HARVEST THANKSGIVING AT BAPTIST CHURCH

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6857, 12 March 1929, Page 10

HARVEST THANKSGIVING AT BAPTIST CHURCH

Harvest thanksgiving services attracted large congregations oh Sunday to the Baptist Church. Last year’s unavoidably late fostival and consequent comparatively restricted display of produce was amply compensated for by seasonally-timed services; and the correspondingly greater variety and general excellence of the offerings were very pleasing features of the collection. • But no harvest thanksgiving would be complete, or, indeed, thinkable,' without tho presence of those radiant and fragrant emblems of Divine love—beautiful flowers; and these artistically arranged enhanced considerably the general effect of the decorative design.

In addition to the usual harvest hymns tho choir contributed special vocal items for the occasion. The Rev. F. A. Crawshaw conducted both services. In the morning he spoke from Matt. 15, 30: ‘‘Let both grow together until the harvest. Gather the tares to burn—-but gather the wheat into my barn.” Rev. 14, 15: “Thrust in thy sickle and reap for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” ■ The day- in which we are living, said the preacher, is bound up in those passages of the Word—the age; its character, and its end. . Two kinds of seed, in the parable, are allowed to germinate, grow and develop till harvest. Matthew 13 reveals the striking chusucteristie that God will not interfere rn the present doings of man, who is controlled by Satan—called the God of this age. 2 Cor. 4.4. I’m not surprised;, continued the preacher, that false systems should be almost as good as the true, for Satan wouldn’t offer a counterfeit where the deception was obvious. Though God allows these systems to exist, there can be no possible reconciliation between Christ and tho world. ThiSj truth is unacceptable to many, but it is God’s word. In previous days, God

dealt directly with hostile forces; but since Christ’s rejection, God has withdrawn himself.- This is the day of God’s silence; also the day when man can have his own way, even to open defiance of the Highest; and except in special instances God does not rebuke him. It is emphatically man's day. The effect of Satan’s husbandry will be fully disclosed one day. In the meantime he is not only allowed full scope, but favourable conditions, for his energies. The tares benefit by the same sunshine, showers and other prospering conditions as well as the wheat. Don't try to interfere with them. Sa-

tanic success is thereby assured. To-day, wonderful intelligence, superhuman -power, and persistent effort, are employed to compel nature to yield her secret resources to man, who constantly seeks to discover what God has hidden from him. One definite objective of all this is to make this world a pleasant place for man’s habitation—a place without God, and where He shall not be missed. Man’s thoughts in modern invention arc not Godward, but rather man ward.

Men insulted and rejected the Christ, and blindfolded Him because they could not bear the penetrating gaze of his

eyes. But He will return; and send forth His angels, not to admire man’s work, but to gather up the latter’s wonderful achievements for destruction. As wc read the signs of tbo limes in the light of the Scripture the time of harvest appears very near; and knowing this, rest assured Satan will put forth his greatest efforts to produce counterfeit religions. I don’t find any age of false systems of rci ligion where the Evil One has systematised religion as to-day. In pulpits, | Sunday schools, among the rank and file of Christian and even church ofii-

eers, the Devil is sowing his tares. Finally, while the day of harvest —the end of the age—is imminent, I-am not prepared to dogmatise as to the day. But what a day of awakening to mere professors; those who have been content with superficial religion; those who have not faced the question of whether they are Christ’s or not. A day of awakening 'to scoffers at the new birth. In the evening Mr Chawshaw delivered an Evangelistic address from Jer. 8. 20: "The harvest is past, the summer is ended and we are not saved.”