The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-15
REV. COKE AT THE SOUTHSIDE CHURCH Takes "The Future Inheri-
 tance" as Theme PROMISES OF GOD Certainty of Hope for Glorious In- heritance Is the Beginning
 of Joy and the End
 of Sorrow
PROMISES OF GOD

The Rev. ". J. E. Coxe, secretary O the education commission of the Baptis church of Alabama. wfo is filling th' pulpit of the Southsde Baptist churcf during the illness of the regular pastor Dr. Preston Blake, delivered very able sermon upon "The Future Inheritance at the morning worship yesterday. His text was taken from the first chapter oi First Peter, verses three to five, and thu Hisconrse was resonant of the Baptis doctrine throughout
 ouating the sermon theme, Blessed bt the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which. according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again into live ly hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undecided and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for you; who are kept by the power af God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.'' MT. Coxe said in part:
 "The hope of a valuable inheritance in the future is a balm to the needy and peace lotion. to the troubled. The certainty of such hope is the beginning of joy and the end of sorrow. Peter tells us that this is hope that is incorrupt- ible. non corrosive and one that cannot be destroyed by outside influences. All earthly things are subject to dissolution with vse, the vast temples and places, even the great mountains crumble and disappear with the ravages of time. A man many times a. millionaire may he suddenly turned into pauper by elements over which he has no control, the treach- erous avarice of his friends or the open violence of his enemies. Our bodies the abiding place of the holy spirit, are no exception to this law of the world. for our flesh and bones must return to the dust whence they came and be laid away in the ground as useless. But this inher- itance is in the hands of an incorruptible God, where moth and rust cannot cor rode and thieves cannot break In and steal.
 Inheritance Is Undefiled
 According 10 the text, this inheritance is also undefiled, which is an attribute of heavenly things only. The lines of earthly matters are well marked out that we may see why. where and when cause and effect are produced. A man may ac- quire his means through what is known as blood money, the writing of black mailing letters that wiring sums from the grief and broken hearts of his fel- low men. The envy, malice and hatred that accompanies this method of finan cial coercion cannot help but defle tho results. There are people who turn z deaf ear to distress, who do not heet the call of poverty-stricken mankind, anC who live only for themselves The wealtf or money of such people Is tainted witt selfishness. But this inheritance of hope is clean of an ulterior phase of the world 1y things that have sin for background
 This heritage is without decay. { perpetual and everlasting estate thai is not effected by the decline or rise in the stock market or property value The material objects of earth soor lose their vigor and with age show 2 decrease of powers. Our bodies lose their beauty. erectness and ability tC battle against disease as time leaves his hoary hand on our brows and mer have. long sought the prescription oi some elixir or cordial whereby they might preserve the physical glories oi their youth. But sickness and disso- lutlon are not for those who will come into their heavenly inheritance fol there it will be eternal spring. Here the buds are nipped with the frost without any warning, but there the warm sunshine of Divine Love will permeate the atmosphere always. Here we have the darkness of night. but there the light of wisdom will mak, one continual day that will outdazzle the brightest glow of the sun in bril-. 1iance and gleam softer than the vel. low rays of the moon.
 "There are two things implied in thi. hope and I believe that the heirs art being trained on this earth to the! majority and maturity by their Heav enly Father that they might fully ap preciate the worth of their inheritance One of these Is that we are to b, saved, absolutely saved. The evil an' sins of this world cannot defraud tn, rightful children of God of their legac, and no power in heaven or hell cal successfully attack this impregnabl, citadel.
 Hope in Resurrection
 "The other implication is that we ar, given a foundation for our hope il the resurrection of Christ which is tn, foundation stone of the gospel an, eAe cornerstone of Christianity N, doctrine or truth of the Christian be lief is more firmly established, in m. Judgment, than the resurrection of ou Lord This event was foretold by tn, prophetc and by Himself. The tw, Marys found His tomb empty upon thei going there to weep and were remind ed by the angels of the prophecy o His resurrection. The best testimon of his rise from the grave and triumph over death was that given by his enc mics, the Roman soldiers. who said tha he had burst open the bonds and as cended into heaven. II is hardly pos sible that a whole detachment of Ro man soldiers could fall asleep. whel they knew that the penalty for thi was death. and permitted another t remove His body from the tomb. As i is an assured fact, it is a pledge an pattern for His heirs as the resurrec tion of the heirs is necessary befor they can come into their inheritance.
 When the trials and tribulations o this life are ended. I believe tha
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