Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-10-31
WHOLE NO. 2613

L VI AADlAO0A5n4- cllftcot OftFl5flIIlflT a
knowledge of sins forgiven, a heart burn
ing with heavenly ight-a heart baptized
by the spirit of God, and flowing out of this
warm heart oflove intense, burning zeaIfor the
spread ofthe gospel and salvation of souls.
The Wesleys were in earnest, when leav-
ing lucrative positions of ease, they en-
dured the rage OF priests and the violence
OF MODS, to preach Christ to dying men.
Whitehead was in earnest With elo-
quence which swept like a hurricane.
with congregations often counted by the
acre, he, with a heart oVerAowing with
the love of souls, turned many to right
eousness. He crossed the Atlantic thir-
teen times, and passed like a fame of
hre from Georgia to Maine. The pulpits
OF Boston were closed against him, and
he preached on the commons to more
people than all the churches in Boston
would then contain. His last sermon was
preached the day before he died. He
ceased at once to work and live. Embury,
webb, Asbury, Whatcoat, George Bas-
conn., and host of others, were earnest
men VINO, IKE the apostle of old, count
ed not tnelr lives dear unto themselves
!hat 'ney might finish their course with
JOY, and testify to dying men the eosneI
of the grace of God.
Shall we, my brethren, forget the ga
cret of our power? Shall the old fire be
extinguished upon our altars? Shall We.
who walk in the footsteps of such men
prove unworthy of the glorious inberi.
tame they bequeathed usF No, nv breth-
rem.
Remember. Lord. the ancient days,
Renew thy work. thy grace restore.D
In view of the abundant pnorcv fGod
manifested toward US, in view of the 0reai
results already accomplished. in view of
the future, with its tremendous respousi-
bilities, in view of our position to dav
tOhat is oar dssty2 What are the demands
of the houri Our duty NAV be summed
up IN one word, Gratitade! Gratitude tn
God. While we rejoice in the off Iat ma
not forget the giVer. While W glory in
success, let US also glorify God Our graf
ltude should be felt, and felt deeply.-
But our gratitude must be expressed
we say we are grateful, we praise God
with our bps, we sing aloud the praises of
Hlm who hath so signally blessed us-this
Is well, but the expression OF our CRATE
full feelings should take the widest possi-
Die scope. These things should humble
US before God, and lead US to repentance.
THE remembrance of them should beget
within Us hungering and thirsting after
righteousness. This year, above all 9TH
ers, should be year of great spiritual
prosperity and power. We should now
arm US anew for the conflict. As we con-
tmplate the deeds of the fathers, their
spirits should inspire in US a burning zeal
for God and souls. But another channel is
opened for still more practical expression
OF our gratitude. This is to be a year of
noble deeds of benevolence. We are a
wealthy people, God having greatly bless
ed US. We are stewards of this bounty.
What a privilege, and then a duty to
give. As much duty to pay as it is to
pray. You say, there is a devoted Christ
ian. l ask how much does he pay?-
Not, does he pay one, or one thousand
dollars, but does he fill the measure of
his responsibility? | might have said
that hberality was prominent feature of
Methodism. Not only are we able to do as
We please, but generally please to do all
that we are able. When John Wesley re-
ceived thirty pounds year, he gave away
two pounds. When he received sixty,
he gave away thirty-two, when he receiv-
ed one hundred and twenty pounds
year, he gave away ninety-two, reserying
TO himself the original twenty-eight only.
His motto was "Gst all yO1 can, savs au 1,ox
can, and give al you cG7l."
The financial schemes of this Centepa-
ry year are meeting with great success.
The stream of peoples gratitude Is flow
ing; the work goes bravely on; the kew
note has been struck in grand Centena-
ry meeting in the City of New York. and
the tune is keyed high-S7I3. csc. 90. at a
single meeting-half a million from a
single man. The Bishops first spoke of
81, ,OOO,0 900 as the sum to be aimed at
more than this has probably already been
pledged-iVe millions will perhaps. be
the least amount realized this year. All
are giving, the poor as well as the rich.
and the mite of the poor widow is as ac-
ceptsble to God, as the princely gift of
the millionaire: Give for yourself, give for
your wife, give for your children.
At the close of the morning service. in
one of our churches in Western New
York, few weeks since, a gentleman
rose and requested the privilege of con-
trlbutlng to the Centenary cause. He
said, 81 would like to give 5000 for nv
self, 5000 for my wife, 5000 for each of nv
children, son and daughter, and 5000
for little Eta, who has Just gone to
Heaven"
The highest and holiest temotionss should
aetuate us, my brethren. What a mag
nihcent opportunity for the expression of
the Thanksgiving of great peoplel Let
the glorious anthem of praise roll on until
the very earth shall quake. ''Pfaise Him.
all ye peopleY Praise Him with our
hearts; praise Him with our lips; praise
Him with our money; praise Him to-day,
young men and maidens, old men and chill
dren.' Let oil praise the Lord. And it is
rolling onward; it is swelling upward;
hear II IN the east, mingled with the seas
rough music; hear it in the north,
awakening the echoes of our mighty for
ests, and that echo is rolled back from
the boundless prairies of the west, and
from the Pacific coast. hear it from the
palace and from the cottage, from the
city and from the country, from aged
sires and matrons, and from a million
children of the Sabbath school, who to-
day are marching on. 1 hear it swelling
wave upon wave of gladstone triumph and
holy gratitude. And long after the heart,
now vocal with praise, shall have mould
cred to dust, when you and shall have
passed away, and our poor names are for
gotten, then shall these principles, the
glory of this power, be developed in the
hearts of millions yet unborn, and eterni-
ty alone shall reveal the full result of our
abors in this world, thus to spread abroad
4 knowledge of the truth
A sprightly writer expresses his opin-
on OF old maids in the following man