The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-09-03
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INDIANA CONFERENCE,
Opening Sermon on tuesday Evening.


Special Correspondence of the Journal
BLooMINGToN, Ind. Aug. 80, 1870.
Editors Journal;
The preachers of the Conference
are gathering in to.day to be in readi-
ness for the opening session to NOR
row morning. Trains both ways are
we'll allied, and most of the preachers
are in town to night.
Rev. s. L. Binkley, of Mt. Vernon.
was announced to preach the opening
sermon this evening. the house was
well filed.
The Rev. gentleman founded his
discourse upon Acts XII: "a.
SACRED history" said the preacher,
" presents large variety of character,
Moses, David, Paul, John, all promi-
nent, and yet each different from all
the others"
The lesson from this is, that God
raises up men to suit the exigeneies.
When He wanted leaders for Israel
He raised up Moses to legislate, and
Joshua to lead armies.
When He wanted a man to prepare
the way for Christ He raised up ohm
the Baptist.
When He wanted a man to compass
sea and land He called Paul, who
had the gifts for the work.
When the Church degenerated, and
darkness brooded over the land,
Luther and Wesley were successfully
sent.
The second lesson is. that God has
need of this variety of character. The
one work is to save men, but differ
ent men must be approached different
ways.
Among these Christian workers,
Barnabas Is in some sense a repre-
sentative man. He has elements
which belong to all successful work
ers.
/. Conservation, entire, for he gave
his property and himself to the
church.
2. Zeal. There is zeal which is a
mere sentiment, aud never incarnates
itself in action. But he evinced his
zeal by making the grand missionary
tour with Paul.
3. Goodness. Not mere negative
kind of amiability, which means
merely absence of virtuousness, and
often implies only weakness, but a
real accomplishing power In things
right and true.
4. He was divineiy baptized, and
full of the Holy Ghost. Other
things may be desirable but this is
essential.
5. Strong Faith. This was the key
stone that held the arch of his virtues
Nn.~kAn~ him nnnfdnnnn
and confidence is strength. Through
faith, Christ and his salvation became
real, and so he preached with power.
Finally the result Is declared.
Souls were brought to Christ and
saved, and this is the grand object of
all Christian work. In this he is
worthy of imitation.
The concluding thought was beau
tiful and impressive. Some men will
come up in the last day bearing in
their hands faded wreaths. They will
lay these upon the altar and say: I'VE
have been popular orators. The peo-
pie have applauded US, crowned US
with flowers, and here are the testi-
monials of their favor-the fruits of
our work" But, alas they have none
'God help us to have something
better than faded hawers-the per-
ishable memorials of popular favor
even precious souls to present be-
fore the Master in that day.
The sermon was able, earnest
throughout, and impressive, and will
not soon be forgotten by the minis
ters to whom it was principally ad-
dressed.
The announcements were made for
to morrow and the audience dismissed
with the benediction.. W.T., Il.
WEDNESDAY MORNING.