The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-21

high dignity of the ministerial office to
which God the great King and Head of
the church, and over all, has called men
and commissioned them to be his am
hassadors. How wonderful the conde-
scension of God that he will become
co-worker together with man. The
message which the minister Of God
brings is Gods own message, and
though it falls from human lips, it
comes with all the sanction OF the
eternal throne. In the name Of him
who sitteth thereon, and by his authorl-
tv. the ambassador Of God administers
the affairs of his church, and in Gods
stead he proclaims to rebellious man the
amnesty of the Gospel. Let US inquire
more particularly into this message.
$50 preach the preaching that | bid
thee preach. Beseech men to be recon-
ciled to God. His will is already re-
vealed. The message laid down III the
written word is the one the ambass;l-
dors are to bring. Along with the
terrible den r"iations OF the law they
must also tea, hat it is a faithful say
inc and worthy of all acception that
.JeSus Christ came into the world to
save sinners. His word is their text
book. In word they are men OF but
one book. What they have to proclaim
is written there. The confessions OF the
church while based on the word of God
are not the word. Above the authority
of any great man, or the agreement OF
learned men, stands the authority OF
Gods word. 1t is the only judge, rule
ana guide by which as by a Lydlan
stone all teachers and doctrines are to
be tried, whether they be pious or I'M
pious, true or false.
The end of the delivery OF this mes
sage is the reconciliation OF men TO GOD.
To all the ends Of the earth they are to
say in the name Of God come and be
We saved, and at the same time proclaim
Jesus Christ as the only saviour OF men.
This is an important message God has
intrusted to his ambassadors. 1t IS n
special message from the King OF Kings
and Lord of Lords.
How should this message he deliver
ed? AS though God did beseech you III
Christ's stead. With what earnestness
should men preach. You should under
stand the earnestness of him who all
the day long cries after his rebellious
people. Go to the cross, see the willing
sufferer hanging on the tree: mark
every cry and e:ery groan see the
glorious head bowed in death for mans
redemption, and say was he not in
earnest, in nensely in earnest, when he
came to save his poor lost creature, man.
In his stead you preach as though God
did beseech YOU. What love should
YOU exhibit. How infinite the love of
him who gave himself for our redcmp-
ton.
In pleading with mem remember you
bring them the only remedy. You see
here the importance of your mission.
The laws death warrant against all
sinners is already signed. You bring
them the only hope Of escape. What
q task, what work in Christ's stead to
beseech men to come to him. Some, like
Jonah turn aside, others like Elijah teel
as if they alone are on the Lords SIDE.
In times when mems hearts seem SO
hard that you can only weep as the
saviour did, do not forget who has sent
you.
This SYNOPSIS of this able sermon
does not do the speaker justice. 1t was
well delivered, and highly spoken OF by
all who heard it.
| ADDRESS BEFORE STUDENTS.
At night the address to the students
| was delivered by Rev }. 1. thalmers,
| Of Winnsboro.
His subject was the Perfection OF
| Character, the Goal Of Life.
It was one of the finest and best de-
livered addresses we have ever had the
pleasure of listening to. Mr.. Chalmers
spoke without manuscript and with a
distinctness and clearness that are un-
excelled. The speaker said man has
one golden age in his history. At one
time he stood complete before his
maker. He was perfect but he abused
his probation state and fell. He is now
no longer complete. 'Be ye therefore
perfect even as your father in heaven IS
perfect.n Perfection of character is the
ideal the bible sets before men. Christ
died to satisfy the requirements OF the
law, to remove the legal DISTINCTIONS 10
the attainment of this perfection OF
| character, so that man might ARISE
from Paradise Lost to Paradise Regain
ed. His character is to furnish man
a divine portraiture of human life.
Humanity has failed to furnish per-
feet character. Men who are Wor-
shipped and adored III one age are
cursed and abused in another. But the
character of Christ in the bible has stood
the closest test and scrutiny and crltl-
cism of the ages. Everything that Is
good and grand and noble in character
centres in his. His character as por-
traved in the four gospels IS complete
in all its parts. The attacks Of skeptlcs
and infidels have proved futile. IL
| commands the homage OF the ages.
| This matchless character IS a type, i
prefguration Of what mans character
may become. 1t is the only type OF
normal development known TO our
race. Our humanity was glorlnea III
him. No man knows the possibilities
in himself until he knows Christ.
Many who might have lifted their heads
amidst the stars are dying upon the
troubled waves because they We're TN
touched by the higher inspiration.
Christ and not uncreated ideals Is the
model to be followed by all who would
make perfection of character the ideal
of their life.
The character of Christ is the only
ideal capable Of meeting the growing
wants of the soul. Unless man proves
false to himself he must rise higher and
higher, until he reaches perfection. No
man can advance higher than his ideal,
no higher than he. aspires. Who does
not pity the man whose attainments
are all behind hlm. The man who
rests his case upon the fact that his
father was duke or wore the sword IN
battle.
What more melancholy spectacle
than that nation whose honors all lie
in the graves of its dead. Who follows
the gospel ideal of the divine-human
will always have to follow on.
Only as we approximate to the per-
fection seen in Christ do we give per
manence to our acquisitions and
attainments. The wise builder of char
acter moves onward and upward, build
ing structure that shall never crun-
bic.
l., -, ,.1