Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-07-19
HANDSOME RECEPTION

A Notable Gathering at the Opera House
Last Evening to Welcome Bishop Foss to
His New Field of Labors-Jswish Cele-
bration of the Ninth Day of Alb.
The Opera House was crowded to repletion
last night, the occasion being the delivery
of a sermon by Bishop Foss, of the M. E.
church. Bishop Foss was assigned to the
Northwest, with residence at st. Paul, by
the last general conference. The meeting
last evening was in certain sense personal
tribute to the bishop:
At the opening of the service the l2lst Psalm
was read by Rev. L. j. Funk.
"All hsil the power of Jesus name was read
by Rev. E. F. Stroeter and sung by the con-
gregation. .
The bishop preached from the theme, THE
opposite views of death stated by Jesus and
Paul-from thee texts-MGtt. s, SO; John
16 z; Phil. l, g. "a.
We are to consider, he said, the contrast be-
tween Jesus and Paul. Jesus suffered inpros-
pect of death. In many expressions we see
his unutterable recoil at death. Come now to
Rome. There IN dungeon sits an old man,
manaced, rejoicing as he writes to Timothy,
his son in the gospel, of his speedy death, and
his readiness to be offered up, and he was not
q fanatic. Some in those days longed for
martyrdons under intense excitement. Not SO
Paul; it was his habitual state of mind: Why
did Jesus dread to die. What makes it hard
for man to die? Is it not the physical pain,
parting with friends the sense of unfinished
life? Yet with this view did not Jesus have
all the advantages?
Jesus had no more fear of pain than Paul.
Jesus had no friends who understood him but
his mother and John. Paul had friends who
chung to him, even his chains. Jesus had no
sins to repent of to give him pain. Paul had
an old life of sin to pain him.
Jesus died with a finished work. Pauls life
was incomplete. Yet Jesus shrinks and Paul
reioices. How shall we answer these questions
raised?
Have you ever noticed how little the Bible
makes of death beds? We do not know any
thing of the death-beds of scripture heroes,
land he died. is all. Paups death is not men
toned. But in the four gospels are GU verses
relating directly to the death of Jesus-Napo-
leon died, Lincoln died, and nations reel. Jesus
died and the heavens are darkened. Why his
unique death? Paul died for himself alone.
Jesus died all the world. This answers the
questions raised.
In the second place we shall see Jesus rush
ing forward and Paul shrinking back. The
world lost less in the death of Jesus than in
the death of Paul. How the churches of old
loved Paul. The grandest apostle, the greatest
preacher, the church dependeth upon him. Go
back thirty three years. Jesus says, 1t is ex-
pedient for you that l go away" The world
lost nothing in the departure of Jesus Christ.
What did the church gain by the death Of
Paul? just one more witness, and that is all.
Others had witnessed. So his death is not
mentioned at all. His life is mentioned fully.
What did the world gain by the death Of Jesus?
We gained the atonement. We gained the gift
of the Holy Ghost eff 60 away the Holy
Ghost will come to YOU" Il is better for the
world that Jesus go away and the comforter be
here.
Look at the question Of personal character.
Before Jesus died his disciples were towards,
denying their master. Peter denying Jesus
while he lives and preaching him fearlessly
after the Holy Ghost came upon him.
Jesus i'll three years gained only five hum
dred, but he came not to gain amounts but to
die. Peter gained three thousand in one ser
mon after the Holy Ghost came. It was better
that Jesus should go away. Jesus did not die
to make God love u.s. but because he loved us.
We have the truth of the interceSSi0n of Jesus.
Jesus does not intercede before a great Pow
hatan, as a lovely Pocahontas. mother be-
lieved in by her sailor boy, though far away,
helps us to believe in Jesus, seeing He ever
liveth to make intercession for us"
IfJesus had lived until to-day we might never
have been here. He could not be but in one
place at a time, many deathbeds could not
have his presence. But now he is everywhere,
by the side of every minister, by every death
bed, everywhere. He is absent to the eye of
sense that he may be present to the eye of
faith. Napoleon could not be everywhere at
once" and SO lost Trafalgar, but Jesus can be
everywhere at once.