The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-13

pei Statues Predominant AhnNe All uAhet
Things-PIsa for More Enogt by the
Church.
Rev. r. R. Bigger, pastor of the
Third Presbyterian church, conducted
the services yesterday after his return
from a months vacation. There were
large congregations at both services, AT
the morning service he delivered an ell
oauent discourse on 1.-THE Glory of the
Gospel" his text being from Timothy
i; Ii: According 10 the glorious gospel
of the blessed God" and he said;
III / were asked what Is the greatest
thing in the world, would say the re-
llglon of Jesus Christ. II not only has
been the greatest thing for hundreds oil
years, but 1t is at the present time, even
in this aye of materiallsm and selfish
ness, the most glorious thing that God
has given us. Other things that men
have considered both great and glorious
have come and gone, but the gospel OF
Jesus Christ is here to-day with greater
poWer than ever before; and genera
lions yet unborn, down unto the END OF
time, win be blest, and comforted and
saved by the good news" that God Al
mighty has sent unto HIS needy chill
dren. 1.-The. greatest" novelty Of our
time is the gospel. 1t is so old that 1t Is
new, As potters and artists are now
attempting to fashion pitchers and cups
and curious ware like those of nineteen
hundred years ago, recently dug from
the ruins OF Pompeii, so the pure gos-
pel,when presented in Its simplicity and
loneliness, Is new thing to each gener-
alton, and millions OF lives have been
attracted and transformed by It's d.
vine power"
what glorious thing 1t is that You
and are spared to begin another years
work In carrying this message of God
into the lives and hearts of our neigh
bors and friends and fellow human be-
ings in this city. Never before have /
felt so deeply moved with reference to
our work as the active year on winch
we are now entering, NoticeI say Our
work, not simply my" work; for we
are co-workers. 1t Is great work Tor
the people to make every endeaVor TO
be In their pews every Sabbath day;
and also to try to bring stranger to
the house Of worship each Sabbath day.
Ask every pastor In this city what &C.
ton on the part of the people would en-
courage them the most and you VIII
find that the almost unanimous answer
would be ito see the church well filled
at each Sabbath service, with anxious
hearers"
Good News.
"My text Is right when It speaks of
the glorious gospel" The word gospel
means good news" but the text says
1t is glorious good news; therefore, let
us tell 1t. not only In our churches, but
over the counters, anl incur factories
and In our homes and as we walk the
streets Tell 1t out, not with a dismal
drawl in our voices and dismal look on
our faces, as though religion were a
rheumatic twlnge, or a dyspeptic
pang, or malarial chill, but tell 1t as
our text says, as glorious good news.
Christ began his sermon on the mount
by saying blessed" nine times. Bless
ed the poor; blessed the mourner;
blessed the meek; blessed the hun
cry; blessed the merclful; blessed the
pure: blessed the peace-makers; bless
ed the prosecuted; blessed the revtiea.
The gospel will meet the wants OF all
these cases, ~ ai-
"The gospel is glorious good news for
the young: for through Christ they
may have their coming years ennobled,
and for lifetime all the angels of God
their assistants and all the armies Of
heaven their alliesl Glorious good news
for the middle-aged; for through Christ
they have their perplexltles disentan'
gled, their courage rallied, and their
victory over nll hlnderances and dlsap-
polntments made forever sure! The
gospel is glorious news TO the aged, for
Il speaks tendeFIy OF the hoary-head as
a crown of glory. In Isaiah 1914, the
Almighty says, Even TO old age am
he, and even to hoary hairs will carry
you; have made and Will bear; viii
carry and will deliver" Glorious news
to the dying, for the gospel assures
them that they have mlnistering splr-
It's to escort them and the opening gates
OF heaven to receive them, and sweep
of eternal glories to encircle them, and
the welcome of loving God to embos-
ON them!
mo class or condition Of men is
sighted by the glorious gospel OF our
Lord Jesus Christ. at Is an Invitation
from the most illustrious Being that
ever trod the earth, for YOU and me to
come and be made happy: and then at
ter that royal castle for everlasting
residence" What tender majestic in
vltatlon! What matchless promlsesl
Listen. Hear that divine voice. "Come
unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy
laden and I will give you rest. Take
my yoke upon you and learn Of you for
/ am meek and lowly In heart; and We
shall find rest unto your souls" That
Is the good news for this life. But listen
again; the glorious news continues. Let
not your heart be troubled; We believe In
God, believe also In me. In my fathers
house are many mansions: II II were
not so, / would have told YOU go to
prepare n place for you, and Il | go and
prepare n place for you, | will come
again and receive you unto myself;
that where am there We may be also.
But listen stu; Paul says that no
eye hath seen; no ear hath heard Of the
glorious things that God has prepared
for them that love him. It is beyond the
power Of human language to describe
IL. Nothing but the lndwelllng Of tho
spirit OF the living God can make us
realize the gloriousness OF the gospel.
Men OF all ages OF the worlds history
have tried to tell OF the glorious savior
revealed In the gospel. Solomoni What
do you think Of him; and the answer Is
"Ho Is the lilly Of the valley" David
SAYS OF him; "The Lord is my shepherd,
/ shall not want" John says. "Hc Is
the bright and morning star" Paulsays
"ChrIst Ia MI I'm nll," And then turning