The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-02-21
THE HEATHER.
The Missionary Anniversary at the NJ. E.
Church,

tfarttu by The announcement that the Rev
Thomas l.. Poulson, ID. d., was to preac
upon that occasion. The reverend docto
took for his text Mark 1915: 600 We in.
all the world, and preach my gospel TO ever,
creature"
The speaker said his theme was God
word tor the world The earth is man
sphere. God made il for him. and invcstr,
him with all authority to suh,iue and con
troll it. 1t Coul,l not remodel or improv
itself. Their" We're no prrce,lents afforded
He WAS guided only by he divine author
who revealed his will Ivy many ways IL
different times, till Moses began the writer
word That this is Gods book to man W,
have the concurrent testimony of the hes
evidences Of The past three thousand years
from the Niie-cra,licd Prophet 10 this day
In every subsequent age the Bible has beef
read rs the divine law. In the seventeenth
century, through the patronage of kins
james, we received our English translation
The universal verdict of schools and scholar.
is thar his translation is not surpassed il
purity and force OF language. The Bible is
to be tested by its own design. Ii is not ::
text book of science. 1t does not propose
10 do more than teach spiritual truth and
obligation. There is, nevertheless, no in,
harmony between the work and word OF
Nfot lktNtldltOii liS SlstUJ lbDl upon
the naughty head of Skrpticism to-day. A,
Gods only boo}. of instruction to man. it is
conSI,nmate triiy to talk OF excluding ii
from any place on this terrestrial bail. 1t
is the book of Jew and .ientile-of Greek
and Barbaran--of PapiSt and Protestant.
1t is the worlds book. No individual has
II right To reject ii on any pretext whatever.
Its indubitAb,e authority and sanctions
claim the attention and loyalty alike of all
Tn or far far This hn.l. l.
son against God. Its classic character, an
tiquity, literary merit, rule Of life, its pccu-
liar eligioilS system, place the book above
all comparison. The work of the Bible Sys-
tenn in advancing the civilizations of the
world has been the efficient means OF organ
iIng the best forms OF government now eN-
tant. The prime duty of the church is to
place this Word within the reach of all men,
The responsible agency of gospel propaga-
ton is III human hands. Nobody is reached
in this regard by supernatural fingers, or
thrilled by angel whispers. Table tappings
and spirit Sociais are not the ordained meth
DDS OF pushing the divine claims The
Bible must be placed before men. 1t is pre-
poSterous to charge that it is improper or
dangerous for men to read Gods will con-
corning them, 4; their pleasure. The hos
1iiity of Romani>m to the reading of the
Bible is really resistance to all education
'i't 'hti-ht'Ao iiip I'pflS, lci II lii!iflllS
their system. We shall NOT seriously object
even to the Douay Bible. but in CarlIolic
countries man must obtain Il license before
he can read even their own Bible. Let us
make this missionary day the occasion for
IA renewal Of our devotion to the Book and
its Sovereign Author. There is 80 grander
or more effective service done for ameliorat-
ing the suttrrinss Of humanity, and reform
ing society in every respect. than grows out
of the fr,l,a ,,ir, of fiiv R;i,l,
The Christian church is the persontica-
ton of the missionary spirit. Eliminate
the mission idea and inspiration from the
church, and there is nothing lett-she is a
mere phantom ship. Simple conservative
possession Of the territory" Holding the
fort, as we sometimes sing-only consumes
present supply, till M last the army Of oc-
cupation is reduced 10 an effeminate cor
puralS guard, who are compelled to retreat
to save themselves from starvation.
The aggressive impulse alone gives secur-
ity and potency TO the sacramental host.
No denomination can survive it's failure to
push the claims of Salvation's Captain he
yond the communion affairs. lchabnd
flames from the portals of that individual
church witch does not let her light shine
outside the walls of the sanctuary. The
society is only the armory where we are to
come for drill and discipline. All the real
IL pu lHc pldlllS W IL lpul, where the
arch enemy is striving to possess the land
and to overcome its inhabitants Citizens
of the Commonwealth of Israel maintain
their integrity, and secure the continued
favor of the God OF Battles, by active zeal
in pushing the gospel claims where they are
not now recognized. Christ has honored
his human friends by making them the Gus
todians of this grand work Of pioneering
through new fields, and driving the Ana
kims of anti-C Christ from the uttermost parts
of the earth. Prayers, conversation, con-
Sisrent living, money, are to be the weapons
of cur warfare i'll this direction.
SOLDIERS of Christ, lay hold
On faiths victorious shield
Arm'd with that adamant and gold,
BE sure IT, win the field.
Look out. The watch fires of conquest
are already kindled on the mountain peaks.
Shout is answering shout from corps to
corps of the victorious hosts. Under the
shadow of the Vatican; in the jungles of
Africa along the lines of the Orient: amid
the islands Of the sea: our Christian war
song is caught up ia a mighty terrestrial
chorus that joins the angelic anthem, and
nils Satan'S empire with alarm. GLORY to
God in the highest, and Oh earth peace,
good will toward men"
The missionary services proper, in which
the children of the Sabbath school partici-
pated, We're opened in the evening by the
singing of the hymn Morning Light by
the children OF the school, John Perkins.
Esq, then offered an appropriate prayer,
which was followed by the singing of the
hymn +" Wonderful Words of Life" After
which DIR. Matlack, Presiding Elder, adj
dressed the children, and recalled many
pleasant "reminiscences of his pastorate Of
this church some years ago. DR.. Matlack's
address Was followed by the singing of
the hymn. "Watchman, Tell Is of the
Night"
The contributions Of the classes Of the
Sunday school were then taken up, which
amounted to the handsome sum of S22j.79,
which included s2l.25 from the infant class
and $50 90 from the WcStamwell mission
school. This amount will be Increased to
nearly $500 by contributions derived from
other sources. Rev. DIR. PuuSou then adj
dressed the children upon the subject of
missionary work and gave them good al.
vice, intcrspersed with Il variety of interest
ing anecdotes. The meeting then closed by
the singing of The Pilgrim Mission and
the benediction.