The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-12-08
Published by Request.
c0SCLUSTOS OF A SERMON
Preached by Rev. Mr.. Barrow. Episcopal.
I'm the Lutheran Church. Bedford. on
SumdaY. Dec. B.

Sunday. Dec. 3.
I'm conclusion, allow me to say, dear
friends, that it is with feelings of pecu-
liar solemnity, | stand before you this
afternoon to take my place as one of
the Pastors of your town. If | came
as the successor of one who had occu-
pied the field before me, | should be at
least relieved Of the novelty of my po-
sition, but | come as the pioneer of a
new enterprise; that is to say, new to
this community. / am here at the call
of few individuals whose attachment
to the Episcopal church and services,
have made them solicitous for their
permanent testablishmentin in yourmidst,
as well as for the qualification and con-
venience of large proportion of those
who come annually to the Springs. 1t
may be that many will be attracted to
worship with us and to aid us in erect
ing Temple to Gods glory and which
shall be an ornament to the town; but
we trust none will allow prejudice or
animOsity to speak evil of us, or to re-
gard the movement as an uncalled for
innovation upon pre-established insti-
tutions. If we We're fanatics or en-
thusiasts, endeavOring to found some
new sect, to enforce strange doctrine or
to persuade men to believe a lie, then
we should deserve all the reproach and
contempt that might be heaped upon
us but we are open to no such charge.
The Episcopal church has a history of
which its members may well feel proud.
We can trace its order and discipline
back to apostolic days, the nursing
mother of primitive worship and pure
christianity, and of the reformation
which gave tous our Protestant liber-
ty. Not that we forget the noble labOrs
of Martin Luther, Calvin, Melancthon,
and other great RefOrmers, but while
we think some went too far in the work
of Reform and like the Puritans wan
dered tOanopposite extreme, were tain
ed our beautiful liturgy and Common
Prayer Book, our Episcopal ordination
and Scriptural Ministry, Of Bishops,
Priests and DeacOns; and i'll order to
give becoming sOlemnity to publicwor-
ship, the simple and appropriate vest
ment of the white surplice which we
now wear. Our Sacraments are those
which are acknowledged and practised
by every Protestant society, viz: Holy
Baptism and the Lords Supper and
with regard to doctrine and liberty Of
opinion, the 9TH article Of our church,
declares that "Holy Scriptural contain
eth all things necessary to salvation; so
that whatsoever is not read therein, nor
may be proved thereby, is not to be re-
quired 0fany man that it should be be-
Iieved as an article of the faith, or be
thought requisite or necessary to saliva
ton" Thus we see our church is no
novelty, but a thing Of history: neither
a relic of superstition, but the clear and
enlightened product of Scriptural truth.
In its laws and ordinances it simply adj
heres to the Apostolic injunction: "Do
all things decently and in ORDER" and
Is alike opposed to what is formal and
superstitiOus, as it is to that which il
radical and icentious, without order
and without reason. 1t has numbered
among its members some of the Wisest
and best of men that have trodden our
earth. 1t has had its army of martyrs
and can point to cloud of witnesses
for the truth as it is in Jesus. Kings
and Princes, rich and poor, for many
ages, have all alike together united in
its beautiful responses and chanted its
hymns of praise. Upon its long scroll
of members, we trace Poets, Statesmen
and Philosophers, which include the
namts of Benjamin Franklin and Geo.
Washington and many bright Saint
from among all classes and conditions
who have been numbered in its COM
muniOn, have gone from earth to pos
sess an immortal crown. Such is our
record. But God forbid that should
glory save in the cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ God forbid that | should
be proud of my church, unless it points
me to the cross, makes that it, Alpha
and Omega; tells me that | am sin
ner and bids me look TO it and live. To
make that my theme whilst | shall he
permitted, dear friends, to remain a.
mong you, will be my highest ambi-
ton; and, as | have done this after
noon, may that Master who has COM
missi0nedmetO preach His Gospel, ever
influence me to take delight in telling
Of SaviOur's love, and inviting all to
come to Him for rest. May God bless
us andso order our goings that his name
may be gloritied, his church enlarged
and true religion and piety be establish
ed among Us forall generations, through
Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
szzz=--.z-z-a1=-zuzn4-.suz~sazz.-
For the Bedford Gazette
a