Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-03-17
rhe uhurche.. Y.rlerdn,.

Bishop Ames preached At Grace Church, yes
terday morning, from ThessAlonians, ,l2e, 5th "
"For our Gospel came not unto you in word
only, but also in power and In the Holy Ghost,
and In much assurance"
He said that these were the words OF an old
pastor, who had formerly been with the flock
thathe now addressed, by letter. and they were
words that would be absurd, unless such had
been the case, and furnished one of the many
evidences of the authenticity OF the new Iesta-
ment He referred briefly to the Tact that tue
people whom he now addressed were taking
new pastor and expressed his earnest hope that
when he (their new pastor) should have DEPART
ed from them his messages back to them might
be in words like these.
He said that the preaching Of Paul, had not
been simply tho preaching OF the word; that
while the preaching of the doctrines OF Christi-
anity, had resulted In much good, how much we
knew not yet there was beyond all tins preach-
ing with power that effected much more that
the power was not simply the power which is
lent by antiquity, but by the merciful principle
of Christianity-the power OF pardon and for
giveness the power which, while It does not
make God unjust, makes Him the justiher Of
the sinner.
He said further that the preaching OF Paul
was also accompanied by the power OF the Holy
Ghost, the inward moving principle that makes
Christ's followers bold and firm in the defiance
of right that raises them above surrounding
circumstances. and fits them for the perfor-
nance of all Of Gods commands. But not only
was this preaching with power and with the HOLY
Ghost, but il was with assurance-an instant as
surance upon the part OF God to the repentant
| and believing heart Of n full and complete par
| don. A pardon given gradually was an absurdi
| ty. A human ruler wonld be thought demented
we're he to propose such.
Upon this principle OF an inward and instau-
taneous Knowledge Of pardon aud peace the
great battle of christianity had been fought
The battle OF Spirituality against form was the
battle of Christ and his deciples against the
Jews-of Luther and Melsncthon of Knox and
of wesley-against the usuTpipg eccleeastica
establishments Of their times aud now in oul
| day the same battle is to be fought upon the
same ground and with the same weapons. MAY
God grant the victory to those who are follow.
/ ing in the footsteps OF the blessed Master anC
upholding the principle he 40 loved.
AT St Paul's NJ. e. church, the new pastor
| Rev. j. ID. Merritt, preached his Introductory
sermon in the morning, from Corinthians 8 c..
| 21-2-3 V. His general argument was the posses
sion by mankind Of all thngs-the ministry, th'
world life, death" all things are yours and "
are Christ's, and Christ is Gods The text wa
an assurance intended to alay the dissensions IL
| the church OF Corinth. aud in our day its appli
cation is Just as needful and appropriate. A
| the conclusion Of the sermon, Mr. Merritt spoke
Of his coming to the church in words something
/ like these: II stand before you as your pas
tor l feel very greatly embarrassed You
| called me | obeyed and Father Scott sanctioned
i the Union. We are one for one year at least
have taken you may you take me as the brid'
| takes her husband, and the husband takes hi
| bride-for better or for worse, for ricner or TO
poorer. When you suffer, l suffer also and
/ you are glorihed, am glOriiled with you.
trust we will have happy timo together.
| Rev l.. O. Matlack delivered his introducto
| nv sermon at Grace, last evening, to fn
| church. HIS text was from Corinthians, let C
I ~ Il.
| to to them that perish, foolzhneas hut unto u
/ which are saved il is the power of God" III
spoke of the great difficulty under which the firs
/ preaching OF the cross was attended, 1t being
| sign of ignomin yand repr0sch. Nevertheless
while the writings Of the Apostles treated {
other matters, they preached the croes az til
symbol Of salvation, aud taught that it, althoug
an object OF ignominy was also an evidence o
the great love Of God. towards man. lie sal
that physical death was Hot necessary in Orde
that one might perish that the rejection c
Christ and OF his sacrifice for us was the persl
ing OF the soul aud unite such the preaching c
| the rross was foollshneus. But unto such as r
ceiyed his intercession for us the preaching
the cross the power of God unto salvation
Mr.. Matlacks sermon was such one as he woul
have preached upon any ordinary occasion, al
he made no attempt to distiDguishit as.an intr
ductory sermon.
-Revs. James Waters and Lafayette Mari
exchanged pulplts, last evening.
Rev. Geo. A. Latimer preached at :
: Anpe's church, ,Middletown yesterday. His pu
} pit was filed in the morning by Rev Mr.. A
: mold and in the evening by Rev. I. G. Littell.