The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-05-17
ties of every day: while we ask Gods aid

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} and guidance. let US honor His promise, an
the adorable third person of the Trinity, il
seeking that wisdom, he alone can give. LIE
US ask Him to aid in our prayers, in ou
praises, in our reading, aye, and in our hear
ing the Word. Would not much OF tina
worship, in private, in social gatherings, ant
in the great congregation, which is often {
mere form, become quickening power il
our hearts and the hearts of others, if w
earnestly plead this promise? Instead o
polemic disputations and censorious Judg
ments on the subject of reviVals, let US give
ourselves to prayer, for the Divine Spirit tt
be present, in all our assemblies, to convince
of sin, righteousness and judgment. Wher
we want special aid, let US send our prayers
to Heaven for His presence and power. Un
less He be present, working by His mighty
power, it will not matter who else is present.
and if He be present, it matters not what
human aid is wanting Let US too consider
what reproach and guilt we incur, ministers
and people, when with such promise to en-
courage US, We do not enjoy His ministra
tions. And are not many here present, who
in their unregeoerate state. 'eyince that ne.
cessity for the work of the Holy Spirit which
has been urged on our souls this day? And
alas, brethren, that we are 80 slow with
strong crying and tears to beseech God, on
behalf of unregenerate children, husbands,
wives, fathers, mothers, friends and neigh
bors. And will not you, unregenerate hear.
ers, this good hour, cease to resist the Holy
Ghost, cease to follow that defeated, subju.
gated prince of the world, cease to yield to
his assaults or his devices, but resist the
Devil and he will fee from you. Draw nigh
to God, in Christ Jesus and He will draw
to you. Resist the Spirit, you reject the only
agency for making effectual the words of
eternal life +; and derelict of that Spirit, your
ruin is accomplished -and it is remediless
and eternal
g Fathers and brethren of the General
Assembly! 1t is with unfeigned difidence
that address you words Of exhortation. 1t
is with no presumption on that dignity of of
fee and authority, with which your prede-
cessors were pleased to invest me and in the
performance of the final functions of which,
l shall in few minutes be occupied, but as
an ambassador of our common Lord, that
beseech you, remember His gracious prom
ises 80 as to mingle the pleading of it with
every duty of preaching or of ruling in His
church, to which you are called. We, by no
means, depreciate the words of revelation,
when We urge the necessity of the presence
and power of the divine Spirit, to render
them words of power, to the salvation Of men
and the building up of believers in the faith
and hope of the gospel. Nay more, as you
may have observed in this discussion, the
exhibition of the Spirits work-its nature,
necessity, means and results-has sometimes
involved the repetition of many truths-per-
haps rhetorical blemish-but logical me-
cessity. For very many Of the same Scrip.
lures are alike pertinent in relation to each
division of the discussion, because intimately
connected with each part of the three-fold
work of the Spirit. Thus the more fully you
imbue your souls with the great fundamental
doctrine of the mission Of the Spirit, and the
more fully you inculcate on men the duty
and privilege of prayer for the Spirit, the
more clearly, fully, and urgently will you set
forth the great truths of the doctrine of Je-
sus Christ and Him crucifed. Whether
teaching presbyters or ruling presbyters, there
is field of spiritual episcopal service, which
is common, that Of prayer for the flock with
its necessary adjuncts, watching and admoni-
ton. And you stand on the same platform Of
dignity and authority as rulers in the courts
of Jesus Christ. do not profess to have
any insight into mems hearts or to read men g
motives, but to the best of my judgment and
belief, our last Assembly eminently enjoyed
during its closing days sessions, the guidance
of the Spirit 1t was very evident, that in
the perplexities and anxieties Of the previous
day, there was most deeply prevalent the
conviction that the presence of the Spirit Of
all wisdom was needed, End earnest prayer
was offered for that blessing. That it was
really bestowed, We have strong evidence, in
the unanimity with which conclusions on
very perplexing questions were reached, and
the wide spread appreciation Of our people
by which those conclusions were Welcomed
If any errors were mixed with truth the same
wise Spirit, humbly sought, will guide to cor
rections. lido not depreclate the value of the
counsel of the wise, or the tongue of the elo
quent They deserve all honor, but then
highest need Of praise exists in this, that Goo
graciously condescended to use them for pro
noting His wise and Holy purposes.
| Let US enter on our proceedings this day,
filled with anxious forebodings as to the work
before US, with prayer to God for the prom
ised Spirit-that We seek the things which
make for purity and for peace, that we dis
cuss propositions, not for the victory of ont
over another, but the victory of truth ovel
error, of the spirit of Christ over the spiri
of the Prince of this world, that "we stant
fast, in one spirit, with one mind, striving to
gether for the faith of the Gospel" Nov
unto Him, the gracious, comforting Spirit
who convinces of "sin, righteousness ant
judgment" and to Jesus Christ, our Lord ant
righteousness, who has judged the Prince o
this world" and to the ever-blesaed Father
from whom cometh down every good gift ant
every perfect gift, in the unity of the eterna
Godhead, be glory and maj esty, dominion ant
power, thanksgiving and praise, eVermore
Amen!
Liberal Credulousness.