The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-11-10
THE CHRISTIAN NAME.
THE MERE PROFESSION OF CHRISTIANITY
CAN GIVE NEITHER PROFIT NOR
PEACE.
The Real Christianity is of Surpass-
ing Value and Greatness.


ing Value and Greatness.
Sermon by the Rev. W. Il. Hanckel, in the
Episcopal Church, Abbeville, at the
Union Meeting, Sunday Night. Novem-
Der z, 1885.
"And the disciples were called Christians first OF
Anliuch."-acts 81, 26.
tits the glorious prprogative of the Almighty
to bring good out Of evil, and cause the wrath
of man to praise Him. Thus the persccu ion
Of enemies WAS one cause OF the rapid spread
Of Christianity. On the persecution which
aroS upon the death of Stephen, the small
band OF disciples and apostles being all stat-
tered, went everywhere preaching the Cos
pei. The very means which the bitter enc
mics OF Christianity and His truth used for
It's Suppression contributed TO the dissemi-
nation of the word OF the Lord. so that in n
few years it was published. ."from Sea TO sea,
and from the river to the enGs OF the earth"
SccndCd in rich and copious showers to re.
fresh and make fruitful the barren spots. OF
the earth: Among the places where tho Cos
tioch, the capital of Syria, where the success
sors Of Alexander the Great usually resided.
There the Lord Jesus was preached to the
Greeks. i. e., the Pagan. inhahi'ants of the
number believed and turned unto the Lord"
The ridings of the SUCCESS of the Gospel being
heard by the Apostles that remained at Jeru-
salem. they sent Barnabas to establish the
new converts In the Christian faith. He not
satisfied with his own efforts In the cause,
went "to TarSus to seek Saul. And when III,
had found hlrI, he brought him 10 Antlucl )"
assembled themselves with The Church, and
taught much people," Then follows the fact
recorded in the text: "And the disciples were
called Christians first at AI.tioch."
NOT THE FIRST NAME.
disciples OF the Lord were distinguished.
Their enemies described them as NaZareneS,
Galilenns, "mcn Of This way" and by other
terms of rcproach. Among themselves they
a life of righteousness: Disciples. from being
followers Of Christ, their teacher; Believers,
because they believed in Him, as the Messiah ;
and Brethren from their mutual love, and
their relation t. God, the common Father.
At length, when their numbers increased,
and they were regularly organized; their va,
rious names were oil merged in the general
did n 1t likely come from their enemies The
original word, here rendered ''callel," seems
TO imply that they were called Christians. by
Divide appointment, or Il declaration hy God
HIMSELF. In this view, IL is remarkable ac-
complishmcnt of tho prophecy in the second
verse and siXty-Second chapter of Isaiah
"The Gentles shall see thy righteousness,
and all Kings thy glH:y. and thou shall
of the Lord shall name"
And so also Isaiah lXv, Is: TIC
Lord shall call His servants by another
namc." This maine at first confined to Il few.
has spread throughout the world. carrying
along with IL all those influences and that
moral power which lies at the basis OF mod
ern civilization. In many. places indeed 1t
scurcd and corrupted. Yet all nations and
people who are most advanced in the scale o!
civilization consider themselves honOred In
being called Christian. We In these
United States, In particular, thus call our
selves, and there are few who would not take
IL as u personal reflection, If denied the honor
of that distinction. Bat do we fully tlke In
the meaning Of the name we bear" Do we
realize tic the responsibilities involved in
our privileges and dignities? Every title ot
relationship or of honor. which II rcroncilcd
Cod confrrS upon His adopted children, i'm.
piles duties Of corresponding Importance II
have chosen you and Ordninrl YOU" said our
blessed Lord to his Apostles; and why?
"Thnt you should go and bring forth fruit.
"Now are ye light in the Lord" eXrlaimS st.
Paul. What then: "Wulll Us childrcn OF the
light"
T1IE RELATION OF CHRIST TO MAN, AND
WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR Us.
SO with us now. Arc we offered
through Christ our RedeemGr drlivernncc
from Sin and the consequences of sin. peace
with an offended God. pardon and acceptance
iio,r, and in the end eternal lifc3 Are we, in
short, "choscn of God, joint heirs with Christ,
kings nnd priests" unto God the Father
through Christ? Arc these blessed realities,
and not unnIeaning phrases? Then surely,
every person pretending to he Christian:
and Il pariaker of these realities, should pro.
pose TO himself these questions: What has
Jesus Christ done tor me, and what dues lie
require of me? In what respects Is my con.
dilion, with reference 10 my prospects nf tic
eternal world, and my duties in this, different
from what 1t would have been, had Jesus
CHRIST never lived To instruct, n:'r died To re-
deem mankind? Do l really believe that Jc.
sus Christ has died to redeem, sanctiiy aud
believes? fear there are thousands, called
Christians, to whom such questions have new.
CT occurred. and who care not to give them n
thought One thing Is certain, If We truly
make this sefinguiry, there are few OF none
but will be humbled To the dust by the con.
t;au bctwcCn the divine blessing r. tceived
and the human rclGrn-bc.wcCn our prOies'
sionS, and our own religious character.
But to be less general. We are called, and
claim to he, Christians. Do we know what II
Is To be such indeed? that is To be in reality
what VIC are in name? We may use II as q
name of distinction from the inildcl world
az an imp0sler. In this sense many may be
called Christians who arc. yet outside OF
Christianity, as to personal experience of It,
moral and spiritual power. We cannot now
consider this class. This name mny be used
ns q patronymic name, pointing ont the Fh.
thcr nnd Founder Of our holy religion and
our relation TO Him. In this there is great
propiitty.
u.ITy ~trTEn rIrRTs~r.