The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-01

on these things" 1t is true that the
Bible is the Word OF God.
Man q Sinner BY Nature.
1t is true that man lis sinner by
nature. Leave the Bible out OF the
question. cross 1t right out, and
everybody who thinks this Is true
anyway. All nations know 1t Is true
that man is a sinner by nature, and
they have ALI tried to make some
kind OF a religion for themselves 10
: s.sss sa1 CIV h u go So, 4 -
know 1t in India. They know it in
the islands of the sea where the
black skinned mother rocks her baby
to sleep by the lullaby OF the oceans
waves, as well as they know 1t in the
cathedral No matter where, man
Is sinner by nature.
Sin destroys good. All have the
same wicked nature. What one has
done. perhaps all would do under
similar circumstances. Man cannot
save himself by philosophy. science,
art. resolution, morality. virtue. You
can as easily lift yourself to the
moon as TO save yourself by these
means. / am doubtful IL there was
ever a man or woman who gave
themselves UP to life of sin with
out a struggle. They have groancd
against it, cried against 1t and bat
tied against sin, but they have been
overwhelmed. Do you mean to tell
me that that man loafing around
stale beer joints, a staggering drunk
ard, reached that depth OF iniauity
without a struggle? No. he didn't,
He tried hard to beat it back. Do
you mean to tell me that that girl
that is selling her womanhood in the
dark, fostering spots of the city
reached that depth without battle ?
Not on your life! She had to fight
against her ideals OF womanhood. OF
morality and OF virtue.
Why. In India they have stood with
their arms extended like That until
their joints would stiffen and their
muscles would harden, and they
couldn't bend their arms and bring
them again to their sides. They have
measured the length of their bodies
on spikes. They have smeared their
hair with filth. They have run hum
dreds OF miles down a hot. dusty
road in the sand to some shrine, hop
ing to drive out evil spirits They
will put hooks through. their flesh
and the muscles of their backs and
allow themselves TO be raised in the
air like you lift a rock with der
rick. They will rush and jump
for? Oh. they are trying to save
themselves. Poor. poor heathens.
1t is for this reason that Jesus
Christ came into the world and
! tasted death. to do for every man
what every fellow couldn't do for
himself. That is why the Bible was
written. Think on these things"
Right at the beginning, it was
promised that the serpent's head
should be bruised under the heel of
the woman. The very first need of
man was for salvation. and II is the
very hast thing you will need when
you leave the world. The age-long
cry of the human race has been for
the revelation OF a personal savior
that liz able to forive sin. From the
days of Job, who said. "Oh that ]
knew where might find him. down
until now. man may personally know
whether Jesus Christ can give peace
for a troubled conscience or peace for
| Iife's doubtful promises or healing for
(. life's staggering bonds.
i. The world IL chuckfu1 of men and
women vainly seeking everywhere for
Jesus Christ. Look at them as they
chase down the White Way. Look at
them as they s,agger in and out OF
/ growing error. Look at them as they
creep from the arms of infamy and as
they biaspheme.
! What's the matter why. they're
trying TO find something that isn't
there any more than the pot OF gold Is
at the end OF the rainbow.
/ But when they found Jesus Christ,
they knew the victory was won and
the burden lifted.
/ Now. let me ask You question.
| Lyxxxv~ = fns~ IL. -
! Is II, that since the world began you
never heard of a man being saved by
| Plato. Aristotle. Cicero. or anybody
else except Jesus Christ? How was
! he able to save drunkard? How
was he able to save thief? Because
he is the Son OF God. and for man
or church to love Jesus Christ as a
good man and deny his divinity is a
damnahle insult to God Almighty and
humanity today.
When he said he was the Son OF
God. II he wasn't the Son OF God
conceived by the Holy Ghost. he lied.
/ defy any man who denies the di-
vinity of Jesus Christ, and say ii Is
a damnable insult to your mother and
wife ard everybody that believes in
Jesus Christ. every drunkard that was
! ever made sober, every man that
walks the street of heaven today be-
I CAuSe%1aftn IN Jesus Christ put MIN
there to do his will and keep his COM
mandments. SO. we have got TO have
Ia supernatural Savior.
1t is appointed unto men once 10
die. You can't escape the Judgment.
n my preaching gets too hot. you can
get UP and leave. II you don't like
| it, you don't need to come.
Judgment Coming.
You can't escape the Judgment. Fol-
lows, girls. boys. men. women deep
down IN your heart something tells
you that II Is true. Belief In the
Judgment is woven into the wool and
the warp OF our being, All heather
nations believe in the Judgment That
! is the reason that every one OF the
nations have tried to make a plan OF
salvation for themselves by which
they hope to appease the gods.
| II IL because he fears that judg-
ment that the Indian snake dancer
out on the western plains dances him
self into frenzy bordering on I'm
becility and idiocy. with wriggling
serpents' around his neck and his
arms. kissing. He. hopes and believes
that when those serpents leave his
body and creep down into the dark
caverns Of the earth. they will help
him win the favor Of the gods ne has