The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-06-03
AgAcetlng asealster.
OUR CHURCHES.
what Was Said and Done in Them
Yesterday
DISCIPLES CHURCH.

win yesterday the OmClal relations CT
pastor and people which haye existed be-
tween Rev. o. Z. Miller, and the cODgre-
cation OF this church for q years past
ceased. Since Mr.. Miller announced his
resignation, which was made public a
week ago, he has received many kindly
expressions of regret and he leaves here
tC-jay accompanied by the best
wishes Of hosts of friends. The vacancy
in the pulpit will not be filled at present
and indeed it is telt that more iaborious
and patient worker than Mr.. Miller will
be hard to find. The sermon yesterday was
an able effort and was listened 10 with
close attention.
Theme-How to find the true church.
An inquiry of great interest to all who
wish 10 enjoy life here and hereafter.
There is q controversy going on between
Rome aid Jerusalem, both claiming 10 be
the mother OF the Church. One OF KOme's
great srgumentsSi is her great antiquity;
that her career has been one of great sue
cess both IN state and Church; that kings
have consulted her in regard to the con-
duct OF their Kingdoms. These are some
of the high assumptions by which Rome
claims to lcgislste tor the people of God.
Jerusalem claims her right TO lcgislate
for the people OF God on different grounds
that the promise was that knowledge
should go out from Jerusalem. Here Is
where the labors of the apostles began.
1t was likewise the centre of all mission
airy work. 1t was the place where
Gods authority was especially recognized.
More than six hundred years had passed
away before the power OF Rome was es-
lablished. She argues from proph-
eCy that the church commenced its reign
in her midst. If il is true that God es-
tablished MS first church in the city Of
David, We must not listen TO
any other argument. We are in the
Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. livery
man should know upon what foundation
his faith rests. We are connected with
the Divine hands in our faith and praC-
tice. The Church to-day is an unbToken
connection with the apostles and the Lord
Jesus Christ. Recently the Chur-h Of
England has put forth clam th; the
Apostle Paul established the ChurC aud
that 1t has existed in an unbrokcn .hain
to the present time. But this Aaim
never can be established. 1t is rot in
history. The existence OF the Chursn At
the present day does not depcnQ on
its official connection with the ancient
church. In manyCssts IN the snClcn times
there were churches without ministers
they were simply congregations. The
essential elements OF the first church
were faith and practice. These are the
elements which make Christian, or the
lack of lhom which make the reverse.
The foundation upon which the Church
is built is not doctrine Christ Is The
foundation of the church. When Peter
| began his memorable discourse he said,
it is Jesus of Nazareth, not doctrine, up
on which their hope was TO be built. Da-
vid prophesied the very things they
preached to them that day. God raised
| Jesus from the dead and crowned
Him above all in heaven or on earth.
| The church is built upon the Lord Jesus
| Christ. We know from the very tact
that God raised Him from the dead, that
he was what he claimed to be, the Divine
| One.
In order to be admitted TO the church
1t is necessary TO repent and be baptized.
There were two departments In the
ancient church, Christ the foundation,
and faith and obedience to his COM
mands There was third department
that of the laws by which the church
was governed. Any church which Is
not praying church can not succeed.
PRAYER is not eloquent words, but is the
language of the heart to tell Him Of all
our trials and tyoublel. As often
rs the first day of the week returned tins
table was spread, and they were found in
their places. The traveller on tn
steamers which ply on the Potomac be-
tween Maryland and Virginia notices
that on nearing certain point the bells
begin to toll. He asks what is the mat
tcr-has danger come sboard2 The an
swer Is, we ara passing the grave Of
Washington. Surely this is the greatest
monument which can be built to the
memory of the great and good man. So
as we pass down the stream Of time, we
find once week the monument Of tho
Lords table. This will be here when
Jesus Himself comes. 1t is tha only
thing which will be left us when time Is
no moro.