The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-05-23
ASCENSION DAY.
Fss. ri %i.es Sisss Ea, sss: fsn Pisst' me

wheeling Knights TempIaf.
The knights Templar d the city, as Is
.iieir annual custom, held devotional ex-
ercises last evening, in comnemorntion Of
the ascension Of the Savior. There was .
large audience present At the Fourth Street
n. E. Church, long before the arrival Of
the Knights. The members Of Wheeling
and Cyrene Communicates assembled ut
the Masonic headquarters, over the Wash.
Ing Hall building, and marched TO the
church, come forty strong, In fall uniform,
presenting u very handsome and withal
creditable appearance. The Knights took
seats in the front part OF the edifce, near
the pulpit, and after the usual introductory
exercises, Rev, DR.. George, pastor Of the
church, delivereda sermon,
THE SERMON.
DR.. George announced as his text, Eph.
AS, "When He ascended up on high,
He led captivity captive, and gave gifts
unto men," The ascension Of Jesus Is q
historic fact. Our Lord taught that He
came from the Father and would return TO
the Father. The Apostles saw Him as He
went up, till He passed beyond mortal
vision. The Psalmist p%rophetically de.
scribed the ascension Of the Son Of Godto
the high places Of the universe. This doc.
trine was taught In the Christian Church
Immediately, emphatically and continue
ously. Stephen beheld Jesus at the right
hand Of God, and Paul became a witness
OF His resurrection.
The Savior assembled in triumph. lie
led captivity captive. To lead captivity
captive isto lead captive those who had
held us in captivity. Jesus had no occa-
sion to do this for himself, but He entered
into our state TO deliver us from our enc.
mics. lie conquered sin, death and the
devil for us. Hespoiled prinCipalities and
powers, making d show OF them openly,
Jesus, in the book Of Revelation, q book
which opens TO our vision the doors OF the
temple OF God, Is almost always represent.
cd as the Lamh-the Lamb that was slain
on the Cross, but now stands on Mount
Sion. We see Jesus, in this wonderful
book, "in the midst Of tue throne" with
"many crowns" on his head, and having
the keys Of hell and Of death. He Is
called 'The Word Of God" and He has q
name written "King Of Kings and Lord Of
Lords" He leads the glorifed saints to
living fountains Of waters, and the lost
fear His presence more than falling rocks
and mountains. Every image and express
sion show Him to be a mighty victor, pos
sessed ofan everlasting kingdom.
This assembled and victorious Christ has
received gifts for men. He is a priest and
an intercessor. 1t is His presence before
the throne which gives prevalence and
power to our prayers. Because He is in
heaven, at the head Of the Church, He is
also present with his ministers and people.
This gift Of the Holy Spirit by which the
Lord Jesus is revealed, Is the perpetual
inheritance OF tho Church, and the incon.
testable proof OF the reality OF our reiig-
ion. Jesus has assembled up far above all
heavens all ranks and orders OF beings
in the universe : that He might fill all
things with His presence, His sovereignty
and tho transeen9ent working and power
Of His Holy Spirit. That Spirit received,
therefore, demonstrates the Gospel to be
of God. It proves that Jesus Is alive, reg
nant, fulfilling His covenant, and consume
mating the great purpose Of redemption.
What are the tokens OF the spirits pres
enGe7 He destroys sin, not only tie fact
Of sin, but the love OF It and its bondage
and corruption. He draws men to the
sanctuary, makes them Templars-dwell-
ers in the house OF the Lord. He reveals
Christ. In the very centre Of every field
Of exalted and inspiring vision, lie shows
w the hloo1.req passion Gross. He in
spires us with lofty heroism and %eVangel-
ical ardor TO conquer every desecrated
land from tho infdols and enemies OF
God and man. He shows us the source
Of u strength and the weapons of our
conquests. in hoe SignO pinccs' is the in
SEPARATION Of every exalted achievement.
in every realm OF moral and spiritual
endeayor. But those who triumph through
tho Cross are the first to bow their heads
in profound humility, enchanting, mNon
nobiS, Dominic! non nobtS, Sed Momini tuo Ga
glOridm."
Tho Holy Spirit moves us 10 a benef.
cence kindred TO that OF Jesus himself; so
that we succor the needy, feed the hungry
and bind up tho wounds OF the afflicted.
II the Christian knight is obliged to say to
any weary. pilgrim, "Silyer and gold I
have nome" he will be sure to ada, but
such as | have give | unto thee" He who
has the Holy Spirit, rebuking sin, reveal.
ing Christ, cleansing the heart, melting to
evangelism, creating a feeling Of brother
hood, showing tho source OF strength and
victory, and inspiring a world wide benef-
cence, has them also as a witness to the
fact OF the resurrection, and the exaltation
OF the Son Of God 10 the right hand Of the
majesty in the heavens.
In closing note these points:
l. As Christ is the gl0rifed head Of the
church, His exaltation draws His redeem.
ed to the same grand eminenCo, To him
that oycrCometh, 1t shall be given to sit
with Christ in His throne.
.. The assembled Jesus will assuredly
establish His kingdom on the earth.
Neither worldliness nor formality. nor
skepttcism, nor false doctrines, nor pagan
ism. nor all Of these things, will prevent
the final triumphs OF the Redeemer's
course.
8. There is great consolation in a Gospel
experience. it recognizes great powers
and great facts. John Stuart Mill SAYS
that his father, James Mill, a skcptic like
himself, Thought human life was a poor
thing at the boSt, attor the freshness OF
youth and Of unsatisRed curiosity had
gone by" and he adds, that when his
father spoke on this subject, ct was with
an air OF settled and profound conviction"
No Christian man ever described human
life as 70 poor thing at the best" He
may have relatively a hard life,
a life Of poverty, sickness, toll and
priyation; but with a Bible and a
Saviour and the realization OF the Holy
Ghost, and a hope Q. immortality, 1t Is a
grand, glorious life. It is a life OF great
thoughts and great experiences. There Is
nothing which Christ Is not able to do for
us. He has the resources ofthe Almighty
Father. In answer to prayer, He raises us
up friends and makes our enemies to be at
peace with us, and He gives us victory
over sin, death and the powers OF dark.
ness.
4. Since then We have living, reigning
Christ. who sends thu Hnlv EnIrj, Jnto