The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-03-13
THE PULPIT.
AN ELOQUENT SUNDAY SERMON BY
DR.. DWIGHT E. MARVIN.
Subject: True Greatness.

DAY morning In the Flatbush Presby-
terian Church on True Greatness, >"
the pastor, the Rev. Or. Dwight =.
Marvin, took for his text John l0:4l:
John, indeed, did no sign; but all
things whatsoever John spoke of this
man were true" In the course Of
his sermon DR.. 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 at the
feats of the performer on the ,rapeze,
whether il be in theology, business.
politics or science. Dazzling feats of
mind and body give a false view of
life. John did not measure his great
ness by that Of others he was too
much absorbed in his mission 10 think
Of the work of his fellow men. Like
Moses, who "wist not that his face
shone' when he came down from the
Mount of Communion, John went to
the river bank TO preach in oblivious-
ness Of his own superiority to others.
To himself he seemed but voice,
breath. or slave unworthy 10 loose
Messiah's sandals. Yet John was am
bilious; he aspired to a position of
faithfulness that would make him
worthy OF his calling Ambition is
natural to men; indeed there is little
hope for Advancement in life without
II. Young people are sometimes ad-
vised 10 be satisfied with the condi-
tions in which they are placed and
crush all desire TO better themselves.
Ambition is right and praiseworthy
when il is founded on humility and
obedience; ii is wrong when ground
ed in pride and selfishness. Daniel
was ambitious to make known the
power Of Jehovah in the land Of his
captivity. Joshua was ambitious to
be 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
bilious TO repeat the vision that
came TO him on Patmos. and Jesus
was ambitious to save the world.
In studying the life Of John the
Baptist we discover four things that
made him great: He was faithful to
his call, he was humble in his SER
vice; he had a vivid realization of
the presence Of the Messiah. and he
was devout in all that he did.
He was not a miracle worker. but
he was fOTorunner, and as q fore
runner he gave himself to his work.
many directions; the destiny Of the
! empire was in one mans hands: the
old, sturdy Roman stock had died
out; two classes Of men took its
place: the petted deyoteos OF wealth
/ and luxury and the slaves. The old
brick imperial city had given way 10
city Of marble. StoiCism, epicurian-
ism and superstition prevailed. Men
worshiped their ancestors aDd the
, emperor. The Jews in Palestine had
become restless under the Roman
yoke and were ready TO resist foreign
control. They waited only for some
great man TO arise and stir them to
rebellion. There was a feeling every
where that the kingdom OF heaven
was at hand, that the Messiah was
about tC 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 10 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 clergymen
and the prevalent unwillingness OF
Christians to pay living salaries 10
their religious leaders arc all men
TONED in evidence of the fact II
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 a narrow
view of the ministry. Tho work OF
the Gospel Herald cannot be held
down TO the limits Of a profession
Eleven o'clock in the morning, 8
o'clock in the evening, so many
prayers, 50 many readings. 50 many
sermons. so many calls during the
week. and the work is finished. Fra
Angelica preached when he wrought
his wonderful pictures, SavOnarCla
preached when he hurled his ana
themas against the prevailing cor
ruption Of religious leaders: Bunyan
preached when he penncd his mar
velous dream Of the Pilgrims Pro-
gress;" Carey preached when he
planned missionary service while
working at a cobbler's bench: Cor
don preached when he set an eX-
ample OF righteousness and led his
soldiers on TO sacrifice and service.
Livingston preached as he pushed his
way on through the dark continent:
Agassiz preached in his scientific
Investigations; Miller preached when
he saw the footprints OF the Creator
in the stones, and Frances Ridley
Havergal preached when she wrote
her poems end her songs. Every
Christian is called 10 be preacher
just as truly as was John the Bap-
tist. Our stores. shops, Offices. homes
and schools are our pulpits. and orr
contracts, bargains, service and
daily routine work are our Bible
exposltiOns. The preparation Of one
self for preaching Is always harder
than the preparation of sermon.
Every man wrought in Jesus Christ
unto good works Is a preacher and
he is blessed Of God I'm his ministry
according TO his faithfulness. There
are no special promises for the pro-
found. the learned and the brilliant
80 John did no miracle'-but there
are innumerable promises for the