Hillsboro recorder., 1888-06-21
GODS UNsPEAKABLE GIFT.

The Rev. w. H. Wilhelm, pastor OF the
Presbyterian church in this town, oeen-
pied his pulpit both in tho morning and
at night last Sunday. In the morning
the text Of his sermon was Il. Corinthians,
tx. Is. Thanks be unto God for his nm
speakable gift" In the treatment OF his
theme the reverend gentleman said:
The Apostle Paul, in the chapter from
which have selected my text, was treat
ing Of the subject Of liberality on the
part Of the church, and in passing let us
note that the kind Of giving The apostle
recommended was liberal, deliberate and
cheerful The apostle also offered as an
induccnent for the performance OF duty
On tho part Of those to whom his epistle
WAS written that their gifts to the church
would redown in great blessings on their
own heads. Tue apostles teacnlng on this
subject ended in the doxology Of the text.
Gods gift was that OF his initiate son to
this lost and guilty world. and all other
gifts fade int, utter insignificance when
brought into its presence. 1.
! Iu what sense Was this gift nnspeakable?
Iii that it is incomprehensible to finite
minds. Man is a helpless sinner. a con-
| demned creature, and it is utterly impos-
| eible for him to relieve himself, TO meet
the demands OF the righteous law; he Is
simply reserved for punishment, aud
| nothing but the bs6odo OF tine son Of G1d
can shed light into the hearts OF our
/ guilty raee. When the dark scene was
enacted on Calvary thai closed his holy
life it was no wonder that the light OF the
4 sun was veiled, that the earth rocked and
that the dead walked in the streets of
Jerusalem. Gods unntterable grace was
revealed in the sacrifice of his son.
| But want 10 speak more practically on
this subject and show how the Lord Jesus
\ Christ, our Saviour, was m unspeakable
| gift. He was this by reason OF being our
| perfect example Gol's word contains q
| perfect code of ethics, but it was neces-
sary that men should have an example
placed before them, aud Christ taught by
example more than by precept. His di-
dac,ic teachings may be summed up in a
few sentences, but he taught by parallels,
and kings on their thrones trembled at
his teaching and do yet. Men must have
leaders, anu they will often follow them
Dlin,lly. Every other character portrayed
in the Bible is more or less imperfect;
Jesus is the only perfect example. We
have leaders whUm We admire, but when
we read the pages Of their lives our hearts
are sridenei. Paul says: "Follow me.
even us / follow Christ" He understood
the matter. 1t is human to err. Solomon
said: Il have Seen an end of all perfec-
tion."
| II we follow the example of Christ we
shall have law-abiding citizens. Young
mau, YOU are aud will be citizen, and
yoE must assume responsibilities TO the
country whose protection yoa seek and to
the eternal Col who Is over yon. Christ
was hw,nbiiiug citizen; he recognized
citizenship in the commonwealth and in
the kingdom OF God. RENDER to Cesar
the things that are Casar's and unto God
the things that are Gods, no said. Don't
forget your allegiance 10 the king Of
neaseli. --E q.
The cultivation of these principles and
obedience 10 them makes the highest type
OF life in this world. The coantry and the
charcl nce.is more men actuaied by these
principles. We want the pure morality OF
Christ held before the wurli 10 day. His
seli.denial is worthy Of our imitation; it
commands not only the admiration OF the
world, bat that of God Almighty. "while
1 We MtEt NtN cihuNAo ShAtaNk tANA ASA Nos
Socrates. who almost reached the truth in
,aauy points, died ike 4 philosopher; but
Jrsas Ghtist died Ike a god. Infinitely
; grand was the scene on Calvary, where
Christ barei his bosom TO thc shafts OF
divine ius,ire. Search into al his motives
: and Ne iiad no purpose OF sell-aiVanre.
mrnt. lie was Code uBspeakable
Gift to the world. All our lives we
have been enjoying the houniyof this
gut. Have We ever stood before God
and cried ont: thanks be unto God
for his nnspeakabls gifi.
Christ threw light across the dark
chasm that separates ibis from the
unseen world In Tie closing scenes
OF our life how Incomplete is nnr JOY
If that light be- shut ont. Paul en-
ioyed il all through li:s life. The
veil was pierced aud he SAW IN the
bright, shining hand ot the saviour
. the crown that should be given him,
thousands have seen the same crown
and have gone home to wear 1t.
Young men ard young women
look al Jesus Christ as ar example
! When the claims Of religion are
pressed upon you, remember thai
nothing but the sacrifice ot Jesns vii
avail for you. When all is dark ant
misty about you. louk vt the rays thaI
enm inte frm the sun OF righteous
l. ness aud cross the dark chasmfo
death, Gods uusptaktble gift. q