Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-06-04
Annual Convention Of the Episcopal
Chureb os the Dfocesc az Indian
Address OF Bishop UPHOLD upon tue
of the

Address OF bishop Uphold upon tue
duty OF the clergy
The ANIMAL Convention o: the Protestant
Episcopal Church Of this diocese, llndiana) adj
| iourued on Thursday evening last. the ID inst.
after q harmonious session, a. usual, IN which
nothing extraneOus TO It's legitimate business.
xh;cb h 10 deliberate and legislate on its own
ecclesiastical affairs. introduced or even al
luded to. The Bishop, in bis annual address, in
which he reported bis official during the past
year. represented the diocese TO be in encour-
aging aud promising condition, increasing grad
uaIly in zeal we'll a. numerical strength. In
concluding his address, the Bishop adverted TO
the true course for the Clergy to pursue 10 the
discharge of the functions of their sacred office.
At The present time, and particularly 10 relation
Ia the appropriate theme OF their preaching. as
follows:
We live in ir0ublous times, requiring Of Us
great circumsp ection and care ia our responsible
calling IL is the boast of many that this i an
age OF free thought and free inquiry: and some
disposed 70 make the most of this assumed
liberty Of opinion and doctrine, and run 1t into
dangerous RIGHTEOUSNESS Ii becomes us. there
fore. my brethren of the Clergy. 10 set our faces
as flint against this disorganizing spirit, which
i working such mischief 10 the cause of Christ
and his Church; and resist all temptations TO the
bold theological speculations, such as have re.
Gently become rife across the Atlantic in the in
diligence of pretentious intellectual pride. dspos-
ing them 70 be wise above what is written, I"
and to depart. ad ibtun from the recognized
standards of the faith. creeds and articles OF
religion. which are all founded on the only intal
lille rule of faith. the inspired word OF God.
BE IL our care ia all our teachings 70 avoid all
such vain. rationa.isiic philosophizing and sent-
mental fancies, and teach alone, and with all
fidelity and integrity, "the truth a it is in Jesus
Let Jesus Christ and Him crrcihel. in all His
gracious offices, be the constant theme of our
teaching; the beginning, the middle aud the end
o. our preaching. Christ the atouing sacrifice
for human guilt and sin; Christ the one only
mediator between God and man, our Advocate
and the Father; Christ our pure and perfect ex-
ample; Christ our spiritual health, and strength,
aud life. through the sanctifyng influence of the
Holy Ghost, whom He sends in the plentitude OF
His marvellous grace Christ "the Head over all
things TO the Church. which is His body" visible
on the earth. and in its ministry, worship and sa-
craments, His dvinely appointed instrumentality
for evangelizing the world, and His equally al
vinely instituted channel of communication OF
Ills needed and manifold spiritual gifts He is
the one great and glorious object of our faith and
hope; and He must be made prominent in all our
preaching. as 1.-THE way. the truth and the lie. 8"
without whom no one can approach Infinite Ho-
illness with any acceptance, and any promise and
assurance Of salvation.
If We throw into shade "the Author and Fur
nisher Of our faith" as is sometimes done: if we
contne our preaching TO fancful distractions; to
display of captious criticism on the inspired
word OF Cod or TO any other ostentatious and
pretentous intellectual display. to the neglect OF
the practical truths of redecmhg grace and love;
II We allow ourselves 20 deal In cold aud chilling
morality, and omit the obedience Of faith, the
true morality of Christianity: or worse shan all
if We preach politics and the various popular
'isnas of the day. instead of the everlasting Cos.
pei. which We ordained 10 preach alone and
exclusively. We seriously mistake and pervert our
sacred calling OH in such preaching what an
abuse of your ministry; what "A mockery of hu-
man guilt and Indebtedness. What a cruel
wrong done TO the souls committed to our charge
and cultured What a waste Of precious time and
opportunity Let Us see To il that we never so
prostitute our Office and forswear our solemn or
dination VOWS aud promises. Let Us remember
that are standard bearers of the Cross, and not
of any banner of human device and Imagination:
that we serve a Master who hath declared my
kingdom is not of this world +" and act in accord
anee with that Divine declaration. Let 1.-The
potsherds strive with the potsherds of The earth
We have higher and boiler duty
Be il our endeavor to be faithful unto the Lord
Jesus Christ, and the trust committed unto US by
Him as His ministers and the stewards of
the mysteries of God; always mindful of our re
sponsibilitv to Him; and so preach His word and
proclaim His marvellous grace. that we NAV lead
guilty. perishng sinners to Him. their only hope
in time and through eternity" Thus, beloved
brethren. let us strive TO make full proof of our
ministry" and rightly divide" and faithfully
apply 1.-The word Of truth" to the glory of God
the edifyng of His church. and the promotion of
His cause in the world BE it our constant and
earnest endeav0r so to work for Christ that we
may stand approved to our own conscences now,
and TO Him who will be our Judge in that dread
Day. when we shall be called to give an account
of our stewardship that We may receive the
promised rec0mpeuse of reward, and shine as stars
of brightest ustre in that galaxy of faithful men,
who have been instrumental in turning many to
righteousness; for whom crowns of glory are pre-
pared. and JOY unspeakabe reserved in the eternal
Kingdom of our God