The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-03-25
MNEILL IIKENS
SINS Of PRESENT
TO OLDEN- -LEPER
Scotch Divine Thrills Large
Congregation at Court Ave-
nue. Church Despite lnCIem-
ent Weather.

Despite the inclemency OF the wealth
er another large congregation gathered
Thursday in Court avenue church TO
hear DR.. John McNeill, world famous
Scotch Presbyterian minister and evan
gelist, deliver the fourth In his series
OF five sermons in Memphis as part of
the regular MONDAY prayer meetings in
cidental to the simwtaneous evangel-
lstic camnaign now under way in 81
MemphiH eluFches,
The final Memphis sermon will be de-
livered by DIR. MeNeill Friday, and be-
cause OF the widespread interest in the
noted man marvellous sermons, the
largest gathering that has yet greeted
the minister is expected,
DR.. McNeill Thursday again thCilled
his audience, his rich Scottish brogue
and ready wit playing prominent part
in winning his way with the congrega-
ton. II is noticeable that since DR..
McNeills first sermon Monday the at
tendance of business men at the noon
day prayeS meetings has steadily in
creased,
Taking as his text II. Kings STA:
"Then went Naaman down, and dipped
himself seven times in the Jordan ac-
cording to the saying of the man of
God; and his flesh came again like unto
the flesh of little child, and he was
clean" DR.. Mcneil said in part:
This story interpreted In the light Of
Christ and his cleansing blood, is a
river OF salvation, May its waves flow
through this meeting and it's healing
come tapping into every heart
1.-TWO or three essential elements in
all scriptural preaching are illustrated
here First OF all what is wrong with
us is represented by Naamans leprosy.
Whatever philosophers and sentimental
people may say, human nature, accord
ing to the Bible and~the daily newspa-
ners, is sinful thing. emphasize the
newspapers Many people never read
the Bible. Everybody reads the news
papers. and If a r'2r can read the
newspapers and l. .irrc in this cant
about the dignity Of ha I'm aature, he
can believe anything y aouldt be
called a skeptic any uolc---he Is big
ger believer than | am
Knows What's Wrvag,
Just think Of this weary Bible!
About the dignity of human nature and
its essential goodness as we come UP
To- Good Friday and the Lamb of God
uDon the altar OF, the cross But notice
also how the Bibles humble doctrine
about what Is wrong with US in God S
sight. shoHld be stated. Y
There is a good deal in the way you
put an unwelcome truth. Naaman was
Il leper. lncurable, dying by inches: but
n the Bible states everything in his favor
tlidl .GdH nS etal1h ~ uOcH hOl ol'NiN
of him simply and only as rotten,
done-for Syrian leper. The Bible is
careful to say that he was great man
y with his master, that he was honor
able that he was mighty man in
ralor, that God had used him to save
his country in time of peril.
Then the Bible drops its voice and
with Il lump in its throat and tear
in its eye, says there was a DINNER
on all his glory-he was a leper,
And that is how we should state the
Bibles doctrine of human nature. ~
the last analysis we are not healthy In
the spiritual and moral sense. We are
unhealthy. We are not righteous, but
unrighteous The taint Of the terrible
leprosy of sin is in us from the proto-
plaSm, and we are incurable to all hui
man skill and power.
But IL the Bible doctrine Is very
humble it is also glorious healing. We
can be saved We can be made holy
and pure, but we must be washed
cleansed regenerated.
"God Himself has taken hand tC
save U.S. What the Jordan was to Naa
mans leprosy-when Naaman got owe
his temper and all his own notions a:
TO how great man like him should bt
handled--the blood of Jesus Christ OF
the cross Is to our leprosy of sin.
"When we utterly and only believe
and obey Gods gospel, we pass from
death to lfe--from condemnation Il
justification and life eternal
LET me say in one swift sentence
don't let your pride damn your soul
That's where Naaman's was nearl,
lost"