West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-04-06
RELIGIOUS.
United Brethren Sabbath in Par.
kerSburg.

estant Churches in the city were
occupied morning and evening last
Sunday by ministers of the L. B.
Church in attendance at their Con-
ference, SO that considering the va
rious congregations listening thro'
the day to sermons, all from this one
denomination, it may be said that
all the Christian people of Parkers-
burg Were United Brethren for at
least one Sabbath.
In the morning we had the pleas
urc of listening to Bishop Gloss
brenner at the
L. b. CHURCH,
and truly it was pleasure rarely
enjoyed. to all who were Fortunate
enough to be present. The aficc-
tionate and fathcrly presence and
bearing of the silvery-haired herald
of Divine Love and Grace at once
wins the hearts and deepest inter
est of all hearers.
With the earnest grace and Dig
nifty, enriched with life-time's
familiarity, the Bishop entered the
pulpit, and after reading the Para
BILE of the Sower,' lined out the
hymn,
SOW in the morn thy seed,
Ateve hold not thy hand"
which being sung, the congregation
was led in prayer by Rev. W. NJ.
Weekley.
Text: Isaiah, 22d chapter, part
of goth verse-"Blessed are We that
SOW beside ali waters
The sermon was a most compact
and practical presentation Of the
clear and everything truths of the
Gospel, suggested by the text, and
was delivered with a Patriarchal
earnestness and fatherly tenderness
that drew the hearts of the en-
tire audience close about the pull
pit and melted them with the fer
vent touch of the speakers own out
reaching love and affection.
In speaking of the universal need
for seedsowing, the speaker elo-
quently described the various fields
throughout the world, among which
foreign fields of dead protestant
ism" and baptized infdelity.'
With special emphasis and feel
ing, attention was fixed upon his
declaration that "no man is evan
gelically converted to God who has
not lively, earnest interest in the
conversion Of others"
., In speaking Of the universal
adaptation Of the Gospel, the Bish-
op most beautifully enforced the
truth that the "Seed of the King
dom thrives equally well in India
and Iceland, in all chimes and
among all peoples. The Gospel of
Christ makes an appeal that can
reach aud be felt by all. Man is
hardly less miserable than sinful,
but the Gospel can put comfort into
every bitter cup. The Gospel alone
car pluck away keen anguish from
the heart.
The seed must be sown every
where; because the Master has SO
commanded: 600 teach all nations,
etc"
As regards heather lands, it is not
for us to inquire or argue whether
heather car be saved without the
Gospel it is enough for us to know
that Christ says, "Go-preach."
We must SOW literally. AS has
been wisely said, "To expect great
things of God, we must attempt
great things for God.
We must SOW in faith. Little
ness Of faith makes US dwarfs and
towards. We must labor as if we
really believed that every unbc-
lever would be damned.
We must SOW in patience-the
seed must be sown with faith also
and with clean hands, If the
Church would accomplish its mis-
sion, it must abandon all affinity
with wrong. AS long as the rich
trust more in riches than in God
as long asavaricious Christians ex-
tend their business for selfish gains,
and as long as parents labor for the
wealth of their offspring, more
than for their spiritual interests,
Gods cause will move slowly.
On the subject of benevolence the
L l., - ornnct o,,,Nool 10