The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-09-29
REV. ROCK
breaches a Sermon of Personal
Interest.
An Explanation of His Recent Trials |
and Triumphs He Did Not
Oppose the Day of
Prayer.

Last Sunday evening, per announce
ment, Rev. Rock preached special ser
mon to his congregation, in the United
Brethren Church of this city. This was
his first sermon since suspension. The
auditorium was well filled, many, in,
addition to the regular congregation,
being present. He chose his text from
Acts, chapter 20, verse "a:
"NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE Me-"
He spoke as follows
Paul was the greatest hero of his
age, and through all time, Jesus Christ
excepted, will remain the greatest hero
in the field of moral conflict. He was
man of undaunted courage With him
tile highest question of life was, What
is duty?' Although he suffered much
from scOurgings, perils by land and by
sea, imprisOnments and Affections
among false brethren, he could say
none of these things move me- | used
to think and say do not know what
trouble is, but lately have been in the
fire. through the fire and, blessed be
God, for the present, at least,
IAN OUT OF THE FIRE,
Most of you are acquainted with
my recent Affections. Why l
was thus afflicted, l may
not know now. My Affections are one
of those unexplicable prOyidences, the
meaning of which may not know un-
| til from some lofty eminence in the un-
discovered country, look back over
life's pathway and learn it's meaning
from Fathers lips, 1t is enough for
NE to know Father did it. If should
Judge whether Father loved me more
than you, by the amount of chastening
he has administered to me lately, Il
should say that he did. Although it was
an unaccOuntable affection, and sore
and unusual trial among the experience
of men and of my own life, none of !
these things move me. You ask why?
First because
IHAD GOOD COMPANY.
had the company Of Daniel, the He
brew worthless, Jesus, Paul, all the
Apostles, the Martyrs, PaysOn, Spur
geOn and Talmage. Twas not the first.
minister maligned and prosecuted.
Second, learned and observed agreat }
deal. | learned more Of the credulity
and incredulity of men. learned dur
ing my af1lictiOn that people are not so
credulous to believe a lie as they are
often represented to be. | observed
that only few gave credence to the re-
ports, circulated about myself while the
great mass of people continued my
staunch friends. | observed again, that
the old saying, "where there is smoke
there is fire" is untrue. If there is
smoke it as frequently comes from our
own fire place as the fire place OF
another. 1t would be well for
people always to inquire, when they see
smoke, whether or not it comes from"
their own or anOther's hearthstOne. |
learned that the innocent are wrongly
blamed that suffering is no sign of sin
in the sufferer, and that Affections are
not always for purifcatiOn They are
as often to keep pure as to make pure.
Paurs thorn in the flesh was not to
make him humble but to keep him hum
BILE. observed, more than ever before,
how ministers and good people are
sometimes lied about.
SOME INFAMOUS WRETCH
who signed himself "a Traveller" re-
ported to the Cleveland Leader that,
during the session of our Conference at
New Philadelphia, | had opposed the
prayer service for the recovery of Presi-
dent Garfield, when the approved min
utes of the Conference show that | made
the only motion that was made for a
PRAYER service and that motion pre-
vailed in the Conference by unani
nous vote.
Third, | had plenty of friends.
Fourth, a greater door of usefulness
= has been opened unto me. Iexpect
TO HAVE MORE HEARERS,
, And my words to be listened 10 with
more interest than ever before. bow
tonight and give thanks to all, who
> have assisted in opening to me this
greater door of usefulness. If | had
them here tonight would rub my
hands all over their heads in holy ben
edictiOn.
Fifth, was cOmfOrted. l had JOY in
trouble by rejecting upon the promises
7 of the Bible, by the presence of the H0-
n ly Spirit and by communion with God.
o God did not turn his back upon me.
il | found comfort in singing such songs
e as "Jesus, lover of my SOUL" and
J. "HOw firm foundation ye saints of the
J Lord, is laid for your faith in his excel
s lent work"
e Sixth and last
/ KNEW THE LORD WOULD DELIVER Me,
Il as was confident that though l was
" in the fire and passing through the fire
u that God would bring me out of the fire
Il i, and He did. Now love and forgive al
my enemies. l intend to study and wOrl
harder and preach better sermons thar
S. ever before and at the last be able tt
e, say 81 have fought good fight, have
le finished my course, have kept the faitl
s. and hencefOrth there is laid up for me
nh fhn I ord