Daily Yellowstone journal., 1883-09-16
OUR SERMON.
THE SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER
TRINITY.
Epistle: Ephesians ", I to6.
BY REV. HORSFALL.

The strongest appeal which ST. Paul
makes to others in his own behalf, is
his suffcrings. Remember my
bonds" he says, as by these few
words, implying very much. And
again, Faint not at my tribulations,
which is your glory!" He often ex
presses Joy in bonds and afilictions,
not only because he counted it a privi-
lege to suffer for Christ's sake; but be-
cause also His own claims and suffer-
ings partook of the power of the Cross,
and most prevailed towards spreading
His Masters Kingdom. Thus, when
his heart had been set on going to
Rome, and God intended that he
should bear witness of Him with
power in that great city. 1t WIS
brought about by his being sent there
~ prisoner. And in speaking Of his
success there, he says, my bonds are
manifest in all the palace" And of
the confidence II gave others, "Manv
of the brethren waxing confident by
bonds" And when he said TO King
Agrippa, IL would to God that thou,
and all that hear me this day, were
such as | am, except these bonds"
never were words spoken so powerful
because il was as If he had said, "As
to my sufferings, l am most desirous
that none should suffer as do; but as
to the blessings of the gospel, would
to God that all might share them with
me-" When i'm bonds at Jerusalem,
he made the governors tremble and
amazed the king; when in bonds at
sea, he bound the storm, and had all
the ship given into his hands. when
bonds in the island, he shook off the
serpcuts unharmed; when In bonds
at Rome, he made the world cap
tive to the obedience of Christ
And here he alludes TO his bonds, not
only to enforce his testimony, but as
showing also the very nature Of the
Christians calling and duties, As
humbling himself To all things
for loves sake. Note In the first
bree verses, how much force his
words receive from the fact that he
was ut that time prisoner for Christ's
sake for what greater evidence could
there be In himself. than this willing
ness to suffer! He wished them 10 be
bound also, but by another chain, that
of mutual love and forbearance; not
the iron bands on the feet and hands,
but the golden chain Of God upon the
heart, which bound them to one an
other and to God. or this he proceeds
to speak: "Endeavor" with all earn
estness "to keep the unity of the Spirit
in the bow of peace. AS our Divine
Lord Himself prays for this union,
that they may be one, as We are One.
As the whole body aud its members
are held together by one soul, one
spirit of life, SO 1t is with the Church
of God. There Is zone body and one
spirit :" One spirit which anlmates
and quickcns that body, or else II
would be more bodies than one. Even
Us ye are called i'm one hope Of your
calling. Here on earth, and In things
temporal, nothing unites men somuch
together, as having one object to de.
sire, one end to hope for; how much
more when that desire and hope 10 for
everlasting union together through
the indwelling of God? Zone Lond,
one faith, one baptism, one God and
Father Of all, who is above all, and
through all and In you ALL" What
greater bond is 1t possible to conceive
than this? 1t contains within 1t every
thing which can hold men together In
love in this world. 1t might bt
likened to chain Of adamant, or any
substance that nothing can rend AS
sunder, nay more. God himself Ii
this chain, this chain of love. How
then can 1t ever be broken? In
, Heaven where God il, 1t cannot bs
severed, for there God Is All In All
aud this bond is strong az the founda
ton af heaven but here on earth, al
though It may become ever more and
more strong, yet II Is all easily broken
: and rent asunder by pride. II il pre-
served only In humility, by each es
.. teeming his brother better than him
self; but wherever pride comes In
: alas, II Ia but AZ the Witty bands, wher
SAMPSON awakens, 1t Is nll gone.
Dienplatt0n.