Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-02-18

lst- ~ Is great tn It's origin.
When Ma>silon, one of the greatest di-
vines France ever knew, was called to
preach the funeral sermon Of the departed
king, in the cathedral at Paris, before the
recently crowned and then reigning king.
and the royal family, the Chambers and the
grandees of France, he took with him to
the sacred desk little golden urn contain
ing lock Of the late kings hair.
The immense congregation was seated
and the silence of death reigned Mission
arose, holding the urn in his fingers, his
hand resting on the sacred cushion All
eyes were instantly fixed upon him. Mo
ments, minutes passed, Massilon stood mo-
tiouless, pale as a statue. The feeling be-
came intense. Many believed he was
struck dumb before the august assembly;
many sighed and groaned aloud; many
eyes were suffused with tears when the
hand of Massilon was seen slowly raising
the little urn, while his eyes were iutently
fixed upon the king. As the hand was re-
turned to the sacred cushion, the loud and
solemn voice of Massilon was heard in
every pat Of the massive cathedral as be
declared, God alone is great. There is no
human greatness. God alone is great"
Massion had not failed, was not dumb,
did not fall below the demands of the great
occasion He had already preached sn
eloquent sermon, whose sublime truth his
audience could never forget. Greatness
Him. Whatever He does is great. And so
our salvation is great because God is its
Author. While Others shall perish this will
remain. We refer to the word of God for
our creed. Any church that cannot point
to the Bible with unfeigned honesty for
direct confirmation of its formulated creed,
has no right to impose upon the credulity
of the world as christian church. Neith-
er is there any worthy sanction to the
preaching of gospel that is not imhedded
in Thus saith the Lord"
And now going to that word, the sole
arbiter of our faith, what do We find con-
cerning the origin of our holy religion?
The prophecy came not in old time by
the will of man; but holy men of God
Ghost" III Peter I:21.
"All scripture is given by inspiration Of
God, and is profitable for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteous
ness; that the man of God may be perfect.
thoroughly furnished unto all good works y
| II Tim. III l6-l7.
God who at sundry times and in diverse
manners spake in time past unto the faith
ers by the prophets, hath in these last days
spoken unto US by His Son, whom He hath
appointed heir of all things" heb. I:1-2
Therefore we ought to give the more
earnest heed to the things which we have
heard, lest at any time we should let them
slip. For if the word spoken by angels
was steadfast and every transgression and
disobedience received just recompenss
of reward; how shall we escape, if we
neglect SO great salvation; which at the
first began to be spoken by the Lord, and
was confirmed unto US by them that heard
Him; God also bearing them witness, both
with signs and wonders. and with divers
miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, &C.
co.ding to His own will?" Heb. II: I-5.
| He, the eternal God, ll-wise, all-power.
full. all-good, who made the created uni
verse, and at whose commanding word
every star that shines and every world that
exists could be spoken back to atomic
dust, is the inspiring Author OF the word
We teach and of the plan of this great sal.
vation we preach.
We claim no right, and assume no privi.
lege, to preach any other gospel than the
gospel of the word of God. 1t is not our
way. but Gods way; not our plan, but His
plan.
Free thinkers, and so-called liberals, art
now and then heard to declare the funda-
mental doctrines of the evangelical church
! e. narrow. We are accused Of being