The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-03-09


ministered He trusts that to nearly hun
dred and forty members of this church he may
point, and say, "In Christ Jesus have begot-
ten them through the gospel" For them he
prayed, forewarned them, Instructed them, en-
treated them to be reconciled to God. He
directed them when inquiring the way of life,
rejoiced when they hoped in Christ, and glad
ly welcomed them to the visible fold OF the
Saviour. And now "he has no greater joy
than to hear that they walk in the truth. y
That the Pastors reasons for regarding this
occasion and this congregation with joy may be
more apparent to you all, let us note some sta
tistics in reference to the history of Gods gra-
cious dealings with this people. When the
present Pastor commenced his labor here, ff-
teen years since, there were ninety four mem
bers in the church. Of that number forty -four
have been dismissed to other churches, fourteen
have died while in this connection, and FIVE
have been suspended from church privileges !:
and there now remain twenty-nine, or less than
one third of the whole number. During this
period there have been added to the church by
profession two hundred and ten, or an average
of fourteen per annum, and by letter two hun
dred and eleven, making total of four hun
dred and twenty-one, or an average Of twenty
eight per year. OF these, one hundred and thir-
ty-nine have been dismissed twenty-three have
gone to the grave While members of this church,
nine have been suspended from the privileges
of the church because they walked not in the
truth, and three have gone to other ecclesiasti-
cal connections without dissmission from US
These make total of one hundred and seventy
four. Deducting this from the number re-
ceived, leaves two hundred and forty-seven as
the present membership of the church of those
who have been received since the present pas
torate commenced. Of these about one hun
dred and thirty-seven have made a profession
of religion here, or about one half of the en-
tire present membership of the church, which
is two hundred and seventy-six. Of the mem
bers probably twenty are absent from our
bounds, some temporarily, and some perma-
nently, without having yet been dismissed, leav-
ing two hundred and ffty-fve as the present
active membership. Special visitations of the
Spirit have been enjoyed in the years 1914,
1949, 1857 and 1858. Between the first of
one were received to the church by profession,
all of whom, with single exception, hold fast
their profession. Let the rich gloat over his
gold or his broad acres; let the man of renown
rejoice in his glory; let the monarch boast of
his wide dominion, his millions of subjects and
the'splendor of his throne; for none of these,
nor for all together, would the Pastor exchange
i
immortal souls brought to Jesus and salvation
through his instrumentality, his children in
the Lord, with whom he hopes to spend long
eternity in pleasure and in praise.
I'd. The Pastors joy in his people. Thisis not
simply that he brings to them the gladdest til
dings that ever fell upon mortal ear. 1t is not
merely that he enjoys their earnest affection.
Nor is it only because he can look upon many
of them as his own children in the faith of
Christ True, these are all reasons of joy to
him. But these are not the principal reasons
{. 1 rejoiced greatly when the brethren came
and testified of the truth that is in thee, even
as thou walkest in the truth. have no greater
Joy than to hear that my children walk in the
truth" Said Paul to the Thessalonians, " For
what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?
Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord
Jesus at his coming? For ye are our glory
and joy" Whilst the very relation in which
the Pastor stands to his people gives joy, their
consistent lives, their obeying the divine laws,
their holding the doctrines of the gospel, exem-
plifying the beauty, excellency and power of re-
iigion-this gives him peculiar joy, enables him
II, IL; ~
he tolls. This fulfls his affectionate desire on
their behalf. This strengthens his hope of
meeting them in glory. This commends the
religion of Christ to others for whose salvation
he is solicitous. This shows his tolls to be
productive of the highest good. And this is
God. He greatly rejoices not only that they
are his children in the Lord, but especially
obedient children, giving evidence of their
heavenly birth, cooperating with him in seek
ing the salvation of others, and glorifying his
Lord and theirs. These are the ends he seeks,
and he has no greater JOY than when he sees
them accomplished. Nor does his heart know
keener sorrow then when they step aside into
the ps.hs p:s of folly walk not in the .lutn, give
the world occasion to blaspheme, and dishonor
that blessed name by which they are called
Then does his heart respond to the sentiment
of the weeping Prophet: go, that my head
were waters and mine eyes fountain of tears
that 1 might weep day and night for the slain
of the daughter of my people," Would you
ever fill the Pastors heart with over-hoiwing
Joy, give the blessed Redeemer to see of the
travail of his soul and be satisfied and meet the
smile of the eternal Father? Walk in the
truth, adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour,
and by your good deeds lead others to glorify
God.
Sd. The Pastors earnest desire and prayer
for his children in the Lord, "Beloved, 1
WISH" or pray, the word might be translated,
~ pray above all things that thou mayest pros
per and be in health, even as thy soul pros
pereth" The first and most earnest desire of