Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-05-09

ing shall be ashamed, but that with all bold
ness, as always, so now also, Christ shall be
magnifed in my body, whether IL be By life
or BY death. For to me to live is Christ, and TO
die is gain. But if live in the flesh, this is
the fruit of my labor; yet what shall choose
| wot not For am in strait betwiXt two,
having desire to depart and TO be with
Christ, which is far better; nevertheless T.
abide in the flesh is more needful Tor you. And
having thus confidence, l know thaS l shall
abide and continue with you all, Tor your
furtherance and Joy of faith; that your rejOic-
ing may be more abundant IN Jesus Christ for
me by my coming to you again"
By his own request, as well as by the
appointment of my brethren, am about
to preach, as may be able, the funeral
of Bishop James o. Andrew. 10 the Sc
lection of a theme for this occasion, |
have been much perplexed; first, because
memorial services have been held in well
nigh all of the leading churches of our
widespread connection; and, while l do
not aspire to originality, l would never
theless avoid sameness; secondly, because
in our church papers we have had edito-
rial portraitures of the deceased, with
sketches from other master hands, cover
ing all the points upon which it would
have been appropriate for me to dwell
Moreover, members of his own family,
and loving friends here and there, have
written and published facts and incidents
of his private and public history, thus
forcing ne either to the necessity of Omis-
sion or of repetition. Besides, while texts
are common enough for an ordinary fu-
neral, this funeral is uncommon in many
of its aspects and relations. There
gathers about it an extraordinary inter
est More than two months hsYe elapsed
since the mortal body of our now sainted
father in Israel was consigned to its last
resting place. The virtues of the de-
ceased have been commemoTated in song
and prayer and sermon. His surviving
household have embalmed him in the
tears of their affection, in the consola-
tons of their faith, in the anticipatiOns
| of blessed hope-all more precious
than the spices of the East. The church
which loved and honored Bishop Andrew
hiss bewailed his loss in the solemn assem-
bly, of her people, and while sad under
bereavement has blesseAGJd who gave
him so graciOusly, spared him so long,
and at last has taken him away so glo-
riously. And now his colleagues
| IL OlllCC anu lis lC4AOH 4uOC4-
ers in the ministry have met TO
lay their offering upon his tomb, 10 catch
afresh the inspiration of his example, to
vow once more fidelity to the cause he
! loved, and to rejoice together in the pros
pect of renewed fellowship where there
| there is no more death. Withsl, l desired
a subject which should embody some one
| of the great principles IF our holy relig-
ion most strikingIy illustrated in the expe-
rience and labors of our departed friend
and brother. Here again the question
arose, in 8 character so well balanced, so
symmetrical, so composed Of all that is
| Just, and true, and good, and lovely;
what feature, what attribute shall l Sc
lect? Yet again, shall ! avail myself of
his example TO make a specific address to
his brethren in the ministry, or shall
magnify the grace of God n him, BY
dwelling on those points of more general
interest and common to all believers.
With these questions a unsolyed and in
soluble in any way satisfactory TO myself,
l have read the passage announced, as 3
starting point.
1t is proper to say, in the outset, that
do not propose an eXegesis OF the text af,
ter the manner of commentators, nor al
exhaustive analysis, such as would be ap
propriate TO 8 well digested sermon, bu
simply presentation of the principa
sentiment as it crops out in the successive
phases of its development in this para
graph of apostolic history. Perhap
there never was a more unlikely CONVEX
to christianity than Saul of TaIsus. Hi
powerful intellect his religion, his very
conscience all under the influence O
wrong impressions, his education, hi!
habits, his prospects as a Roman citizen
the implacable malignily OF his spirit to
wards the disciples of Christ, the leader
ship in q fierce and fiery persecution as
signed him by his own cOuntrymen-al
precluded the idea of such q change, aRt
by the operation of merely natural causes
rendered it morally impossible. Tina
such man could preach the faith which
once he destroyed, is an invincible de
monstration of the supernatural fore
of gospel truth. This intrepid, ferOCIOu
man was not converted by the slow pro
cesses of thought, celebrating a conclu
sion by the examination of evidence, tn
balancing of arguments, the comparison
of systems. He was not q pupil seeking
light, agitated with doubt, swinging be
tween hope and fear, willing to be per
suaded, ready to be convinced; but
proud, confirmed, self-sstisfied Pharisee
a venomous blssphemer; a commissions
prosecutor, armed with the authority o
church and State. His words were draw
swords, his breath threatening and slaugh
ter; and now in the very pride of his pow
I er, when jubilant hate was painting :
pounce upon its victim; when his fierce
vindictive zeal was running riot Of III
, faucied overthrow of the new religion
suddenly, in the light of noon, on tn
, highway, surrounded by his military e'
! cort, q voice from heaven artiCulates th
. startling question, "Saul, Saul, why peTsC
, cu,est thou me ~ The terrified auditor
} instantly conscious Of a super huma
i presence, at once responded, "Who al
thou, Lord Z"
The answer, instinct with power, AT
thority and love, 81 am Jesus whom tho
persecutest, "disarms andlsubdues him.
a moment his commission, Jerusalem
d Damascus, the crowd about him, are 8
forgotten. Gentle and submissive, COZ
! Tossing all, he poured his willing heal
! into the simple, significant question
= "Lurd, what wilt thou have me TO d0E
Smitten blind by this glorious revelation
n for three days and nights he was withou
S light, and did neither eat nor drink
J. Obedient to the heavenly mission, he wa
Il led by the hand to Damascus. AnaniaS
!; previously instructed, went into the slice
:; which was called Straight, and entere
e into the house where this prisoner OF j
d sus was, laid his hands upon him an
I, said, Brother Saul, (sweet word; pit
Z the world should cheat us out of it, tn
Lord, even Jesus, who met thee in th
I way as thou earnest, has sent me unit
: thee, that thou mightest receive thy sigh
! and be filled with The Holy Ghost" In
|. mediately the scales fell from his eyet
A the Pharisee died out of his heart, th
S ravening wolf became gentle as a laml
!. and he arose and was baptized, and stoo
= forth a Christian and an apostl,
i and straightway preached jest
g that be was the Son of God. n
It man knew it better. He had the evidenC
o in himself that the Crucified was ally
and working wonders upon the earth.
Such was the process of conviction al
P conversion by which this eminent serya
+ of Christ was translated into the kingdom
The revolution was brief, brilliant b
permanent. He was born again; ne
= heart was given unto him. He was e
= dowed with gifts and grace; bis work W
+ mapped out before him, and he was for
Il warned of the suffering he should endur
The antecedent circumstances of this ca