Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-09-02

the Christ who is in US the hope Of glory was the
grand theme of the apostles preaching. He
would make him known, have him as the theme
of every discourse, the substance of every letter,
the subject of all his teaching. This alone, as VIC
conceive, constitutes gospel preaching, and should
be followed by every one protesting to be minis
ter Of Christ. The truth it is in Jesus is sub
ject vast and many sided, touching our humanity
at a thousand points, 50 that it furnishes to its
ministry field for the largest variety and to the
investigator enough that is new to fill every SER
mon in the longest lifetime. One subject, but IN
eXbaustlble in Its richness and glory. To present
the Christ OF the Gospel as he should be presented
by preacher of that Gospel, involves vastly more
than is sometimes apprehended. His character,
so mysterious in the combination of the human
and divine; his Offices as King, Priest, Prophet,
Mediator, Redeemer and Judge; the centre of all
history the pattern Of all that Is pure and exalted
the wisest and most philosophic of teachers; stat
ing truth after truth and doctrine after doctrine,
which, solid and massive, rise subllmely upward
till lost in the bosom Of the lnfnite-ibe victor
over the artful adversary and his temptations
Christ, the Resurrection and the Life, Christ the
Alpha and Omega, the all and in all OF the gospel
what other theme SO grand, SO varied, so ex-
baustess What lifetime is long enough for set.
ting forth all that is to be said on this theme !
What preacher but can here fad novelty aud
freshness enough to meet the demands OF the mos.
intelligent audience!
2. The manner Of gospel preaching. You find
it described IN the words warning every man.
and teaching every man IN all wisdom. In 'nls
also the ministry have al instructive ana uselnl
lesson for their guidance. Paul used the woto
"warning" in the sense of admonshing, as pa
rent admonishes child. He saw men INDUCING
wrong views, pursuing wrong course, and be adj
| monished them, without regard to their circum-
stances or nationality, to regulate their conduct
| and their lives by the example and precepts OF
Christ. This was not all. To instruct men on
those subjects in respect to which they were gno-
rant, was an important factor in the apostles min
istry. He was extremely solictous that the pety
of churches might be intelligent pisty, that the
| disciples should be on their guard against every
| system of rreligion and false philosophy. The
| minister of the gospel should never forget
! that teaching, imparting sound rehglous In
struction, is essential to right discharge of the
duties of his Office It's an age of activity, of
vigorous if not of profound thinking, when error Il
iDsinuang itself into every system OF truth; when
theories boldly set forth and advocated whose
foundation is but "the baseless fabric Of vision ;
when scepticism pervades philosophy and science ;
| when infdeity is interviewer with our ethics and
our literature; and to show all this, to meet
learning with learning; sophistry with true wis
dom, and be able to instruct week after week and
| lead the church to higher attainments In pety,
makes large demand upon the ministry of the
| present age.
3. Tie object Of gospel preaching. "That we may
| present every man pei feet in Christ Jesus" The
apostle here, as elsewhere, recognized the TACT OF
| accountability. He often refers TO the account
th9t he should ere long be called upon to render.
lie be lieved that he was to account for the man
| ner in which his talents were employed, and tor
| the use he made of the gospel committed TO his
| trust And hence he dwelt much upon the time
when that account must be rendered, and the cir
cumstances under which he was to render it. lie
was continually looking forward to the time when
he should present those whose characters were
shaped and moulded by his teaching and example,
| at the tribunal Of him who is Judge Of all men.
He desired TO have those under his ministry pos
sessed of noble christian manhood and made the
best possible specimens Of humanity. Hence,
with an unselfsh AIM he sought to convert men
that they might be saved as trophies Of Chrst's
gospel and Christs grace, and that then, having
their characters perfected, they might forever re-
| feet Chrst's glory in heaven. He exhorted them
TO not merely to grow but 10 grow up into him in
all things, which is the head, even Christ, and be
complete in him..
1t was an object worthy of his commanding tai
ents and his noble and exalted Office minister
of the gospel. Worldly wealth and fame his rep
utation even, so priceless to a minister, he could
leave where he left his life, "hid with Christ IN
Goc," intent upon the great work OF saving men
from sin and presenting them at last perfect in
Christ Jesus.
We have seen from this discussion what were
the aims and purpose of that great snd wise man
IN his ministry, and what was the CHIEF end he
sou ght to secure. We say at once, the aim was
noble one, the end worthy Of the man, and OF all
his energy, talent and zeal. The question arises,
did he adopt the fittest means for securing that
end Large resources were at he control of the
apostle. Logic, eloquence, literature and plilos-
ophy were at his command. His accurate obser-
walton and wide experience enabled him to deter
mine what would be TIE most effective means of
see uring the end sought. And he selected this,
AID placed his entire reliance for success, upon the
preaching of Christ crucifed. In the whole range
OF his knowledge he found nothing so effective,
so calculated 10 produce the desired results
He had tried it, and it had proved mighty
through God to the pulling down of strong
| / 7. L...s I'D MI al hot
| could be made unto men wisdom and righteous
| ness, and sancilfcaton anu redemption. We
nay be Irotit,d by the lesson thus taught
Human nature all of its essential features is the
same now that it when the apostle moved
among men and sought to save and perfect them
Mankind everywhere still show that they are
alienated from the life OF God, and are welded TO
their and their idols And we can devise no
better means for saving them, than those employed
bv Paul. Christ must be preached to them, and
the ministry must make this their theme IN adj
Tell them the old, old story
OF Jesus and his love-"
| Of course the above abstract can give no true
idea of the power and force of this able and
thoughtful discourse from one of Names most
eminent preachers and divines.
| The candidate was then set apart to the work of
the gospel ministry, by prayer and the laying on
of hands, the ordaning prayer being made by
Rev o. 5. Searns, d. D., Of Newton Theologi-
cal Institution.
| The choir then sang the following orig inal
hymn, written for the occasion by Rev. ii. S.
Burrage of Portland, editor Of lions Advocate
a most acceptable contribution to the occasion;
| How beautiful their feet,
Who on the mountains stand,
And lovingly Gods truth proclaim,
To men of every land.
The watchmen lift their voice;
| Abroad the message flies;
| And willing winds the echoes roll
Along the Bonded skies.
Rejoice, yc sons Of men;
| Redemption's wonders sing;
Break forth in joy, Jerusalem,
The Lord your God is king.
| He bares his holy arm,
And saving grace reveals;
| The dead in sin he makes alive,
| The broken hearted heals
Lord, here display thy power;
| This greatest boon we crave;
| Grant with the messenger to speak,
| The arm of might to save.
| The warm hand of christian fellowship was eX-