The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-11-23
REV. Y. q. Briggs.
Iii. introductory sermon at tho Second
Baptist.

Baptist
The Rev. Frederick, F. Briggs. the new
pastor OF the Second Baptist Church,
preached his first regular sermon In Will
miugton yesterday morning, The church
was filled and the congregation heard an
able and eloquent discourse. The new
pastor and Mrs Briggs arrived In the
city on Saturday. and are living at No.
1913 West Seventh street. Tomorrow
night reception will be rendered ths
pastor at the church.
Mr.. Brggs has preached in the city be-
fore. having occupied the pulpit OF ths
Delaware Avenue Baptist Church several
Sundays nearly three years ago, and hs
has also preached in the Second Church.
Ths new pastor was born in Kansas City,
No.. and Is 29 years OF age. He lived in
Dsnyer He was educated in the Boston
Latin School and graduated later from
Johns Hopkins UniveI sity. Baltimore. He
afterward attended the Grocer Theologi-
cal Seminary and, leaving there, took the
pastorate of Beth Eden Church of Phila-
delphia in October, 1894 When that
church and tho First Church were con-
soidated he remained pastor of the two
for eleven months. and upon the arrival
Of the Rev. Or, Tupper Mr.. Briggs be-
came bis assistant and remained so until
called to the Second Baptist Church in
this city.
Fer his text yesterday morning Mr..
Briggs took JancG J. 2, 8 and 4. He said
in part: "As we opsn this epistls We sea
a; once that it is addressed to the Jews.
but before We have finished the fifth
verse We see that it Is not addressed to
the Jews in general but to the believing
Jews. and to them alone. This epstle
was addressed by James. The head OF ths
mother Church in Jerusalem. TO the Jews
who had been scattered among the dis
persed tribes Of Israel. The record Of
Gods dealings with His people is always
fresh aud instructive in any age, and the
things which have bnen written, as we'll
az the things which have been done in the
past, may become sources Of strength and
joy and comfort to Gods people.
I'VE learn tina! there is such a thing
in this world as Joy, in the midst OF
and trial. Trial is to the
Christian what hard ErtvlC5 is to tbe SOL
der. No man ever harama a great SOL
der by simply gong On dress parade He
nttIN Inc mar! SfIV''r. HnlFn VIII tHaple
him to endure col! and boat, hunger and
thirst lie needs an .p"my 10 resist his
progress h~for- h. viii - able to display
the Serins Quail!ir, Ntah go to make
up a good soldier. The very same thing
is true Of nj rhrjy,i1u who is struggling
to attain Christlikeness. He is like the
traveller who has caught a glimpse Of
some far-of mountain peak and is deter
mined 10 reach its height He has caught
the inspiration Of beauty aud is deter
mined to overcome all to reach the top
and hs rejoices in The midst of difficulties.
There are Christians ell about us who
seem to have caught thn inspiration OF
holiness. They have sa1ed upon that
matchiess divine life, u"'l they feel the
uplifting Of its nuwer ana they welcome
any and every means which will lift
themselves out of self into Christ. There
are human lives that do not realize their
own powers. The world sees little OF
promise. but God takes them and sub
jects them TO the fire Of trial and tempta-
ton until at last they come forth cleansed
and purified. Is it any wonder that they
rejoice with Joy unspeakabie when they
fall into such trials as that? There IS
then such thing as joy in the midst OF
temptation.
"The trying OF taith adds to our endur-
anGe. Almost everything in the world Is
capable of Improvement. 1t may be peau-
tful: Id may ee strong but 1t IS posslpla
fnr a. IN hnr0ipa more beautiful ana