Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-14

when Rev. DR.. Taimage teok for the
subjsct Of his forenoon sermon pas
sage Of Scripture which has been the
subject Of much discussion and various
Interpretation by modern theologians.
His theme was, "a Cheerful Church, {"
and the text was selected from Solo
mons Song Al: Behold thou art fair
my love"
Higher criticism" says that this
book OF Solomon's Song is a love scene,
forlorn maiden signing for her beau.
II so IL 10 an uhclean and debauched
uttersnce inserted IN the pure Word OF
God and Is not 81 for common reading.
Ny opinion is that il Is an inspired ode
setting forth the feeling of Christ TO-
ward the church and the church toward
Christ Christ is tha Bridegroom, and
the church is the Bride. The same
words We can utter to-day trathfulIy
whether 10 regard 20 the church of God
IN general or this church 10 particular:
Behold, thou art fair, my love-" The
past week has been one OF prolonged
congratulation for what we have for
associate with each other in the rela-
ton of pastor and people. Whom l
came 70 BROOKLYN l found a small band
of Christian disciples who from vari-
Gus causes had become less and less,
until they stood upon the very verge OF
extinction as church; and the ques-
ton was being agitated from time TO
time whether 10 would be possible 10
maintain a church life longer. Indeed,
had not those men and women been
consscrated and earnest, they would
haVs surrendered
TO THE ADVERSE CICUMSTANCES.
They marshalled a congregational
meeting, and, gathering up all the forces
possible, they cast nineteen votes tor a
pastor, all Of which 1 am happy 10 have
received.
II was not through any spirit OF per-
sonal courage or reckless adventure
that led me, from one OF the warmeSt
and most cOngenial pastorates in Phil
adelphia that man every enjoyed, TO
this then most uninviting field; but It
was the feeling that God mad called me
70 the work, and 1 was sure he would
see me through.
I have thought that 10 might be prof.
table 10 us TO state briefly what kind
OF church we have been trying 10 eS-
tahlish.
In the first place, remark that we
have been trying 10 build here q Chris
ttan church-distinctively such; in other
words, schurch where we should preach
the Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucihed.
Ny theology is all gone into five letter
Jesus. Jesus, the pardon OF ell Of
lenses. Jesus, the foundation for all
structures. Jesus, the balm for all
wounds. Jesus, the eye-Salve for all
blindness. Jesus, the guide through all
perplexitiss. Jesus, the hope for all
discouragsments. Jesus, the reform
- az wroAgs. I have faith 10 believe
snat there is more power 10 one drop OF
che blood Of Jesus Christ to cure the
woes OF all the world than in an ocean
full OF human Quackery. Jesus is the
grandsst note In any minstreiSy. He is
the brightest gem in ony crown. Height
overlapping all height, The centre OF
every circumference. The Circumfer-
ence Of every centre. The pacl6er OF
all turbulence. The umpire OF all dis
putes. Jesus! Jesusl At His table all
nations are to sit. Around His throne
all worlds are 20 revOlve. He is 70 be
the irridiation OF the universe. Jesus,
Jesus! IL is that truth that We have
tried
e TO PREACH IN IRIS TABERNACLE.
Do you ask more infinitely what we
believer can tell you. We have no
dry, Withered, juicelesS theology. We
believe i'm God, the Father Almighty,
Maker OF Heaven aud Earth, the De-
liyerer OF the distressed, the Home for
the homeless, the Friend for the frieBd-
less. We believe ia JUsus Christ, able
70 save 10 the UttermoSt, pardOning the
guilty, imputing his righteousness TO
the believer. We believe in the Holy
Ghost, the Comforter, the SaDcuher,
cheering up the heart In lies ills, and
kindling bright lights ia every dark
landingplace. We believe that the
whole race is 80 Sunken in sin that
nothing but the Omnipotent arm of
God can ever lift 10 out. We believe 10
grace-free grace, sovereign grace,
triumphant grace, eternal grace. We
believe in a Bible-authentio 10 its
statements, immaculat Ia its teachings,
glorious ia its promises We believe In
Heaven, the abode OF the righteous;
and 10 Hell, the residence OF
those who are soul-suicideS-
OF their own free choice re-
fuslng the divine mercy. We believe
ia the salvation Of all men who accept
Christ by faith, be they sprinkled or
immersed, worship they in cathedral or
log cabin, believe they ia Presbyterian
ism or Episcopacy, dwell they under
Italian skies or Siberian snOw-storms,
be they Ethiopian or American. All
one in Christ. Oae Lord, one faith, one
baptism, on the way 70 one heaven. We
built this Tabernacle for the purpose OF
setting forth these great theories OF the
Gospel OF the Son Of God. Would that
we had been more faithful in the pull
pit! Would that We had been more
faithful in the pew!
remark, further, that we have tried
here TO build church diStinctiyely IN
conventional Instead OF asking, as
some people are disposed to do, how
other people do it, we have asked the
question how people do not 90 it. In
periouS custom has decided that
CHURCHES SHALL BE ANGULAR,
cherries, gloomy, unsympathetie; for
eating that what men call a pious gloom |
is imDious, and that that church has |
the best architecture where the people
ara the most comfortable, and that that /
IL the most efficient Christian service |
where the people are made most sick I
Of sin. and most anxious after Christ |
and heaven. And so wecalled the arch |
fleets together for our first church I
NO. 90 cafH ts(rfva rs IN amphi- |