The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-09-15
ANNIVERSARY SERMON.


Studdiford, D. D., in the First Presby.
terian Church of Lambertville, Septem.
Der 9th, the occasion being the anniver-
sary of the twentieth year of his pastor
ate. The concluding part of the sermon
will appear next week.
TEXT: Philippians 3, 4, sd thank my God
upon every remembrance Of you, always in every
prayer of mine for you all making request with
joy, for your fellowship in the Gospel from the
first day until now"
AS look back upon the last twenty
years-the period which measures my
pastorate here--I find that the ties that
bind me to you, my brethren, have grown
stronger with the flight of time. 1t would
be strange If | did not feel peculiar
attachment to this Church, when it was
here that my father labored for nearly
forty Ave years, and here ] attended
Divine service from my earliest childhood
until left home to receive my collegiate
| training, and here was pupil in the
Sabbath School, and here made public
profession of my faith In Christ. | feel
quite sure, then, that the affectionate
words which the great Apostle addressed
to the Philippian Christians may be
appropriately used by me on this occasion,
when the recollections of the years that
are gone and the thought of the intimate
| and hallowed relation l have sustained to
you come spontaneously to mind.
l. speak of it as hallowed relation.
That it is SO, Is quite evident from the
Word of God Our Form of Government
| sets forth the nature and duties of the
office Of pastor in these words The
pastoral office is the fist 10 the Church,
both for dignity and usefulness. The
person who fills this Office hath, in
| Scripture, obtained different names ex-
pressive of his various duties. AS he has
the oversight of the flock of Christ, he is
termed bishop As he feeds them with
spiritual food, he is termed pastor. AS
he serves Christ 10 his Church, he is
termed minister. As il is his duty to be
grave and prudent, and an example of
the flock, aud to govern well in the house
and kingdom of Christ, he is termed
| presbyter or elder. As he is the messenger
| of God, he is termed the angel of the
| Church. AS he is sent to declare the will
Of God to sinners, and to beseech them
to be reconciled to God through Christ
he is termed ambassador. And as he
dispenses the manifold grace of God, and
the ordinances instituted by Christ, he is
termed steward of the mysteries of God
| When was installed pastor of this Church
the following questions were proposed
to me:
al. Are you now willing to take the
charge of this congregation as their pastor
agreeably to your declaration at accepting
their call?
80. Do you conscientiously believe and
declare, as far as you know your own
heart, that in taking upon you this charge,
you are influenced by sincere desire to
promote the glory of God, and the good
of this church,
80, Doyou solemnly promise, that by
the assistance of the grace of God you
will endeavor faithfully to discharge all
the duties of a pastor to this congregation,
and will be careful to maintain deport-
ment in all respects becoming minister
of the Gospel agreeably to your ordna-
ton covenants?
These questions having been answered
in the affirmative, the following questions
were propcuuded to you, the congrega-
| ton
Il. Doyou, the people of this congrega-
ton, continue to profess your readiness
to be your Minister
|
of truth from his mouth, with meekness
and love and to submit TO him in the
due exercise of discipline?
"3. Do you promise to encourage him in
his arduous labor and to assist his en-
deavors for your instruction and spiritual
edificationq
"a. Aud do you engage to continue to
him while he is your pastor that compe-
| I'M 10 mn mr. W Ia nh ha 1a
promised, aud whatever else you may see
neediul for the honor of religion and his
comfort among you"
These citations, which are made from
our Form of Government, clearly set forth
the nature and sacredness of the relation
which pastor and people sustain to on
another. The old familiar hymn recur
to us, with its solemn and suggestive
words
Let lions watehmen all awake
And take the alarm they give,
Now let them from the mouth ofGod
Their solemn charge receive.
IT'S not a cause of small import
The pastors care demands,
But what might fill an angels heart
And fill q Saviour's hands.
They watch for souls for whom the Lord
Did heavenly bliss forego-
For souls that must forever live
In rapture or In woe.
All to the great tribunal haste,
Tn account to render there
| And shou ldst Thou strictly mark our faults,
Lord how should we appear?
May they that Jesus whom they preach
Their own RedeemeT see,
And watch thou daily DER their souls,
That they may watch for thee.
III. In this relation pastor and people ar,
to be helpers one of another. They are by
love to serve one another. The minister
is to serve the Church by feeding the PEG
pie with the Word of Life. He is t.
preach the Word, to be instant in season
and out of season. He is to mediate on
these things-that is, the things Of
Gods Word, aud give himself wholly tt
them. He is to be well.instructed
scribe, bringing out of his treasures things
new and old.
He is to watch for souls as one who il
to give an account be is to watch as the
shepherd careth for the sheep.
The people are to encourage their pastor
by diligent and constant attendance on
his ministry, by an affectionate interest
in his welfare, by treating him with pro
per respect, especially by remembering
him frequently in their prayers, and by
. | Mduilbbbthk III sattoho ways thbt
thy with him In his work and co operating
with him in all that pertains to the inter
est of Christ's Kingdom.
When pastor thus sees his people aid
ing him, he can truthfully say, with Paul
81 thank my God upon every remem
brance of you, always in every prayer D
mine for you all making request with joy
for your fellowship 10 the Gospel from thu
first day until now" | feel that ! Cal
say this. True, we have had our faults
both pastor and people. Yet, recognizing
your hearty sympathy and regard,
thank my God upon every remembrance
Of you.
! Let us now take look at the pas
twenty years, and see II, notwithstanding
our many discouragements, there has no
! been much to encourage AS.
Soon after the decease of my vencrate,