Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-02-12
ONE OF THE SADDEST TRACED
les RECORDED IN THE BIBLE
DISCUSSED.
DR.. JOHNSON PORTRAYS CHAR
ACTER OF MAN WHO TURNED
FROM CHRIST.
FOUR CONVERSIONS AT FIRST
Baptist CHURCH, TWO UNIT
ING, LAST NIGHT.

| ton entered fully into the services of
song.
Dr. Johnsons sermon on 1.-THE man
who Would Not when he Could, and
Could Not when he Would" was point
ed and powerful 1t evidently brought
conviction to many hearts. The large
audience gave the most diligent at
tention to the speaker as he portray
ed the noble character of the rich
young ruler and yet, how he, clean
moralist failed by turning away from
Christ. 1t was a soul-stirring mes
sage. One calculated to appeal to
the best that is within man.
When the invitation was given to
confess Christ four persons came for.
ward, two uniting with the church.
The Sermon.
The minister said in part:
what, to me, is one of the saddest
/ tragedies recorded in the Bible, for
lit is the failure Of one who almost
succeeded. 1t is the failure of the
honest. clean, respectable, obedient
citizen-the selfldependent moralist.
| We stand aghast at the length to
which many go in sin, and wonder
how the human soul can ever reach
such condition of depravity. But
on the other hand, we sometimes won
der how a man as clean as the Rich
Young Ruler, who only lacked one
thing, can be lost. Yet both are true.
| II to lack one thing is to fail, then
we must admit all have come short
of perfection. This young man made
Il the mistake of the ages in thinking
that becoming a christian was mat
/ ter of works, when it is matter of
accepting Christ, and having Him,
who is perfect, to fill up our imper-
fections for us. "By grace are We saw
ed through faith, that not of your
selves. it is the gift of God, not of
works, lest any man should boast"
Christianity is life, and life is a
gift from God, and a free gift at that.
Our part is to accept it. The young
ruler would not admit his failure, and
dependence upon Christ.
God is teaching us some wonderful
lessons here. One is that riches is
no guarantee of divine favor, OF sure
ty of salvation. Any man who keeps
his eyes open to the failures, moral
wrecks, among the rich of our day
will not deny this statement. Let your
mind run back over some cases which
have recently occurred.
We are also taught the failure of
the social and political life. Fame is
not satisfying. You may be at the
top today and at the foot tomorrow. A
life spent in politics for the good OF
ones country is no surety of eter-
nal life. In fact the life of many poll.
ticians is sad commentary upon the
weakness of human nature. One OF
our needs today is strong christian
men in political life. 1t may be that
the coming of our women into public
life will help just here, if not then
they had better not enter this career
This young man could say what many
of you cannot say. Listen to his
claim. In speaking of the Command
ments in the law, he said 'all these
have | observed from my youth" Yet
he lacked one thing. He was self.
centered. Selfishness is the very foun.
tain of sin, and is back of all evil.
One thing is very clear in this BIZ
BILE lesson, and that is no man can be
saved by his moral life. without
the shedding of blood there is no re-
mission of SINS sAll have sinned
and come short of the glory of Cod
Christ is the one panacea for the sins
of all, whether the sins be many or
few, little or big. Nothing else can
tcleanse. Christ is the only hope for
anyone.
Services will continue throughout
the week, beginning at $3.50 in the
afternoon and 1880 at night. Dr.
Johnson will preach.
The attendance yesterday afternoon
was not very large, but it was an ex.
ceedingly helpful meeting. Several
of the churches Of the city were rep
resented in the service. We hope
there will be more people who will
take advantage of these opportunities
to hear Dr. Johnson.
Everybody invited to both after
noon and night services. Everybody
welcome.