Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-04-20

Of Sermons, bx Rev. DR.. c-unninghams on
The Life and Character ofst Paul.
Last evening Rev. Or. Cunningham de
Hyered, before q large congregation, the last
Of the most interesting series OF sermons on
the life and character of the Apostle Paul.
The subject of last evenings discourse, ht
tinply closing the series, was Paufs Triuui-
phspt Death. We search in vain IN history,
either sacred or profane, for Paufs equal as
a urescber or writer. His writings have
furnished all the theological questions upon
which the Protestant churches have differed.
In most of his ~epistles, and more particular
" his one to the Romans, he teaches the
doctrine proclaimed by John Calvin, and
which is still firmly adhered to b. millions
the doctrine Of predesination. The clos
ipg of the great Apostles life was in hsr:
mepy with the life he had lived-tull OF
| faith in his master. II have fought a good
6pht. and henceforth there is a crown OF lie
Laid ND for me, but not for me only, sut Tor
all Who love the Lord Jesus Christ"
With the exception Of q few front peWs
The large auditorium in the First Presoyte'
rian church was also well filled with an In
terested congregation in the morning, when
he pastor preached q great historical sermon
founded on Naaman, the Syrian General,
who was also an incursble leper.
Gods instrumentalties was the question
presented in the text and discussed by the
preacher. In the case of Naaman, the Sy-
Ran General, the little Jewish maiden cap
tive. a little girl who had been stolen BY
some of Naaman's soldiers from her fathers
home in Israel and was by circumstances
afterwards placed in the great Syrian Gene
| rails family as a servant tor his wife, q an
instrumentality. Naamsn was a lePer.
an incurable one. He he'd been treated
by his eminent physicians, but all these
remedies failed and the Syrian General
grew worse and worse, until his hopeless
| condition and terrible sufferings reached
the ears of this little Jewish captive maiden.
Immediately she suggested the remedy for
her master. This was his only remedy, and
he was 10th to try it, but try it he did, al
| though it was very humiliating to him.
| Naaman had to leave his OWN kingdom
and doctors and 60 into the country OF
Israel and hunt up al old prophet named
Elijah, and ask him what he should do in
order that he might be cured of his loath.
come disease. Elijah told him a very
simple remedy. He must wash seven times
in the river of Jordon. The remedy pro-
posed by the prophet was an insult to the
| great General, and he rejected 1t with
| diseain at first, buf atterward repented aud
| tried it as directed by the prophet. Naa.
man was cured Of his leprosy and returned
TO his OWN country with new flesh on his
bones and life in his body. In this case,
| God employed the little girl to tell this
heather General how he could be cured OF
his malady, and then he caused his old and
faithful prophet to give this heather Gen,
eral a very simple prescription; 1t contained
more Of faith than it did of mineral proper:
ties, but it accomplished a great cure, and
he heathern Generals life was saved by the
use these two little simple lnstrumentalitles,
the girl and the waters Of Jordan. 1t is
| lust such instrumentalities God always uses
when he humbles the proud and stubborn
and brings them in subsection to his laws Of
grace and mercy.
The Syrian General vas not cured in
answer to anything he had asked Of God,
for he was a wicked, ignorant heather, but
| God answered the prayer of the little Jewish
| girl, and that of his prophet, so that he
might humble this proud and naughty gen
eral. In his humiliation he was cured,
God often employs little boys and girls fol
great and grand purposes, as well as Other
insignificant means to save the souls of mer
and women. God works only by iDstrumen
~talities. Every Christian man, women and
child are so many instrumentalities in his
service for the promotion of his kingdom or
! earth.