Omaha daily bee., 1915-09-23

Billy ounnAN StlAANN thoh hAehs
on Repentance" Tie Faid
Text: God commands men everywhere
10 repent"-Acts xvii. 80.
Tho first thing John the Baptist
preached was repentance and the first
thing Jesus and His disciples preached was
repentance but we very seldom hear
sermon on repentance today. Plenty Of
preachers in a long ministry never
preached one single sermon on repent
nnce.
They have preached on everything else,
but have given repentance q wide berth,
probably for the same reasen that the
coiorod Preached never liked to preacn
against stealing chickens, because u
always appeared 70 throw such cold
ness over tho meeting and made 30 many
II hia insnheis freeze up towards hnn
like"
No matter who breaches on repentance.
he IL bound to stir up the serpents of
opposition. II don't take a preacher long
10 find out that Il 10 much easier to get
along pleasantly In his ministry and
have the salary raised now and then by
making people feel satisfied with them
selves
OF all things that We hate more than
anything else is TO see ourselves as wo
really are. We hate that which shows
up our faults and blemishes. That Is ono
reason why 30 many people don't like my
plain preaching.
No photographer could make a living
taking pictures II he made a correct like
less of everybody who come along. II he
don't rstoueh the negative and take out
The ugly spots, the woman with q Squns
and the man with a wart on his nose
would so somewhere else for pictures.
e.. gl.u8 ali ha NJ wi NJ
rink out OF clear water, for when he
ices his ugly face reflected in Il he is
stirred 10 fury and lashes the water
into foam.
There must be q good deal OF human
nature about an elephant
u ~ for this very reason that -
many people do not like the Bible. II
makes them sec their own wicked hearts,
nnd they can't bear that.
People don't like preaching that goes
at them rough-sfod and finds sore
places on them. They want sermons ct
thc "You-tckio-mo-and-I -I'll-tickle-yoL
kind preaching that pats them on the
hcad and makes them feel like poy
with his mouth full OF butterscotch.
Make a man feel certain that the Lord
sdmlrea him and you will be a great
y. eacher 10 him.
But John tho Baptist was not that kiEd
of preacher and neither was Jesus
Christ nor any OF His disciples with the
exception Of Judas.
That ia why John was thrown into
prison and had his head taken off He
opened his Bible right square in the
middle and cried, Repent ye. repent ye.
for the Kingdom Of God is at hand"
Ssnr Preachers Don't Know There
Ia a Devll.
lie preached plain and took a dead
aim az the sinners on the front seats.
NJ wonder 4 stirred up q hornets nest
a once.
II you hear the preacher say that he
don't believe In q devil. you can just bot
our hat then that he does and knows
here Is a devil. Amt that right.
brethren?
Tho mon who do any preaching on TO
pentancc know there is a devil as well as
they know what kind OF a dinner they
Ike. for they have heard him roar.
There was no chance for any sinner
70 feel comfortable under John the Bap-
lists preaching. for no held up the clear
giass Of Gods word and made people
look and see themselves IN Il.
John had backbone that was bigger
than many a mans whole body and with
more finch than you could find In a
Quaker meeting. lie said 70 old King
Herod' IT Is not lawful for you to have
your brother philips wife; put her away.
YoH incur the wrath OF Gad every minute
you live with that woman.
That's why the wicked old king lald
violent hands on Gods chosen messen-
ser ana landed him in prison. II was the
keen edge Of John's preaching that took
his own head of.
know preachers. and 20 do you, who
could have been 90 non-cOmmittal In
their preaching that the lecherous king
would have been shouting happy every
time be heard them--preachcra who would
have catered 20 his vanity ln their very
prayers BY thanking God that lie placed
over theEn such q wise and virtuous king.
one who know what religion was ana
had d0ubla portion OF e.
one step has been taken towards in,-
proving public morals ana that is 10 sign
sin by its right name.
Most people take poison through a
Misunderstanding. II you would label
the bottle with great big black words
yon would not take Il because you would
be afraA you would die. The devil can
appear ~ an ansei and IN that disEuise
ne does his most effective work.
sevenah Commandment Needs
Revision.
n plain devil rose up IN our midst
he would not accomplish anything. You
would be TOO afraia Il ls not a whole
some condition 70 have too many syn-
onyms Tor lying. stealing and adultery.
ten you that the man who takes that
which does not belong 70 him Is a thief
I don't care what you would can him.
The man who deeeives his neishbor IL a
liar.
Adultery q adultery. You can cali
4 affinity n you want To- Affinity is
simply adultery
The Seventh Commandment should be
revised 70 read. Thou shalt not commit
edultcry. then an apDsndase rsading.
Thou ahait not commit affinity" Ths
@fgfnth Commandment Is sacred ana
whoever breaks q u abhorred by 0od.
Hhea John the Baptist saw Herods
ariQ1 sailopinB up the street % the