Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-08-15

acceptable manner Sunday morning,
His text was part Of the second verse
Of the fourth chapter Of ii. Timothy.
He said:
We have in this text the best and
highest authority for preaching the
word, an echo of the words of Christ,
who had commanded his disciples long
before to go into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature.
1t is Il good thing to read the word,
10 mediate upon and assimilate its
blessed truth, to catch its spirit and by
aid of the Holy Spirit find in il saliva
ton and joy and peace. But this scrip
ture exhorts Timothy to preach the
word. Saul, whose name had been
changed to Paul, and whose nature had
been transformed by the living Christ
from a prosecutor Of Christians to their
exponent, champion and leader, was
about to give up his life, to leave the
scene of earthly conflicts and trials,
prosecutions and anxieties and to go to
his heavenly home, to his crown of
glory. Timothy was his son in the gos-
pei, one upon whom his tenderest affec-
tion had been set. And now Paul is
about TO deliver TO this dear young man
his last message, his last loving word
of advice.
Surely there was no time for levity or
lightly considered remarks under such
peculiar circumstances, and we are
naturally interested as to what shall
be said by such u great man as Paul.
A little while before we find Paul had
been instructing, advising and admon-
ishing Timothy. Ills love for him may
be known from his intense yearning for
Timothy. Let us note some Of the adj
vice given briefly.
Now the end of the commandment
is charity out of pure heart Great
is the mystery of godliness. The spirit
speaketh expressly that in the latter
times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducng spirits, and
doctrines of devils; speaking lies in
hypocrisy We trust in the living God
who is the Saviour Of all men, especi-
ally Of those that believe. These things
command and teach. BE thou an exam
pie of the believers, in word, in CONVEX
sation, in charity, in spirit. in faith. in
purity. Give attendance to reading, to
exhortation, to doctrine Neglect not
the gift that is in thee. -
He hints at times Of encouragement
that will come 10 Timothy, they
come to each Of u.s. and sweetly cheers
him by saying: "Thou, therefore, my
son, be strong in the grace that is in
Christ jesus. -
Paul knew the helpessness and weak
ness of human sympathy, he knew
something of the strength and support
of the Saviour Of the world.
He assures Timothy that the Lord
knoweth them that are His, warns him
TO avoid foolish and unlearncd ques
tions, knowing that they do gender
strifes, and then among his very last
words he says: 50 charge thee, there
fore, before God, and the Lord Jesus
Christ, who shall judge the quick and
the dead at His appearing, and His
KINGDOM, preach the word Y
To preach the word means to pro
claim it to the congregation, or as
sembly, by one called of God. Paul
had thus proclaimed and preached it
when his very life was in peril, even
before kings and rulers Had he not
stood on Mars Hill before the rich and
proud Athenians, and Numbered the
Gospel plan, salvation through Christ.
and through Him alone Listen
"God that made the world and all
things therein, seeing that He is Lord
of Heaven and earth, dwclleth not in
temples made with hands, neither is
worshipped with mems hands, as
though He needed anything, seeing He
giveth 10 all life and breath, and all
things, and hath made of one blood
all nations Of men. For in Him we
live and move and have our being, :"
sc.
What u cutting through with the
Keen blade Of truth the idolatrous
worship OF these idol worshippers! No
compromise with sin! The truth, the
truth Of living God Paul certainly
was competent 70 give authority about
preaching. He had fought with wild
beasts, been thrown into prison, ship
wrecked, and in his own body bore
marks of the Lord Jesus He was com
potent to instruct Timothy, and to
instruct MS all and he saws emphati-
cally and earnestly, Preach the
Word. -
What does Paul mean hy the word?
What word? Whose word? Undoubtedly
he meant the Bible the whole Bible,
nothing left out. nothing added. Now,
| am well aware that there are per-
SONS and many Of them whOare saying.
80 Yes, the Bible was very good book
for the people, and times, Of whom,
and for which it was written, but il
does not suit our people ror our times.
We have advanced so in civilization
and Enlightenment, yuu know" Such
persons know about as much about the
Bible as they do about The earth tive
thousand miles down under its surface.
The Bible is spiritual book, and ii is
a sealed book largely, to those who
come to it without Il spirit Of apprecia,
tion of the spiritual. ana sure I am
not competent TO Judge Of all is won.
derfln merit, but | thank God that
have found it Il source Of wondrdus
power, and help and solacc in every
time of trouble. | look upon ii as let
Ter from my Father, telling me in al
tenderness and sympathy and love ot
His love for me, encouraging me To be
faithful and by and 10y He will take me
home 10 live with Him in a land where
all tears are wiped away, and broker
hearts are every whit made whole.
The Bible! The Bible! My mothers
Bible! Tho time table from earth &c
heaven! Gives all the stops, tells al
the perils Of the journey, an account
tof the mountain scenery, and the shad
ows Of The valley. hit ali the time di
recLing us to the grand central depo
OF heaven!
What other book with allegory SC
wonderful What sweet Psalms, mar
velous parallels, strange prophecies,
glorious blessed truths?
1t is the only line that can sound the
depths of the human soul! It's sub
Unity Of Thought carries the trusting
soul into the realm Of blissful delight
and Joy And then it is Gods boob
TO man Think Of it! The God who
built the universe talking TO man, tel
ling the story Of infinite love III ihc
only way we could possibly understand