Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-20
DR.. SMOOT breaches
At CENTENARY CHURCH
Discusses 1.-THE Mercy Of the Lord
I'm Sermon at Morning
Service.
TINE FOR DEEP SPIRITUALITY
Minister Shows How, All Through
the Bible and Through Human
Life, God is Working Out His Di-
vine Plan.

Based on the wonderful promises of
the One Hundred and Third Psalm. Rev.
Thomas A. Smoot, d. D.. preached u
most comforting sermon to his congre-
cation ut Centenary Methodist Church
yesterday morning on Tho Mercy Of
the Lord" In these troublous times
when people find themselves. both as a
nation and as individuals not knowing
what day may bring forth, one re-
verts to the self-abncEation OF the
Psaimst who sees with the wider
vision that no matter what may be-
tide. the mercy Of the Lord endureth
forever"
1t was theme peculiarly appro-
pirate to the spiritual need OF people
who under the stress of conditions
brought about by the war think again
i'm simple terms Of the great fundI-
mcntals OF truth and honesty, justice
and mercy. love and charity toward
all men. But the mercy of the Lord
is from everlasting to everlasting upon
tcenth verse OF the One Hundred and
Third Psalm. land His righteousness
unto children's children; TO such as
keep His covenant. and to those that
remember His commandments to do
them"
DR.. Smoot called attention first to
the fact that all through the Bible In
Inc WORKING out OIL the DIVINE Dlan
there was shown the opposite phase OF
the theme. Life is mentioned as OPP
posed TO death and for tho oblivion OF
the grave, there Is the comforting
thought Of glorious resurrection.
Though tears are shed in the extremity
of grief. n glimpse Of the rainbow is
afforded for consolation. "Hc Will not
always chidc," and to all the good
impulses of the humon heart there will
be found ready response. since IT Is
Gods nature to be merciful
ATTITUDE OF REVERENCE
SHOULD ALWAYS EXIST
Toward God there should always
exist an attitude OF reverence and
praise. for though He Furnishes us in
evitably for breaking His laws, yet He
tempers Justice with mercy. God be
merciful to me. sinner" is the world
old prayer of the human race. and OK
presses the confidence of human frailty
in the unfailing love and forgiving
tenderness OF the Father. Through the
warp and wool of the human fabric tho
dark line of destiny still goes zig
Tagging, dividing those who love God
from those who do not.
God is very definite, said DR. Smoot
in what He expects OF us. One notes
that mercy is promised to those who
remember to keep His commandments.
If 4 man does not fear God he does
not want mercy. and we forsake the
paths of consistency when we say that
God Is not to be feared. God expects
us to remember at all times our duty
forgetting. The "Recessional" should
be ever unspoken prayer-"Lord
God OF hosts. he with us yet, lest we
forget. lest forget" Mistakes
through forgetfulness are unpardon-
able. IT Is little enough to demand
that we remember at all times the
duty we owe Him.
God does not expect us to be per-
feet, declared Dr. Smoot. 1t Is enough
that we strive ever toward perfection
that keep on trying" Sternly
he warned the parents OF children to
lead righteous life. "It Is harder to
turn the James River out Of it's chan
mel" said DR.. Smoot. than to turn the
paths of children toward righteousness
when their parents have failed to leave
their children this heritage"
RIGHTEOUSNESS INHERITANCE
FROM OUR FORI;FATIIERS
Reassuring was the line of thought
opened up by the speakers positive
statement that righteousness was an
| inheritance from our forefathers who
| lived in fear of the Lord. Taking
| cognizance Of the obvious fact that
| principles of honesty, Justice, truthful
ness, uprfghtness. as we'll as those on
| the darker side Of the chart-selfish-
| ness, moral weakness. Il C h SIN,
| shiftlessncss. lying, "and all uncharita-
blcncss" were plainly legacies from
| our forbears. II is but reasonable to
conclude that God blesses us because
OF our forefathers who have loved Him,
and that righteousness is handed down
! from one generation to another Ito
them that fear Him and keep His COM
mandmcnts."
| God as "A just and righteous Judge
was clearly presented to the congrega-
ton. Infinite faith is needed always
to perceive clearly the outstanding
truth that while God is ever Just and
mcrctful, he only extends mercy and