Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-08
DIR. BAC0N'S INAUGURAL.
he breaches HIS FIRST SER
MON IN >NANNAH.

At the Independent Presbyterian
Church Morning and EveninG-The
Subject of His Discourses-The Apos-
toIie Salutation and Means of Repent
Rnce.
Rev, Leonard woolsey Bacon, d. D.,
who was invited to savannah from Nor
witch, Conn, by the Indepe ndent Presby-
terian congregation of this city, delivered
his frs sermon here yesterday morning.
The text selected by DR.. Bacon for his
initiatory sermon seemed TO give it sort
OF inaugural character. 1t was Romans
j., Z: ''Grace be to you and peace from
God the Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ" This is "the apostolic saluta-
tion," found at the head of every
one of the letters to the churches,
as the apostolic benediction is found
at the close OF them. 1t is
constant and recurring torm-s
form of prayer-and the use of 1t indi-
Gates where this great apostle of Christian
liberty would ave been found in the OBJ
stinate and persistent controversy that
has often been waged on the question be-
tween fixed forms and eYer-yarying forms
of prayer If this controversy had broken
out In bis day. He would have been on
neither side and on both sides-a very
good position whenever any controversy
on non-essentials threatens the peace and
unity OF the church.
This form OF prayer is also fOrmality
OF courtesy. Christianity does not abolish
the forms and titles of courtesy. Quaker
ism did. Toe French Revolution did. Bur
CBrist did not. Luke addresses Tbeopht-
lus by the Official title, Your Excel
iency;" and even Paul hestOws the same
lille on so Ignoble character as Festus.
4
Of hollow compliment ls TO breathe into
them the breath OF life till they become a
living soul.
What the apostle invokes on the church
which be addr esses is grace aud peace
never peace and grace. AS II meaning
that no peace is worth having till one
first has grace. Peace without pardon is
no peace. But the offer OF erace-favof
10 the ill-deseTvIng--is Gods accusation
Of guilt; and the acceptance OF the Offer
is the confession of quit on our part. No
WORD in ali the Gospel is a more awful
demonstration OF our sin than this
Charming sound or grace.
And after grace com speace-the peace
81 God, which cannot come in any 9th r.
course, and which keeDs the heart and
mind through Jesus Christ. Many time
peace seems TO linger long afie grace has
come, before 1t comes, and makes its
abode in the pardoned soul. But blessed
IS the man " no waits and trusts.
1t has been observed that when we pass
the great cDurch epistles and come 10 the
nder and inumate pastoral eDistl q ad
dressed 70 the apostles young asso-
ciates in the ministry, the salu ation
changes to the form Of grace, mercy
ana peace"-Rs If sgnitying the peculiar
responsibility that rests on those v DO
bear tie message OF the Gospel We who
stand here to ess your in the name of the
Lord entreat you answering beuedction,
and when We say 1.-THE Lord he with you,''
await from your heart the sine re re-
Spouse, land with thy spirit"
DR.. Bacpn's text for bis sermon last
night was from the Lamenl atoms OF Jere
iniah, ill, 8: "He bath enclosed my ways
with hewn stone"
The lesson drawn from the passage was
that none is so safe as those whom tue
LORD has set in peril that He may bring
them forth again unscar ed. G0a ives
his people TO anguish that they may learn
20 pray for HIS blessing. "Blssss e. are
thew that mourn for they shall o.. coon
forted." Repentance is rot alone SORROW
for past wrongs, bat it means that the
mind must be turned to God and Christ
must be trusted. Look alott and let the
faces be toward God. That is repentance
toward God and faith in His Son.
DR.. Bacon will ill the pu pit OF the In
dependent church during the month and
be may become the pastor of the coAgre-
CATION. His voice is rich and strong, and
bis delivery distioctS easy and graceful.
he Is altogether a most interesting and
attractive speaker.