Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-11
DUTIES Of CHRISTIANS.
A Timely Sermon Preached By the
Rev. Jacob Birmingham
At ST. Luke's P. E. Church Yester-
day Morning - Baptism, Holy
Communion, and a knowledge of
the Scriptures are Essential to
Salvation-Other Religious Mat
tiers.

At ST. Luke's P E. Church yesterday
morning, the pastor, the Rev. Jacob Brit
tingham, preached an eloquent and
thoughtful sermon to a large congrega-
ton. He took his text from St. Luke,
>: 40, and his remarks, IN substance are
given below.
He said that duty is not always an easy
path to travel, because it is both narrow
and sometimes dangerous; yet if we have
ever entered it conscienuously and per-
sistently, we must admit that it is the
only true and safe path. Any other will
inevitably lead us into the mountains Of
presumption or the gulf of despair. The
true and safe way always lies between two
extremes that are equally dangerous. No
truth exists which does not have some
error next door 10 IT., and no duty can
be performed without approaching very
near the enemy's quarters. who AT once
takes alarm and comes out to oppose the
Christians progress. Ii is, therefore, not
always pleasant to DO ones duty. Even
Christ himself found out the truth Of this
fact. He experienced pain as well as pleas
ure but He did not seek the one and avoid
the other. lie came to do His duty.
Every soul who climbs the steep as
cent of Heaven along the way of duty,
does il through peril trial and pain, ana
yet there are rewards by the way As
h. ascends he gets larger views Of truth
and deeper joys in the Consciousness that
he is in the right way; and in the end,
when the world at last lies at his feet, he
receives crown OF glory that fadeth not
away. eternal in the Heavens.
What has been said of duty in general,
applies TO the special duties the gospel
of the day brings to our attention. First
is the duty of public worship, not always
pleasant. 1t is more pleasant to remain at
home and read the newspapers which are
more interesting than the platitudes Of the
preacher There are those who content
themselves by saying they are as good
as those who attend church regularly.
They may be in their own estimation;
perhaps not in Gods. The assemblage for
public worship is not a matter OF indGer-
ence; it is a personal duty. from which
none are exempted. What is at first done
as a personal duty proves "a personal
pleasure. if persisted in conscienuously.
Mr. Birmingham referred to carelessness
in rearing children evidenced in many
wcys-in the neglect Of parents to have
them bajtized. i'm not requiring them to
attend church regularly; in not setting an
example to them in this respect. lie eX-
horted them 10 properly train the children,
to teach them to remember their Creator
i'm the days Of their youth.
Continuing. Mr. Birmingham said an
other duty often neglected by professed
Christians. is the Holy Communion. This
was established by the Saviour Himself.
and has been observed all down the ages.
DO this" lie says. in remembrance of
Ne" Yet many disregard this tender re-
quest and loving command. If you listen
to the voice of the flesh, the world and
the devil-that trinity of evils which has
combined to overthrow the souls as well
as the bodies of men-you will gradually
forget the obligations of Christian lie.
II is sad TO soc the ravaee5 Of sin upon
the body. but sadder still the ravages of
sin upon character. God supplies strength
through His eternal Son. Learn constant
" to seek that strength. and He will give
victory over tLe enemies of your soul
and body.
Another 6uty is knowledge of the
Scriptures. Every professed Christian
ought to know the Scriptures. 1t is in too
many cases an uninteresting old book,
and so If lies unused. while people turn
to those BOOKS which are positively vic
ious. Only one book-Gods Book-con-
tain's plain and easy directions loi at
tanning everlasting happiness. and escap-
ing eternal misery. If we would become
wise unto salvation. as Christ was even
at 10. we must be interested he humble,
and do what Christ tells us to do-"Search
the Scriptures. for in them We think We
have eternal life, and they are they which
testify of Me" The highest truths are
not on the surface. but they are i'm the
Book and can bc found, but not without
interest and humility and patient inves-
tigation.