The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-05-09
special music and the services through
out was very impressive.
EpwoRTH NJ. r. CHURCH.

"God so loved the world that he
gave his only begotten son that who
soever believeth on him should not
perish but have everlasting life.
"For God sent not his son to con-
denim the world. but that the world
through him might be saved"
Rev. Brackney, superintendent OF
Delaware district chose the above
verses for the text of one of the most
beautiful and inspiring discourses, re-
Gently delivered in Epworth Method
ist church.
"The text" said the speaker "sug-
gests to us the world plan of saliva
ton. First, it is natural that we are
all worldly. No man is perfect. all
men sin, all mortals fall, and are
tempted by mortal ana worldly things.
The life of Jesus suggests the Divine
plan of salvation. He spent little time
i'm condemning the world and worldly
sins, but showed men how to live
with as little sin as possible, by the
goodness, purity and perfection of his
own spotless life. Jesus came into the
world as Precipitation of our sins
not to condemn
"Think said Rev. Brackney, or
the bigness Of mems plans.
"Our own plans, aspirations and am
bitions encompass us by four narrow
walls? Are we content with the lit
tie things Of life? Is civilization dead
and Indifferent to progress? Think Of
the advancement we have made in
the last two thousand years; think
of the difference between our fore
fathers, the lives of our ancestors,
and the way we are living today
"It is to the Bible and Christian
ity that we owe our present modes
of living, liberty, government, wealth
luxury and advantages-what is the
difference between Africa and oursel-
yes? Christianity.
"The question may arise, does God
want the Christian and civilized ma
tions to have all these advantages of
advanced Intelligence? Does He wish
ns to nave all the good things and
those dark uncnlightened nations
living in poverty, idolitary, and oppre
sion to be left out of this great Divine
plan?
THE church Is beginning 20 realize
the great task and responsibility
these questions bring.
"The church Is beginning to think
more of the world, to broaden out,
and awaken to the fact, what a great
privilege it is to Suread the gospel
and Christianity through these dark
countries and by so doing, arouse
them to a different life, a life Of in
tellgence, advancement and progress
sive civilization.
at is true, God does not want us
to do all He expects something Of
these people themselves, for there is
n part of mans salvation, that he
must work out himself
"The mathematics of religion be-
gins with subtraction; Christ first
takes out of n mans life, then puts in
One cannot receive Christianity un-
til he is prepared for it, all the bad
and wickedness washed away, ana
then when he is sweetly clean and
prepared for it, God pours I'm the
blessed salvation-the positive life of
the christian, and the joy of service
"The joy of service is the greatest
JOY of Christianity, and this Is the
plan Christ means to be adopted in
all its completeness. Christ gave his
life for us, so in turn we must give
if only little of our life for the SAL
walton of others. 1t is when we begin
to think of this service, when the
thought invades our prayers, and
plan of living, we catch the spirit or
the true gospel and inspires the world
to better thoughts, greater aspira-
tions. holier living. and he better
and greater men in Christ Jesus"