Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-03-16

" A&AAk&-A-AN~ ~ &N&NS
rHK BEST Or TME SESSIONS.
The Farewell DAsoourses ea xeve'
MANN and sheppard,
The sermons preached by Rsvs. Mr..
Mann and Sheppard Last Sunday were
crowded ont yesterday, and We publish
them to-day.
REV. }. B. nAsH's FAREWELL.
The Union N. 3. church Sunday
morning was not crowded but con-
taiaed 0 fair;sizsd congregation to hear
Rev. J. B. Mann's last sermon as the
pastor Of that church. Had II been
known that he would not preach In the
evening the church would no doubt
have been crowded. Mr.. Mann had
lust returned from the session Of the
Central Pennsylvania Conference TO
which he has been transferred, and Ia
bored under such Q severe cold that 1t
was with difficulty that he could
preach. he read for his morning les
SON the 20th chapter Of the Acts Of the
Apostles and afterwards announced his
text from the 27th verse Of the same
chapter: ''For l have not Stunned
to declare unto You all the counsel
Of God"
Mr.. Mann said that declaring the
whole counsel Of God by the apostles TO
the Jews was Q very disagresable duty.
How bitter must have been the counsel
Of Paul To the Jews, who believed them
selves to be the peculiar people and
chosen Of God. Paul told them that
the Gentiles should be exalted above
them and should take their places. 1t
IL the duty Of q minister to declare the
whole counsel Of God 30 that whom he
left 10 minister in other places he could
say that he had done his duty and that
his skirts were clear Of the blood Of all
men. What are the oounsels Of Godi
First, q minister must declare that
all men are sinners and are lost unless
they comply with the conditions Of sal
vation as set forth in the gospel. None
like to hear this doctrine, nevertheless
the preacher must preach II. He must
not only declare man lost but must
show the remedy by which he can be
saved. Mem must be told that they are
sinners. He had no sympathy with
the habit which prevails Of bringing
men to the altar who are not convicted
and who protesting 70 be converted do
not enjoy religion. No one ever came
to Christ until he found no whore
else to 20. They must be clearly con-
victed and sorry for their sins, when In
the agony OF their souls they will cry
out like Peter when he was sinking be-
meath the waves, "Save Lord or I
PERISH"
Secondly, o minister must preach
This 10 the foundation Of
all Christian life. He had no sympa-
thy with the foolish doctrine that pre-
walls in Wilmington for the last i've
years amongst the young and ignorant
that they have only to believe 10 DO
saved. Repentance is wanted, and re-
pentanoe 10 q godly sorrow for sim
Many churches are made weak by large
numbers. Better increase slowly than
Great revivals nearly de-
stroy many churches. The ssupsel
Of God includes salvation through
faith: in Jesus Christ and men are
saved BY accepting Christ a. their sure
ty.and safety.
The counsels Of God also consist in
preaching holiness. That doctrine Is
much abused in the church yet 1t must
be accepted. "Without holiness no
man shall see God," and "holiness be-
cometh thy house o, god" Holiness
must be attained In this life. There
were person in the Union church whe
lived and practioed holy lives. We
should not forget that we are away
from our fathers house and exposed to
the troubles and trials Of life, and
we have the promise that God will be
with us; he will never leave us nor for
get us.
The second thought is, how Is this
counsel to be declared ! First intelli.
gently. Members have no clear percep-
ton OF what is required Of them. An
ignorant man cannot put thought In.
to q mind more intelligent than him
self. The gospel must be declared fear
lessly, without fear, favor or partiality.
Mr.. Mann related several incidents Of
faithful men who had fearlessly preach
ed the truth though their iives.were in
danger. The gospel must be declared
faithfully to foe and friend alike, and
lastly it must bs declared lovingly.
Mr.. Mann then took q review Of his
three years ministry at the Union
Church, and called upon God to wit
ness that he had done his duty faith
fully, isarlessly and lovingly, and he
felt that the blood Of no one rested
upon his skirts. He alluded to the
only church trial that had occurred and
said no one had regretted the results.
more than he.
He said none loved that brother
more than he and he had done all he
could 10 SAVE him. The brother, how
ever, saw proper ~ follow bad counssls
and was alone to blame for Ehs results
which had been attained. Mr.. Mann
very feslingly referred to the friend
ships he had formed and which he
would never forget though he was
about starting To his old home, the
Central Pennsylvania Conference,
where he would have to form entirely
new associations and new friendships.
He prayed II he never met the peopleio
Union church Is pastor again he might
meet them In Heaven when done with
The troubles and trials Of life.