El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-10-11
I'VE Are the Lords "

Yesterday was Communion Sabbath
at the Presbyte church. Seven
teen united with the church, of whom
five were baptized. Of the seventeen
who united with the church, tive I've
came on profession of faith and five by
certificates from other churches. The
Communion sermon was preached from
the text, 1--WE are the Lords" Cor.
XIV:S. The pastor said in part: To-
day another company of believers join
US in our journey 10 heaven. Within
the last nine months and half, fifty
three persons have united with our
church here. OF that number one has
gone on before to partake Of the better
feast of Communion with Christ him
self-where they worship not through
signs and symbols but face to face.
Y ou, my dear people, who have just
left this altar have taken step you can
never forget and [ pray never regret.
If you be true to your vows only one
result can follow-joy and abiding
strength in your lives here and heaven
yonder. You havel obeyed the COM
mand of Jesus Christ who said, "Who-
soever believeth and is baptized shall
be saved" Some of you came into the
church when your parents dedicated
you to God in infant baptism and here
today you have assumed these VOWS
taken then On your behalf. Others
have been baptized today. But all
have "believed and been baptized. :"
This is what Jesus means by joining
the church. You have united yourself
to that great company of saints, mar
tyrs, holy men and women in heaven,
the great and good on the earth today
and to the millions yet to be born who
are to live the holy life Of faith. This
is what the Bible means by the church
of Cod Can q hf. SaUp6 NntSiHa
of the church. / hope so. Perhaps so.
But Jesus seems.to strongly insist on
baptism and faith. You have Obeyed
him: you are saved By uniting with
the church you have repented of sin.
A life without repentance is not &C.
ceptable to God. Living in a world
where many care moro for the stomach
than for the soul, for the head than for
the heart, money than for God-you
the church. God wants US TO be open
disciples. You have obeyed him in
your public profession of your faith.
May | remind you that this joining
the church is but the beginning and not
the end OF your Christian life. How
many mistake all this. How many
say L have now done all my duty.
No no, dear friends, you have planted
the seeds on which must come the
and July. Then will come the rich
fruit of September and golden October.
Remember you will have your ups and
downs in the Christian life, but the
great movement of your life Hust now
be forward. The testing times will
come. Oh may you stand firm! Have
you noticed the movement of the in
coming tide on the ocean shore? 1t is
not movement without relapses.
Each wave gains little ground but
each wave falls back as soon as it
splashe5 on the shore. So in your
Christian life let the great movement
be forward Remember you have
Joined yourself not to the pastor but to
Christ and if you are true to him, you
will find him here whoever may preach
or lead our meetings. Just after my col.
lege life [ formed an acquaintance with
a gentleman and his wife. So COZ
secrated to Christ were they that re-
| made me. | asked the cause of such
devotion to our Saviour, how he gained
| such supremacy in their lives. The
| lady took ring from her finger placed
there twenty-five years beIore-he rem
gagement ring. In 1t L read these
words civilians to L;zzie," and then
came the sentence; 1--WE are the Lords ;
! This is the sentence l would have rise
| before you in your joys, your trials
your testing times. your tears. Re
member too you now owe two duties
One to yourselves and one to those
about YOU. Your duty to yourselves
is secret prayer reading the word, at
! tendance on public worship, partakiEa
of the communion. This is your inner
real life, neglect this and your life will
grow shallow Aavorless and insipid
! You eve a duty to others, 9op