South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-04-11
REV. BECK TALKS
AT GRACE CHURCH
Local Pastor Uses 1.-THE River
of Life" as Text for His
Sunday Sermon.
Philanthropy

THE River Of Life" was the
theme OF the pastor. Rev. B. d.
Beck, at Grace Methodist church
Sunday night He chose for his
text. Rev. 22:1: And He showed
me a pure river Of water OF life.
clear as crystal. proceeding out OF
the throne OF God and the Lamb"
1T requires no stretch of mag
ination for South Bend PEOPLE 10
conceive OF a beautiful river flow
ing through the midst of a city. To
correspond with the perfect city,
the New Jerusalem. is this perfect
river. 1t is filled with the water
Of life. II is pure, without faint
Of any kind.
1T is clear as crystal. 1t gives
life TO all II touches. On either
side of II are the trees OF life
which bear II manner OF fruits and
yielded their fruit every month,
and the leaves OF these trees were
for the healing Of the nations.
Vision Has Meaning.
AS the world has thought OF
this city as the one the pilgrims Of
faith have sought, whose builder
and maker is God, its heart has
taken on hope in its struggles and
God wants US TO look at the future
in this way. lured on by this city
to come. But this vision of John
has meaning for US here and now.
As the Seer tells us the City Of God
was coming down from God out OF
heaven and God was with it and
purposed to dwell with men.
He would be their God and they
would be His people. This city was
to be and is the ideal Of earthly
cities. These cities OF ours should
realize the perfect lighting. santa
ton, food supplies. water, streets,
overcoming saints and all the rest
Just as the material part OF the
vision Of the Holy City reveals the
coul Of God In His purposes toward
men so do the material things of
city like ours reveal the soul Of
our citizenship. Cities cannot be
made great without great souls.
FLOWING through all these
earthly cities is the River Of Life
proceeding from the thrinc of Col
and OF the Lamb. IT has it's source
in God. It flows out from God. II
gets its life from God. It is God
flowing out to men in mercy, good
ness and love-. Ezekial had a vision
like this. In that case the stream
came out of the Temple. out from
the altar. Every good and perfect
gift cometh from God
God Sends Blessings.
God sends out His Blessings to
men. He goes out in blessings like
a river. He is rich in life. There
is an abundance for all coming out
from God to US. II has the life
that the souls Of men need. It's
water alone can satisfy. As Jesus
that I shall give shall never thirst
said. He that drinketh of the water
that 1 shall give shall never thirst
That water is life to a mans soul
IL is health. For this is a pure
! river. There is not an impure
! thought in il nor anything 70 sug-
gest one. There is not an uncleaa
word in its currents Of life. No
profanity so common from that
source. No vulgarity so usual
comes from God. Some other
stream pours that poison into a
life.
This River Of Life is a wonder
| fully beautiful stream to look upon.
It flows through all our cities. II
| Is as clear as crystal. You can trace
/ II in love and loyalty. You mark il
I in deeds OF self sacrificing kind
/ ness and service. II is always beau
/ tiful 10 see. Sin is alluring in its
| enticements. But is path is not
beautiful It is the path Of death
| OF all things fine. The River OF
Life. flowing out from the throua
OF God, is clear as crystal.
! The River Of Life produces
! life. The Psalmist has Il: and hc
| shall be like a tree planted by the
rivers OF water, that bringeth forth
his fruit In his season: his leaf also
shall not wither; and whatsoeve:
he doeth shall prosper Trees car
not bear much fruit in a desert
Neither can human lives. Wher
men plant their lives by the sidy
! OF the River OF Life that flows out
TO them from God they become
fruitful in all good.
Shows Life Itself.
This life shows itself also II
! healing. There are so many ills
body ills, heart aches, sin sick
ness. There are so many things
that cause hurts and pains. ont
from God flows a stream that
makes for healing. 1t puts the milk
/ Of human kindness into mems
souls. II imLarts life that smiles
death on every hand.
Whoever has the source OF his
thought. inspiration and life in God
] becomes alive 20 all that is good
| The ancient singer exclaimed, AL
! my springs are in Thee That as