Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-03-04
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

have been largely attenueu. Iney nave Oeen
conducted by the pastor-Rev. W. E. Baker-as-
sisted by Rev. DR.. Witherspoon. Chaplain of
the University of Virginia, and Rev. DR.. jun
kim pastor of New Providence church in this
County. These services commenced on last
Tuesday night, when DR.. Witherspoon was ex-
pected to sspreach, but was detained by sick
ness and Mr.. Baker oficiated in his stead Mr..
Witherspoon arrived on Wednesday and preach
ed able and interesting sermons on that night
and on Thursday morning Thursday night was
observed as night of prayer for schools and
colleges in accordance with the established usage
of the church. Mr.. Baker earnestly exhorted
young men TO turn their attention to the ministry
and urged them to think seriously of the claims
of the Gospel upon them before they decided up
on their pursuit in life. On Thursday night, Dr.
Junkin preached forcible sermon from the 9th
verse of the 1st chapter of the Book of Jonah:
$50 the shipmaster came to him, and said unto
him. what meanest thou, 0 sleeper? arise, call
upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon
US. that we perish not"
He gave brief description of the events which
led to Jonahs being aboard the ship, and COM
pared the condition of Jonah at that time to the
present condition of many persons, and with
great force of argument, illustration and exhor-
tation urged all sleepers to awake from their fam
cied security and call upon God to deliver them
from tn dangers which surround them.
After the services on Saturday morning, at
which DR.. Junkin again cficiatsd the elders,
who were elected sometime since. were ordained
and installed in Office by the pastor and the ru-
ling elders in the church. The elders ordained
were DR. Alex. Waddell, T. B. Coleman, Davis
A. Kayser and John Paris. VIM. Frazier and
Chas. ID. Mccoy, who had also.been elected, De-
clined to accept the Office.
On Saturday night before services had COM
menced. but after considerable portion of the
audience had arrived, the gas went out and left
everybody in the dark. Many efforts were made
to re-lght it, but in vain. So finally the audience
dispersed and no services were held in the church
that night. After nearly all the audience had
departed, it was found that the gas in the chapel
of the Augusta Female Seminary would burn,
so services were held there but the audience con-
sisted chiefly of the pupils of the Seminary, as
it was too late to inform the dispersed congregs-
ton.
On Sunday morning. DR.. Junkin preached
from I Peter, LIST chapter, End verse:
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God
the Father through sanctifcation of the spirit
unto obedience and sprnkling of the blood OF
Jesus Christi Grace unto you, and peace be
multiplied"
He said this address of the Apostle showed
three things
1st That the objects of Gods love are chosen
according to the forekncwl ledge of God.
End That the selection is accomplished
through the sanctlfcation of the Holy Spirit.
3rd. That they are chosen OF God according to
foreknowledge to be sharers in the two great
principles Of 1st. obedience of faith, the result of
the calling of the Holy Spirit End. TIE sphinx
ling of the blood OF Christ,
This second principle was the chief subject of
his discourse. He said, it is evident from the
place it occupies that it is of Importance for it is
associated with obedience to Jesus Christine
great principle Of salvation. The expression 1.-THE
blood of Christ is generally used in reference to
the death of Christ rs 8 means of saving sinners
the fulfllment of Gods promise for the deliv
erance of sinners. But as it is used in the text.
it does not mean the forgiveness of sins, for that
is provided for elsewhere.
But to show what it did mean more clearly
than in any other way, he referred to the great
yearly sacrifice made under the old dispensstion,
which was typical of Christs sacrifice. in which
the blood eff the slain beast was divided into
two parts, one of which was put upon the altar
and the other sprinkled before it for the purpose
of publication. So when Christ died upon the
cross his blood was shed in the full expiation OF
sin and TO save the guilty. Afterwards he arose,
and now appears before God and sprinkles his
blood before the altar in daily intercession for us
But before he left EARTH he made provision for
the sprinkling of his blood by all who seek sal
vatlon. This sprinkling then refers not to justi-
fcation, for that was accomplished by the sacri
faa II ris hut rofa n a
ling of his blood as publication of our sins
The shedding Of Christs blood refers to justf-
cation; the sprnkling of his blood refers to the
cleansing from pollution. Though we are justi-
fed by faith yet we are still not free from sin
sin still remains Hence we constantly need to be
purified anew. We know we are justified, yet we
feel we are polluted and need to be freed from
an accusing conscience. This is illustrated by
the Eastern custom, when the people wore san
das. Having made the whole body clean, they
always washed their feet whenever they entered
house. for they alone became ioled. In the
original Gresk these two washings designa-
ted by different wo rds, which marked the differ
ence in meaning, but we express both ideas
by the same word tcasAug. One word meant
Justification" the other cleansing from the
pollution Of SIM" The first is used when the sim
ner is regenerated and brought close to Christ,
the second as when the whole body having been
cleansed 1t is needed only to wash the feet. The
Saviour teaches US that though justified by faith
from all sin, yet the strivings of the old nature
will be renewed and we will be conscious of the
want of cleansing from pollution. Conscious
ness of sin can only be removed by consciousness
of full cleansing of our sins and this can only
be obtained by the sprinklng of the blood OF
Jesus Christ. To obtain this we must pray daily
to our Saviour to sprinkle US with his blood and
cleanse us from all sin. 1t is most blessed
privilege to be able to go to the Savior and tell him
all our weakness and dependence upon him, and
go away strengthened in our faith and made clean
and pure in heart.
This life blood of Jesus is ever new and ever
fresh. We can always go to him to cleanse US Of
our sins. From this we learn two things.
1st. In Gods plan of Salvation, provision is
not only made for escape from sin, but also for
cleansing from the pollution of sin.
2nd. Amid all the lmpertectiOns of the present
life, cast down by fear overborne by SIM we can
go to Jesus, and by the sprnkllng of his blood
be freed from our thraldom and 60 forth strength
ened in our faith and hope.
He exhorted all not to continue struggling
along burdened with sin, but to go to the cross of
Christ and be cleansed by the sprinkling of the
blood of Jesus Christ. He closed with an ear
nest charge to the members of the church as to
the spirit in which they should partake of the
Sacrament which was administered at the close
of his sermon.