Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1898 — SERMONS OF THE WEEK [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SERMONS OF THE WEEK

Idleness.—ls you have a son the best way to Insure his future well doing is to have him learn some regular business or occupation. He who knows not any means of making a living is most apt to fall victim to temptation. It is well said that “The devil’s best workshop is an idle brain.”—Rev. S. P. Sprecher, Presbyterian, Cleveland, O. The Religion of Christ—ln the twentieth century men will see in Christianity less of the so-called Christian religion and more, vastly more, of the religion of Christ. —Rev. J. G. Schurman, Presbyterian, Ithaca, N. Y. An Awakened Nation.—What have we to fear? We have exhaustless resources. We are able to put millions of men in the field. An alliance of France with Spain, armies coming from the three quarters of the globe, need not alarm us. The nation has been awakened by honor.—Rev. Hugh Jonnson, Methodist, Baltimore, Md. The TTuth of Christ,—The open tomb, the risen Savior, was to be for all time the evidence of the truth which Christ, the Lord, preached to men. Although men had raised others from death to life, by* the power of God, no man had raised himself from death to life. The test of the truth of Jesus Christ was to be in the resurrection effected through bis own power.—Rev. T. J. Conaty, Catholic, Washington, D. C. Follow Christ.—We are to follow Christ in the road of renunciation and self-sacrifice. This is the secret of the life of Jesus Christ. This is the secret of any man’s life which is in the highest sense successful. We are to follow hpn in the life of toil and hardship. We are to follow Christ in the road of suffering and F/f-in. —Rev. J. W. Atwood, Episcopalian, Columbus, Ohio. The the vision comes the call. Not until we have seen him do we hear his voice. When you are consecrated you are ready for service, open to calls anywhere. God wants messengers, he loves volunteers. Self-conse-cration is the door to service. Then he tells you what to do. He opens the way. Are you ready for service? He is waiting to fit you for his work—Rev. G. Roughton, Methodist, Cincinnati, O. The Man Who Works.—What can we do for the man who works? What can he do for himself 7 It is only when he is doing the best be can for himself that other people can effectively help blip. Even the gods can not help him who will not help himself. Life means work, struggle, conflict, patience, per-sistence;-it means standing on your own feet and working out your own salvation; when it ceases to mean all this, it will not be worth living.—Dr. Gladden, Congregationalism Columbus, Ohio.