PRESBYTERIAN RALLY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 13, 20 May 1913, Page 5

PRESBYTERIAN RALLY.

EVENING SERVICE. (Contributed). The subject of the evening sermdn in St. Andrew’s Church on Sunday was the words of Agrippa to Patil, recorded in the Acts, 26th chapter, and 28th verse: “Almost thou persuaded me to be a Christian.” The preacher described the dramatic circumstances which led this last of the Jewish kings into the presence of the great apostle of the ,Gentiles;- the distinguished audience that .greeted Paul in fialsarea, where the-king was present; the effect upon that dissolute monarch of Paul’s impassioned appeal, ending in his declaration—“ Almost thoU persuaded me to be a Christian”; and the Apostle’s noble reply: “I would to God that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost and altogether such as I jam except these bonds.” The preacher said his purpose was a practical one. The prayer and desire of his heart were that all who come under his preaching might become, loyal follow- v ers of the Divine Nqzarene. Hp wpuid indicate first what a Christian tyas, second why one should become q Christian,, and lastly how to beepiqo ; ; . t a Christian. Speaking to the, QraJ; point, the saidV that $ was an idea (abroad; tbit a Christian was one who did the best he could, and that we would all reach Heaven somehow. He thought that this was' a nebulous -and- -unseriptur-al -creed-;- -

A CHRISTIAN., f : t T ■ ■ il :i ft A Christian, he said, was one who was , one who accepted Christ as King ana 1 Saviour, followed in His steps, and confessed Him before men. Under the second head, the preacher said all men ought;'to be (Christians because of the moral, >. and- > ■■ spiritual grandeur and beauty of the character of Jesus Christ. His challenge, which of you convinceth me of ■in. was never answered. Pontius Pilate voiced the opinion of the centuries, when he declared, after Examining Christ, “I find no fault in Him.” WHY ONE SHOULD BE A CHRISTIAN.

They ought to he Christians because all men needed Christ. They might not be conscious of that need. They might seek to satisfy it with solhething else. But it was there. Men needed His guidance in the perplexities and problems of life; they needed His succour in the hour of temptation; they needed His deliverance from the guilt and power of sin. They could not do without Him in life’s sore trials in the time of sickness and death. Men should be Christians because the Master needed them. He was calling to-day for men to live for Him in their professions, in their business, adorning His religion in their walk and conversation, ■He was looking for men to serve Him in His church, to help Him build up His empire of truth arid righteousness in the world. They should be Christians because the Christian-—the genuine real Christian—life was the noblest in the world. He had visited many lands, pagan and Christian; he had mingled with Christians and horiChristians in various places, and he dared affirm without fear of contradiction that the men and women whose j

lives most closely approached that of. Christ, were by far the noblest spirits ho had known. . The one finishing grace and crowning touch needed by many a, life, was the grace of His presence and spirit. HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN. JjJenry Drummond, the great Scottish. scientist, used to say to his students, in this connection, “Do the next thing that the Master would like you do; begin now.” On© must needs make up his mind definitely and positively that he will be a Christian. One could not be a follower of Christ by simply wishing it. He must decide that he will be. He must act. When the New Zealand Dreadnought comes to New Plymouth, if we desire to see it we must decide to see it, take out a ticket, board the train, and go to see it. So if one would go to Heaven he must decide that he will go, he must boa id the Gospel train, and keep on going until he reaches the £<?;e?ticd city.