Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-04-14
A PASTORS PARTING.
Rev. Ill. G. Leland's Farewell to the
First Baptist.
An Able Sermon Yesterday Morning
---His congregation AdmOnished TO
Look Onward ana Upward.

Rev. + G Leland preached his fare
well sermon to his congregation at the
First Baptist church yesterday morning
His text was from Philippians 8: 1914.
| stretching Onward 10 the things which tefore,
press on toward the goal unto the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus
The christian life and destiny, said Mr.
Leland. are fittingly termed high
calling" hy the apostle There is no ex-
perience or attainment which is reached,
however excellent and blessed but that
there lies beyond still greater possibilities.
no eminence of piety or usefulness but
may be considered as foothills TO the yet
unscaled heights beyond. But many per-
| sons seem to live in the past: reputa-
ton acquired. achievements of note or
rich experiences which belong to the past
occupy much of their thought and seem
to fulfill their highest desires, and they
frequently talk of the good times gone.
1T was better then than now" is the
burden of the complaint of some.
1t should not be so with the christian;
every day should be better in his exper-
fence than the preceding, and his eye
should ever be fixed on the higher use
tulness he may attain and the bright goal
at which his race will end, Ms Carlysle
says. "the goal of yesterday should be
the starting point of today" and every
new start should he taken from higher
ground. The figures under which Paul
refers to the christian life indicate that
his idea OF it was not one that could be
realized by ease, inactivity or indolent re-
trospectiOl or anticipation. Working
warning. running and striving were fig
ures in great favor with him when setting
forth the christians path of faith duty,
service, suffering and privilege. From
the GrecIan games, which were known to
the Hebrews after the Macedonian in
vasion, he selects several of bis most ex-
pressive figures. and in the text under the
figure of d race he gives us comprehen
sive statement of the christians attitude
toward the past, his conduct in the pres
ent and his reward in the future, and
while the reward is magnified, and it is
evidently involved that we are really liv-
. lux III lAt lutultp We hIt us CIthTlN
taught that We should rightly understand
our relations to the past and especially to
the present.
First-1he christians attitude toward
the past should he that of entire willful
forgetfulness of everything that will not
aid or that will in anyway hinder his
higher attainment and advancement to
the goal. lie should forget his past
trials and roubles. These come to every
one in the form of sorrows, discourage,
ments, difficulties, opposition. doubts and
fears. The lessons of caution and faith
and heroism should be remembered, but
brooding in discouraged mood over
them should never be INDUCED. Second
He should forget his failures. These
come 10 al men in every department of
life, and the christian should initiate the
energetic business man who contracts for
a new place of business while the ruins of
the old are still smoking. "lthas been tried
and failed" should never be given as a
reason for not attempting again to do
what ought to be Gone. Third-He
should forget his successes. The land
IN lrks of success, which mag be seen as
We look back are pleasant objects of
contemplation. but not infrequently they
help toward defeat. The worlds motto
isl Nothing succeeds like success" But
frfquently success in business leads to
oyer confidence and recklessness, which
blings speedy failure. So in the chris
Ian life there are dangers even in success.
4 church or an individual may be led by
success not humbly contemplated into
pride, self satisfaction. reliance on man.
And relaxation of effort The Jerico
victory may be followed by the defest at
Af, because of presumption as well as
SIN From the moment of transfigura-
Sfon the christian should be willing to
descend to the help of the needy in the
valley below. RetrOspection was strong
ly urged By the old writers. but it should
never be INDUCED in when its effect is
that of depression or encouragement, and
it should be remembered that too often
looking back ends in going back. Some
one has well said, that the christians at
titude should be looking outward not in
ward. forw ard not backward. upward not
downward and lending a hand.
''What has been should be forgotten
When the brighter goal appears
He will accomplish little who spends
much of his time idly delighting in the
past
Second. The christians conduct in the
present is set forth in the text as pressing
toward the goal. The christian life is
not a circle of empty sapless formalities,
but continuous urgent action forward
oblivIous to all allurements. Day dream
| ing concerning heaven may he the de-
lightful exercise during his devotional
hours. but as Carlysle SAYS, "our grand
business iu this world is not to see what
lies dimly in the future. hut to do what
lies clearly at hand" He should
Think that lay lost whose low descending sun
Views fro n lie hand no noble action done"
Peerng nto the future by the aid of the
Divine Revelation is proper and delight
| full exercise. but that Revelation also
brings to Us the same command as Tenny
sons psalm of life:
Trust no future, howeer pleasant,
| Let the dead past bury its dead;
Act, act In the living present
Heart within and God o'eThead.
| The church is now in working, not
| waiting dispensation. But as the an.
cient racer must he mindful of the rules
of the game, so the christion is to press
! forward in Jesus Christ. Christ is not
| only "the door" by which all must enter
| upon the christian course, but he is also
the way in which the christian must
always run in all his course:
| t'Tis Jesus when the burdened heart
Is sink NC meath its load;
| And Jesus when the the trembling steps
| Can In dly keep the road.
| And Jesus when the sun OF 10y
Has set sorrows night,
For he al one can sOOthe the pain
| Or guioe the steps Alright
IT'S Jesus in the morning hours,