Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-10-12

With an honest heart have sought your
veal: divided, as best 1 could, the truth, aud
now leave the judgment with Him who judges
we'll And yet | feel that my work ends not
here, but passes on to the hour when all re-
| viewed, immortal souls will witness to a bles-
sing or curse. Were there no mediator
there, friends; no advocate. no Saviour, no
Jesus, this heart would surely quail in fear
i and in much trembling. But Christ is our
Mediator, Advocate, Saviour, Friend; and
! He will remember that we are but dust
Friends, we have stood for salvation; en-
treated have We, prayed and longed, and whyY
! Oh, because in trembling, have We looked
over these gathered souls, and remembered
that some are in peril of eternal death. The
! delineations of the future have risen to arouse,
and the lost soul presented itself as reason
for our fear. Even before US has come the
piteous aspect of the spirit consigned to mis-
cry, and its haggard look of hopeless grief
appealed to our deepest sympathy, and we
have trembled. And, beloved, we tremble
still tremble for you, and in the anxiety of
this sad and trying hour. pray you once more
to escape for your life, unto the refuge for
sinners set.
Nv. 'Aud my speech and my preaching
was not with entciug words of mans wisdom,
but in demonstration of the Spirit and OF
power" Friends, | have intimated my view
of the Christian ministry. And now l look
back upon that ministry, as ordered among
you aud dare claim for it the Apostolic ex>
preston. 1t has not been with entlclng
words of mans wisdom The supreme au-
thority of the word of God has been my po-
sition, and that word as all sufficient to justi-
fly our ecclesiastical arrangement and our doc
trinal pecuiarities, have L maintained, and as
the great source of spiritual comfort, strength
10 houo I rrir IN npcla-
ring that truth is the great instrument of God,
and if men bring not that, give to them no
heed. All the appliances of a gorgeous cer>
emonial have | discarded all the interven-
tions of priesthood and the unfailiDg effica
cy of rites. Before you have l set forth the
one Mediator Christ crucifed, and said ITO
Him lift up your hearts. and believing ye
shall have life through His name" Jealous
have [ tried to be of His honor and yet faith
full to the Church at whose altars it is my
privilege to serve, and whose glory it is that
while She is everywhere clad in garments OF
beauty, it is all to set forth the salvation which
is in Christ Jesus, and to bring Christians
near unto Him in prayer and praise.
Brethren, yield unto no man in rever-
ence for Her liturgy. yield to none in the
assurance that Her order is wise, is right, is
holy; meet to build up in faith, yea specially
ought to be; pure within and beautiful with
out Had my heart the full spirit of her
praise. the earnestness of her prayers, the
happv gladness of her hope, the Christian
character of the minister who leaves you to-
day would be what Jesus meant it 10 be. All,
| love Her and pray God that you may love
Her, and with zeal guard her against enc
mics without and against those who have found
a Iodgment Within those who turn her sober
and Scriptural worship into sham, and cause
her to assume dress she was never made to
wear. Prejudice has assaulted her; ignorance
of her true intent given rise to erroneous
statement, and her name has been made by
word Brethren, do you be steadtast, I'M
movable; ward off the shaft OF the oppo>
nent by intelligent and active plety; against
the insidious foe, draw the sacred sword, and
use the shield of Gospel faith, having as your
constant motto, elf there come any unto you,
and bring not this doctrine, receive him not
into your house. neither bid him God-speed."
And do YOU, my respected brethren of the
Vestry. see to this. You have a much heayl-
er weight of responsibility in the Church OF
G 3D. than some are wont to Imagine, and as
brother in obligation to be faithful do pray
you to-day ever to keep this pulpit sacred to
the simple and unadultered Gospel of the
Son of God. Be jealous for your Masters
honor. Be true to the Church which in her
standards proclaims it, and true to the souls
for which, under God, you are to mako pro-
vision.
q Once more, ''In demonstration of the
Spirit and of power Can L claim 1t !
Brethren, my ministry has been blessed
Seventy.n nine have come into this Church
since came; and who has done it? Not |.
1t is not by might nor by power, by human
wisdom, or human energy; it is by the SPir-
it of the living God-His demonstration and
His power But will not speak of this. To
God he all the praise. To you however, dear
friends, called of God, and through me, L
will speak, and in the affectionate sympathy
of a pastors heart, ask you to be true to your
departine pastors counsels, to your Church,
to YOUR Saviour and to yourselves. BE sepa>
rate from the world. Be earnest in every
good word and work, and with your eye upon
the prize, the great crown OF life, press to the
mark, ever looking to Jesus. To-day sever
the cord which binds in Office; but no change
of place can sunder that which links hearts
together When away, 81 will remember
the children whom God hath given me-"
will bear them in my heart as it assays to ap-
proach yon throne of grace; and oh, that you
would remember the Shepherd who has gone
Remember him to pray for him. Remember
him to ask that when your Savior and his
comes to award, he may be enabled to give
good account and sit down with you at the
marriage supper of the Lamb. Are not ye
SO privileged? Yes. and have told you of
it. and do now again beseech you to strive to-
pether with me for the glad reunion of that
happy day Come to that feast, and We will
rejoice together. Yea, and through all the
bIest scenes of the then gained Eternity, con-
gratulate our souls for the prize that is won,
and walking
ssThe swect fields by the banks of the river,
Sing of salvation forever and ever"
Friends and brethren, my Vestry have re-
as;,-ad INV thnnks fnr their sindness for their