The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-10-09
THE PULPIT.
A BRILLIANT SUNDAY SERMON BN
DR.. CHARLES EDWARD LOCKE.
Theme: Doing the Impossible.

1Oah- t'ht hhilO''shiNs
BROOKLYN. " Y.-The Rev. Or.
Charles Edward Locke. pastor OF the
Hanson Place Methodist Episcopal
Church, Sunday evening. 10 a large
audience, preached on Doing What
Cannot BE Done" His text was Mat
thew 1920: Nothing shall be i'm
possible unto you" DR. Locke said
IN the course of his sermon:
That is a most exquisite moment.
when in the midst OF rich treasures
OF the Art Gallery OF the Vatican. one
. stands for the first time before Raph-
aers masterpiece of THE Transfiura-
ton" It was the great artists last
work: and before its pigments were
dry ii was carried in his funeral pro-
, cession. This masterful genius defied
a we'll known canon Of art in attempt
ing 10 portray two distinct themes on
the same canvas; but Raphael was a
good theologian as we'll as an un-
rivaled artist. He caught the double
meaning of the TRANSPORTATION and
saw In IL not only the Glorification of
Jesus, but the emancipation OF man.
kind.
When Jesus came down from the
father met him with the earnest re-
quest, Lord. have mercv on nv son."
humbly explaining to Jesus that he
had first taken his afflicted boy TO the
disciples. but they could not cure him.
Jesus said: Bring him hither 10
Me- and the child was cured that
very hour. In perplexity the disci-
pies asked Of Jesus. "Why could not
We cast him out?" and Jesus replied,
Because of your unbelief: for verify
] say unto you IL We have faith as n
grain OF mustard seed nothing shall
be impossible unto YOU" In casting
out the worlds devils and in alleviat-
ing the woes OF humanity. nothing
shall be impossible-and this is the
program of Jesus. Doing what can
not be done" is the program OF Jesus
Faith as grain Of mustard seed"
All things are possible TO him that
believeth."
Faith laughs at impossibilities,
And cries it shall be done.
"Jesus never despises little
faith On that late afternoon on
the banks of Galilee, when the multi
tude was hungry and the town was
far away, Jesus, to test Philip. in
ouired: whence shall we buv bread
that these may eat?" and mathemat-
ical Philip thought that two hundred
oennyweight would not be sufficient
Then Andrew for brief instant had a
vision OF faith as he suggested that
there was a lad there who had five
barley loaves and two fishes: but An
drew, too. quickly adopted the arith-
metical process and disconsolately
added: But what are they among so
fnqnV0v Tpcnc hOy lig
count or overlook Andrews mo-
mentarv vision and faith; and on the
basis OF Andrews "little faith" the
miracle OF the feeding of the five
thousand was performed. II was
faith as grain Of mustard seed only,
but IL accomplished the impossible.
Tertullian once said OF an event:
at Is certain because it is impossi-
ble,' and Richard Golden, when told
that certain thing was impossible,
replied: "If that is all, let us set
about II at once" General Arm
strong. OF Hampton, said: Doing
what cannot be done is the glory of
living" and his great schools for In
dian and negro youth became posi-
BILE. Carlisle impatiently wrote: I'm
possible! IL is not q lucky word
Who is IL says there is a lion in the
wayi Sluggard, thou must slay the
lion; the way must be travelled"
Mirabeau shouted: Impossible, that
blockhead of a world" And the great
Napoleon enthusiastically declared:
impossible! 1t is not a French word.
! Genius Is the art OF overcoming the
impossiblei"
Christianity is the art OF overcom-
Ing the impossible. Impossible is not
in the vocabulary OF the Christian.
Thi9 Is the program of Jesus.
Christianity has already achieved
the impossible In the overthrow of
the vast Roman Empire. To destroy
the power and glory OF Rome as they
appeared two thousand years ago in
trenched in impregnable fortresses
and defended by ever victorious
Roman legions, seemed an impossible
result.
Christianity has achieved the i'm
possible in the final eradication of
human slavery, a diabolical institu-
tion eliminated in the customs, for
tunes, constitutions, conscience and
traditions of men. So, indeed, shall
the day surely come when nations
shall not learn war any more. And,
when that prophecy OF Isaiah shall
have been fulfilled, which commands,
Loose the bonds OF wickedness and
| undo the heavy burdens" then the
accursed liquor traffic will be over
thrown, and the deadliest thpaldom
which has ever blighted manhood will
be ended. This damnable traffic in
strong drink fills the prisons with
| criminals, the hospitals with the in
sane. and the poorhouses with pau
pers. Recently great brewery COM
pany of this country has published I'm
its paid advertisements a libelous
statement that the founder Of Meth
| odism favored the manufacture and
sale of liquors as a beverage. The
| statements are mischievous lies. The
| greatest total abstinence society in
Christendom is the Methodist Church.
| Such demoniacal lies will only hasten
the downfall OF old Cam5rinus in
! this country The devil Is liar and