Daily Republican., 1878-06-25
AmeBfcan Mechanics-A Sermon by
Rev. j. A. y. Wilson.

son Of Asbury M. B. Church, preache
before the Order Of American Mechaf
les Of this city, on Sunday morning
Mr.. Wilson in extending to them a Col
dial welcome, said that he recognize
the-fact that these are troublesom
times, when there are influences abroa
looking for the subversiop Of our insti
tutions; there are societies formed 70
the desecration of the home, for tn
/ overthrow of our system of government
and Of everything that is sacred an,
true. The same spirit of communism
is abroad in our land, that a few year
ago was 30 felt in Paris. And he wei
coined the Society here represented, I've
cause he recognized in 1t one of the in
strumentalities by which this spirit o
vice and anarchy is to be met and over
come.
While so many were banded togeth
er in the attempt to overthrow tn,
foundations Of our government, thos,
present were banded together for the
purpose of maintaining our own insti
tutions as American citizens, asking
not the product of others labors, but
for the opportunity to honestly earn
for themselves the bread which they
and their families need. 1t is for a
moral purpose, with the American flag
in one hand and the Word of God in
the other, that this organization goes
forth.
His purpose was not, however, to
speak on the question of American in
dustry f; but, rather, simple Gospel
sermon as when the Order extended
to him the invitation to preach to them
as body, he understood that they
wished to hear him preach the Gospel
of Christ.
The theme of the morning discourse
was the "Counsel of God confirmed to
to the heirs of Promise" the text being
Heb. 17-l9: "Wherein God willing
more abundantly to show unto the heirs
Of promise the immutability of his
counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that
by two immutable things, in which it
was impossible for God to lie, we might
have strong consolation, who have
fed for refuge to lay hold rpon the
hope set before us, which hope we have
as an anchor to the soul, both sure and
steadfast, and which entereth into that
within the vail"
He wished to show, 1st, What were
the heirs of promise, and I'd, Theprom-
ise Of which they are heirs.
The heirs of the promise are the be-
lieving posterity Of Abraham and all
who walk with them in the faith of the
gospel, "For if 70 be Christ's, then are
ye Abraham's, seed and heirs according
to the promise" Gal. 3-29.
The ceremonial law has been full
filled in Christ; the former exclusive.
ness has passed away, so that now all
whether Jew or Gentile) who receive
the Lord Jesus Christ are heirs of the
promise.
He next considered the promise of
which they were heirs. 1t does not say
the promises but "the PROMISE" the
particular promise on which all the
Jtdefs- are based n 1t was the premise
made by God to Abraham:-"In Bless
ing will bless thee and in multiplying
will multiply thy seed as the stars Of
heaven; and as the sand which is upon |
the seashore: and thy seed shall pos.
sess the gate Of his .er emies; and in thy |
seed shall all the nations of the earth |
be blessed"
This promise refers to Christ and is
q pledge that the way Of salvation is
open to the whole world through him.
Thus the Apostles preached as was
shown by Acts 8; rs, 26; Gal 8; s, 9,
L6; Acts 5; 81.
This promise is as boundless in its
extent as the curse of the law. 1t
axes in every one who is sinner, and
he only qualification necessary is
hat of being sinner. All that is to
oe done is to partake Of the water of
ife freely. Christ has come down and
'pread a table with the viands of sal
7ation, and all are invited to partake.
Don't let any one limit the scope Of sal
7ation! 1t is circumscribed by no
boundaries, limited by no enactments,
md restricted by no DEGREES. A lady
laid to him at one time: ~ have been
onward to the Altar for thirty nights
md have prayed as hard as could,
md yet am not saved" But it is not
he number Of prayers that saves or we
'ould get praying machine, as they
10 in Japan, and roll the prayers right
IF.
1t is Christ that saves, and don't
,urt snything between the Saviour and
he sinner. Christ is nearer the sin
Ter than it is possible for any of US to
ret to him, and the only requirement
he makes of the sinner is that he shall
,elievein Him. True he must repent.
But you can't separate repentance and
aith. The very fact that he takes
Jhrist as his Savouir, shows. that he
lbandons his sins, and this is repen-
ance; and if he don't leave his sins,
shows that he don't take Christ.
To be an heir of promise, is to inher-
all that is expressed in the promise;
Aviation from the guilt of sin by JUS
ifications, from the old nature by re-
from moral impurity by
modification, from death by the res
and from the second death
" the gift Of eternal life, through
;hrist.
He then dwelt on this fact that
II. - -, |