the humble Naz
-, rene. then there have come splritu
rebirth and a new church. And TO III
!, new church. this humble church. III
~ fallen the task Of spiritually leavenii
= the old churches Of the world. An
M my friends. II you do not believe III
,s what | say Is true l would Ike you
~ answer me one question. II Jes
~ Christ were 10 come upon earth toda
II. where do you believe the lowly Na7
al rene would prefer TO preach-ln |
is gorgeous Vatican Of a pope, with
ne spotless robes. in the chancel OF
nd great cathedral and be paid the -
ne GOO a year as its archbishop or
some fashionable Protestant chur
to- whose wealthy members sometimes
-al stolidly Indifferent to the great sun
le- lnrs of mankind? Or do you belle
RS Jesus would feel most at home as
lal street preacher, working with the hu
lie blest workers in the slums? There c
ey he but one answer. There Is but 9
as self evident reply.
m Thus | have tried to show you u
do Won have only one spiritual duty
,at life. You are here and now to gr'
ty. the great doctrine Of Jesus 10
icy Cease from sectarian differences S
ng fritterlng away your time and 20
not work I'm his dear name. We can all
rct ..i.,- for tho cross