The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-05-18
THE SOLEMN CHARGE.
Happy if with my latest breath
may but gasp his name,
Preach him to all. and cry IN death
behold, behold the Lamb 7.

Trrxr-2 Tim iv 1 . Il charge thee therefore be-
fore God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall
Judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and
his Kingdom; preach the word; be instant IN ss1-
SON out of season: reprove. rebuke, eAhort Win
all long suffering and doctrine
In the sanctuary, where we have been accustomed
TO meet for prayer and praise for hearing and medi-
tating upon Gods holy word, and observing HIS
sacred ordinances, we come together again. dear
brethren, on this Lords Day morning, for the same
purposes. May the Holy Spirit dwell in our hearts
richly inspiring faith and revealing to us the pres
enee of our Lord, that we may have fellowship ana
communion with him and with the Father, that We
may be guided into all truth filed with love, and
have grace to keep all His commandments.
During the Seminary term now about 10 close,
those whom 1 especially address have been employ
ed in studies designed to aid them in preparing TO
become leaders In services like these wherever il
may please God to assign them work in the future
some of them viii go forth from our midst In very
short time and this may be the last occasion upon
which they will meet in this sanctuary. The per
sonal relation of myself and colleagues to them as
TO all the seminagians, has been one OF great re-
sponsibity; and feel in regard TO the present ser
vice especially the deepest anxiety 20 say TO them
only what God would have me say, in view OF the
solemn surroundings of the hour. OF course. all
that will be proper for me 10 say to them must be
derived from the volume Of divine revelation
which is as accessible to them as to me, and by
which it is their duty well as privilege 70 test
whatever shall say nevertheless il can hardly be
viewed as inconsistent with this statement that
should call their attention to such portions OF the
revelation as seem to me to have special bearing
upon their interests and duty at this peculiar juno
ture Of their career This is no ordinary time with
them. il is extraordinary unique and. In some re-
spects, awful when they felt themselves called Of
God to prepare for the ministry and during all the
time OF attempted preparation. they saw how seri-
ous a matter IL was now that the time has come
when they feel themselves called 70 90 forth into
the work with such preparation as they have been
enabled. under the blessing of God, TO make they
must think realize the seriousness OF the matter
more fully than they ever did before Lord, who
Is sufficient for these things comes nom theif
hearts with all the earnestaess Of despondencydes
pondency that would settle down into absolute de
spair but for The divine assurance OF help. susie
nance and blessing contained In tho saviours
words: -Ioi am with you always, even unto the
end Of The world And again; my grace is sui-
iclent for thee for my strength is made perfccs in
weakness
These last words were addressed by our Lord
directly 20 PAUL The author Of text whose solemn
charge 70 Timothy not given without the under
lying confidence in Pauls heart, that Timothy
would be enabled BY the Holy spirit 70 understand
and fulfil IT,
Ihave characterized The charge Itself as solemn,
and Il Is 81 but Il is also delinnf ~ uug sp'e@H
maaRer And at this let as firsilook. The apostles
language Is. Il charge thee g.relos,r that Is, IN
view or all that he bad written before We shall
see the force Of this Therefore when We mad Of
Paul calling the Gospel -the glorious Gospel q the
blessed God which was committed unto ms uusi.
and thanking Jesus christ our Lord. who had
enaslea him for that he counted him faithful Put
ting him into the ministry; who was beiore bias
phemer and injurious; but obtained nefey eecAuse
lie did It ignoTaafiy in unbelief and when We
read his words This Is q EAiihful saying and
worthy Of all aeceplation that Christ Jesus came
into ne world 10 ave sinners. of whom chief
Hosbesf for this cause obtained mercy, that In me
frss Christ might snow forth his longsuferng Tor
pattern to them who should hereafter believe on
him TO life everlasting Aud again: This change
/ commit unto thee, 0 Timothy. according to The
pronhecfcs which went before on thee, that thou BY
them nightest war a good warfare. And sgHin
sThcse things command aud teach Let no man
aespise Thy youth: but be thou example o. the
believers. Take heed 10 myself and unto the doc
trne continue in ihem for in doing this thou shalt
both save myself and them that hear thee And
again. u charge thee before God and The Lord
Jesus Christ and the elect angels, that thou observe
these things.- And again 20 Timothy, keep thai
inst Epistie And then in the former part q This
Epistle such words rs these Il thank God, when
Ical 70 remembrance the unfeigned aiih that Is IN
f,ee which dwest sFst Ia thy grand mother Lois
and ny mother Euniee. aud an persuaded that 10
thee also. wherefore put thee In remembrance
that tsou stir up the gin Of God. which Is in thee BY
the putting on Of my hands. For God hath net
given 70 US the spirit OF fear, but Of power and Of
4 sound rnind Be not thou therefore ashamed Of
the testimony Of our Lord, nor OF me bis prisoner
but be thou partaker Of the Affections Of the Gospel
according to the power ofGod, who hath saved rs
and salled US with a holy calling And again:
ssiudy to show thyself approved unto God, work
man that needeth not 10 be ashamed rightly divid
ing the word Of truth And. lastly in The imme.
