The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-03-18
RELIGIOUS and Church Items.
LAST SUNDAYS SERVICES.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,


REV. W. W. HEBERToN, PASTOR.
list Timothy L: II: "The glorious Cos
pei of the blessed God"
No grander theme than the Gospel of
Chrst-Paul deservedly exalts it to high
place, in these words to Timothy. The
| Gospel was glorious reality to Paul. He
was not " ashamed of the Gospel of Christ"
He was glad to be known as the champion
of Christianity. And it is fitting theme
for meditation and study for us. 1t must
surely be to us, who have tasted so richly
of its gracious fruits, GLORIOUS Gospel"
1t is GLORIOUS v first in its author. 1t is
"the glorious Gospel of the blessed God"
1t had a glorious origin. The manifesto
| lions of heavenly gladness and delight,
with which the plains of Bethlehem re-
sounded, testified to the glorious nature of
the glad tiding-not only the Person who
was Himself the unspeakable gift, but the
teachings of this Gospel testified to its
| glorious nature. They have the stamp of
divine authority and goodness upon them.
| as the feathery snow flake, shaken from its
vapory fold, falls to the ground untouched
by mortal hand and unmarried by earthly
contact. So has this GLORIOUS Gospel
come from "the blessed God" with heav
ems own purity and blessedness in it. 1t
came with the direct and repeated testi-
mony of the Father.
| end, In ats agencies. We must refer to
the men of faith, who stand out so grandly
| in the history of the church. When we
speak of Abraham and Moses, Isaac and
Jacob, Samuel and David, Peter and Paul,
we certainly are getting within the circle
| Of greatness that surrounded this "glori
| Gus Gospel" We ought not to forget
them. who, when the cause was unpopular,
attached themselves to it. We must re-
member the Baptist, who was brave enough
to preach new Gospel, which struck at
the root of the religious systems of the
day; or the self sacrificing fishermen of
Galilee, who left all to throw in their lot
with the despsed Nazarene. We not
forget "Luke, the beloved physician"
whose practice doubtless lured him invit
iugly on to honorable distinction, but who
left it to join the cause of Christine
lowly carpenter of Nazareth. Nor must
we pass Matthew, the publican, by, who
gave up his lucrative colectorship for a
part with the band Nor Paul, who relin
pushed his brilliant prospects, and laid his
splendid talents and burning zeal, and his
dauntless courage, at the feet of Jesus.
And passing on, we must not forget the
| heroes who suffered in the blood, rather
than yield their sacred principles. AS we
gather about these, who only represent
their several classes, we feel that We are in
the atmosphere of glory, which encircles
the Gospel of Christ.
3rd, In its results. The Gospel has &C
complished more for the world than any
other agency. In gaining access to the
untutered masses of the earth and in bind
ing nations together in friendly and com
mercial intercourse-in establishing just
| of fa has
of trade. 1t has given stability and per-
manence to prosperous communities. But
these are temporal. Its greatest and best
results are spiritual. 1t has ranscmed the
lost; it has liberated the captive; it has
unloaded the letters of SIN, aud admitted
the soul into healthy and permanent free
dom; and it has given the ransomed ones
legal right to heaven. This final con-
summation is the greatest triumph of this
"glorious Gospel" For us, who have re-
ceived Christ, there is blessed inherit
ance waiting; for us there is the joy and
peace of heaven; and when we realize this
hope, we shall find the praises of heaven
will center in the Lamb slain" who came
to GO seek and save the LOST
The originality and beauty of this ser
| mon needs no comment from us-it speaks
for itself
M. E. CHURCH.
REV. DR.. PHGBUs, PASTOR,
Admitted number of persons to full men,
bership in the church, after which he
preached from list Peter 5: 10: But the
God of all grace, who hath called US unto
his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that
We have suffered awhile, make you perfect,
stablish, strengthen, settle you"
His discourse was directed mainly to
those persons just received into church
membership. He opened his remarks by
the following questions: What is God !?
| What illustration does he give of his char
acter? What does he propose to do for us ?
What do we think of or how do we view
his plans?
Man cannot answer the first question,
except by and through the revelations of
the Almighty Himself The Christian alone
has the key. God is God of all grace
delivering, leading and saving men. He is
Il God of all grace in that He gives all the
qualities to make man just what he should
be. He can and will make us pure, good
and upright Christians, if we will but allow
him. What is deficient in our character?
Whatever it may be, He will make up to
us. He will endow all who permit Him,
with strength just where they are weak.
God has made the plan of salvation in the
strength of the Saviour Christ Jesus. He
has called us to His glory. He will make
up our short comngs. ".4fter you hare
suffered d,chile,' He will make you perfect
that is, make up what is deficient in your
character. Though you may make mis-
takes, if you are but earnest in your en-
deavor to do right. He will "establ,sh !"
you, make you to feel that beneath, and
around, and about you, are the everlasting
arms. He instanced the words of the
Saviour to Peter: "Simon, Simon, behold,
Satan hath desired to have you, that he
may sift you as wheat; but | have prayed
for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when
thou art converted, strengthen thy breth-
rem No man falls from Gods hands, be-
cause of HIS indsposition to save him.
Strengthen" God will give you spiritual
strength, so that you may stand in the
might of manhood, endowed by grace,
called, deficiencies made up, strengthened.
established, settled. God will do it, if you
but let him, and save you forevermore.
PORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
REV. THOMAS j. AIKEN, PASTOR.
In the morning the sermon was from
Luke 8: 30: elf any man will come after
Me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross daily and follow Me-"
This is the test of discipleship given by
our Lord Himself. 1t implies that all men
mau follow Christ. His call is to " whose
ever will" All must come in the same
way; there is no royal road to heaven, but
only by self -denial, and cross bearing, and
this must be daily: not spasmodic SER
vice; not Sabbath day service only; not
~, H.