, 1873-11-03
IN HIM WAS LIFE.
Dlscourac by Bishop Peck.

BY conanlting that valuable publication,
known and respected in St. Louis undor tie title
Of !" Edwards' Chicago City Directory, it will DO
found thae tho Wabash Avenue Methodist
Church is situated upon tho corner Of Wabash
avenue and Harrison etreet, whoro it has not
been for exactly two years. by judicions in
quiry ono may learn that tho Wabash Avenue
Methodist Church ia comfortably situated on the
corner OF Nineteenth street. There. iu defiance
of tile popuaatlo manufacturing -directory-conl-
piler, Bishop Peck preached Inst evening before
very large and attentive congrogation-that Of
tho Wabash Avonue Methodist Church. The
Bishop chose for his text, John l., 8, '' In Him
WAS Life"
Ho snil tho import Of tile text was that, when
aud therefore, mover began. Tho words 1.-The
Word was God" inferred that the Logos, Or
Word was when everything began, 80 plalnly
wan the doctrine affirmed, IN that Of tho
another fact. It was that tho 1nnnito life was
an infinite power, and, therefore, competent to
originate oil other forms OF life It WAS, there
foro, truo that the lonst particles and atoms Of
tho microscope were the result Of His creative
power. Their origin was, therefore, in the
creative power Of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ho it
was who stretched out sn arm In tho empty
space, md hung tho world upon moth
ing. This revelation OF creative power was
one Of Gods answers to man. Souls OF mon
and spirits Of other ordora were also tho orea-
tlon OF that august Power, standing in Whose
presence we stood awed at His majesty. In
Him was lie, aud the life Was tho light Of men.
The illumlning power of solar aud stellar
we should all be wrapped III litcral darkncss.
But besides this in another Bonse, that lite was
tho light Of mons souls. All revelations Of
truth, wore through Him who revealed tho
lilo through Him. It was His light which point-
Cd out the desperate wickednees Of mans nature,
whence he came. and the truth Of
eternity toward which no was drifting:
Il IT,, :, ss was worth worthy Of notice j!1 6, tlat
ly we might advance in consideration Of tho i'm
port Of thoso vortB. Tho Son OF God took our
nature upon Him, and became in all things lko
unto His brethren: Disease was form OF douth,
but but fs @ sS9s ss. ss TINT e X. aasoa lS s9nassss s
whether Christ being the Prince Of Lilo, could
not decrea that man might live for ever, was
very just and proper one. II the lito-power was
stronger than the death.powor, why should it
who Lad paid thepenalty Of death Tho speaker
alluded to tho miracles of Ohrlst'a raising
Rso~eE ss, 2s 0Xar n, ssa aSsta L Tas ,is
tivity He sought and lod Il captive from tho
gravo. The speaker could almost fancy he
heard the power Of death soliloqnzlug upon the
triumph ho Wollld enjoy ny Loading Chrlat 70
death. Tho power OF Immortal Life was in the
Word, as shown by Chrsts triumph aftor death,
| From physical death the Bishop proceeded to
diHcuBa the rotations OF Ohrlsts lfe-power
over the tlcath Of tho soul. Tho struggle IN tho
soul was between hope and despair. Love- faith,
hopo, and happintsa lond WIS not the Bous
| doada Was thore . vitallzing spiritual power
| to restore the dead soul 10 lifo2 II
there was, what was that powor There
was power il tho Holy Ono 10 restore ,lead
souls. Our dead bodies would surely rise, somo
] to everlasting life and Bome to everlasting
shame. "Ho that bslieyoth that Jesus Christ
IL tho Son Of God ehall have life, but 10 that
belioyot not aAall not 300 life, but the wrath Of
| God abIdoth OH him." Thus our faith gathered
powor from tho discussion Of tho tew words OF
tho to1t. They who were identified With tho
yltalizlng power Of Christ woro sure OF glorloua
Tito to como; suro Of eudleas joy, in tho nam-
her Of those whose life waa III (h1{at With God.
,asting doath Or ratnes s;s tEoir souls to jesus
and live for eyorp