The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-24
AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST.
A Sermon on Their Missions and Their
Duties by Rev. David MacDill.
The Last Days Services at Bethany Park
''The Christian Religion" Defined by Rev.
u. II. Smith-Mrs Havens's Lecture.
THE AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST.

The Sermon of Rev. David MacDin at United
Presbyterian Church Yesterday Morning.
Rev. David MacDill, of Xenia Academy, at
Xenia, o., preached yesterday morning at the
United Presbyterian Church, from II CORN
thians, fifth chapter, twentieth verse: "Now
then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though
God did beseech you by u.s. we pray you in
Christ's stead, be We reconciled to Cod
The word I'VE" in the text, was explained by
the pastor to refer to all preachers. A distinc-
ton must be drawn between the apostles and
other ministers of the gospel. An apostle must
have been O witness to the resurrection of
Christ; and also the apostles. unlike other
preachers, were inspired in their teachings
The spirit of the Father spoke within them, and
guided them through their lives. The minister
is an ambassador for Christ, who was himself a
servant of sovereign ruler. Christ was content
to humble himself and act as a messenger of
God on earth. AS in time of war the private
soldier who is endowed with the same rights as
his commander, obeys the mandates Of his su-
perior officer that his country may be led to
victory, so Christ was the willing slave of the
Master that He might redeem the world.
Christ was the great prophet, and all
ministers who come after him are
but feeble type of Him. The preacher is an
ambassador on earth in lieu of Christ who has
assembled into heaven. Plainly, it is the duty of
ministers to carry out Gods work on earth until
the end Of time. Christ was the prototype of
all Christian ministers. The preacher is to act
as messenger from heaven to men, and to utter
and spread Gods truth. In civil affairs the leg
ate is employed to make known to foreign
nations the will of the sovereign ruler so the
minister of the gospel is to execute among men
the instructions of the Lord as manifest in the
Bible. But the preacher must first feel in his
own soul the full truth and force of the message
which he is to deliver, before he can accomplish
the great good Jonah became apathetic, heart
less and disobedient to Gods commands and the
fate that fell to him in the storm on the ship of
Tarsus was his punishment. Afterwards he
repented and became messenger for the Mas
ter, crying aloud to the absolute people, yet
forty days and Nneveh shall be destroyed"
with such feeling and power that the people of
that city fell to their knees in worship and were
saved. So the minister must feel the touch of
God.
An American minister once preached before
an English audience in which King Henry
his seat to converse with his wife, the
minister thus addressed him: ''When the
lion roars let the beasts of the forest be
silent and when King Jesus speaks let the SOW
ereigus of the world keep silent So the preacher
must hearken to God. But the minister is
human, and is not required by God to be better,
or to do more than other men. Siness perfec-
ton is the standard to which not only he but all
, uicu iuuSI SlflVo 10 FedCIl. OOQS law UO0S not
allow or permit single SIM it demands perfect
obedience. The idea that there is one moral
standard for preachers and another lower one
for other men is erroneous. The standard of
right and wrong admits of no personal distinc-
tons The preacher is by means perfect, but,
like humanity itself, he is sinful creature, who
constantly must battle against wrong and strive
for the right A bad minister may do q good
work. The hypocrite may preach from the
pulpit, but he breaches Gods word and delivers
heavenly message Unworthy men may and
have become ministers of the gospel, but in time
they all fall like an i'll fated star which plunges
madly from its sphere into darkness
The ambassadors of God are not ministers and
preachers merely, but they exist in civil govern
ment as we'll. All governments exist by Gods
will. Civil magistrates are but the legates of
the Master, and the punshrnents pronounced by
civil authorities are inflicted through God. Even
when an evil judge pronounces sentence, it is
wrought by Gods will. But God is tender, low
ing and merciful, as well as severe, just and
exacting. The Old Book is full of words of ten
derness to sinners. Whatever Of love, mercy
and tenderness may be uttered in the words of
the minister are but the words of God Among
the clergy there is much to regret-much that is
llnperfect-but their great concern for the hap
plnesS and the future of mankind is redeemng
quality. They have preached the truth as they
have seen it, and have given clearer and better
idea Of truth to the world. The apostle says
BE ye recOnciled, meaning to believe in Christ
This is the duty of the minister. They must
teach reconciliation, which comes through faith
and living in holiness