The new South-news., 1908-03-14
THE PULPIT.
AN ELOQUENT SUNDAY sERMOn BY
OPP. DWIGHT E MARVIN.


brooklyn, " r.-PrearhinG Sun
day morning In the Flatbush Presby-
terian Church on True Greatness. :
the pastor. the Rev. DR.. Dwight l..
Marvin. took for his text John 1914:
John. Indeed. did no sign: but all
'hings whatsoever John spoke OF this
man were true" In the course of
his sermon Or. Marvin said:
John did no miracles, yet he was
great. the greatest OF the prophets.
Human nature loves the marvellous.
Men turn and look in wonder a, the
feats OF the performer on tn. .rapeze.
whether II be In theology. business
politics or science. Dazzling fcafs OF
mind and body give false view OF
HE. John did not measure his great
ness by that OF others, he was too
much absorbed In his mission to think
of the work OF his fellow men. Like
Moses. who "~ist not that his face
shone when be came down from the
mount OF Communion. John went to
the river bank 10 preach in obliyious-
ness OF his own superiority to others
10 himself he seemed but a voice. a
breath. or a slave unworthy to loose
Messiah's sandals. Yet John was am
bitious. he aspired to position OF
faithfuiness that would make him
worthy OF his calling. Ambition is
natural 10 men. indeed there liz little
hope for advancement in life without
II. Young people are sometimes ad-
/ fiscd 10 be satisfied with the condi-
lions In which they are placed and
crush all desire TO better them selves
Ambition Is right and praiseworthy
when II Is founded on humility and
obedience. II Is wrong when ground
ed In pride and selfshness. Daniel
was ambitious to make known the
power OF Jehovah In the land of his
capnNity. Joshua was ambitious to
De worthy successor Of Moses. Paul
was ambitious TO plant the standard
OF the cross In every town OF Asia
Minor. John the Apostle was am
bitous TO repeat the vision that
came TO him on Patmos, and Jesus
was ambitious 20 save the world.
In studying the life Of John the
Baptist we discover four things that
made him great: He was faithful to
MS oall; he was humble in his ser
wee; he had vivid realization OF
the presence OF the Messiah. and he
was desout In all that he did.
He was not miracle worker. but
ne was "A forerunner. and as a fore
runner he gave himself to his work.
Rome had extended It's power I'm
many directions, the destiny of the
.np'rs was IN one mans hands: the
oIu' sturdy roman stock had died
""'' TWO classes OF men took its
piacc. tne petted dovotees OF wealth
ana luxury and the slaves. The old
brick imperial city had given way to
city OF marble. Stoicism. epicurian-
Ism and superstition prevailed. Men
"orsh'pen 1helr ancestors and the
emperor. Inc Jews In Palestine had
become restless under the Roman
YOKE ana were ready to resist foreign
control. 'hey waited only for some
ereat man 20 arise and stir them to
roUr11ron' InTrt WAS a'1fe1fnk every
where that the kingdom OF heaven
was at hand. that the Messiah was
about to appear and lead their armies
on to successful combat against the
Romans. Suddenly John the Baptist
made his appearance ON the banks OF
the Jordan His strange garb. his
positive preaching, his bold message.
attracted attention. and crowds came
from every district to hear his SER
mons, and submit to his baptism. II
Is no wonder, for John was a great
preacher.
We sometimes hear II said that
there are too many ministers. Va
cant pulpits, unemployed clergvmen
and the prevalent unwill;ngness OF
Christians to pay living salaries TO
their religious leaders are all men
toned in evidence OF the fact. IL
may be true that there are too MANY
ministers, but there are not too many
prophets, and there never can be
The trouble is. we have n narrow
view OF the ministry. The work of
the Gospel Herald cannot be held
down to the limits of a profession
Eleven o'clock in the morning. 4
O'Clock in the evening SO manv
pray ers. so many readings. so MANY
sermons, so many calls during the
week. and the work ia f,nished Fra
Angelica preached when he wrought
his wonderful pictures. Savonarola
preached when he hurled his ana
themas against the prevailing cor
ruption of religious leaders: Bunvan
preached when he nenned his mar
velous dream OF the Pilgrims pro-
rress." Carey preached vheo ha