The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-01-13
THE PULPIT.
A SCHOLARLY SUNDAY SERMON BY.
THE REV. c. Q. ETSLER.
Theme; Seeking Gods Kingdom.

Clarence Bartlett Etsler, preached
Sunday on Seeking Gods Kingdom
He said:
In bygone years, when people went
upon the theory that man is inherent
ly depraved and that HIS natural al
legiance while on earth is to the SOW.
ereignty of the devil, In those days..
when one talked about seeking Gods
kingdom, 1t meant that a man should
shut out the sunshine and enjoyment
from his days; that he should crucifyi
his nature upon the cross of self-de-'
NAL and that through a sad and dole
full earthly life he should look for
ward with patient longing for the
kingdom that he must seek in somel
future world.
When man complained of earthly
hardship and sought religions helps
the church said, in substance to him,
Yes. we know it's hard living in this
world. but what can you expect; man
Is naturally a fallen, degenerate crea-
ture. the devil is his spiritual adviser
and his man OF business; but never
mind. grin and bear It. for you will
find Gods kingdom when you die and
there the devil will be shut out"
Such a philosophy and such re-
ligion was but cowardly subterfuge
whereby an easy escape was afforded
from the necessity for working out a.
solution for the hard problems of this,
life.
Thank God, the liberal church has
cut loose from dogmatic tradition and
Is teaching a religion not of mysti-
cism and of theory, bus a religion of
present helpfulness and of common
sense.
We do not believe in a fallen race.
We believe in a rising race. We do
not believe in original and inherent
sin. nor that every man that's born
Is born first into the kingdom of the
devil.
And this we believe is the first step
in seeking Gods good kingdom; the
recognition that every child that's
Worn is Gods and not the DEVILS; the
good tidings that every soul has with
in Itself the spark of divinity and not
the flame of hell.
It's true that some of us are born
with heritage of sin and with birth
marks of imperfection. but the good
tidings of great JOY is this: That
whatsoever sins of the fathers may
have set the children's teeth on edge.
those children have another heritage
from their perfect heavenly Father
a heritage that can overcome the in
bred sin: that can round out in per-
feet growth all human imperfection.
He who would seek Gods kingdom
talks not of original sin; he publish
eth good tidings of ultimate perfec-
ton
What does it mean for us. this
seeking for Gods kingdom? We rise
...s. ~ Ia,r 4 NT,a r11 -
brightly through the windows. "Oh, >"
says one, "the harsh light hurts my
eyes" or, If it's a woman of one
kind, she says, 1T will fade my car
pct" and the shades are quickly
drawn and the gloom of sepulchre
ensues.
Is that seeking of Gods kingdom? :?
Another throws wide the windows of
his house and soul and drinks in the
life sustaining oxygen. basks in the
blessed warmth of natures medicine,
and sings an unconscious song OF
praise to his maker and his life keep
e..
He Is seeking Gods kingdom. And
then at the breakfast table one takes
his place with no word of greeting
and devours his food in silence, save
for q mufiled complaint that the toast
is scorched or the coffee cold. The
other, the sunshine fellow, comes in
with the glow Of the. suns radiance
still upon him. and the room seems
brighter for his coming. He has a
Joke and a smile for all. even for the
fellow with the chronic crouch
Which one, think you, Is getting near
er 10 the kingdom?
And then they are out upon the
wav to business. The car is crowded
and when the conductor gets to ouI
friend, .he crouch, he looks straight
at the conductor, but makes no move
10 set a nickel, and then through all
the remainder OF the trip he shrinks
and starts whenever he's spoken to
and wonders If he has been spotted
Finally, he slips into a seat. and al
though a woman stands beside him
with a child in her arms, he feigns
intense interest in the paper he has
lifted from the seat.
Is he getting very near 10 Gods
kingdom? The other traveller helps
an old man board the car and cheer.
the withered. friendless heart with q
goodwill smile. He hears With un.
derstanding ear the conductors grufi
step lively" and sees with under
gently shove into the car IN over
burdened daughter Of poverty, as she
In turn supports her feeble mother
He hears with understanding ear, az
the conductor comes down hard upoI
the ignorance of some poor forei gnel
az he asks directions, and he sael
with understanding eye as that sam,
conductor sneaks up little later ant
gives the bewildered foreigner gruff
though kindly, instructions how L
find his way. He hears and sees un
derstandingly. I say. for he Is an op
tlmist, and he Is seeking for God
kingdom. although he may know
not. He Is looking for the good 4
men because he knows 1t Is there.
"As a man thinketh in his hear
90 Is he" and whether we shall b
seekers for Gods Kingdom OF trut
or servants of the kingdom OF Tn
devil depends upon our purity o
heart.
The kingdom within determines th
kingdom without; II the kingdol
within be the kingdom OF truth, o
purity, OF unselfish kindness, then W
win nnd heaven without seeking yer
far. We sometimes talk about seek
ing Gods kingdom as though IL mus
come through some mighty upheaYa
OF nature or through some revolution
God doesn't work that way. Super
stltious persons have arisen at va
rious times and have proclaimed tn
coming OF Gods kingdom, but
Al Ill. L.. gWa..~