The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-17
CALLED TO CHURCH.
A PRETTY DAY AND PLENTIFUL
wORSHIPPERS.
CROWDED CONGREGATIONS COL
LECT AT TIE CHURCHES.
WHAT Wan SAID Bx TWO MINIS
TrRs.
Rev ~ ~ Lambeth. ut Brosd-Sfress
Methodist, Delivers nn Interesting
sermon Professor earl n.
srammcr 40 ~. Mark


about the appearance OF the large NUN
Der Of ladies that were brought out to
divine services held in the churches
yesterday.
About church hour the streets were
lined with people. Somo had the
hurried walk which seems somehow
or other to have become fashionable
here. Others walked sedately, perhaps
with thoughts intent upon things
divine.
Perhaps the fast walkers thought 1t
was English. you know
Broad strcet Methodist Episcopal
church Is centrally located. Its first
pastor was the beloved James A. Dun
can, and memorial tablet has bean
placed 10 his memory in the church.
Rev. s. S. Lambeth is the present pastor
aud he preached yesterday.
Dir. Lambeth took for his text the
fifteenth verse Of the seventeenth chap
ter OF John.
"
plo. The house was comfortably pleas
ant. and an attentive congregation liza
tened 10 the fervent words OF the divine.
He said THE text presents our ga
viour 10 ms in that touching attitude
which ne so often assumed when. AZ
man Of sorrOws and acquainted with
grief, he graced our world with hls
presence and blessed II with bis
teachings and example. lie "As
pre- sminently man or prayer.
IL. IA has been said OF all Who
are his genuine followers. VAS his vital
breath and native AIR. The mountains
that encircled Jerusalem, the vins-clAd
hills of Jndes. the groves OF Ohvst. ths
shores OF Gsllilee's lake, wore the
closets into which he entered 20 hold
communion with his and our Father.
And all Of these places are rendered
holy TO us because they have bssn con-
secrated by the Redeener 3 worship.
When the crowds that thrOnasd
around him TO hear his teaching and
witness his miracles had dispersed to
their abodes, unmindful OF his sI
hausted frame, Jesus would retire from
the busy world. and with the stars
above his head and his locks vet with
dow. he would spend hour after hour
earnestly pethiOnlng the benisons OF
Heaven upon his disciples; and not un-
frequently the morning dawn would
still find him bowed IN prayer; the sun
when it circled half the world would
find him where it had left him the pre-
vious evening enjoying the sweet solsos
Of idevotion upon his knees, having
spent the quiet hours Of the entire night
alone with his God.
WHY CHRIST PRAYED.
But why should Christ have prayed
at allY He was holy. harmless. unde-
filed and separate from sinners. lie
had no guilt so confess. 10 forgiveness
10 implore, no back slidiDgs TO be
healed.
A well-beloved son. ho enjoyed n
neaintss 81 access 10 the Almighty
Father and familiarity with Him that
even the unfalIen sefaphim that sur
round the eternal throne dare not
claim.
And yet nc prayed because, being our
perfect model, il was Beedful that he
should leave US an example that We
might follow his steps. The matter OF
our prayers, our confessions, and the
petitions that We offer. could find 10
place in his. His were the pray
ers of the innocent ours proceed from
unseen and guilty lips. Yet he had
strength to seek and requests to offer
connected with his great work II human
redemption. such az can never enter into
the comprehension of our feeble minds.
And then he prayed because il was TO
him what it should be TO us, the most
delightful employment in which he
could engage. Most sweet 10 him
were those sacred s0htudes % JndSa.
lie loved his father. Between them
there was entire harmony and oneness
of feeling. and the winged hours of
night few fast over the hill tops aud
groves vixen our Saviour communed
with the Deity whose glory lie had
possessed before the foundations OF the
world were laid.
UNsELFlsH LOVE.
The text is "A part Of that tender and
pathetic prayer, Il pray not that
thou shOuldest take them out of the
world but that thou shouldest keep them
from the evil 1t was offered by the
Saviour after he had eaten with them
the passover and just before
his betrayal. This whole prayer,
like the sermon which had pre-.
coded il, furnishes an unparalleled
instance. Of tenderness and unselflsh
love, aud is filled with truths, natural.
sublime, and Of unspesksble import
q. h.. l. l.. l..
None Of the blessings for which Jesus
asks we're more needed by the disciples,
daily. hourly needed, than what IL ON
bodied in this petition. 4 merely su-
perhcial view of the subject might in
duco Us 90 wonder that Christ should
allow his dearest friends to re-
main IN the world after he
had left il. Their lot wss not one of
ease and prosperity 4: their lives were
passed amid sufferings from " hich they
found no rest TILL their souls were ia
Heaven, and their bodies in the grave.
They did not, AS many at the present
day, drop smoothly down ths.strsam Of
time, borne forward on the flood OF
thousand blessings. but they we're
forced to steer their course through
ltIltCt RIA Va NoHAibb@h AiAot''
WAVES OF TROUBLE.
One wave of trouble a. on stormy
shore followed fast upon another.
Roaring billow broke on the back Of
blllow, aud but for their faith in God
and ia bis overriding providence, they
would have beon over vhelmod hun
dred times. No ship With her sail
blown to ribbons and her mssts gone
by the board, ever reached her port
after q more stormy voyage than did
their barques.
What picture Of their hard for
tunes rs painted by these touches OF the
Masters hand. behold send you
forth az sheep in the midst Of wolves.
III they have prosecuted me they will
also persecute you Vat In full fore
sight OF this. knowing al the cruel
eufferings that awaited hi. beloved dis
ciplcs, Jesus prayed that they might
liVe--live Tor poverty, contumely, i'm
priropment. the scOurge, the bloody
scahoid aud lingering croes saying, Il
pray not that thou shouldest take them
out OF the world.
o, could many a parent foresee what
GnI In marcy hides tho Hul4ppx fate ]