Wichita eagle., 1888-12-25
REV. HEwETT's FAREWELL SERMON.

Rev. ]. D. Hewett took for his Sabbath
morning text, the 5th verse of the LIST
chapter of St, Paul to Timothy, Now the
end of the commandment is charity out OF
a pure heart. and of good conscience, and
of faith unfeigued" He preached from
the same text on the occasion of his trial
sermon to this charge nine and half
years ago. If Wichita were going to lose
our friend we should set mp wall. We
probably lose him only as pastor not as
a citizen and as friend. We but voice
the estimate of a great majority OF our
people who know him. including the MEM
bership OF the First Presbyterian church,
when we say that as pastor he has been
instant in season and one of season." as a
minister without reproach, and as citizen
enterprising and energetic with faith I'M
shaken in the grand future of Wichita the
brilliancy and greatness of which IS en-
phasized by each succeeding day
The entire sermon was taken by Mr..
Fazel and transcribed, and we are enabled
to give the touching words of his closing
farewell and benedictiOn IN full:
And as the days go by you shall learn TO
love God with all your hearts, and YOU
shall love your neighbors as yourselves,
for on those two commandments hang all
the law and the prophets. The end OF the
commandment is love cut of pure heart,
and of a good conscience, and OF an I'M
feigned faith.
May God help you thus TO attain to the
fruitfulness Of true christian living
Amen.
This mornings services close up thu pas
torate, my passionate in this church. Nine
years and half ago yesterday / had the
pleasure and the trial OF preaching to you
from this text. On the ed day of June,
1876 preached for the first time in this
church, from the text: 81 am not ashamed
of the gospel of Christ, for it is the
power of God, to the Jew first and also TO
the Greek" and | can say that those are
my sentiments now friends. | am not
ashamed of the gospel of Christ, and | am
thankful to God that He has proven His
power TO us many times; His power unto
salvation to so many who have heard the
word in this place; and It would be pleas
ant if not profitable to rehearse some of
the things that have transpired in the
history Of this church In the years that
have flown. But / do not think it very
profitable to go over those things, for the
end of the commandment is love, love out
of pure heart and of an unfeigned faith
and of good conscience That is very
important matter; and Jesus Christ and
Him crucified, is very important matter;
and the power of God unto salvation is an
important matter. But our personal rela-
lions are not SO important and so we have
designediy said little about them. But III
these closing words something should be
said, and will say it briefly.
First, do not believe any pastorate in
the United States or out of 1t, on the whole
could have had more sympathetic, more
faithful, more foFbearing congregation
l., h., h lnfs
had during these years that have minis
tered to you.
| praise you brethren and sisters, and
thank you because of your forbearance
and your kindness, it has been marked
and known, and will ever, in this world
and believe in the world to come be a
matter of precious remembrance TO me.
What we have been enabled to do togeth-
er, has been by the grace and power of
God. Not unto us, not unto US oh God,
but unto thy great name be all the praise
The mistakes we have made, / believe
God will override, trust he will, and
believe ne will, so that only good will
come to us as the result of our labors,
You know and God knows that have
earnestly pressed forward in his
work here as God has given me ability;
and so this morning, according to the act
ion of the Presbytery at their last October
meeting, we declare this pulpit and this
church now TO be without a pastor Our
ministry is closed The future supply of
the church will be attended TO by the ses-
sion under direction of the Presbytery:
and in Gods own good time He will send
you a man to go in and out before you
and break unto you the bread of life.
leave this church. glad and happy that
God has enabled US TO work together for
nearly five hundred Sundays in His name
and for his cause. We have met together
in sorrow and in joy: we have mingled
our tears and prayers and our rejoieiugs
together; the record Is on high. Many Of
the beloved Of this communion have gone
home Many others have come In from
other churches. Some have been born in
this kingdom. and some have been born
again. into the kingdom of Christ; born
twice in this short time. And / believe,
trusting in Him, and following Him that
Won will 90 on aud on in the years TO come
and wherever my ministry and service for
Him may be, | trust shall
have your prayers as you shall have mine.
And then when we all 20 up 70 meet the
church Of the first born, whose names are
written In heaven, and we see the King in
His beauty, what q day that viii be,
What time Of ba!lelujahs; what songs o.
praise he Will prompt Is to sing we do not
know, but they viii be religious songs:
they will be blessed songs, and we shall
serve him without mistakes, loyousiy
forever more.
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