Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1892-01-04

| From photograph by Lindsey & Brown.) J
preach in his usual vigorous style. He
said that he would not attempt to give
his congregation Sermon but would
only give his church farewell talk. He
was glad to welcome many of his friends
in the audience who had made great
sacrifice of personal comfort in going to
church through the bitter wind and
driving snow storm. The minister said
it was but another manifestation of the
kindness they had so abundanty shown
him before.
| DR.. Nelson then announced as the
basis of his remarks Cor. 2:3.5:
"And | was with you in weakness, and in
| tear, and in much trembling; a d my speech
aud my preaching was not with cnticirE
| words of man'- wisdom, but in dcm0nstra-
ton of the spirit and of power: that your
faith should not stand in the wisdom of
men. but in the power OF God
"The first Sunday in February, 1887, "
said Dr. Nelson, II preached my first ser
mon to you as your pastor. On that
dav took as my text the verse preced-
ing the verses have just read, and as
my theme a Complete Savior. laid
down the direction of the Holy Spirit as
our guide and the crucifed and risen
Christ as our Savior and the Savior of
all who would trust him. love the old
doctrine of Jesus and his love- do not
love the new theology but love the
old, old storv-not because it is old, but
because it is the doctrine of my crucihcd
| Redeemcr. This doctrine | have kept
fresh before YOU. You remember told
YOU the object had and hoped to ac-
complish in preaching to this people was
to lead bad men to become good and
good men to become better. have en-.
deavored to win the wavward for nv
Master, to lift up the fallen and the
weak, to visit the widow and the or
phan, to comfort the distressed and to
point lost souls to a Savior. At the
same time have not failed to declare to
you the whole counsel of God so far as it
has been revealed to me by His Word
and Holy Spirit. have proclaimed His
gospel to you weekly, as well in the
prayer meetings as from the pulpit
"The record of my five years ministry
with you is made and is recorded above
God knows have tried to be faithful to
you and to Him. As my text SAYS, Il
was with you in weakness, etc have
endeavored to do my duty honestly, with
out ostentation and in the fear of God.
Many think the way to preach the gos-
pei is to show great research and erudi-
tion-ther chief object is to attract the
people; Paul says he did not preach with
enticing words OF mans wisdom but in
demonstration of the Spirit and OF
power. He did not try to draw the peo-
pie by classical music or rhetorical
phrases or flights of eloqucnce; Christ
was the magnet he held up to the
the people. If | be lifted up will draw
all men unto me-, says Christ. Like
Paul when the battle of this life is over
if can look back and say with him j
have fought a good tight; have finished
my course; | have kept the faith. hence
forth there is laid up for me crown o
righteousness, then | will not have
lived in vain. shall be satisfied.
Brethren, have no higher ambition
in this world than faithtulness to IN,
Master. But faith that stands in the wis
dom OF men is not the faith my text re
quires, but in the power of God, SAYS tn,
apostle, | have tried to teach you tc
stand in the power of God, other
wise when trouble and sorrow anC
t atlliction and distress shall come ovei
you your faith will waver and oh
brethren ii your faith cannot stand The
conflicts of this world, has it strength
for the Judgment to come? religion
that will not stand here is not safe tc
risk at the bar OF God. Fortiiy you,
souls against sorrow, aiflicton and ad
E versity by simple faith and honest trus
i, in God. Brethren, have tried to teacl
Won this faith and trust, have counsclct
you to promptncss in my masters work
! have enjoyed liberality and honest,
, and sincerity in all things. Zeal and ac
tivity in good work should characterize
; Il Christians lite.
Constant work for my Lord is nj,
chief joy, and these five years have beer
the busiest of my lite. Since have beer
your pastor have made nearly or quit,
an average of fteen hundred visits
year. These | considered necessary Th
most of them were to the poor and th
afflicted My heart always goes out t,
them. 1t may be a weakness with me
but love Gods poor. Brethren, neve
', close your hand OF Christian love an,
charity against those who need you
, help Do no circumscribe your charitie
with denomlnational lines but when Coz
, calls lend a helping hand Since l hav
: been with you we have contributed t
the poor OF Ashevlle nearly $500 pc
year in money besides food and clothing
The visiting did with the study wa
forced to do frequently made me wor
sixteen hours per dav and this has bee,
n too great tax on my constitution, bu
it was service for the Savior, and CO.
has greatly blessed the labors.
"On the first day of February, 1887
l. five years ago less one month this churc
. had 2S3 members. Since became you
d pastor we have received $40 member:
g This has not been by protracted meet
}. ings held by modern great evangelist