The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-05-27
s E r. MO II
Preached by the Moderator, Rev. T. D.
Witherspoon D D., of Louisville, KY,
at the opening of the General Assem-
bly,, May 2lst at Houston Texas


bly,, May 21st, at Houston, Texas.
Some portions omitted for want of space
The God of Jeshuruu, who rideth upon the
heaven IN thy help.-Deut. xxxiii: 20.
These are farewell words from the part
ing benediction with which Moses, the
man of God, blessed the children of Israel
ere he took his final journey into the
land of Moab, where the divine hand laid
him to rest in sepulohre of which " no
man knoweth unto this day" The form
OF the language seems to indicate that
the twelve tribes passed successfully in
review before him, and as each standard
approached he pronounced upon its tribe
benediction, suggested pal thy by the
device upon the standard and partly by
a prophetic foresight of the future history
of the tribe. The concluding words,
however, of which the text forms part,
seem to have been spoken, not to par
ticular tribe, but to the whole camp of
Israel, and through that ancient and
typical encampment to the vaster and
more spiritual one of all ages constitut-
ing the true Israel of God.
Viewing these words in this light, the
character of the blessing pronounced is
eminently instructive. You will observe
no promise Of exemption from the fatigues
and hardships from the trials and conflicts
of the desert way The great and ter
rible wilderness" with It's weary leagues
of arid sands and scorching suns, it still
to be traversed. Hordes of the desert
horn to pillage are to hang upon the flank
of the marching host, whilst in front will
be the armed hosts of Amalek, and be-
yond, the Anakim and the cities walled
up to heayen. The promise to the tribes
then, as to the tribes of the true Israel
now, is not of exemption, but of shoes
made of iron and brass of strength pro-
portioned to the day; of Jehovah riding
upon the heaven in their help, and of the
upholding of the everlasting arms.
From this full circle of divine promise,
so inspiring to the Church that is in the
wilderness" 1 cut out a single segment
for consideration to-day. 1 ask you to
mediate with me upon these brief but
fruitful words, the God of Jeshurun,
who rideth upon the heaven in thy help"
L. Let us consider first the appellation
given to Jehovah by His inspired servant
when he designates Him as the God of
Jeshurun." The term Jeshurun is col
lective used, just as Israel, Jacob, etc.,
are used under similar circumstances, to
designate the covenant people-the peo-
pie who, like Israel of old, have received
a divine call to come out from the world
and be separate who, in obedience to
this divine call, have separated them
selves unto the Lord, and have entered
into a solemn and public covenant with
Him in which they have engaged to be
Ills, and In which He has been gracious
ly pleased to receive tnem, so that they
now constitute His pecl<IiaGna, His little
flock, a people separate and peculiar to
the Lord.
Jeshurun is, in other words, symbol
cal des. gnation of the Chnrch. For no
better definition of the Church can posi-
bly, be given than that it is the body
of people in covenant with God. The
invisible Church consists of those who
were given to the Son in the eternal
covenant of grace, and who in due time
have received the seal of that covenant
in the inward baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The visible Church consists of those, to-
gether with their children, who have
dedicated themselves to God in the COW
enant which was originally made with
Abraham and his household, and which
was afterwards enlarged and extended
at the personal coming of Christ, and who
have received the seal of this covenant in
the initial rite of circumcision under the
Old Economy, or Of baptism under the
New.
This text, therefore, in common with
many others, represents God to us as
being in high and peculiar sense the
God of the Church as sustaining to those
who are members of the Church relation
that He does not and cannot sustain to
one who is outside its fold. X y
But there must be special reason for
using this particular term to designate
the Church. Inquiry into the meaning
of the word will doubtless indicate les
sons that it may be profitable and proper
for US to study. Viewed etymologically
we find Jeshurun to be derived from
root signifying uprightness. In gram
NAUTICAL form it seems to be the plural
diminutive of the word upright. 1t may,
therefore, probably be best translated
the children ofuDrightneSS. This is Cod
designation Of the Church, indicative Of
its true character and mission in the
world. Constituted of those whose ma
lures once fallen have been through God s
mercy again, to some extent at least, set
upright, it is Gods institute for the e.
tablishment and promotion of upright
ness IFS mission ia throuoh tbe power