The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-01-12

to another, knowledge; to another
faith; TO another, gifts of heal
ing; to another, working o.
miracles to another, prophecy 10 an
other, discerning of spirits to another
diver kinds of tongues to another, the
Interpretation of tongues. But all these
worketh that one, and the self-same
spirit, dividing to every man severally al
he will"
See brethren that you improve YOU
several gifts, for "the manifestation of the
spirit is given to every man to profit
withal."
AS there is place in the world for the
sparrow, as well as for the eagle, a place
for the violet as well as the.rose, so there
is place in the family of Christ, and fol-
the little ones as well as the great.
Learn charity for each other, and "iet
each esteem the other better than him.
self.'
"Covet earnestly the best gifts; and
yet show unto you more excellentway.'
Cultivate charity.
The church is ever changing, We
remains the same. Members of the fam
survives. Particularly, levitical
and apostolic dispensations have
passed away; and yet the gate:
of hell have not prevailed against it,
The old ship has been tossed upon many
an angry sea-but never engulfed-driveI
often by bowling tempests, but never
stranded; attacked by many piratica
fleets; yet unframed she walks the waters
thing of life, disdaining the malice OF
devils, and the wrath of corrupt men;
with ever expended sails, right onward
she goes, in the divine mission to save
the wrecked and perishing ones. Hence
| will she cast permanent, anchor, until
the last member of the family on earth
has safely Joined the family in heaven.
AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
Another good congregation greeted DR.
Rogers last Sunday morning. After the
singing of two hymns, the reading of a
psalm and prayer. the reverend speaker
preached a good thirty minutes sermon
IRON the text found in John 2 ch., 81 V.
The text introduces the theme of San
nOintIng of the Holy Spirit" Under the
| old dispensation the sact of cOncecratiOn
was set forth by amounting with oil, that
person who was called to any important
| Bible work. Look at the sleeping and
| dreaming Jacob. To show his YeneratiOn
| for the stone on which he laid his weary
head, on the most memorable ofall nights
in his life's career, he poured upon it oil ,
| and called it Bethel, ''the house of God"
| Your minds are directed TO the fact, that
| the oil used for amounting purposes,
| was prepared by special and divine direc-
| ton. 1t was an holy oil. 1t was to be
L
ness was guarded so carefully, that a
| penalty was attendant upon the use OF
any other kind of oil, for consecratinG
acts, or putting this holy oil to any but
amounting use.
This act of consecrating by the appli-
cation of oil divinely prepared was not
| only particular work but we are taught
thatit was a sign of joy ALSO. Joy, that he.
who is thus set apart to the performance
| of such important work, is thereby to do
great good in leading others to light and
| Il life OF holiness. Joy, that in purifying
| self, God was glorlfied. Much more did
this amounting produce and propagate
| joy when the consecrated ones caught
| the truth, that it was of divine origin. 1t
| is a fact L would have you all remember,
truth l would have you never to forget,
that when the spirit of God annoints any
one to perform any kind of work, the
act is not done for one day, one week, a
year. but forever! Entering upon such
joyous labor, is but to begin strong,
continue stronger, advance in grace,
de epen in knowledge, expand in glory
and reach heavenward
God does not make this calling
permanent and stop there,
but he also promises and
does preserve those, so set forth. He
not only prepares, makes joyful, pre-
serves, and strengthens, but he quickens
his laborers in their work, by the office
work of the Holy Spirit. The mighty,
far-seeIng, far-reaching power, teaches
those who are Amounted, to be clear
sighted, keen, wise, and sometimes Won
derful in what they do In the name of
God. Then, again, the quickening power
of the Holy Spirit is shown in its opera
lions upon the ungodly. How it awakens
the sluggish, stIrs the dropping, lifts the
faint and breaks asunder the
bands of Il sln-bound soul. l say, how
is it that a preacher sometimes presents
the gospel with such power? How is it,
that men and women sometimes listen so
acutely, and drink in the words of the
preacher, as good, very good? 1t is the
Spirits work. 1t quickens indeed, but
does more. 1t infuses into the heart and
mind of the true child OF God, spirit of
obedience. Whatever God may COM
mand, or wherever God may say go. that
obedience which is God given, directs
and controls, and you know the result.
l ak this morning, how many present
have this Esprit of annolntingw Do
you know that you are the possessors of
this divine gift? Do you know that you
are consecrated? Have you been quick
ened, are you, joyful stranger, more con-
secrated this second Sabbath OF the new
year? If not. this year shall be rs fruit
less as the last. We shall drag this life
YEARLY along. We shall be a listless,
voorhees, throDg. o, have you the Spirit
of God with you to-day? Does it inspire?
Are you awakened to new love, labor,
glory? While here, can you look beyond.
singing, praying, doing? Here the pastor
in very tender words, asked if his people
would not rely more fully upon God fer
success. He desired to know If they
would not seek His aid, then prove it,
keep it, and adore it.
METHODIST CHURCH.
Quite large congregation greeted
Rev. A. L. Goodwin at the Methodist
church at the morning service. His text
was (Romans 1, 49, 81 am not ashamed"
Paul was himself a noble example of
the power of the gospel. He delighted
TO preach to others. 1t had produced in
him that wonderful reversion of char
acter which is the highest expression of
its power. How sudden, how mighty the
change. Yesterday breathing threaten
lngs and slaughter against the gospel and
its adherents to-day, transformed by its
power, he Is ready to preach it even at
Rome-to confront It's wise men, and
Caesar himself, and tell them that Christ
the power of the gospel commend 1t to our
serious consideration as the manifestation
of that Divine Power to which alone we
can look with confidence and hope for the |
elevation and salvation of man.
L. What is the gospel? In a general |
sense it is Gods great plan of salvation |
for man. But the system of divine mercy |
is one reaching back to the first guilty |
pair. Adam and Eve heard the first Cos
pei sermon in the promise 1.-THE seed of |
the woman shall bruise the serpent's |
head" Through successive generations |
it developed, till Messiah came. In its |
particular sense, gospel refers to this |
last and brightest manifestation of divine |
mercy. This is, by eminenee, the gospel |
of Christine UOOd news of the gaViOur-I
come: And is not this ''good
news" to souls exiled from God and the |
hope of heaven? On sea-girt isle, see |
that banished one-rescued and saved, |
how he halls the "good men," But |
souls banished from God and hope-how
coldly they hear the news of salvation
2. 81 IT'S the power of God, etc. !" to
the elements of its own success. IT'S not |
in letter only, but in spirit and power
the power of God. 'Tis "livlng oracle"
and will quicken and convince all who re-
ceive it into the mind. IT'S the power of |
God to save all who yield to its divine
influence.
IT'S the great meliorating power. The
inspiration of every noble principle and |
holy virtue. Whether operating Indi-
rectly upon the masses, or directly through |
such as have felt its power; and are Ethe |
light of the world" and ssthe salt of the /
EARTH" Asylums for the unfortunate,
and monuments of its power, for they are
not known in systematic form where the
power of the gospel has not been felt.
8. No wonder Paul was not ashamed of |
the gospel, of its doctrines. The sover-
eighty of God and the salvation of the |
race being their sun, of its effect, subduing /
evil, purifying the heart and importing
substantial joy and immortal hope. OF
its general final end, salvation from SIN