Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-09-01
Albemarie Baptist Association.
Reported LOT tne V 1ND1CATOR.I
BATEsvILLE, Albemarle Co.,
AuoIlSt 26th. 1876. {

DrlQg0 anu IGOCkluSlltlll, Will 20 CHu ACilCo,
having membership of 1880, met here On
Thursday, with Rev. DR.. Chas. Manly, of
Staunton, Moderator. J. T. Randolph,
Treasurer, and d. p. Powers, Clerk. The
OPENING SERMON OF DIR. MANLY,
was a most able one, founded upon the
text, 'sHe blessed and break and gave to
His disciples and the disciples to the null
titude." The miracles of Christ, he said,
were never mere exhibitions of power, but
were meant to display His mercy; to bless
some one; to make some one better and
happier. Not, however, were they mere.
displays of merciful power, but had SYM
bolical teaching. They were intended to
fit the disciples for the work before them.
Symbolism of this miracle is apparent from
JnO. 6. Our Saviour takes occasion. from
it to speak of himself as 1.-THE Bread Of
Life" When the eager multitude were
clamoring around Him to make Him king,
they were misunderstanding His purpose
in performing the miracles, so He sent
them away, but He fed them. Our Saviour
never did send poor. hungry soul away
from Him without the blessing he needed.
The multitudes were impressed by the
miracle. This miracle was especially in
tended to illustrate 1.-The agency of Chris
tians in distributing gifts of Grace" In
enforcing this as the subject DR.. M. re-
marked:
L. A little, with Gods blessing, may be
made enough for supplying the wants of
thousands. 1t would have been utterly
impossible to feed this multitude with only
five loaves and two small fishes But, with
Gods blessing, in multiplying the food,
it was done. Means that are in themselves
inadequate may be used by God for &C
compIishing mighty results. This is pc
culiarly characteristic of preaching the
gospel Cor, l, 81, 27-29.
In every Christian effort or enterprise
we must remember how much we need
help from God. Moses could not feel that
it could be possible that he could be called
from indian to perform so mighty u work,
but God was with him. So was He with
Joshua before Jericho, and he was made
strong for the overthrowing of the city
Gideon feared to 60 against the INDIAN
thee?' Mighty results are to be accom-
plished by the gospel 1t is to convince,
convert, comfort, sanctify. Can this be
done? Yes. The command of our Sa-
viour is a pledge of success. Judson
I labored in Burmah when one would
think there was nought to encourage
him to go on, but now there is a
Theological School at Rangoon, a large
number of Associations, and several hun
QfeQ CHufCneS ana thousands OIL cnurCh
members in the same field.
II. 1t is the will of Christ that His peo-
pie shall be the actual distributors of the
blessings of His grace. Angels were per-
| mitted to announce His birth, to witness
His death and resurrection : but, they are
not permitted to tell to poor, sin burdened
sinners that He can and will save them.
This is the privilege of His people. This
is the genius of Gospel The multitude
might have been fed without the disciples
distributing, but, they are chosen to teach
the lesson that they are to feed the people
on BREAD Of Life" Cooperation lnsures
disciples were different kinds of men. 1t
was only lad who furnished the food to
be multiplied for the multitude.
''Hark! the voice of Jesus calling
Who will go and work to day, &C., sc.
III. Meat is given is to be distributed,
not kept. If God give to our souls of the
riches of grace we are to use all He gives
for others. Nay, all the blessings of life
are enjoyed more, if we use them for the
benefit Of our fellows. fone of the dis
ciples had hidden loaf and kept it for
himself he would not have enjoyed the
blessing as much as he did by giving it away.
II am DEBTOR" said Paul, ''both to the
Greeks and to the Barbarians." Debtor"
why Because God had given him some
thing for them-the gospel. We keep too
much for ourselves. The command is
''Give We them to eat"
". Those who acted as distributors had
each basket full for himself. All the
workers will have enough for themselves.
We will be richly repaid for all we do for
our Master. The more we give, the more
we will receive.
Our country is being filled with masses
w ora in Of Tot
strive to give them of the blessings we have
received. Give to eur Community, to our
State, to our Country, to the World. Let
us all 60 forth in obedience TO to the COM
mand and feed the masses with the "Bread
of Life"
The sermon was one of rare interest and
WAS delivered in that earnest, forcible
style so eminently characteristic of the
speaker. We had thought to give some
notes. more at length, of the work of the
meeting. but, your space, doubtless, will
not admit.
The Waynesboro church, partly formed
by a transfer of Al members from the
Staunton church was received into the as
ISOLATION. The Staunton church was re-
ported to have AIS members and to have
made contributions to the amount Of
$1,000 during the year past.
Rev. Drs. Manly, Hatcher and Dicker-
son and Messrs. Henry K. Ellyson and
Geo. W. Hundley. urged the claims of the
Sunday School and Bible ,'oard located at
Staunton and $173 was subscribed to it's
support.
Mr.. H. X. Ellyson, of Richmond. made
a strong presentation of the claims of the
State Mission Board
The Association meets next year at
Scottsvile
The petition of the Valley churches to
withdraw from the Association with
view to forming new Association in the
Valley, was granted. 0. G. P.