Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-05-13
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURcH.-In the absence Of
Rev. W. E. Baker, the pulpit Of the Presbyteri-
an church was filed, on Sunday night last, by
Rev. c. S. M. See, of Highland county.
He preached an able sermon from the latter
part of the 9th verse, of the 2lst Chapter of Rev.
Citations:
II will give unto him that is athirst of the
fountain Of the water of life freely"
He said Water, as used in the Scriptures. is
emblematical of the Gospel. He quoted from
various portions Of the Scriptures in proof Of
this fact That in the text water is used as typi-
cal of the Gospel in the sense of rich provision
for mans perishing soul. There are many anal
ogies between the image and that for which it is
used.
LIST. Water is absolutely necessary for all bod
ily life So the Gospel is absolutely necessary
for all spiritual life. AS the great need of all
earthly life is water, without which all vegeta-
ton would die and the blood in our veins thick
en- until we would become mummies where we
SIT 80 the great need Of mans soul is salvation
and of all its wants none is so destroying and
killing as the want of the Gospel AS water re-
freshes and restores the thirsty man, so the Cos
pei is life from the dead for pershing souls.
End. Water is the great purifying element =
As in domestic life. it is, beyond all else, the
cleansing element, so in holy writ it is used as
the emblem of regeneration. The water of life
cleanses from the leprosy of sin. Men nave
| been trying for ages to find some substitute for
it. The atheistic societies all over the world are
seeking to find some great panacea for mans de-
graded condition, some panacea that will remove
all evil-but they have sought in vain The
&c hone oft lipc IN.
day as was wisdom among the Greeks or courage
| among the Romans. But Notwithstanding the
perfection of their works in the arts and sciences
| and their great intellectual culture, if we look
into their private life we find shame, degrade
ton and crime side by side with all this high
cultivation. And in our day. steam-engines will
no more regenefate man, nor the telegraph oon-
vert sinners, than did the philosophy of the
Greeks, nor will all the labors of the laboratory
nor the revelations of chemistry, be more effec-
tive than was the Greek system of philosophy.
But the Gospel can do what human wisdom has
never been able to accomplish 1t is like flowing
fountain where the greatest leper can cleanse his
leprosy. The blood of Calvary can cleanse the
greatest sinner.
3rd. This provision is in unfailing abundance
set before US.
AS the water that covers thrse-fourths of the
earth is sufficient to supply all the needs of the
earth, so the Gospel is given in abundance suffi
Gent to save the whole world There is no sim
ner so deeply sunk in degradation but can be
washed free from sin in the fountain of the water
of life 1t is fountain that can never be ex-
hausted. Salvation is just as free and abundant
for the last that comes as the first. The hardest
heart, in all its ignorance and all its guilt, can be
purified of all its sin. The fountain of the water
of life is open to all, even to the chiefest among
sinners.
To whom is this offer made?
It is offered to him that is athirst. The whole
have no need of q physician. The man that
thirsts not will never drink. The question comes
home to each one Of us, Do we feel this need eff
salvation? 1t is not required that We should
have great anguish of mind or remorse border
ing upon despair as was the case with John Bun
yam for so long a time, but there must be sense
of need before Gan appreciate the promise
given in the text. There must be conviction
that salvation is needed.
In what degree must we have this thirst?
IF convinced that you will perish without the
Gospel, that all you do will be of no avail
towards your salvation, then you have that sense
of need that authorizes you to come at once to
the cross of life. You need not wait until your
heart is filed with anguish and your eyes with
tears. Such anguish is no better than that which
fills the hearts of devils who believe and fear
and tremble The fear of punishment does in
no wise recommend one to salvation. Thirst
never invigorates, nor does hunger ever nOurlsh.
There is only one recommendations know our
need feel our want and go to Jesus for salvation.
Some think that you must bring price, do
something to recommend yourself to Christ, but
the Gospel says, come without money and with
out price and drink Of the water of life freely
How is this grace given2
1t is given freely. The two words in the text,
''give' and 'freely," strengthen each other. The
word freely does not mean in abundance nor is
it used as when we say of man he spends freely
or gives literally, but in the original it signifies,
if we had such a word, "giftly.' This salvation
is offered without purchase price or worthiness
whatever, and moreover cannot be had In any
other way than freely, as gilt
He closed his able sermon, of which the above
is meagre report of some of the chief points,
with an earnest exhortation to come to the foun-
tain and partake of the water of life freely and
without price.
METHoD1sT.-The Sunday School Exhibition
was repeated on last Friday night, before large
audience, Notwithstanding the unfavorable
weather The proceeds of both entertainments
amounted to upwards Of 500.
On last Sunday morning, Rev. Dr. Roszell
preached a very powerful sermon from the
words-'Do this in emembrance Of me,'' after
which the Sacrament of the Lords supper was
administered
In compliance with a request from the Friends
of Temperance, Dr. Roszell will peach a SER
mon on the subject of Temperance in the Meth
odist church on next Sunday night at O. clock
STAND nv youR coIops,