Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-10-01
SERMON 10 YOUNG AGY.

rruLlsugp M REQUEST OF THE AssaclA-

rUuLIsugn py REQUEST OF TIE AssaoIA-
TIuN
Nehemiah. 20. The God Of heaven, he viii
prosper as therefore we his servants will arise and
build
In Shustln, the paiace of the Persian King.
We FIRST meet with Nehemiah. a man honored
in the provilenee Of Ggd with the accomplish.
meut OF a work which contributed greatly to
the bonor and safety of the Jewish people =
s are ntorned that on one occasion, Ha-
mani. ai'I certlin men Of Judah, came to the
Persian conrt, and Nehemiah, WHO always cher
ished Il lively interest in bis own nation and in
the city Of his fathers, inquired Of them con-
corning the remnant Of the Jews late returned
from Babyoush captivity, AMI in relation to
Jerusalem, their beloved city. Ia answer 70
his inquiries, he received the morrnful intelli-
ecnoo that his people. though delivered from
captivity, were yet in great affection. The
darAnass vas relieved, but not passed away
The desolatons Of Jerusalem were sad tc look
upon. Tie walls were broken down, ana the
gates thereof were burned with FIRE. Hearing
this Nehemiah was filled with sorrow; aud spcut
certain days in weeping, fistiug aud prayer
Moreover, he resolved to put forth immediate
AMI earnest efforts ia behalf of his people, TO
remove their reproaeh, and restore their city TO
its former glory. Having obt4inod The con-
sent Of the King, aud being commissioned as
Governor Of Judah, he set cut on his jodruey,
bearing with HIM letters of great Importance to
the Governors beyonl he Tivtr. When he
arliged at Jerusalen, be frst took 4 survey Of
The city in order 10 satisfy himself Of lis real
condition, anl then made au earnest appeal to
the Jews to repair its ruins that they might no
longer be reproach, aud exposed to the hos
tile invasionS of their enemies.
Nehemiah received encourag cement from his
own people, but was met with the opposition
4ni scorn OF certsin men Of considerable prom
iaence who were unwilling that any ythiug should
be done that wolld contribute to the glory,
power, ani influence of the Jewish nation
They first thought to discourage him BY repre-
senting the undertaking as impraoticabie
ore. He had not counted the cost. He was
about to commence a work with the assistance
Of few dispirited, inert Jews, which under
such circumstances soul1 never be accomplish
Ell. The very project betrayed the most con
s1mmate ignorance and folly. This not sue
ceeaiug, they thought to deter the Jews from
cooperating with Nehemiah, by representing
the undertaking as one for which the latter had
no authority 1t was an act of rebellion
against the King of Persia, and if persisted in
would involve them in cert4in and complete
destruction. To the SCOTS and ihreatniDgs Of
these meu, Nehemiah, conscious Of the right to
act, aad confident that the work, though be-
gun IL fear and trembling on the part of the
jews, SHOULD be brought to hasty compile
ton, replied in the words of our text: "Fhe
God of heaven, he will prosper US; therefore
We, his servants will arise and build"
These words suggest a train of remark,
which, though general in its application, | trust
VIII not be inappropriate at this time, conven-
cd, as wo are at the request of the etYoung
Mems Christian Association of Bedford" and
expected to present for your cynsiIeration the
claims of this institution uron your synpathes
and cordial cooperation.
|. l remark, in the FIRST place, that we, as q
christian people, have work to do, far exceed
ing in dignity and Importance that undertaken
and completed by Nehemiah aud the Jewish
Nation.
The church., of which the ancient Israel was
a type, may, at this period of its history, be
ftly compared, in many of its aspects, to the
city ef David, when from the Persian palace
Nehemiah came to look upon its desolations.-
broken down, and its gates were burned with
fire. 1t was the home of an afflicted people,
surrounded with powerful enemies, who, il
their malignant hatred, opposed every effort
made for the re-establishment of the jews as a
nation, in their own land.
Delivered from bondage infinitely worse.
that Of Satan and of sin, the people Of God are
now found in the spiritual Jerusalem. Their
IL Il G IL
The altar is erected their cheerful sacrifices
are offered, and the Shekinah overshadows the
mercy, scat The God of heaven dvells with
men, aud they are blessed with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places III Christ Jesus.
5ut although from the ruins Of the fall the
church has arisen, it is still comparatively
weak, and great things remain to be done, ere
the kingdoms of this world shall become the
kingdoms of our Lord and Of bis Christ.
The city of God established in the earth IS
yet surrounded with spiritual enemies, subject
to hostile inyasions, and opposed by all the en-
nifty Of depraved humanity, and all the power
of the Prince of darkness, in its efforts to ex-
tend Its limits and add to its glory. Its walls
are broken down, and the gates thereof are
burned with fire. There is great want OF fer
vent piety, of holy zeal, of perseverng action,
on the part of the church. Worldly conform
J, carpal ease, stupid indifference, character
Ite many in Israel, aud the hearts of maturer
christians are made sad because Of the desola-
tons Of Zion.
Here is a work to be done; a work which
God will accomplish through the instrumental
iy of men. The walls of our Jerusalem must
DC rebuilt and its gates must be replaced. -
Vltal godliUess must be revived and cultiva-