West-Jersey pioneer., 1873-03-21
CONFERENCE SABBATH.

While many persons went to the Confer
ence Love Feast, held in the Central NJ. E
Church, and to the other Churches of the
city where brethren of the Conference filled
the pulpits, crowd found it's way to the
Trinity M. E. Church to witness the Ordi-
nation Of Deacons, and to hear the Bishop
preach.
When the hour had arrived for commenc-
ing, Bishop Scott arose and said -
The announcement has gone out that
would preach this morning, and it is proper
for me TO say, that in consequence of an oc-
currence that l may not mention here, |
think it would be too great risk for me 10
preach. In this my brethren concur.
Bishop then introduced Rev. DIR. McCau-
ley, President of Dickinson College, who
conducted the opening exercises announc
ing the 527th hvmn, commencing:
''Let Him TO whom we now belong
His sovereign right assert,
and offering prayer.
The Scripture lesson was part OF the
9Th chapter of Romans. After singing again
by the congregation. the Doctor announced
his text and preached as follows:-
Rom. 6: 22.-"But now being made
free from sin, and become servants to God,
ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the
end everlasting life.'
These words were spoken OF those in
whom regeneration had taken place. Two
things are affirmed of them as to the pres
ent:
/. They were made free from sin,
and
2. They had become servants to God as
to the future, it is said, l. They have fruit
unto holiness and 2. In the end everlasting
life.
Paul is the great expounder and delinia-
tor of the process of spiritual life He
pictures mans degradation, and then sets
forth the Gospel as the means to lift him
Up, and exalt him. Line upon line is
added until the beauteous figure stands out
in all its perfection of form.
The unrenewed man is under the domin-
ion Of sin, and, however he may struggle
against it, sin is overmastering and tr-
umphant. Aroused to til, consequences of
sin by Gods law he betakes himself to the
great Deliverer and is emancipated by the
controlling tendency to right communica
ted to him, and he approves what he
hated, and can do what, to him before was
impossible. Sin no longer reigns and he
has the victory. The current of his re-
newed nature is so strong that it holds on
its way, though there may be obstacles to
obstruct its progress. When this change
has taken place, man is not his own
master.
Man is never to himself When he is re-
leased from vasallage to satan, he is trans
ferred to God. To the one or the other he
always yields himself. How then can he be
free? Lawlessness is far from true free
dom. Aspiring to rightful rule is rebellion.
AS creature dependent upon God.
mans freedom is doing what he was crea-
ted to do, and in so doing he will find hap
piness. We gee this in the history of our
race. Attempting freedom we entered in
to real bondage.
The whole process OF redemption IL lot
restoring to man what he had lost. When
that is done man attains the highest free
dom of which he is capable. Hence the.
Gospel is spoken of as "the law Of liber-
ty." But liberty is not license. ''Take my
yoke upon you." Man must consent to the
yoke or he can never hear the liberating
voice Of the Son of God. When the heart
is released from the service of sin 1t enters
upon a new and blessed service.
The distinguishing characteristic of the
Christian is the taking of the will Of God
as his rule, and tho making of the life SUBJ
iect to the requirement Whatever ye do,
do all to the glory of God" Yield your
selves servants to God, and your bodies in
strupents Of righteousness, and you viii bc