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


Of has settlement over that Church.
Sd John: PA. stBeloved 1 wish above all thing
that thou mayest prosper and be in health, a.
thy soul prospereth for Ireoiced greatly when the
brethren and testified of the truth that Is II
thee, even thou walkest in the truth. have M
greater joy than to hear that my children walk IL
| truth"
Fifteen years since to-day the present Pastor
of this church entered upon his labors here
! Since then seven hundred and eighty sabbaths
have passed away and mingled with eternity
Of these nearly seven hundred and fifty have
been occupied in this pulpit. Two whole years
and nearly month has he STOOD mere TO m
struct and to counsel, to warn and to invite, to
comfort and to beseech men to seek salvation.
About two thousand times he has been permit
ted to bring Gods message before the atten-
ton of this people. These have been years of
sunshine and shadow, of exultant hope and
painful dependency, of guilty backsliding and
gracious revival, unremitting toll and solicitude
both in sowing the seed and gathering the full
grown ears, in quarrying the rough stone from
the earth and attempting to aid in polishing it
as pillar in the temple of God to go more
out. During these years some have been pre-
pared, and the great Master has assigned them
place in the mansions of glory. Some have
evidently been becoming more and more adorn-
ed with the beauty of holiness. Some remain,
of whom we are constrained to stand in doubt
as to whether they are really fitting for the
fold of the chief Shepherd, OF .'treasuring up
wrath against the day of wrath and revelation
of the righteous judgment of God" few
we have been constrained to cast away as repro
bate silver. And alasl many for whom we
have laSored and prayed we have been compell-
ed to see sink without hope into the grave.
These years are trumpet-tongued, calling for
humiliation, and at the same time, gratitude.
The retrospect of them, demonstrating the rap
id flight of time, exhorts loudly to increased
earnestness and fidelity. And as the Pastor
looks over the congregation to-day, his feelings
find most appropriate expression in the Ian
guage of the beloved Disciple: Beloved, l
wish above all things that thou mayest prosper
and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
For 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" From this inspired passage we learn
l. The intimate relation existing between a
Pastor and his people, especially those who
have been brought into the fold of Christ
through his labors.
2. The Pastors Joy in them. And
8. The Pastors prayer on their behalf
Upon these points we design to dwell awhile
to-day. And
I Tha inf 10 LOFT hot n
Pastor and those who have been led by his Ia
bors to give themselves to the service of God.
This relationis both tender and important Up
On what human being does parent look with
deeper interest or more tender affection than
upon his own child? Whom does the ingenu-
Gus child contemplate with deeper reverance
or stronger regard than his own parent? Yet
this is the figure under which the relation be-
tween Pastor and people is here, and elsewhere
in the Scriptures, represented: ~ have no
greater joy than to hear that my children walk
in the truth" Thus Paul said to Philemon,
Il beseech thee for my son Onesimus whom
have begotten in my bonds" Timothy lie call
ed, ''my own son in the faith" And to the
converts at Corinth he wrote, s'Though We
have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet
have ye not many fathers for in Christ Jesus
L have begotten you through the gospel
When John spake of Gaius, in the text, as one
of his children, he of course did not mean in
the flesh but in the spirit. This intimate rela-
ton fills the Pastors heart with affection for
those who are his children in the faith. 1t
calls forth lis solicitude for their comfort sane
tifcation and ultimate salvation. 1t strength
ems his heart to instruct fandrwarn, to zeneour-
age and cheer them in their pilgrimage to
the heavenly Canaan. 1t makes duty a
privilege and labor a joy; and he cheerfully
watches for their souls, not only as one that
must give account, but as one who hopes to
present them before the throne of glory with
exceeding great JOY He feels as if he could
rejoice to labor for them while they live, and
finally deliver them over to the good Shepherd
when they leave the church below; as if a
death bed would be hallowed if they stood
around it, the grave sweet if they slept by him,
and the resurrection morn more joyous if his
early gaze might rest upon the rising forms of
/ ms own children in the faith. And surely
they cannot but regard him, if he prove
liiiSSti III OoiACi ASoPSNeo AiOe oA''oA--J "'
their father in Christ, with reverence and
tender affection. They surely cannot but
| twine his name with their most hallowed
associations. They cannot but bear him up
in their prayers, and cherish the fond hope of
leaning upon his arm as they approach the
throne of God. His name must be forever asso-
ciated with their highest interests and noblest
joys Now that this relation,-this tender. and
delightful relation-exists between the Pastor
and many that are here to-day, he fondly thinks
it no presumption to believe. He is conscious
of the feelings appropriate to it. He expert
ences its joy and its stimulus, and he rejoices
in its hopes. He knows too well of what stuff
his own heart is made to permit him to inquire
of each one tho agency by which he was led to
repentance and salvation. He fears spiritual
,,I ao1f ro1ionea Rut ha thinks IL M