The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-17
BE A MAN, SAYS GOD,
WHO ANSWERS PRAYER
Rev. G. futile breaches Splendid
Sermon In Highland Park
Methodist Church.
RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL WIN
importantly Keeps Us Praying
Necessary to Keep Seeking In Order
to Be Able 10 stand the Glory OF
the Answer.

in the Highland Park Methodist
Church to a large and interesting con-
greTation by the pastor. Rev. Dr. C. o.
futile Taxing for his text the words
of the Apostle Paul, as recorded in l
Cor. 1913; Watch ye. stand fast in
the faith: quit you like men. be
strong" he said:
| l. has been charged that the type
of character produced by the Chris
tian Church is weak, colorless and ef-
Terminate. Such a charge might be
/ true of individuals. but not of the
| church as q whole. Those familiar
with the history of the Bible will re-
call how God has developed men of
timidity and ordinary ability into
leaders of courage and craftsmanship.
Moses Is a conspicuous example of
1 this standing as he does at the very
! beginning Of the national life of the
! Hebrews and the Apostle Paul, that
noble soldier Of the cross. expresses
The Christian ideal OF manhood In
those stirring words. Watch we, stand
fas' in the faith, quit you like men,
be strong"
A Distinct Type Of Manliness.
|
It may he that Christianity has suf-
1 Tered criticism through a failure to
note that II fosters a distinct type OF
manlness Paul was addressing the
! Cor nthan Church The Greeks en-
| tertained great admiration for the
person who possessed superior quail
/ ties of body or OF mind. but neither
Drawn nor brain alone are the signs
of the noblcst manhood. Moral and
| spiritual elements are more essential
and in the development of these the
| Christian faith is especially effective.
! 1t sets forth high standard of duty.
| inspires the sincerest and purest mo-
tlvcs and holds UP the loftiest ideals
| OF attainment. both for the individual
and for the race. While tenderness
patience and forgiveness are conspicu-
Gus. hatred of sin. decision in action,
heroism in service are equally prom
ine,t The Christian rs both ser
van, and soldier; his work is to de-
stroy evil and construct the Divine
Kingdom To Christ Himself we are
| to look for the supreme example or
manline<s He stands in the strength
and beauty OF His moral attainments.
| the farest among ten thousand; the
greatest hero the world has ever
known when a reporter interviewed
KanE WI Wei. the Chinese reformez
who fed for hts life from Pekin in
1888 he inquired what impressed him
/ in his study OF the gospels as the most
striking quality In Jesus. He rephed
tns' II was the persofia,''S VI IeSLS,
the MANY courage Win "nLsh Ile
uole'Ay ann uh"t''ieelS 49, 49,.
haIlFu vi .s ptSt ~. nar,sin+y
eiii',i's OF VIZ no, -. sa,i,,ra ~
| w., - g 49, ~ nxa~nie
th.. trsntra. NE baroism ana self
.,a -. ~ ~ AooatIa - +sa car,IIes
I'D has nsrved many a man to labor
| Cor the good NJ the church even ut
tha cost 81 that persecution suffering
and ienominious death which Jesus
s.,d Uo,ia core 20 those who should
nrov, His devoted disciples and loyal
helpers The annals of secular his
fory ro,.asnsnr AZ they. do the deeds
Of vaIor Of the warrior, have nothing
! to equal the records OF the church in
the lahors and sacrifices OF the Soldier
| Of the Cross. They stand IN all the
moral grandeur of their fsth pre-
eminent
a Type Developed snd DisptaScn
Through Trials
The apostles exhortation 10 wat,n
grows out of his knowledge or the
| temptations to which the CnFistiau is
subjected in his effort TO i've worthy
OF his ntEn CalHls' Nhli- w
est are not 10 be dispayed. the cnai-
ienge of the world calls FOR the eNer
else OF the greatest courage ana
strongest faith. We are ever TO oe
watchful against the wiies of the devil.
To illustrate the tests to which we
are subjected we may turn. Tor exam
pie to three striking incidents: 10
saph in Potiphar's house was peculiar
lly and strongly urged TO an act OF
inpurity. He refused at the risk or
imprisonment. possibly death, to lower
his standards OF moral conduct ana
sin against his own flesh and that
/ of his master. Potiphar. Daniel While
in Babylon had his religious fidelity
tried His fellow public officials plan
ned his downfall and led the King I'M
Willingly to become party to the
plot. Though Daniel knew his enc.
mics were watching him, he continued
to pray daily for Gods blessing upon
| himself and his people. Ffis religious
fidelity inspires our admiration. In
the New Testament striking instance
lof a courageous stand for the Master
Is furnished us In the bold manner
In which Peter and John faced the
Sanhedrin, which a few weeks before
had condemned Christ. They not only
/