Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-27
The Things Which
Are Not Seen
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD ". TOMIilNS.
Text, ii. Cor. ~. lis. y. 1t.


ST. Paul was upheld in all his trials
by the precious promises Of COD and
so he never lost his fat.h or his hope.
lie saw the vision OF the end when
Christ should reign. and this aSSur-
ance made him the more earnest in
his rcbulSc OF sin and in his preach
Ing of the Gospel Tho ouly man who
can see and judge clearly concerning
evil Is the Optirnist Not indeed the man
who is sometimes called an optimist
and who floats along with the tide.
declaring tauntily that he viii reach
his destination somehow. Nor set tho
man who shuts his eyes to wrongs and
injustices. and troubles not himself
for the worlds woes. But the true
man knows that God rules in tho ar
fairs OF men and that His plans can
never be defeated.
lie sees the glory OF Goes works.
lie rejo!ces in tho salvation, through
Christ, OF humanity. lie remembers
the gracious declarations Of the Mas
ter. which are as sure the fact o.!
human existence. Aud so he hates all
that tries TO oppose tho holy Will Of
God and fights with enthusiasm n bat
tie which he knows mug, end in vic
tory. Let no gloomy. no doubtful man.
no man who despairs az 10 the ulti-
mate triumph OF good, think that lac
ia real Christian. Aud let no man
rcbukc sin who has not firm as
surance that sin is doomed. Gods
workers. must be men who trust Him
even in the darkest hour C's. xlviJ.
CANNOT FAII. TO MARK
SPLENDID ENTHUSIASM
AS we have studied thus far Paurs
experiences cannot have failed to
mark his splendid enthusiasm. And in
reading his letters TO the churches We
have the secret of his harncter. lie
was dealing with transient things.
Cities, buildings. pc prlc--thc.e after n
little while would disappear. AS a
matter of fact there IA hardly a rem
nant OF anything thn' faul saw that
be seen TO-DAY. Even the Manner
tine prison in Rome. where he was held
In bondage. is nov only a ruin. But
he was preaching CONCERNING eternal
things@iod. Christ. character. good
ness heaven--and he held these UP In
contrast with transient things and
urged people TO hold fast :" them.
We, too. are DEALING. with transient
things every dpy. Those that arc good
and beautifu! We love. ,ho"e that are
bad and ugly hate. But .an the
while we know that there are Things
which are eternal, and these are the
things OF supreme Importance. The
trees and flowers are beautiful. and ]
enjoy them and thank cod Tor ihem:
but kindness. unsclAshness. bro:hrrly
love. Gods wotd--thcyc aye the real
Things to which ! cling. The sea !s
glorious. and 40 are the mountains. |
rejoice III them Bi' By and br !
shall lose sigh; o: ;h"m. shall he In
the city with poverty and dirt and sin
Ali around: yet there. as by the SCI" and
in the mountains Cod and truth and
mercy and love "iil be four d isy anq
by shall pass from III! shes. thinas.
The sea. the mountains tn. trees
and the flowers viii siiii he seen 10y
others. but Will not sac tncrn. Am l.
then, the transient? 10 these sur
vtvc meth. beauties ., nature ana
tho sin and sorrow OF humanity Nay.
bat survive them. enter into L
blessed permanently. whcre the beau
titul things OF God ARE SO w"ndc"fui
that IN" aowers ana the trees. tue hills
and tho sea ar" forgotten: where sin
ia done away wits and where even nay
weak nature * dropped. a;.d Where !
have an existence which IS glorious
and endur!r=. Thcu ln"" which !
know here Will still be mine Then the
Kind things tried - DO he.c i shall
ind awaiting IA" with surprising
welcome. Aud in The mids; o: all VIII
be the dear Christ, the unchanSinG
Friend. calling ne by name and hid
ding INC enter into the Home lie has
prepared.