Show THE WAY TO SALVAIN 4 Sermon By Rev Wake at the First Methodist Church 1 WHAT TO DO TO BE SAVED 4 NOT BEOUGHT ABOUT BY ME5AC ULOUS TRANSFORMTION Law of Salvation As Simple A the Law of Health Prayer Not the First Step But Bather n Reflection < On Religious Subjects and Earnest Thought On Religions Hatters + Owing to the indisposition of Pastor Henry Rev Richard Wake preached at the First MeUnodist church last evening taking for his theme the words found in Acts xvi 30 What must I do to be saved The speaker characterized this as the most momentous question possible to human lips No t > her words were fraught with such dEpth of meaning Man thrown out on this whirling plan ot swinging bEtween two eternities to carve his own destiny fix his own fate can utter no cry so profound so terrible ter-rible in import as this To be saved What does i mean Glance at scmci foundation facts and truths We live under lawdivine law Violation Vio-lation always brings disaster Complete happiness is only to be found in obedience obe-dience There must be harmony between be-tween God and the soul Heaven is possible only for the good This fitness fit-ness fcr heaven is obtained here not by miraculous transformation but by transformation and growth Character determines destiny and the right character char-acter begins in conversion To pass through this process is the beginning of salvation We have tonight to do with the first step or two in this experience ex-perience What shall I do The answer depends de-pends upon condition or stage of growth attitude toward spiritual things To this man the answer would be Believe tp another Keep the commandments Each must be answered an-swered according to his needs But how shall one irreligious and with no inclination in-clination toward religion become a Christian Is there a way to religion relig-ion as to health Any simple commonsense common-sense method will do religion is practicable cable for all There Is so much misconception I miscon-ception Men sometimes imagine themselves them-selves as Branded vessels or like a train on a sidetrack and still the power is there And so they wait for revivals revi-vals perhaps for special church efforts I ef-forts But be assured there is a way to religion and it is not involved in mystery There is a clear path to God I all may tread I this be so it will not be difficult to prove it sinful and wicked not to take this path Everywhere Every-where we find the principle of means and ends cause and effect linked together to-gether We find a law everywhere toI we would produce certain results we must sea in motion causes suited to I produce them Now mind has its laws of action I is controlled by conditions I as unalterable a those that govern I matter Mind cannot think upon that of which i knows nothing or haves have-s with objects which have not engaged its attention Mind will not form purpose withoutX motive and I thought must always precede feeling Religion is not exception Influences j I I do but intensify our thoughts and emotions i emo-tions What then is the way from a state of indifference to olvation what I is the first step As I have hinted to wait for some j j powerful spiritual influence is not the way Some will direct a thoughtless I soul to read the Bible pray attend church and wait in the use of these I means in the expectation that out of 1 them will spring some irresistible divine I di-vine influence which will carry the soul lo repentance But the Bible gives no I encouragement to such waiting I sa sNow s-Now today Asking God to give religion is not I the first step Prayer is the duty of all but this use of it rests upon a i false notion of religion Religion is I what we do for God salvation is what i i God bestows upon us But you have i not reaohed the stage a which earnest 1 prayer real prayer is possible I Any direct attempt to repent or believe be-lieve is not the first step because we are incapable o this a yet We cannot can-not beget emotion at will What then I is the way j Reflection on religious subject giving giv-ing attention to truth and earnest i though on matters pertaining to duty I I and destiny is the first step Reflection Reflec-tion is the faculty distinguishing the I glory of man Brutes have consciousness I conscious-ness perception sensibility but have no hold on impressions But man can I think upon what he sees and feels He I can arrest a passing imprension hold it analyze it intensify it make i to engrave itself upon his mind and heart By thought the child becomes a Milton a Newton Reflection makes man Asa As-a man thinker s is he But it must be religious subjects The effect of reflection depends upon the subject of I Think of low base things and man becomes a sensualist Religious Relig-ious life must be brought about by thoughts of God With a religious design de-sign we must think The why of our thoughts is as important as the what God judges man by motives largely The influence upon ourselves of our reflections re-flections depend upon the purpose of them I themTe power of reflection depends upon intensity not upon time consumed therein The Philliplan jailer thought with the rapidity of lightning when the earthquake shook the house Saul of Tarsus did some electric thinking on the road to Damascus He arrived speedily at a decision and so may you Will you do it Your salvation depends upon such thinking Think of God and I your duty to him of sin and its consequences con-sequences of Christ and his love until you are made to feel solemn terrified repentant Feeling will surely be awakened within you if you think as you should I is therefore a question of the exercise of will You have control con-trol over thought and thought controls I feeling Do you will to be saved |