aiaie context: continue thou in the things which
thou hast learned and been assured o., knowing Of
whom thou hast learned them. and that from a
child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which
are able to make thee wise unto salvation through
esith. which Is In Christ Jesus. All scripture Is
given by inspiration Of God and IS profitable for
doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction
In righteousness; that the man Of God may Be per
feet thoroughly furnished unto all good works
Then follows our text 4 change thee Dsncarr, be-
fore God and the Lord Jesus Christ'-whose minis
ters we both are. and 70 whom We are accountable
awho ria JUDGE DC qlick aud ne dead At his appearing
more solemn than this manner Of address, which
calls attention 70 every consideration retrospective
and prospective that has 10 do With the subject
In view Of the nature and design Of the Gospel in
view OF the wondrcus grace Of God TO the speaker In
committing 10 Him the dispensaton oft, IN view Of
the important part be had under God ia IFS inhu
euce upon the person addressed. and the many
eounseIs he had under divine inspiration given him
regarding II; and then in view Of the Judgment to
come and the tremendous final results; in view OF
all these Things is the solemn charge given.
Now. secondly. let Us look at ne soiegH eisrge
Hseff-the special things which il enjoins upon Tim
othy Is a minister Of the Gospel.
/. -Prasah ne Hord." What word Manifcstly.
the word of God to which frequent allusion is made
not only in both the Episties 70 Timothy, but in all
PauI's writing and recorded addresses. No sermon,
in the modern sense is recorded as having been
preached by Paul or any Of the Apostles; yet their
addresses are more properly sermons than many
modern productions THAI bear the title We are 10
preach the Word Id declare The testimony OF
Cod -.The whole counsel OF Cod and as
the central truth Of the word, is that God
sent his Son into the world 10 save the world" all
that we preach has been designated By Paul the
preaching OF Christ and him erueifed. And it is
20 be preached as the word Of God, and not as the
word Of men or Of angels, although both men and
angels have been instruments through whom God {
was pleased at sundry times and in divers manners.
to communicate il to the world Mainly and in its
faIness as The revelation of grace and truth, it came
BY Jesus Christ In these last days especially, God
hath SPOKEN unto Us by his Son, whom he hath ap
pointed heir OF all things, by whom also he made /
the worlds who being the brightness of his glory I
and the express image OF his person, and upholding
all things by the word of his power, when he had I
bv himself puFged our sins, sa down ON the right /
hand Of the Majesty on high hcing made 50 much /
better than the angels, as he hath BY inheritance
obtained more excellent name than they For /
eGod wrought his mighty power in Christ, when he |
raised him from the dead and set him at his own I
rieht-hand in the heavenly places, far above all
principally and power. and might, and dominion /
and every name that is named, not only in this 1
world but also inthat which is 10 come aud put all
things under his feet and gave him to be the head
over ali things the Church. which is bis body, the
fulness OF him that heth all in al" Most earnest
" do pray, with Paul. shat the God OF our Lord /
Jesus Christ the Father OF glory, may give unto US
The shirt Of wisdom and revelation in the knowl-
edge Of him; the eyes of our understanding being i
enlightened that we may know what is the hope OF
his calling and what the riches OF his glory in the
inheritance Of the saints and whEt the exceeding |
Greatness Of his power 10 usward who believe ac-
corning to the working Of his mighty power that
4. ~lhe power which he wrought in Christ" Of
which have already spoken in inspired language /
In The highest sense indeed Christ is Himself the