Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-10-25

l OF Christianity than against II. DnriBInn-
dom throwst the burdenof proof upon the
obiector and the recaleitrant.
| IT II true shat the conditions now are
| linked; modern. American; II society is DIFF
| fereut. eve are encompassed with prob
! lens material, political, scientific, and In
some degree philosophical, such as were
mot dreamed OF IN those early. days.
pagan ideas and morals Qt is true) pene-
| trate civilization which Is nominRlly
| Christian We have to meet the psrils OF
| heresy, sGhigrn, unbelfef and materialism.
There is danger ALSO Ia our times, hs one
has said that men should hold themselves
back and attempt TO rest in an Incomplete
| Ohrlstianity. "It 10 the temptation OF an
age too far instructed to venture on re-
turn to heathenism. and yet ready TO use
only such parts OF toe Christian ethics as It
4 nay be able to asslmilate au age which as
llearned much from Christianity and yet
hasitates to take 3t Hli."
& This Indifference may be hard to move.
z And yet venture the assertion that there
ID nothing in the circumstances OF our time
which approaches the nerce opposition uf
the 6atly days. But then the few conquered
the many, the Httle ecneoyercame the strong
nation. S ffs tHd
woslmpls ash, bow was the mighty work
Isl 100 much to say that the methods
employed were as far ms possible removed
| fsoln those which on every hand men now
/ think bestana most effective? That Is the
reasoa why.the Chutcnnian mutt question
the modern ways, Hnd believe In HIS heart
. that nthe cid le better"
Ia tho flsst place, the frst apostles and
: ! thstr company brought most prom,nsntly
TO benr upon their failowmen the inIlnenea
. Of grent institutions which eosnrined
| spiritual veri.iaR, yea, which enshrlned
J Christ Hlmssf. They preached and estao.
| lished boldly and constantly an institutional
Christianity, Donnh % With certain visihle,
{ tangible aud lastipe dTdinances--all Of them,
! they claimed, vigorous with spiritual life.
} There was no other known form Of
0 Christianity. All converts acqnieeced in
! the corporate or church form 81 their re-
: liglon. No one ASSIST tod for himself the
) position Of ''a uhretiGn unattached" as
/ tho phraseis. Whether jews or Gsntlas,
/, the Organization OF the converts Ia one
{ body was always The Same. Aud within
9 this church were certain Institutions which
no one could fail TO note. and most pront-
i nent the Apostolat5 Of which wa h4ve been
0 spsgking, s'the primary fact with which
n 0hrist had begun tho pentscost Of Ills
: i Church."
g The Apostolate included all that was to
o follow. II was the only order In the minis
+ Try established aud commissioned by our
l. blessed Lord In person. by tho grace of
b the Apostolare the church grew strong aud
8 etable, aud was established In every city.
h May It nos be that when all Christian
st people and We our3elves return to the esrly
. and scriptual view, and to The full use Of this
o holy Institution, the Lords promise apd
1t assistance shall again be vouehsa'ed as Of
old, "the Lord wnrkiDg nightly With Hit
l. people. and connrniug His word with sign:
l. following" ng"--signs which now alas! We scot
h 10 vain
For when He appoints and men ignore
A. His appointment, their loss Of blessing |;
>; far greater than they themselves eau con
q, celve; the chariot wheels drive heavily and
" the enemy g1ins an advantage.
<. This later missionary history of both the
Q. English and American churches give
ID abundant token that God still besses Hi
own institution In Its fullest use. Th'
In names OF Selwyn, Patteson, Clalkson
s. Tutte and Elliott, bring before us the flg
A. Dres of true apostles-- untrammeed b.
h human restricdons--leaders and guides ii
n tho fullest 5ense-not swsying mer
be OH ial and arbitrary authority, but com
p peiling the attention, affection and allie
O. glance Of clergy and people, and oarryinl
In Christ to the multitude on every hand b!
ID the very Office which they 40 grandIy bore
Of May not their aG3seas assist us eonlewha
m 10 the solution OF sonle OF the problems re
10 lating to the fuTuTe?
or For to this overwhelming duty we Of thi
In nineteenth century in this new western
ar continent are loudly called. to bring tt
ar men the primitive faith, to bear Christ Him
III self to men, 10 His word, His ministry
to His saereneuts, exactly Us the apostles die
,lf at the arst; preaehtng the whole counsel
God, and not a part OF IL only; witnessing
with no bated breath to the grand all com
Ia, prshenstve truth Of the resurrection ;tellini
the suffering and sinning multltudes tina
IA they are begotten again unto lively hope b.
the resurrection OF Chri5t from the dead
thro wing over all human experiences tina
q orious light of the risen Man, Cur Brother
which glorifes sorrow aud temptation ami
ID trial and even death itself with rRdianc
from heaven.
or A bishop who would succeed In ever.
eepse OF that word must plan apd pra.
and travel and preach, and labor night an'
day IN the overmastering consciousness
III that, most unworthy, he has nevertheless
been singled out from among his brethrei
", thus to convey not the message only bu
he very Lord who uttered 1t. Hs comes
his diocese not In word alone, but "endue
with power from on high"
+. Need I say how, with this understendtn
u of his Office, be becomes first of all MOI
humble minded and most patient, and {
the same time most fearless and courageous
Need l say that In his loneliness he
ur hlled with comfort, and in his many need
the power of the Lord more and more resi-
i" upon him
Need say that no burdens can be into
-, erable no difficulty insurmountable, n
az of hopes for the future too high and unattain
~ ~ able !?
" " Everywhere he goes his very presenc
~ brings d blessing. To every candidate fc
:, confirmation he Is the means Of eouveyin
% y. abenediction. To BIS clergy he is sta
n, and a comfort He is con irsntly and b.
Y, Divine appointment a peaeemaker--one G
IL those concerning whom the Master said
ne ne "They shall be called the children OF God.
~ az The psople throughout bis diocese 500
Il, learn to love him and to listen with peculia
,ta docility to the witness which he bears.
~ 10 The Master whom he serves honors HI
,a 81 ambassador, SO that among all Christla
M people and by the world outside, som
ho measure Of appreciation and recognition
- give n TO bis high office on every hDnd.
- - In the experience Of every bishop II
~ truth Is horne in upon his heart--full OF eI
W enlargement and help, that into WhRtsoevt
a. a.. city or place he may enter, Christ entel
en with him. The old words verify then
an selves. When ne gives the saluattoi
nv nv "Peaee be to this house, his peace, which
~ the Masters peace surely rests upon 1t.
70 Now If these things are so, and Christ
nd words be true, what may we not hope IL
,ai Ji with perfect confidence as the result I
"a what we do to-day?
~ "a When unto this high and holy office one
~ ~ raised, laborious, devoted, trustworthy, eI
, ~ perienced, one who has purchased to hin
IA self o good degree and great boldness
"a "a the faith, one who believes IN his Master
ed presence end power In His Church, an
nj nj has diligently, through long years sought
~ ~ realize the truth IN his own heart and
NJ manifest IT and impress It upon Others the
ai, good cheer awaits that happy dloeess ov,
81 81, which tho Holy Ghost has chosen him to |
~ the oyerseer; the Savlour's choicest git
- await him who In this spirit of selt-devotio
- and fervor accepts tho highest honor whic
y. " can come to any man.
ipe Suffer the word OF exhortation the
~ dearly beloved, the clergy and laity OF Il
III III Diocese OF Delaware. Help your blsho
%. to make real 10 fullest measure the Apostl
chin which he hath raoatvax frnIn the I,or