Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-01-30

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company of Italian soldiers. He was
pure hearted man and earnestly desire
10 do what was right. He studied tn
Jewish scriptures and became convince
that the God of the Jews was the onl
true God; God heard his prayers and say
his aims and opened a way for him /
learn the way of life. An angel was Sc n
to tell him to send to Joppa, a city thirt
miles south, and call for Simon who's
surname was Peter. When Peter cam
10 Caeserea and met Cornelius, he asked
For what intent have ye sent for me?
Cornelius related his message from Go,
and said: Thou hast well done that thol
art come, now therefore we are all her
present before God to hear all things tina
are commanded thee OF God"
There are motives that lie at the bash
Of our actions; and it is often as profita.
BILE for us to study the motive as it is Il
study the action. Peter wanted to know
the motive Cornelius had in sending fol
him. Last Lords day this congregation
called me TO become its minister, and
want to ask each one who cast vote
what object you had in viewp Was il
| that you may have a minister to do your
singing and praying-in short To do all
the church work, while you stand idly by
and look on2 Papa" said minister
little son who had heard much talk about
| installing minister what does the
| church do when it insta!ls preachers
Does 1t put him in stall and feed him?"
The father answered. "nO my son, it
bitches him on and wants him to pull the
load. Some churches want even more
than this, for when the minister succeeds
in pulling the load, the members, to test
his strength, pull in the opposite direc>
ton. Do you want your minister to
preach to empty pews while you remain
at home cozily seated in an easy chair by
pleasant fire diligently perusng the last
novef Such motives indicate very
low state of spirituality, and hope that
you were not prompted by them.
Did you call q minister that YOU NAV
be entertained Sunday mornings and even
ings with enticing words of mans wis.
dom, with smooth sentences and beauti>
fully rounded periods-fiowery language
that tckles the ear and plesses the fancy
rather than with words that feed the
soulS Or would you have him come in
the power of God bringing to you the
message of love from heaven, "teaching
that denying ungodliness and worldly
lusts, you should live soberlv, righteous
ly and cody in this present world, look
ing for that blessed hope and the glorious
appearing of the great God aud our Saw
Tor Jesus CHRISTI Or did you call min
lister that you may criticise and find fault
WITH | do not want your criticisms;
want your sympathy and your prayers.
If we are Joined together in the work of
saving ourselves and others, we will have
no time to criticise; if we criticise less
and pray more, God will bless US; if we
love more and envy less we will be hap
pier. Did you call minister because
you wanted some one into whose ear YOU
can pour your complaints to tell him
how much the church has gone down
when you have done nothing to keen it
up, to grumble about your neighbors and
brethren. how that the church has not
treated you right when you have not done
your duty to the church, | trust that
the highest motives prompted your &C
ton. You in your hearts may answer
these questions, but your future conduct |
will furnish me the answer, and God al |
ready knows it.
1t IS right that you should ask me what |
my purpose is in accepting your call
what object have | in view? Paul said |
TO the Corinthian church: Il seek not |
yours, but you" AS servant of the |
most high God, l cannot say less. | |
came to help you grow BETTER to preach |
the gospel of love and peace and unity; |
TO insist on the obedience to all things |
that have been commanded by the Lord, |
that you may live in a brighter light and |
that your hearts may be more completely |
filed with his holy spirit.
came to preach the gospel of faith
and obedience to those out of Christ and
20 help you bring them to the Saviour. |
bring to them the sweet angelic
song, Peace on earth, and in heaven,
good will toward men," bring to them
story of Saviour's love; his death on the
cross; his shed blood cleansing every
stain; the forgiveness of sins; the ran
som from the grave; the eternal joys and
glory with Christ and the Father in the
beautiful mansions above. | came to
work for you and with you, "And | will
most gladly spend and be spent for YOUR
ouls." | give my life, my energies and
he talents God has given me for the souls
# my fellow men. If l teach those
hings that will bring you nearer to Christ
nd rebuke in love those things that draw
ou away, shall be loved less by your
came, not so much to visit among you,
nut to go out in the lanes ana bywayS and
edges, as Christ commanded, and per
uade the people to come to Christ.
When Andrew found the Christ, he
rought Peter to him. Then Philip finds
nd brings Nathaniel. Oh, the world is
ull of Peters and Nathanels; they are
ear us; they may be our next door
eighbors. Are there not some Andrews
nd Philips who will bring them to the
aviourH If yod called me for other
imposes than these, wish you to recon
der your call. If thought could do
o good for Christ among you, you can
fer no inducement strong enough to keep
lie with you. No money nor anything
se can induce me to stay where cannot
o good for Christ. l came in the
.rength and power and wisdom of my
Iaster. II am determined to know l
othing among you save Jesus Christ and
i'm crucified."
You said by your votes that you will
e present when possible, at every ser>
ice to encourage and hell the minister
Behold, we are all here present before
cd, to hear all things that are comman-
ed thee of God" You said that you
ould, like Cornelius, try to bring your
insmen and friends that they may hear |
nd be persuaded of Christ You said r
Y those votes that you would sing and
ray; that you would band together in
we and work for the salvation of the
'uls of your fellow men. Do you mean {
ese things2 Or was your action means 9
g!ess?
A hundred years ago Andrew Fuller
i'd: There is a gold mine in India
no will venture TO explore ito" Villa m
4ry, a man who had dedicated his life to
cd and whose soul was on fire with 1
DDS love, said; Il will 60" We