The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-05-16
SERMON.
THE GRACEFUL MISSIONARY PREACHER AND HIS
THEME.

THEME.
Preached in the Westminster Md. NJ. P. Church
before the Missionary Alliance of the Westminster
Theological Seminary, Sunday Night, May 3, 1855
by Rev. j. L. Killgore, ID. D., Pastor of Hampden
NJ 7. Church. Baltimore County, Md.
Unto me- who less than the least of all saints. is
this grace given that should preach among the
Gentiles the unsearchable riches Of Christ. --Eph
Ills.
l have stood in Imagination and gazed upon that
scene in the ancient city of Ephesus. Paul has
preached the gospel, and nightly grew the word
OF God and prevailed So nightly indeed that inc
false teaching, brought their books and cast them
into the fire. The Apostle would encourage this
and rejoice in it, the books blazed and burned away
costly ones were consumed there. and ! suppose
that, as they committed those valuable but lying
parchmentS to the fire the Holy Spirit comforted
them with the promise of better book full of true
sublime, divine teaching. This Epistle may be re
garded as the fulilment of that promises it seems
the special compensation of those who parted with
their unholy literature; it is grand Episte, full OF
grace and truth Did you ever read il as remuner-
alive letter? 1t must be such What texts the
preachers have found here; what watchwords the
saints have caught here what music the sorrow
stricken have heard here; what life and victory the
dying have obtained herei
In the study of this chapter you perceive de
signed and peculiar contrast; the writer evidently
feels the advantage Of this contrast and claims
converts to Christianity in the city of Ephesus real
lied great difficulty ever before them. In their
midst stood the great Temple OF Diana, ana EpneSus
claimed the proud distinction of being its keeper.
This temple was first among the seven wonders OF
the world 1t was 425 feet long, 22O feet broad up
held by l27 columns 60 feet IN height; its decora-
lions were superb and invaluable, and the interior
was so dazzling and resplendent that the door
keepers continually called to the worshippers as
they entered, Take heed to your eyes"
The secret contrast running through this chapter
shows that God had taught Paul TO master this diff
Guilty He knew that the priests of Diana, walking
to the door to show themselves, were proud and
naughty mortals; that her wealth was trash, and
was kept on the floor uncounted to deceive the wor
at intervals; he knew that the public mind was de-
lpded by the supposed impenetrable mysteries OF
the place. which the priests dare not mention, even
with bated breath such mysteries being but base
and cunning lies. Having such knowledge of this
infamous, idoatrous system. by few strokes of his
inspired pen he brought to the ground before theiI
eyes the fabric of pride and superstition In oppo
sfton to the vanity of their priests he lis less than
the least of all saints" Contrasting their sordid
uncounted, pilfered wealth, he declares himself
graciously appointed to announce that there is
wealth in Christ beyond all estimate; wealth I'M
fingered by pilferers, uncounted by men, unknown
to angels, unmeasured by the cashiers of eternity
Indeed writes Paul, instead of pretended mysteries
not to be mentioned pain of death, am sc
make all men see what is the fellowship of the mys
terry which from the beginning OF the world has
been hid in God" This is contrast with effect it /;
chivalry, victory glory; it handed down Diana and
lifted UP Jesus forever. In the text we have the
fulnesS of Christ proclaimed.
l. THE GRACEFUL MISSIONARY PREACHER.
Unto me- who am less than the least of all saints
and his resources, is evidently designed to show
l. That he mdgnifed his office
Paul regarded himself preacher. ave preach
Christ" He did not go to talk to the people; he
reasoned declared defended, denounced detained; he
sought to deliver himself and all those that heard
and obeyed The writings and sermons of Pau
clearly show that all that was true in divinity sub
lime in philosophy and sweet in love, combined by
the power of logic, and presented with the beauty
of rhetoric, subserved and strengthened his minis
try He made full proof of his ministry. The pie
trre of that majestic life has not faded vet
There stands the messenger of truth there stands
The legate of the skiesl His theme divine;
His Office sacred, his credentials clear
By him the violated law speaks out
Its thunders; and by him. in strains as sweet
As angels use, the Gospel whispers peace"
=. He hunbly performed his acork.
He was "ess than the least of all saints This is
the most remarkable expression of humility evel
made. LESS than the least" weaker than the weak
est, more undeServing of this commission than tne
most unworthy. Now, this was not mere hyper
bole to hide boast. No, no There is an egotism
of experience which is not egotism: This sweet hu
mility the browning glory of his Apostleship j
seal of triumph, his sign of victory; it was his un
known strength and sign of victory that led him
to become "all things to all men" and placed him
in position say, Il do all things through Chris
who Strengthened me-" This beautiful and ex
pressive statement Of humility was made in memory
of his past career. He had snned greatly, was the
chief of sinners, had been the champion of Judaism
now with all that forgiven, he feels less than the
least of all saints" He would thus display the di-
vine condescension. God had stopped to take up
the prosecutor he now elevated to the grandest
work ever committed to mortals; he felt the I'M
mense stoop of grace that could choose him the me
mountain He would thus exhibit and extol the
dignity of Christ. II less than the least of all
Glory in Christi God forbid that I should glory
save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ William
Dawson of blessed memory, when preaching from
"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren
that through this man is preached unto you the
forgiveness of SINS, would say. Il now proceed to
preach Jesus to you, and want to set Him forth so
fully before you that you shall not SO much as see
my little finger" Paul was more deeply absorbed
even than this he hid himself entirely in the flow
ing robes of his glorious Mediator he was lost in the
glowing shadows of his Sovereigns throne.
s. He acknowledged his preparation to be Of grace.
