Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1907-02-02

l
mystery OF the Trinity. And insteau
Of going ahead in brave, noble Chris
tian way. doing the work which Goa
gives lis TO do and accepting the atone
ment of the cross, we fritter away our
0ospel peace and usefulness by asking
impossible questions and In trying 10
solve impossible mysteries. now my
friend. why cannot you follow the au-
vice of Paul? Why do you not concen-
trate all your faith on Jesus Cnristi
WHY not accept him at his word ana
60 forth and work in Gods vineyard
Is there today any doubt or mystery IN
vour mind which can outweigh the ln-
finite fact that Jesus was born tne |
Son of God. that he died to save you |
and me. that he will pardon all our
Gins and that In him we may have eY-
erlasting lifel
Let Mysteries Alone.
Hut IL the great mysteries Of the bi-
bla should not separate US from the
love of God, why should the great oi-
vine mysteries keep one Cnris.'an
church from working in gospel feliow.
shin with other Christian churchesf
Recause one Christian church puts spe-
claI emphasis upon one Of Gods attri-
butes In its creed or pracuce is na'
anv reason why other Christian church
es which lay stress on another OF dods
attributes should not affiliate with tnat
body of Christians or cooperate WIN
it3 Because one gospel church loves 70
sing the old psalms and anotner loves
70 use a liturgy and another church
loves to put emphasis upon immersion
and another church makes the sermon
the chief part Of its service Is IL any
reason why all these Christian cnurcn-
es should not be united In working lor
: the same master and for salvation Dy
the same divine blood?
When you look over the eccleslasticai
: history of the world you Will notlce one
= striking fact-the church Is apt 10 de-
generate when 1t becomes prosperous
After the crucihxion came the dark
i davs of persecution. But the growls OF
, the wild beasts, while crunching the
:. bloody bones of the Christians IN tne
Roman Coliseum, only WELDED tha'
y Christian church closer together. Ihe
. fires of persecution only purlned IL
l. The Christian church began to grow
It's foundations became stronger. al
10 the early church grew 1t was not only
10 able to resist and drive back its perse
stronger
It stronger until at last 1t was able to LAY
" claim upon the temporal as well as tn'
ot spiritual life Of the nations. Then TN
II Catholic pope became the acknowled9
Is ed spiritual ruler Of the world. Tnel
u what happened? AS the Roman Cath
y, olic church financially prospered did
n. spiritually prosper? Nay. The Vatical
:" became a cesspool Of sin. The Bibl
of was a closed book. The torture cham
he ber was the holy Of holies. Flagran
To- sin was everywhere In the churcl
ns Then came the divine mission Of ne'
IS, church.
ot The Reformation.
se The reformation came TO lts Dlrtl
,p- Martin Luther led the fight In Ge
ey many, John Knox in Scotland an
nd John Wycllf in England. The grasp
he the pope was shaken off, but soon
or. the English church came laxity and i
II difference. Another reformation WI
ey needed, and John Wesley and Geori
de- Whltefeld began to preach, and Met
he odism and Congregatonalism begs
nd their mighty work. Still later VILLA
he Booth has stirred the stagnant waite
as with his Salvation Army. So as u
OF need has arisen God has unfaillng
leu raised up men to do his work.
Wherever the churches, growing
Ing numbers and In financial strength al
ih- power have drlfted from God and tur
gnu ed their Masters temples into places
lne merchandise. wherever their preache
'm- have become unlike the humble Na2
,ou rene, then there have come a spirltu
'a' reblrth and a new church. And to II
I'D. new church. this humble church, b
oi' fallen the task of spiritually leaveni
',u, '1 the old churches Of the world. Al
'' =. nv friends, If you do not believe IL
90 what I say Is true would like you
and answer "e ono fD.S .o.,h +od,
where do you believe the lowly Ma
+ rene would prefer to preach-in
40, gorgeous Vatican Of a pope, with
inc. spotless robes, In the chancel OF
,ors great cathedral and be paid the ,
rna, 600 q year as its archbishop, or
ihIo come fashionable Protestant chu
'hev whose wealthy members sometimes
mas. stolidly Indifferent to the great sun
,em- ings of mankind? Or do you bell
y do Jesus would feel most at home al
reat street preacher, working with the hi
tity. blest workers In the slums? There
they be but one answer. There Is but
ding self evident reply.
not The Professors Reply.
age Thus I have tried to show you
aucn you have only one spiritual duty
life. You are here and now 10 gr
the great doctrine Of Jesus
: b.
ever Cease from sectarian differences,
cries frittering away your time and 9
lever work In his dear name. We can a.
Now, one in unity for the cross. remeI
rec many years ago, when In our semi
rtain wa were discussing the sacramen
itual said to our professor: Doctor, you
10 Is that we must use wine and brea
GER the Lords supper. Suppose wer
new an arctic expedition. Supposing
ie OF were caught amid the icebergs al
that all probability were about to die;
SOUL posing 1 wanted to have the
ria "a munion of the Lords supper VIII
|, I,,o men of the ship, and supposine
Gu to only food we had left was some
acher tack and some soup, could | us'
) that soup for the wine and the hard
e are for the breadT The professor i'
e can at me a moment in surprise. In'
- ann -ot5. .rrpdar quch a condition the