Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-08-30
HIS vALED1cToRY.

HIS vALEDICToRY.
Farewell Sermon by Rev. C. r. Bird, of
the Presbyterian Church.
At the. Fourteenth street Presbyterian
Church last Sunday the pastor, Rev. George
R. Bird, delivered the following farewell SER
mon to the congregation, to whose spiritual
welfare he had administered during the
past six years:
And upon the first day of the week. when the
preached unto them, ready to depart on the
morrow, and continued his speech until mid
night.-Acts Xxx, z.
This text contains the five subjects upon
which Christian minister would wish to
speak in closing his labors among a Chris
tian people. 1t is pardonable if / depart
from my usual custom of silence concern
ing myself and on this occasion am some
what personal in this valedictory.
1.-THE CHRISTIAN SERVICE.
Christian life is service in which the
soul tolls. Manual labor is not the only
labor. Spiritual labor is far more exacting,
exhausting and far-reaching. To have the
mind and heart in harness drawing heavy
loads for Others good is the severest sort of
toll. The care of all the churches that
came upon Paul was care that every min
lister shares to certain degree.
This service is for Christ's sake; that is
the meaning of the Christian ministry. AS
Christ was the servant of men for Gods
sake so the Christian is servant of men for
Christ's sake. Not for the sake of living,
or of showing ones learning, or of position,
or public power, but for love of Christ.
The love of Christ constrains. If it was
not so we should be about our own busi-
ness like everybody else In this spirit we
have served you in this city six years-in
word as we were able and in deed as we
had opportunity. But it is to cease to day.
Our abode among you has been very pleas
ant, but now we must say good-by. You
will bear witness that in all these years we
have served not for lucre's sake, but for
the Lords sake.
1.-THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH
Is the first day of the week, On that day
Christians assemble to emphasize two
truths-thst the Lord He is God and we
are His people. The world needs, in its
forgetfulness, to have public testimony
once in seven days. We have not been
forgetful to do this. Also, this day cele-
brates Christ's resurrection and our de-
livery from the dominion of the grave. 1t
is the Christian day of independence,
celebrated not once year, but once
week.
This Sabbath is neither Jewish nor
American. We do not keep it in memory
of creation and deliverance from Egypt's
bondage as do the Jews. We celebrate
redemption and deliverance from sin. We
do not keep it because our forefathers did,
and because the law of the land requires it.
We keep it because the Apostles kept it
and for love of our Lord.
Iu.-THE CHRISTIAN SACRAMENT
Is the Feast Day of the Christian. We
have few feast days; but those we have are
royal ones. This one is fit for King. A
King prepares it and invites to it. Into a
Kings company we come when we accept
the invitation and sit down to the Lords
Supper. This is the rallying point of the
| Christian life. Those who say they are
Christians and never come to it are
| stragglers and not soldiers in Christ's serv-
| ice; found in the rear and not in the ranks
| when the line of battle is formed for the
good fight of faith
tits simple esupper-neither mystery nor
miracle in it. Simple so children can un-
derstand, since by objects it appeals to the
| heart through the eye and the hand and
the lip. The bread and cup speak more
| eloquently than words of the body and
| blood of the Lord. The lovers of Christ
| always hunger and thirst for the feast and
this food.
Iv.-THE CHRISTIAN SERMON.
1t ministers to man. The sermon will
never grow old, since God is constantly
raising up people who crave it as they do
| food. The poorest sermon has better
nourishment for the Christian than the
weary platitudes of politics or the garbage
OF the press. Sermons are not so dull as
those persons who dislike to hear them.
1t is not the sermon but the mental
stomach that is out of order. Do not
be afraid of a long sermon. Paul's sermon
lasted unto midnight because they had no
completed Bible then, and he had, doubt
less, to go over the whole gospel history
with them. The sermon is the taking of
the things of Christ and showing them
forth to the people. The sermon magnifies
God, not man. The minister is to get as
much out Of sight as possible. 1t is not his
personal magnetism that does people good
but the word and wisdom of God. No
subject foreign to this ideal has ever had 8
| place in this pulpit during the past six
years. We have preached and expounded
the word of God as we promised to do at
| our ordination.
| y.-THE CHRISTIAN FAREWELL.
The final day has come for US to part.
We do SO as cordial friends and fellow
servants ofChrist. l have tried among you
to be, first of all, Christian by presenting to
you the person and glory of Christ. A
wonderful and beautiful theme, never ex-
hausted, and of which we should never
tire. The more we know and see OF
Christ the better Christians we shall be-
Secondly, have tried to be conscientious
and follow faithfully the path of right and
truth as | see it. This has made me con-
servative. l have stood alone in this city
on some things since l could not indorse
the modern revival methods of building ul
the churches. l believe such methods
hurtful TO true piety and stability in the
church. This church agreed by its officers
to follow a conservative course six years
ago when l came among you. We have
been consistent aud have kept our promises
| believe this church will now show the
wisdom of such course. Without a nat
when go, you go on. My successor comes
, here next Sabbath. Not single prayer
meeting is omitted, and you, while sad a
my saying good by, yet move forward lik,
veterans, If not strong in numbers, We
strong in faith and resolution. Ihave beer
J Calvinistie, for believe that is the system
: of doctrine taught in the Scriptures. 1t is
certainly taught in our Confession of Faith
and, as loyal Presbyterians we have beer
true to our honored blue flag. Calvinisn
is what the times want to correct the head
iness of the age. The sovereignty of Goo
is of more importance than the free will o
man. Man has too much will of his own
anyway.
We have preached as we have prayed
i. 'The Lord reigneth; let the people trem
bic. The Lord reigneth; let the earth re
joice," And now farewell And will vol
not fare well if you all with one accorC
f give your attention to the Christian service
the Christian Sabbath, the Christian sacra
ment and the Christian sermon.
| THAT pENNkNr