Morning journal and courier., 1884-04-21
trinity NJ. e. Church.

quent discourse by Rev. DIR. j. o. Peck,
their newly appointed pastor. The front of
the pulpit was deliberately decorated with
ported plants and flowers. in the center be-
ing crown OF white flowers.
After the Introductory exercises Mr.. 9. P.
Armstrong stated to the congregation that
this (Monday) evening from to 10
O'Clock the ladies of the social circle would
give reception to the pastor at the church,
at which every member of the church ard
congregation were cordially invited to be
present Mr.. Armstrong stated that Rev. DR.
Goodssll, the late pastor, would be present to
introduce the people to their new pastor.
Before announcing his text DR.. Peck said:
am here to-day in your city of historic
memories almost as a stranger, but believe
am among friends. As understand it you
require me to preach two sermons every Sun
day. I shall therefore expect that you will
favor me with an audience both morning and
evening. If any are sick or in affection, call
upon me and I will respond. You cannot
expect me to call if don't know that you
are sick intend to call on all of you, rich
and poor alike, as fast as 1 can. If any of
you are to move from your present resi-
dences do not forget to inform me of your
future abode When I call upon you 1 shall
expect to find the lady of the house as she is
at the time of my call. Don't spend time to
arrange your toilet for that only consumes
the time required to make my pastoral visits,
and ask you not to make any apologies
whatsoever You see me in the
la - nd ~ know
me when you meet me on
the street. You cannot expect me to know
everyone of you at first sight, and 1 there
fore ask that when you meet me that you
speak to me as your minister, and 1 assure
you that your recognition will be cordially
received While am here as Methodist
minister, am also here as fraternal minis
ter with all orthodox Christian denominations,
and especially so with a neighboring church
whose minister bears the honored name of
Bacon. To all other evangelical churches
and their pastors extend the right hand of
fellowship and with them will labor in the
vineyard of the Lord.
The eloquent divine announced his text as
follows: Mark 1915. go ye into all the
world and preach the gospel to every crea-
oAAS9S~ASO 80
lows What means this scene and serviceS
Why stands one man here while hundreds
of his fellow men sit reverently looking up
into his facep Why do they watch the fire
of his eye the flame of his speech, the fervor
of his soul? Why is this pulpit sacredly
separated from the house of God? Why do
the people in the pews insist that only
certain class of men shall stand here? Why
should they drop from this place, with right
eous INDIGNATION, the sacrilegeous person who
should presume to rise here uncredentlaled!
Why has this scene travelled on over thous-
ands of years, repeating itself in hamlet and
town, multiplying and widening as the ages
rollP Are the millions daft IDIOTS that they
consent to be imposed on by hollow farce!
Or has this spectacle some high, some pro-
found, some transcendant significance!
Sharp, shrewd men that detect delusions and
hate shams build costly paV1llons
to temple this scene They pour their treas
+ ures delved from earth, dug from mountain,
drawn from seas, drained by sweat ana Toll
| and sacrifice from a thousand Industries to
perpetuate this service. Men and women
| deny palate, mortify vanity, endure prlva-
| ton, welcome suffering in covetous yearnlng
| for the privileges and consultations OF the
| Sabbath sanctuary. What necessity so vast
| and vital, what interest so immense and inn
| measurable, can explain this scene, visible to-
l day in every land; can justify the great out
/ lay it involves; can voice the profound con
Germ which it inspires? What is at the bot
| tom of all this2 Man has lost his way to
| heaven. God has come out of eternity IN
amazing wisdom, love and power to
1 recover the ruined race. BY the
/ gravitation of Infinite love he would
/ draw the lost planet back from wandering
| in darkness to its orbit of light. This IL
1 good news to the perishinR. He commissions
his ambassadors to publish the good news to
every soul.
| The vicarious death of incarnate deity to
| give US eternal life is mysterious tragedy
| transfixing in mute amezement. The con-
1 ditions on which We secure eternal life
| offend the pride and philosophy of reason
/ by their surprising simplicity. Repentance
1 of sin and faith in the cruci6ed are the easy
1 terms to an infinite inheritance.
The agency chosen to effectuate G DDS
| redemption plan still further amazes 8.
| The Holy Spirit is the supreme power that
1 works salvation in the soul. He alone ener
gizss Christianity With divine efficiency. Not
| to learning nor logic not to philosophy nor
politics. not to culture nor CroSsus was COM
| mitted the agency of human recovery. These
are but the tools of the master workman,
| the machinery through which the gospel
works out its grand results. Forceless them
selves they become forceful only when thrill
ed and filed by the invisible energy of the Holy
! Ghost The fundamentally employed by
the Holy Spirit to spread the truth is the
Christian church. The right arm of church
evangelism is preaching the gospel truth.
This is the great divine appointment. Won
derful that the tongue is the lover to lift this
world to God But SO it pleased God that by
the foolishness of preaching he would save
them that believe.
Fearless, faithful preaching of the truth of
God is not to-day and never has been popu-
lar. Polite preaching, polite preaching,
stingless preaching, soothing preaching is
popular. No man, not even the son of God,
ever preached the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth without making sinful
men angry. Worldly minds love anodynes,
sedative preaching. The gospel truth OK
cites, alarms egonizes the guilty conscience
1t is caustic on the proud flesh of the wound
of sin. God denounces those who by de-
mulcent salves heal specifically the wound
of the soul.
Preaching the gospel is definite business, as
much SO as teaching mathematics or chem
istry, practising dentistry or medicine; taking
photographs or selling merchandise Making
pulpit orations, delivering profound disserta-
tons. discoursing on literary themes and
sensational topics is not preaching the gog-
pei. Expounding and applying the word of
God as a remedy to dying men alone fulflls
the divine commission.
There is a rough calyx enclosing every
rose. Nature DEGREES the calyx must be
broken and perish to let the beauties of the
rough calyx consenting to perish in reputa-
ton if by that means the beauties of the
Rose of Sharon may open in their loneliness.
Go look at that rose. Only the beautiful
flower is seen. The calyx is hidden under
meath the charming petals and is content to
be unseen and unpraised while it is privi-
legged to hold the fragrant beautiful rose up
to the gaze and delight of the world. You
may formulate preaching in this way. The
more the minister is admired by the world,
the more he breaches self; the more he is
loved by the holy and humble, the more he
breaches Christ. Give me the love of those
who hunger and thirst after holiness, and
whoever courts the admiration of the tickle
crowd may cater for the empty baubIe.
But how about political preaching? This
is answered by asking, Does the Bible teach
politics? l answer no! Political economy is
not in its scope, therefore the preacher is not
authorized to teach anything outside it's pre-
cspts. Patriotism is not politics Patriot
ism is moral duty. Every citizen owes
allegiance to his city, State and country. The
Bible explicitly teaches, and the minister
should preach, the duties of good citizenship.
Supreme love to God and equal love or equity
to man sums up all our duties. But this is
not politics, it is part of Christianity. En-