The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-08-30
Proclaimed from the Pulpits
Of Two Churches Yes
terday.
Rev. A. 81. Stephens Continues
His Discourse on "The
Discrepancies of
the Bible,
And Rev. q. A. Beattie Tells Of
Perfect Patterns and Why
Christ Should be
Used as q
Model.
Perfect Patterns.

fOliOWlUS Will w loufu Il SYNOPSIS
the sermon Of Rev. q. 4. Beattie, at the
First Presbyterian church last night:
because Chris, also suffered for u.s. leaving us an
example that We should follow in his steps-Isi
Peter, 2-2l.''
We are all engaged in fashioning ma
terial-call ii character, soul, or whatever
YOU may-that shall enter into the con-
struction Of spiritual building that shall
stand through all eternity. What it shall
be depends upon our pattern. Hence the
importance Of that pattern being a perfect
one, and of its being faithfully duplicated
in our life.
We look i'm the picture gallery of the
the old Testament Among the patriarchs
and prophets We find some grand and
noble characters that call forth our admi-
ration, illustriou- for faith, zeal. courage,
some flaw or fault To mar the life and de-
strOy the symmetry Of the character. Not
any of them claimed perfection or deserv-
do for model fer US to pattern alter in
our lives.
Much good can Ike said of each oi them;
in some particular grace each might claim
pre-eminencc, but each had his weak point
and his weak hour.
Noah stood faithful for 10 wears,
preaching Righteousness to a world that
Knocked him, and yet he fell and brought
shame and disgrace upon himself and
his family Abraham was the father Of
the faithful, and vet when he went down
to Egypt his conduct was such that neither
conscience could commend nor God approve.
Jacob, for his duplicitv, incurred broth
cr's hatred, and fled an exile from his
fathers heusc Moses was the meekest of
men, eminent for his patriotism and piety,
and yet for his conduct al the rock, in
CURED Gods displeasure, and WAS not per-
mitted to enter the promised land. Eli
was good old man, yet he sinned in not
restraining his sons from evil. David was
a man after Gods own heart, and yet We
are all familiar with his double sin, that
called forth his penitence, as recorded in
the fifth psalm. So We might 20 on select
ing the very best, and the analysis of each
would show that none were unalloyed.
Put each one in the crucible, and though
there may be much fine gold, yet in every
one there is some drOss. There is not one
whose life in its entirety it would do for
US to follow
Then we may turn to the New Testament
and seek among the disciples and apostles
of Christ, and the members of the early
church, but with no more satisfactory re-
suit.
Christ often reproved His disciples for
their want of faith, for their ambition.
their desire to revenge their impotence
with the people, their want of charity and
federation.
1t is not necessary that I should indi-
vidualize by referring to special acts in
their history. Suffice it to say that each
had his faults and failings. Perhaps in
some more prominently than in others.
We read the history Of the early
fathers; we study the lives of the reform
ers, men who did great work for the
church, of the martyrs who sealed their
faith with blood; who having done all,
stood, and yet in these most eminent for
piety and active in labor We find something
over which We must throw the mantle OF
charity.
And the same is true of the church OF
to-day. 1t is composed of falliblc men
and women, none of whom are perfect pat
terms. In talking with unconverted men
you will invariably find they will ask you
to reconcile the inconsistencies OF church
members and select those most prominent,
forgetting that none of US are perfect.
We do not claim infallibility for our
selves, nor perfection, and those who are
nearest their attainment are the most ready
TO disclaim it.
II We want perfect pattern sitter which
to mold our lives, We must look elsewhere
than among the patriarch priests and
prophets Of the old dispensatiOn, or Nhe
apostles of the new or the father of the early
church, or the reformers of the middle
ages, or the members of the church Of the
present day. OF all who have ever lived
there has been but one man who had any
right or reason to claim for Himself perfec-
ton, or who can be held up to the race as
perfect pattern, and that man is Jesus
Christ. Christ also suffered for us, leaving
US an example that We should follow in
His steps. Christ is the copy We should
follow.
Plate was forced to acknowledge that
in Him he found no guile After he heard
the accusation against Christ he gave this
testimony: 81 find no fault in Him." And
that he might free himself from the
responsibility of His death, took water
and washed his hands before the multitude,
saying: Il am innocent of the blood of
this just person."
There is not an incident in His life but
will bear the closest scrutiny; not single
parable or precept but will bear the closest
analysis. Since His death the world has
never been able to find anything in His
conduct or character, or teachings, that
could be condemned or criticized. Some
Of the worst in6dels have pronounced the
best eulogies. Said the celebrated Roman,
He lived like man. He died like God"
Christ illustrated His precepts and doc
trines by His example. He came into the
world at a great sacrifice. He resigned the
sceptre of the universe to become the ser
want of men; exchanging the society of
heaven, where He was lovedand adOred for
that OF earth, where He was despised and
rejected.
His motives were misiuterpreted. If