The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-06-21
correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES OF
WARRINGTON COLLEGE.
The Eaccnlaureate sermon by DR.. } A. brea-
dus-Sermon by DR.. b. NJ. smith.
LEXINGTON, Va, June II, 1867.

finale of the most prosperous ana success
full session ever enjoyed by this time.h
nored institution. The most sanguine
friends Of the college must surely be salts
Aed with the results Of the past session.
7senty.one instructors have been engaged
in teaching 40l students. The course Of
instruction has been considerably extended
and the standard Of graduation raised. The
Young men have generally studied well,
and have been remarkably quiet and Or
DERBY, and the prospects for yet more en-
couraging success next session are deci-
dedly bright. 1t was deemed appropriate
to begin the commencement exercises by
bacculaureate Sermon" and Rev. DR..
John A. Broadus, D. D., Of South Caro-
lima, was selected TO perform that service.
Accordingly, at IL o'clock A. NJ. on
Yesterday Sunday the spacious Presby-
terrain church was crowded to its utmost
capacity with a congregation OF rare in
telhgence and appreciative power. The
preacher had come over seven hundred
miles to perform this service, and 1t was
supposed by those who did not know him
that he would select some theme which
would enable him to display his vast learn
ing. or to "speak to the times" But he
soon showed that he had a higher purpose
in view, and meant "to know nothing but
Christ, and Him crucitied."
He selected as his text Acts 35:l9-
I" And of one Jesus which was dead whom
Paul affirmed to be alive"
In simple and beautiful introduction
he brought ont the Indifference which feS-
tus manifested to the great question con-
corning Jesus at issue between the Jews
and Paul, and contraSted 1t with the indif-
ference which men still have to the claims
of Jesus and his religion.
1t is matter of the highest conse-
onepce that whatever else we may do or
leave undone, we shall not be indifferent TO
Jesus. This may he seen from the following
considerations:
!. Jesns is the most important parsonage
ia human history. The obscure and inslg-
pi6cant one for whom Festus cared so lit
tie founded an empire which shall endure
forever. Napoleon remarked, when at st.
Helena: Alexander, Caesar, and myself,
founded, by force, empires that soon
passed away; but Jesus OF Nazareth, with
out force, has laid deep the foundations OF
an eternal empire" From Him flowed
the influences which have given to modern
civilization its chiefest glories, and even
the men who now boast that they can do
without Christianity, owe to 1t the lofty
conceptions, the elevated ethical Sentl-
ments, etc, of which they boast. The
centre of all human history is the cross OF
Christ. The little silver rill, which more
than eighteen hundred years ago entered
the current of human events, has flowed
quietly on until il has pervaded and in
6uenced the whole. We should realize
that Jesus is a parsonage Of history, and
diligently study him as such.
2. Jesus is the centre Of the Scriptures.
Every part points forward to Him or pro-
ceedS forth from him. 1t is, therefore, per-
fectly natural that ali controversies as to
the Bible should now be gathering about
the person of Jesus that in6del and semi
infdcl writer's should be discussing his
life and character.
Christianity is here a mighty power in
the world, and it remains to be accounted
for.
3. Jesus is a being unique in the universe.
Different from any mere creature, distinct
in one important sense from God, who is
a spirit. God is only God, and man is only
man; but Jesus is both, and perfectly
each-not a man rising to something OF
divinity, not God taking some sem6lance
of humanity, but perfectly man ana per-
fectly God at the same time. Ills divinity
lies on the surface of the Scriptures, which
were written for the people, and is SO IN.
terwoven in its texture that If you attempt
TO eliminate it, you destroy the whole
fabric. AS we'll pluck this beating heart
from my body, and call what remains
man, as to pluck from the gospel the d.
vinity of Christ.
His humanity is taught with equal clear
ness, and is Of equal Importance. The
controversies of the first four centuries
brought out his Divinity-the contrOver-
sizes of the present age have brought out
his humanity. As man he was born in
Bethlehem's manger, grew in statue and
"increased in wisdom -; as man he toiled
at the work bench of Joseph, and endured
the ills Of our common humanity ; as a man
he was tempted, and as man he set an
example for our study and imitation, and
is prepared to sympathze with us; as a
man he took our place and died, while his
Divinity gave infinite dignity, significance,
and redeemng value to that death.
Jesus as Goldman now rules the uni
verse-all power in heaven and on earth
has been given to him, and he upholds all
things by the word of his power. Let US
in these dark days take comfort from the
thought Jesus reig,lS and rules.
4. Jesus has wrought work unparal-
elled in character and importance-the
work of reconciling Siu-mined world to
God.
5. Every one of us does and must sustain
some personal relation to Jesus, not
merely as historical character, but as a
parsonage now living we are all his friends
or his foes. "He that is not for me is
against me-" Men may stultify themselves
by denying the truth of Revelation, but
the most inconsistent of all positions is that
of the man who admits the truth Of the re-
ligion of Jesus and yet fails to embrace it.
aye knew your duty but did it not" will
be bitter ingredient in the cup Of woe he
must at last drink.
The preacher closed with an earnest and
touching appeal to the young men present
10 yield their hearts at once to Jesus, and
then, constrained by love to Christ, to 60
forth to the duties of life determined to
consecrate themselves entirely to him, and
serve him in whatever calling they pur-
sued.
The sermon made powerful impress
sion, and tears were freely shed even by
those who are unused to the melting
mood"
AT night Rev. DR.. b. NJ. Smith, Of Prince
Edward county, preached a sermon before
the Young Mems Christian Association
from the text "The truth as it lis in Je-