Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-06-21
THE WAY OF LIFE.
The Path POinted out by Preach
ers on Sundny-Anntvers at
First Presbyterian Charch-Oth.
or Pulpit DoIngs.

First Presbyterian Charch-Oth
or Pulpit DoIngs. ......
The attendance at the First Presby
tsrian church yesterday morning was
very good. The occasion was the an
n.versary Of the church, and an Appro-
PIRATE sermon was delivered by Rev.
F. B. DuVal. The pulpit and the fore.
most portion Of the church were very
neatly and prsttily decorated with gar.
landG Of evergreen and flowers.
! Mr.. DuVal announced as his text +:
Philippians 8: 1915.
Paul wrote, said he, 10 his Phillipian
bretheln that while he did not expect
much reward In this life, he was look
ing towards q realm in which he would
30 rewarded by God. Revelation, as
we'll as human reason, teaches us there
is . goal, and at 1t there is . reward
To crown the virtuous.
II was under this solemn conviction
that Paul spake thus to his brethern.
He must have been looking upon the
same hope upon which Abraham had
gazed twenty centuries before, and at
which Enoch had looked forty centuries
before; the same hope that Noses had
when he "refused 10 be called the son
Of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather
to suffer afiiiotion with the people Of
God, than to enjoy the pleasures Of sin
for season."
It must have been upon this same
guerdon that Paul looked when he
said ~ count all things but loss for
the exoellenoy Of the knowledge Of
Christ Jesus, my Lord"
To attain this there must be trial.
A gymnast becomes perfect after trial
and exercise, so also does the gymnsst
Of the mind and the moral gymnast.
There are some persons who fritter away
their lives without decision Of oharac-
ter; they never submit themselves to
the whole discipline and drill with
which God has furnished them nor
never enter into the daily exercise Of
the work that will confirm them into
christian character.
The secret Of defeat is the setting Of
the heart upon the earthly to the ex-
clusion of the heavenly things. When
nigh death Paul told Timothy to charge
them that were rich in this world, not
to he high minded, nor trust in unoer.
tain riches, but in the living God, who
giveth us richly all things to enjoy.
Do not think that what you have
passed over is enough, and then stop.
Duty Is commensurate with life and
existence. Suppose Moses, after having
been taken from the bulrushes, had,
one hundred and eighty years there
after, stopped and said let Joshua now
bear the responsibility Of the children
Of Israel Paul, after having been
subjected to shipwreoks, said 81 60
bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem,
not known the things that shall befall
me there; save that Of the Holy Ghost
witnesseth in every city, saying that
bands and affiiotion abide me, but none
Of these things move me, neither count |
my life dear unto myself, so that /
might finish my course with joy, and
the ministry, which have received Of
the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of
the grace of God"
His strength grew in weakness, and
when he came out to be crucifed he
said:T am now ready to be offered and
my departure is at hand, have fought
a good fight have kept the faith, there
is laid up for me crown Of righteous
ness, which the Lord, the righteous
Judge, shall give me at that day, and
not to me only, but unto all them also
that love his appearing"
The attitude Of every christian is to
"press toward the mark for the prize
OF the high calling Of God in Christ
Jesus"
Ne'or think thy vict'ry won,
Nor lay thine armor down;
Thine arduous WORK will not be done
Till thou obtain thy crown,
Let all who are of sound mind be
thus minded. God will show error and
will point out the right way. Eternity
is mirror and God will show the de-
fects; the only fear Is that they will be
revealed too late. 1t is the tendency
not only with the young, but mach
more with older persons to let the mind
rest on earthly things. It is the ten
dency OF the human heart and mind to
cling to them as it is for the sediment |
Of streams to rest upon the bed and |
recks. Let not Satan get the advantage.
nor let not the heart rest on earthly |
things, for thus the Son Of God is shut
out eternally.
Mr.. Du Val in conclusion thanked
the church for their kindness and hop
ed that blessings would be added to
what had been dene for Gods glory. 1t
is true, said he, that more might have
been done and / would not have been
true If l had not told you your faults.
The ladies need special thanks for what
they have wrought with their untiring
zeal, and God will net forget the
young men should be thanked for es-
tablishing Bible class the Board Of
Trustees for furthering the interest of
the ch urch 50 also do the Elders and
Deacons, and may God add grace, wis
dom and peace to their hearts and
minds. ........,
Some there be who remain away
from church, but they should repent
upon bended knees, and say 81 will
dwell ever in the house of the Lord"
There is q tins when gold and riches
will be light in the balances and virtue
and spirituality will weigh heavily; be
ye, therefore, not dead and Indifferent
who have no.power in Gods
world: Paul counted that lie had done
nothing when he looked forward to the
inevitable reward which wss prepared
for him. The deadness Of the church
ia what causes people to stay away.
The speaker concluded BY urging his
hearers to lay up good foundation in
Heaven.