Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-01
ETERNAL LIFE NOT
 CONFINED TO FUTURE.
It Begins Here Said Rev. Joel 3. sIo.
 cum, D. D.

The Bible is a real book and it's religion is a. real religion; It's Christ is a real saviour. said Rev. Joel B. Slo- cum, D. D.. pastor of the Central Bap- tist church in a naddress delivered on Sunday afternoon at the Y. M. c. A Mems mass meeting held in the Thay CT building, Sunday afternoon.
 General Secretary Hill lead the meeting and music was furnished by Swahn's orchestra.
 In part Dr. Slocun said:
 wish to speak to you on The Real ity of Religion.
 There are a great many brands of religion, but after all, there are only two classes-the real and the unreal; in other words the true and the false
 The Bible is a real book and it's re- igion is a real religion; it's Christ is a real Saviour
 The Bible is a present t-tense book: it deals with the here and the now. It's great assurances @ are in the pres ent tense: '"The Lord is my light and my salvation" '"The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want" There are sixteen verbs in that twenty third Psalm and twelve of them are in the present tense. .Lo, am with you al- ways" All things are yours" These are only a few of the many present. tense assurances of the Bible
 Then the great invitations of the Bi- ble are in the present tense: Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins are as scarlet they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" Come unto Me, all ye that are heavy laden and will give you rest" Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts" 'aThe spirit and the bride say, Come and he that heareth let him say, Come; and he that is athirst let him come, and whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely.''
 Then many of the great decIara- tions concerning God are in the pres- ent tense. When Moses inqufred of the Lord what he should say when he went back to report as to wha sent him, the instruction was Say I am that l am hath sent me unto you!'' This reminds us of that magnificent statement of Jesus as to His author ity: Before Abraham was I ann
 Then the great doctrines of the Bi- ble are in the present tense Sal Vat1on Is in the present tense. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin" He that believes (now) on the Son has eternal life"
 A good many people think eternal life is confined to the future. It be- gins here and now
 Then. heaven is in the present tense. The old Seetchrnan when asked if he expected to go to heaven when he died, replied with enthusiasm: 'sWhy mon, I'm living in 1t noo!"
 Edward Payson when dying, said with mingled rapture and regret, 70, if had only known twenty-five years what know now, might have walk ed in the light of the new Jerusalem all these years"
 Service. that we talk so much about these days. is taught in the Bible and it is taught in the present tense.
 pr. Slocum then went on to empha- size the opportunity that comes to every man of accepting Jesus Christ for salvation and for service tSWe all want to hit the mark" he said, as he made his appeal.
 The meaning of the word Sin fs missing the mark.
 He urged the men to aim high and to realize that they have a present Helper in Him who came to be mans hest FI-ien9 <