Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-03-25
IN THE CHURCHES YESTERDAY.
INTERESTING SERMON BY REV
r. R. BIGGER
Yesterday Morning at the Third
Presbyterian Bishop
DOnahue's Lenten
Discourse.

The beautiful day yesterday brought
big crowds out on the streets and the
churches were all filled with large
congregations. At the Third Presby-
terrain Church, Rev. r. b. Bigger, the
new pastor, preached q very beautiful
sermon to an immense cOncOurse of
people. For his text he took Romans
So Following is an abstract OF the
discourse:
The chapter in which our text is
found is one OF the dearest chapters in
Gods word to the Christian. In the
former part OF this chapter Paul
speaks of the safe and holy condition
of those who have taken Jesus Christ
as their Savior He also speaks Of
their adoption into the family Of God,
and their support in hope OF the king
dom. He says the ground Of all these
blessed hopes and consultations is TO be-
found in Gods predestinating love: so
that the Christian need not fear any
thing that might seem to be a him
drance to his salvation, but on the
contrary with the love of God in Christ
we are assured of that salvation
In the twenty-eighth verse Paul
saws. We know that all things work
together for good to them that love
God. to them that are called according
TO his purpose. And being wrapped
up in admiring the mystery of Gods
love and wondering the height and
depth. the length and breadth Of
Christ's redceming love, which passeth
all understanding. and also wondering
at the exceeding great and precious
privileges which we enjoy in Christ,
Paul in triumph concludes like an ora
tor. saying. What shall We then say
TO these things if God be for us, VINO
can be agaist u.s.
THE answer to this question is the
words of our text: He spared not his
only son. but delivered him up for us
all. how shall he not with him freely
give us all things.
Our text contains two prominent
thoughts. First. what God has done
for US: second, what he may therefore
expect that he will do for us.
First. he spared not his own son.
but delivered him up for us all. This
is calculated to establish the conf
dence of believers more firmly, since
by rcferripg to Gcl. Paul brings into
view all his projections as infinitely
good. wise. powerful and able to make
them supremacy blessed in holiness
and eternal glory.
I'VE are not only referred here to a
great and mighty God but to a loving
God We think it a great favor when
one TO whom we are in some respects
equal confers a favor upon us, but
here we are reminded that the be-
slower is infinitely above us being the
Creator to whom we are indebted even
for our very existence.
when he undertook our salvation
the father was willing to part with his
own son.and did not think him too
precious a gift to bestow for the saliva
ton OF poor souls. He spared him not
or. as the word may be translated, he
was not tender of his own son; that is,
he was not so tender OF him as to
withhold him from the dying world.
| God spared not what every peasant
who has but one beloved son would
surely consider the greatest of his
| treasures.
Second. having now considered
what a great thing God has done for
us upon this ground. let us see what
we may hope that He will do for us.
The apostle sums up his hopes in these
words. How shall He not with Him
freely give us all things, or it may
be rendered. How is it possible that
He should not with Him freely give lis
all things. This is the most con-
elusive reasoning. There cannot, in
fact. be imagined a firmer basis on
which to rest our confidence in God.
He has already done the greatest
! thing for us that could be done, and
why should we not expect that he will
do the less.
THE great and heavy expense has
already been incurred, and surely he
will not leave unfinished what he has
carried so far with so much cost and
difficulty. 1t is unreasonable to think
the contrary. yes. it is almost bias
phemy. Can it be imagined that God
should do the greater thing for as by
sacrificing his dear son upon Calvary
and then not do the less. He that
hath prerared q kingdom for us Will
surely give MS all things which Will
help us TO enter that kingdom. tie
that hath prepared q crown FOR us will
assist us in obtaining that crown. lie
that hath prepared heaTen Tor us
will he not give rs all things ne'es-
sarv to aid us TO reach that heaven.
There are two circumstances which
are calculated TO inspire diatrUst in the
mind Of the believer and To- cloud his
hone The first is the adiiCJiops which
press upon him In tnis world. The
second is the sins of which he is guilty
when suffering SO many troubles
he becomes discouraged ani has dill
cultv in persuading h,mseif that he Is
favored of God. BUt when he thinks
how God spared not his own son. but
delivered him mp for AS ala. then ne
can ioyfully exclaim with the apostle
How shall He with Him not freely
give us SIl things.
"On the other hand. knowing that
he is o child of wrath by nature and