Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-06-14
The Pulpits, Yesterday


four of the sermons
PAUL AND sILAs IN PHILIPPI.
Yesterday morning, Rev DR.. Aikman preached
at the West Presbyterian church, from Acts
10th chapter, 14th to Goth verses. He gave an
interesting account of Pauls call to Macedonia,
and OF the visit of himself and Others to Philip
pi (Of this part of the sermon nothing but
full report would give correct idea the narra-
tive put in new and striking light) The
Apostles were in the habit of using the Syna-
gogues when they visited cities in which there
were synagogues bnt finding no synagogue in
Philippi, they went to place by the riverside,
where prayer WAS wont to be made. (Strangers
in city can do no better than to visit n prayer
meeting.) They seized upon the first opportun-
ity of Christian service and followed right on,
not seeking for large congregation, but speak
ing, day after day, to Il small audience (and that
OF women,) in secluded place
AS they passed to and from their place of wor
ship, they were annoyed by the oItcr1es of
damsel possessed by spirit of divination, who
had brought her masters much gain by sooth-
saying.
Paul commanded the spirit to come out Of her.
and when her masters saw that the hope of
their gains was gone, they incensed the multi
tudee against Paul and Silas and brought them to
the magistrates. The magistrates rent Off their
clothes, and commanded TO beat them and
when there were laid on them many stripes
1--WE get an idea OF the terribleness OF the pun
ishment when we remember that there was
piece Of lead at the end of every thong which
sunk into the flesh at every stroke,) they were
thrust into the inner prison, and their feet con-
fined IN the stocks.
Here the speaker gave an imaginary conversa-
tion between Paul and Sas, while confined at
night in this terrible place and condition. They
might have said; "We prayed to be guided We
thought we were doing the will OF God. But
perhaps we were mistaken" But no They had
done what they thought best; they had followed
the leading Of the spirit and they trusted In God
for the result
At midnight they prayed, and sang praises to
God. In the midst of apparent defeat, they sang
songs of victory.
From this subject 30 well preached, but 30
meagrely reported, the speaker drew many use
full lessons. Difficulties, said he, often meet us
at the beginnings of christian work, but should
not hesitate because we cannot the whole
way. Life is made up of decisions, we should
make our determinations and take our course of
action boldly and energetcally. We are concerned
with the duty OF this hour. we must not wait or
hesitate. There should be prompt and imme-
diate action according to the light which shines
round us at the present. Again, il i'll following
the path Of duty results seem to be disastrous,
do not be discouraged. Some refuse to take
risks, but il others take the risks and success
comes, they then can say, I'VE have done some
hard work, but it Las paid But if it turns out
i'll, they say, ~ told you so.' Such course is
unmanly and unchristian.
When results are unfavorable We
sometimes say, "oh, il l could
nave seen week aneau, but We cannot
see week ahead, nor day. Did you not do
the very best thing that you then knew Hay-
ing done prayerfuy and wisely according TO
present light, we are not to despond. Daniel
went bravely into the lions den. John in prison
had no thought that he had not done right in
reproving Herod.
Again, having begun any work for Christ we
should go forward energetcally.
1t is not Gods plan that Immediate success
should come to great works. If your work re-
nnpr and Iualf f-aaa
expected, 90 on. Feeble folks are set to small
tasks. II you have been set to a hard task do
not disappoint the expectation. Young man, il
you have failed i'll business if yon have gone
down in a sea of trouble remember, that the
storm is the roofing of the oak. Great charsc
ters are not built in soft, easy times.
Paul and Silas prayed III prison and in the
stocks. II We have planned wisely as we
could, and failed let us take up our work again
| and wait "rhe waiting time my brothers is the
| hardesi thing of all Let Ills take up our life
work never fretting over the past, nor aistrust-
| ing the future
Whatever comes, Gods sun is shining and His
| love is increasing.
THE ONENESS or THE CHURCHES.
| Yesterday at Mount Cuba, service was held by
Rev. Thomas Il. Hicks NJ d. and Rev. A. d. Da-
Wis.
DR.. Hicks spoke from John, XVIII. After
| referring TO a former discourse in which it was
shown that all real disciples are one in the spirit
of love, in the spirit of obedience toward God
| and in the spirit of service toward God and man.
/ He said
To-day propose to show that the Christian
Churches are essentially one in fundamental
doctrins, and in aim. The Christian Church is
a body Of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ,
| united for the purpose of worshiping God, ana
| saving aonls. IN this all agree TO that the
| churches OF all denominations are one III aim.
In fundamental doctrines they are one.
All believe that there is one living aid true
| God.
All believe that God has revealed himself to
man In nature i'll the scriptures, and by HIS
| Son and Spirit.
All believe in the sinfuness or what is called
the depravlty OF man.
| Man ID impaired by sn, physically, mentally
| and morally, and this impairment on account OF
sin extends to every part of his nature. No man
| is perfectly sound. There i- no man who does
not violate law. All do in many things what
they should not do, and leave undone what they
| should do, and as the church haiti it, there is
no health in US"
4 All the churches believe that Jesus Christ was
God manifest IN the flesh that lie revealed God
and that he who is acquainted with Christ who
has caught Christs spirit il not stranger to
i God.
| All the churches believe that salvation is by
repentance and by faith in Chrlst that true re-
| pentance means amendment Of life, and that
salvation IL, being saved from sin.
All the churches believe in the doctrine of
the Holy Spirit tnat He is given TO men M a
| teacher and helper and that God has put into
| every hnman soul witness of Himself an in
| ner light to guide him to tho truth.
| These are the fundamental doctrines of the
| Church, and iD all these there il substantial
| agreement among the denominations certainly
| among all called Evangelical.
| Still, there are some i'll every church who
| make much of the differences in favor of their
own body. There are some Epsoopalians who
| look upon all outside Of their church as Schis-
matics. There are some Methodists who think
that God has revealed Himself within the Meth
odst church as He Las not done anywhere else.
There are some Baptists who think that only
Baptists obey the Lord fully in all His ordi-
nances and there are some bigoted sectarians
| In every denomination who more ntere sted
in building up " our church" than in establish
| ing the Kingdom of God.
| In this, however, their conduct is consistent
with their faith, for they imagine that he who
receives the doctrines and conforms to the rules
OF their church will certainly be saved.
But while this iH true of few III all the
churches, the greater number of christians are
growing more and more unto the spirit of chris
tian charity they are coming to see that G cd il
no respecter OF persons, but that in every ma
tion and in every church, those who fear Him,
and work righteousness accepted with Him,
and that everywhere ''the true worshipers are
they who worship the Father in spirit and in
truth"
The speaker remarked that the sectarian spr-
l IL slOuli Ia dlappuraued. tlat M .t,D