The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-01-10

: a BRILLIANT SERMON ANDANEw DE-
PARTURE--A NOVEL USE FOB A D0x-
! 0L0GY.
Mr.. EDITOR: On yesterday the first Sum
day of the new year-we heard at neigh
boring country church one of the finest
sermons we have ever had the privilege of
listening to-one of those efforts which
"strike OIL" and form epochs in ones
church-going life. The occasion was pecu-
liarly interesting. The minister, after two
years of laborious and Heayen-sealed min
istry, had retired from the pastorate about
twelve months since, and his place had been
supplied by worthy and excellent old
brother, whose labors, though earnest and
devoted, were comparatively unfruitful.
On yesterday the former pastor, recalled by
a large vote, resumed his pastoral charge.
The services were opened by calling for
long-metre doxology, which was according.
ly sung; but the audience, in their aston
ish-uent, forgot to rise. This was followed
by characteristic prayer, which was not
addressed to the audience, and the text was
announced, Eph. v:16-"R "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 idea as that time
lost 6r misemployed could ever be redeem.
ed was intended to be conveyed. That time
once lost was lost forever. That each day
had its allotted and appropriate duties, its
own work, its own sacrifices which could
not be put off or delayed without encroach-
ing upon the appointed work of another
day, and reducing life to succession of
miserable failures. That the despairing cry
of England's dying man, millions of
money for an inch of time," was but the
wall 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, viz: buying back. Time is not
only .the stuff that life is made Of" it 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-
ize it-fill 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 hung upon the walls of his study,
hora r1it; the meaning Of which is, the
hour rushes, and the moral Grotius must
rush too to keep pace with the flying hours
Ito seize upon them and fill them with
their appointed duties.
The duties of the hour were briefly stated,
and upon the divine injunction, ''go ye into
all the world, J" &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
enslayed millions. He who could not 60 or
could not preach, could send some one in
his place; and this, we take it, Is the wtole
theory of mission work. Each several class
of his hearers was solemnly addressed, and
earnestly exhorted to seize the passing hour
and fill it with the service of God; and
make each day fulfil its mission in develop
ing, rounding up and perfecting 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 consecrated
to- Christian during this part 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 grandest and noblest idea in the whole
realm of human literature. The answer is
ITO GLoR1FY COP AND TO ENJOY HIM For
EVER"
The second clause of the text, because
the days are evil, J" was then taken up, and
the speaker appeared to find the greater evil
and danger to the church in the fact that
the times are apparently too gcod-the
church enjoying too much ease and sailing
in too quiet waters. Rest relaxes the mus
cles while labor hardens and tones them;
adversely refnes and purifes men as fire the
gold; end opposition, SO far from destroy
ing, only secures to truth certain triumph.
The great danger that now threatens the
church of Christ is too 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 aoodtide Of
dead-heads, who are scarcely fit for the
world much less the church of God. The
boundaries between the church and the
world are becoming obiterated, practical
piety is no longer necessary, vital godliness
is almost reproach, while wickedness
abounds in high places, vice is rampant,
immortality defiant, and Satan perpetually
on the war-path. Even men who once oc-
cupied high places in the church are illus
trating the proverb of Peter: "The dog is
turned to his own yomit again, and the SOW
that was washed to her wallowing in the
mire." Men who sit by day around the
table of the Lord are found sitting by night
around the tables of the gnmbling hells and
drinking saloons.
To remedy this evil he feared that the
church required the discipline of suffering
and sorrow. the Christening of adversity, the
publication of fire. He had never felt it his
duty to pray for persecution, but if nothing
else would purify and vitalize Gods church
If nothing else would arouse it from its