This grace given" This statement reveals the
secret of true preaching power: grace must be
Trumpets." writes upon the Preaching Passion
Paul would discount a mere fondness for preaching
as Z polite or popular profession His only passion
was the love of Christ constraining; his inward
power was longing and travail, begotten by the
grace given" There should be gifts appropriate
for preaching-a strong and symmetrical body, a
clear and decided mind, large and sympathetic
heart But there must be grace gtreR. All men have
not been entrusted with preaching grace who have
The statement that men are born poets, painters
preachers may be very improperly applied There
can be no true preaching without a treasured pro-
vision the grace must be supplied; the true preach
er must be graceful, faH Of grace and truth
II. THE GLORIOUS THEME.
1.-THE unsearchable riches of Christ"
l. The Theme aOas Christ.
What a man Paul was for Christ "Christ in you
the hope of glory, whom we preach" "Christ is
preached and therein do rejoice yea and will re-
foice" For l determined not to know anything
among you save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Paul made every line point to Christ; every aTgu-
ment ended there. 1t IS painful sign of deteriora-
ton of soul and depreciation of subject when the
preacher is not palpaby struggling to get into that
part of the sermon where he can fully and freely
proclaim Christ. What virtue well as value is
there in Christi He is the first of all possessions
the true resource of life. The Martyrs sang, None
but Christ to us be given none but Christ in earth
or heaven.
meeting in London drew her shattered shawl
around her bruised and shverng frame, and telling
with tears and sobs of her cruel and brutal husband
of her desolate home and destitute children of her
dreary prospects drunkard's wife, with all the
certainty of holy trust said, All, sir, what would
l do without Jesusp
knew it and told it You know it, my Christian
brother and sister; know it and must tell it here.
None like Jesus! None like Jesus!
2. The riches of Christ.
When applied to Christ this word riches is a
rare expression. We have relish for the word;
indeed there is singular power about all those
words that denote abundance and possession;
charm of their own; we know the ring and enjoy it
we'll specially when we have the anticipation of
sharing the wealth and possessing the gold. Men
to-day are amazingly interested in the development
and distribution of the wealth of nature. We tell OF
the wealth of Christ We may not lllSer TO tell OF
the vast resources of nature that He claims. There
is wealth infinitely superior to all this there is but
barely time to repeat the names that shine upon the
vast stores of redeeming wealth owned by Christ.
In the massive vaults of eternal mercy, standing
there in shining order over the throne of the Media
tor see such rows of beaten gold such circles of
pearls and gems all untarnished and secure. The
names can be distinctly read for the clear light of
the word shines them: Incarnation, endurance Of
k1DItiOJ obedience Of tte SUBMISSION TO deu TeSltr-
Tecfion from the dead ascension ilterceSsi0H final judg
1ent Lower still in those radiant receSses and close
to the hand of our Saviour see the sparkling qot-
den coins Of grace. Thenames know: Illumination,
reDendnce fOrQiUeneSs adoption fellowship, SdnCt c-
ton Uictorg in death and eternal life beyond There are
also special and choice departments, engraved
"otg Spirit GiftslDisdOn and lore, patience and dis
c4nine1 of dispensdtiORs understanding Of Scriptures
sealing gifts duplicated graces grace upon grace,
and Ierction This all this is the wealth of Christ.
We have but named some OF these resources; al
held by the Mediator; al at the disposal OF poor hu
manity We may commence with thson earth, and
with this capital we may make a splendid interest
for eternity.
s. There are the unsearchdbLe riches Of Christ.
This word 'unsearchable" is a remarkable express
son it denotes deep profouud ttltdtondbte 1gedtt;
it cannot be followed up. We begin the search but
are lost in the east Oatspreddtng aecumu aed stores
before u.s. SO profuSe is the supply that we are
dazed and defeated with the very word 'uRsearcf'-
able" We may not attempt an explanation OF the
word or an estimate of the wealth. butWe shall ma
unspeakable pleasure i'll the repetition OF the
Apostles happy phrase, ''ttnsedrehdbSe. go to
Bethlehem and see an infant form; they tell me
God is in that little babe" cry unSedrchdote.
repair to Nazareth and look upon the carpenters
SON. subject to his parents, and they say that is
"Davids Lord" again repeat, "unsedTchd6te." go
to Olivet; see superior being, with sweet coun-
teuance, teaching a few followers the great prll-
ciples of divine love and human brotherhood, and
telling them He will found kingdom that shall
be universal and eternal; once more excaim, stn-