The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-16
"FADS OF FAITH
HELD NOT GOSPEL
Religion of the Future" lis
Theme of Sermon by the
Rev. G. E. Davies.

That the 'fads of faith" are not az
integral part OF true religion, and that
the everlasting gospel OF the Prince O
Peace is the unchanging foundation O
true religion, was the thought empha
sized by the Rev. George T. Davies II
his sermon yesterday morning at th'
First PRESBYTERIAN church. Iaking a.
his topic THE Religion OF the fuluEe'
the Rev Mr.. Davies said in part;
There are two things people call
ing pastor have a right to ask.
The first is THE minister's concep-
ton OF Jesus Christ for you can
wrongly W OF Him" The second is
"The preachers conception OF His
message. that is. the gospel
Paul assured the Roman churoh
his delayed visit was not oceasioned
by any lack OF confidence In his
ashamsS mfssasS of deSsIns tSe Gospel for M Il is the
power or dynamite OF God unto sal
vation,''
Plato could speak OF wisdom and
temperance and altruism. but couid
not make them walk the streets OF
Athens. Likewise Seneca and Marcus
Aurelius, that grand old heathen,
were not wanting in eloquent passages
concerning the high value and tran,
scendcnt importance OF virtue nnu
benevolence, but Rome and the Ro-
mans stumbled on In darkness. In
the face OF failure otherwise univer-
sal, with meager accomplishments
and mean possessions, when imper-
fectly comprehended and consequent
ly mISrepresented. Paul pins his Ialth
TO the gospel of Christ. feeling IL was
the supply OF the worlds needs For
him this was the cause OF causes.
But time makes ancient god un-
couth. They must upward stin and
onward who would keep abreast OF
truth" Many say the gospel is TO be
honored for what it has done. but Is
now spent force. a worked out mine,
Not n few OF the forty seven Varie-
ties" of the new religions hall from
Boston, Go into Huntington Cham
bers on a Sunday afternoon and you
sixteen new cults all claiming eXclu-
siye loyalty.
But God changes not; neither does
human nature. These fads OF faith
are as a house built half way down
the hill beneath which is the quag-
mire OF infIdelity and despair,
Wherever Christianity has been
genuinely tried it has proven itself
present and complete. This has but
one limitation. :to every one that
belleveth" The individual will lss
invlolate. Note the generosity OF
such gospel. without the biSotry
that often accompanies breadth. so
sador. He has no right to deliver
broader message than the word OF
God warrants. nor dare he limit the
sanctions of the faith. Unfaithful-
ness 10 the gospel Is 10 whittle the
cross OF Christ into shavinss. Paul
found the gospel TO be the diagnosis
OF and prescription for sin, More
over. il was the practical help human
kind needed, being not merely static
but dynamic power. This because
OF what Ii accomplished for the In
dividual and for society.
The modern prea cher has added
reason for confidence in the gospel.
Upon the field OF history IL has been
the fundamental motive to the great
est historic accomplishments, There
fore we are not disposed to apollo
gize, for the gospel is the religion of
the future. It is not for one age.
but every age, He who carries such
good news from the court OF heaven.
may we'll rejoice to be the minister
of such grace and exclaim with ex-
stacy, 81 am not asha med OF the Cos
pei