PULPIT MESSAGES

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 31, 31 October 1932, Page 10

PULPIT MESSAGES

Wellington Churches THE FORGOTTEN VOW Sacred Influences Pass “Sacred influences and scenes soon pass away,’ said Adjutant Canty, of the Salvation Army, when speaking in the Salvation Army Hall in Constable Street last evening. “The Forgotten Vow” was the text of the adjutant’s address. Adjutant Canty said that Jacob, by fraud and lying, obtained the blessing from his father, which belonged to his brother Esau. It was natural that the elder brother should be angry when he found out the deception that had been practised. Jacob had to fly from home, and, acting on the advice of his mother, he departed for the land of Haran. At the end of the first day’s journey he found himself near the city called Luy. Tired and wearied with travel, he laid down to sleep in the open field, with a stone for a pillow and the vault of Heaven for a covering. In sleep he dreamed he saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon it. The Lord stood above the ladder and he was filled with awe and reverence. “Let us follow Jacob," continued the Adjutant, “as he leaves Bethel and journeys to Haran. He meets Laban, and serves him for more than twenty years. In return for this service Laban gives him his two daughters in marriage and part of his flock. . Jacob leaves Laban and returns to the land of his fathers. Laban pursues, overtaking him at Giliad; he is pacified and withdraws. . . Bethel is neglected, and the vow made there is forgotten. . . . “God has given him much more than he asked. Jacob had not gone to Bethel, had not visited the house of God, had not given the truth of all he had to the Lord. Are any of us in Jacob’s plight? Yes, it is the old, old story of Jacob repeated to-day. Don’t you remember the vow you made to God years ago? When others suffered you prayed to be protected and P”O--vided for as Jacob did.” Adjutant Canty said that Jacob waited nd longer, but at once arose and went to Bethel. “Can you imagine him returning to the old place where twenty-eight years ago he slept with that stone for a pillow?” asked the Adjutant. “What feelings of shame and remorse would be his that he had so long forgotten his promise; what feelings of gladness, too, because he is permitted to return. Is it now so with you? Are you filled with sorrow at your own forgetfulness? You may be glad, for now you may perform your vows.” CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS “Everlasting Punishment” “Everlasting Punishment” was the subject of the Lesson-Sermon in all Churches of Christ. Scientist, on Sunday, October 30. The Golden Text was from Isa. 30: 1: “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of Me; and that cover with a covering, but not of My spirit, that they may add sin to sin.” . , Among the citations which comprised the Lesson-Sermon were the following from the Bible: “They shall be ashamed and also confounded, all of them; they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols. But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.” (Isa. 45: IG, 17.) The Lesson-Sermon also included the following passage from the Christian Science textbook, “Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures,” by Mary Baker Eddy: . “We acknowledge God’s forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts.” (p. 497.)