Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-04
DIR. SMITHS SERMON.
Able and Beautiful Dissertation on
the Ascension of Christ.

oqIent. Throughout its length OF nearly
fifty minutes, il held the closest attention
of his hearers. Taking his text, he intro
duced the sermon in the following Ian
guage:
when He assembled into heaven He made
captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
-kPh. w, =
The life of Christ on earth is the central
fact of history. To it the world looked III
hope through the dreary ages that preCsd.
ed His coming, and TO il all the subsequent
ages have looked and shall look to the lat
est hour of time as the benighted mariner
looks to the only star that can guide him
to the haven. That life is Gods greatest
gift to a dying world. II is humanity's
only hope. 1t explains the mys
the glories of eternity. 1t inspires
hope, increases faith, leads 10 purity, en-
sureS salvation. 1t is fitting that we should
| hold that LIE in grateful remembrance.
We revere our statesmen. We canonize our
patriots. The days of their birth become
national holidays But Jesus Christ stamps
the days OF His birth, His death, His resur-
reCtion and His ascension rs the worlds
holy days. They stand out in all but un-
approaCnable SaCreineSs and summon the
world to devotion and 10 conservation OF
heart. And yet il is remarkable that
while so much is made OF the death
OF Christ while we keep the anniversary
OF his birth and resurrection as our Jubi-
lees. that so little is said Of that browning
&C, of triumph, the ascension. And II Is
no less q pleasure than surprise, IA
order not recognized by the church
should in the observance OF this day, set
the church
Az EXAMPLE WORTHY 60! lNtATIoT.
MAY we learn lesson by your fidelity
The ascension was the last earthly appear
aECe Of Christ. Thrice aiterward, AMID the
glores ofthe upper sanctuary, tie appeared
to men-OuCe when stephen enduring the
tortcres OF maEtyrdom, again
when Saul was arrested in his
mai career. and finally when John was
discouraged by persecution mid the loneli'
ness of exile on Patmos. IL was necessary
that he should 90 away-for themselves,
for Himself. He had taught them all they
could now learn by His presence. He had
been to them Teacher, Son OF God, Messiah.
They now needed another, an inward n.
struCtor and sad that it was, il was eN-
pedient for them that ne go away.
How touching and sublime the
spectacle On Mt. Olivet, that he
He Ind looked down upon Jerusalem on
the last journey before His death
with the sad lament, 80. Jerusalem Now
He lifts his hands in beTediction. What
comfort TO US that His last words are
WORDS or BLESSING.
y cloud receives HIM out OF their sight,
angel messengers are sent TO comfort them
their sorrow is turned 10 jov. The higher
life is open TO them through prayer. Thus
are We ever led from the visible 10 the in
visible. The temporal leads to the eternal.
There were three acts in the life OF
Christ, each of which closes some part of
his work. The crucifxiOn. the close OF His
suffering: the resurrection, of His humilia-
t!oA, and the ascentiOn His earthly minis
try.
THE ALIGNMENT.
Proceeding with his discourse, DR.. Smith
elaborated the following points;
The ascension is important 10 rs in that
Eiist-lt announced the completion OF
his sacriiicial work and the end OF his hui.
initiation.
Second-It was demonstration OF his
triumph over all his foes.
Th.rd-It was the passing into a new
sphere of mediatoTia! action, through which
al! things are to be brought into a subjeC-
ton to Christ.
FOurth-lt was type Of our own ascen'
sion.
Fi:th-He went to prepare place for US
in heaven.
Esch of these points was beautifully
drawn oUt. and the orator addressed to the
Knights the following
FEROEATIoN.
This is not our home. Here all wealth
ya3ishes Beauty fades, Spleudor becomes
dim and glory departs. The palaces where
kings rejsned and princes ruled are heap
Of ruins, while they are a handful OF
Wondering dust. 1t is fitting. The tran.
silent for the tieeting. The tabernacle be-
comes the traveller. But what a revelation
of Heayen-"I go to prepare a place for
you Ip,ep0rc. No earthly or heavenly
architect can design that mansion. No
angelic workman may rear it. What
may it be. What jewels compose its walls,
or bedeck its floors, or sparkle from its
roof. or flash in its spires Behold the
walls o jasper, the pavement OF sapphire,
its pillars Of pearl, its emerald dome aud
its fires Of topaz. See il by the stream with
its diamond strands, mansion that be-
comes an undying king. Sir knights, may
your eternal home be palsce in the New
Jerusalem,