The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-01-10
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boring country church one OF the finest
aermons We have evsr had the privilege Of
listening to-one Of those efforts which
"strike OIL" and fofm epos,hs in one'a
chnrch-going life. The occasion was pocu.
liarly interesting. The minister, after two
years OF laborious and Heayen-asaied sniti-
istry, had retired from the pastorate about
twelve months since, and his place had been
supplied by o worthy and excellent old
brother, whose abors, though earnest and
devoted, were comparatively unfruitful.
On yesterday the former pastor, recalled by
large vote resumed his pastoral charge
The services were opened by calling for
ns- metre doxo!ogy, which was according
sung; but the audience, in their aston
isnment, forgot to rise. This was followed
by characteristic prayer, which was no.
addressed to the audience, ard the text was
announced, Eph. 16-"Redeeming the
time because the days are evil"
? BY way OF clearing the field, the speaker
first told us what the text emphatically did
not mean. That no such idee as that time
lostor misemployed could ever be redeem.
ed was intended to be conveyed. Thet time
once lost was lost forever. That each day
had It's allotted and appropriate du..es, its
own work, its own sacrifices which could
not be put off or delayed Xithout encroach-
ing upon the appointed work of another
day, and reducing life to succession OF
miserable failures. That the despairing cry
o! England's dying man, millions Of
money fer an inch of time," was but the
wal! of remorse, for hours which were vast
ed, for opportunities which had passed un-
needed. He next explained the scriptural
meaning Of the word redeem to be precisely
what its genealogical construction would
suggest, Wig: buying back. Time is not
only "the stuff that life 10 made Of" 1t is
life itself, It is death. It is happiness or
misery, pleasure or pain, success or failure,
as we choose to make It. Moreover, time is
not ours merely because we live In it--be-
cause we occupy it or breathe its atmos-
phere; but only as we seize upon and util-
izo it'll it with good deeds, with noble
actions and worthy sacrifices. He told with
rare felicity the story of the learned and la
borious Grotius, who adopted as his motto.
which he i,uug upon the walls of his study,
hora r1sit; the meaning Of which is, the
hour rushes, and the moral Grotius must
rush too to keep pace with the flying hours
TO seize upon them and fill them with
their appointed duties.
The duties OF the hour were briefly stated,
and upon .he divine injunction, "go ye into
all the world" &C., we thought the speaker
was particularly sound. He applied it, not
to the clergy, but to every particular chris
tian. Each of his christian hearers was
equally called with himself to preach the
gospel TO the worlds debased and sim
easlaved millions. He who could not 60 or
could not preach, could send some one in
his place ,:;::d ..h:., 7Ee take Il. Is hH phole
theory Of mission tuork. Each severa class
of his hearers was solemnly addressed, and
earnestly exhorted to seize the passing hour
and fill it with the service of Coo; and
make each day fulfil its mission in develop
ing, rounding up and perfec.ing the chris
tian character. He addressed with affecting
earnestness the younger members Of the
church-a large number of whom he had
with his own hand baptized and consecieted
70 Christ land during this rart Of his dis
course he declared that the answer to the
first question in the shorter catechism,
what is the chief end Of man." embodied
the grnndest and noblest idea in the whole
realm of human literature. The answer Is
ITO GLoRIFy GoD AND TO ENJOY HIM FoR-
EVER"
The second clause of the text, because
the days arc evil" was then taken up, and
the speaker appeared to find tho greater evil
and danger to the church in the fact that
the times are apparently too good-the
church enjoring too much ease and sailing
| in too quiet waters. Rest reiaxes the mus
cles while labor hardens and tones them !;
| adyersity refines and pnrsaes :aen as fire the
gold: and opposition, so fnr from destroy
| ing, only secures to truth certain triumph.
The great danger that now threatens the
| church OF Christ Is toe much prosperity,
and above. all too much popularity. Reli-
gion is too respectable, and it is too FASH
ionable to join the church. The effect of
the efforts now being made to build up Zion
| is to fill the church with floodtide OF
dead-heads, who are scarcely fit for the
world much less the church OF God. 1hs
boundaries between the church and the
world ere becoming oblitorated, practical
piety is no longer necessary, vital godliness
Is almost n reproach, while wickedness
ahounds in high places, vice is rampant
| immortality defiant, and Satan perpetually
on the war-path. Even men who once oc.
cupied nigh places in the church ore illus
trating the proverb of Peter: 1.-THE dog is
turned to his own vomit 90 ain, and the SOW
TINT was washed to her wallowing in the
mire." Men who sit by day arourd the
table of the Lord are found sitting by night
around the tables of the gambling holls and
drinking saloons.
To remedy this evil he feared tha. ihe
church required the discipline of suffering
and sorrow. the Christening of adveraity, the
publication nf fire. He had never felt It his
duty to pray ior persecution, but il nothing
else would purify and vitalize Gods church
i Iii nothing else would uTuuse It from its
fatal secrrity--if by no other means Che
bride of Christ might be advanced and IL adl
meet for his coming-then God send perse.
cution with oil! :.:.s fearful results and terri
BILE consequential
The sermon closed with mastery appli
cation of its doctrines to the circumstances
surrounding u.s. end o most impressive and
energetic exhortation. One of his illustra
tions struck the write. as singularly nppro
priate-iife being compared to "the ladder
p. ~. -.