Evening journal., 1900-07-09
SAYS FAREWELL
TO CONVERSATION.
Mr.. Wood breaches His Last Ser
mon as Wilmington Pastor
IN NORTH BAPTIST CHURCH
Accompanied by His Wife, The
Popular Young Preacher Starts
Vest in Quest Of Health
In NORTH BAPTIST CHURCH

abounding in the work Of the Lord. -
First Corinthians, ;yv., 5S.
This was the text OF The serrlon of
the Rev. Samuel r. Wood in North
BAPTIST Church yesterday morning
which was his last as pastor OF thel
church. He and Mrs. Wood left to-day
for Denver. Col. for the beneht Oh ms
health. Mr.. Wood said
plain unvarnished truth may oi'en
suggest a figure, smooth and peau.ilui
or rugged and inspiring which prinss
y familiar sentence to a iocus anu
. ,,,rOs its contents indelibly upon the
heart The word of God abounus III
foures. and, in some cases, the lrnn9i
tion from one to another Is SO l"piu
mat one must enter the deep. ierNeh'
snirit of the writer to distinguish lhel
landmarks.
rho words in the verse chosen, re-
mind me Immediately, W what oui
savior savs: "A city that is set on
bill cannot be hid" The scene Deiofel
Won is a lofty elevation; at the tVp' q
citv. over whose gates Is written non
ness Unto the Lord. IA,
You to whom ! speak, tellow eitl-
zens with the saints and the household
of God" are inhabitants of THIS uniquel
city. ,..
Recause of your eminence ana Priv
ileges vou are 10 be steadfast, unmoV-l
able and you are to abound always IN
the work of the Lord.
citizens of the kingdom, from your
lofty height. view the transactions OF
centuries passed and look forward lntol
the distant future and. as you scan the
canopy OF time. from horizon to zenith
and from zenith TO horizon, FIX your
trust in God who holds you in the
hollow OF His hand.
Before YOU lies that telescope used
nv Fnoch. Noah. Abraham, Moses, Paul.
Its lenses have surely become clearer
bv the gentle friction of passing time.
Putt to your eye: IL is the telescope
of faith; look far and wide and In one
moment you will know that you have
glorious reasons for your steadfastness.
As YOU look through that lense OF
faith, yOnder. throughout the past cen
turtles you see how God has led his
pcople Abraham goes out no know
ing Whittier. but God leads. The
dreamer is led from the pit to the pal
ace and saves his family from famine.
The chosen people move under the di-
rection of a cloud by day and a fire
by night This mighty host and my
riads of others throughout the CEN
turies move forward and you see them
an. In all tongues they sing praises
to God and on the rear the present
generation marches singing in strains
which harmOnize with the melodies Of
all ages.
lie leadeth me-O. blessed thought
o, words within heavenly comfort
fraught.
Whate'er I do where e'er I be,
Still tits Gods hand that leadeth me-"
Look once again into the pasta
serpent-bitten multitude looking up for
their lives to the brazen serpent lifted
up by Moses. Still again. at a later
time you see a sin-smitten race looking
up toward Calvary's brow, to Him who
hangs between the two thieves, the
Savior OF the world
Your faith draws Christ very near
to your life Without II. you may
speak to Him as the one who walked
throughout Palestine You may say
Never man spake as this man." you
may say: Thou are Moses or Elias or
one of the prophets, but when by
faith you see Him, you say: My
Lord and My Cod With joy you ex-
claim again: Thou are Christ the Son
of the living God: Thou are Jesus. my
Savior" What can prevent the be-
lieved from remaining steadfast when
through faith he sees his Redemmer
close by his side; an ever-presenl
friend?
Christ is too far away from man,
who ought to see Him face to face anS
feel the throb Of His loving heart No
does faith leave Him upon the cross; 6
goes to the tomb and finds the stonl
rolled away; 1t adds its testimony L
His words. 81 am the resurrection AM
the life;" It sees Him setting upon tn
right hand Of God. ever living to max
intercession;i sees heaven and hell a
realities: the one to be sought tn
other stunned. It sees those thing
which are invisible and enables hir
whoh sees through its polished lense b
remain steadfast because he sees co
opening the heavens in favor Of Hi
Son in the past and opening Paradis,
for they that trust Ia the Lord sha
be as Mount Zion. which cannot be re
moved. but abideth forever" Stan
in the future to any who come unt
God through Christ
In your stronghold be immoveahi
firm upon that impregnable rock-th
word OF God. That book is yol
sword. your shield and your strengtl
you find below its surface the wei
OF salvation; drink deep and let yol
soul delight itself in sweetness Gath,
its sweet-meats from every chapter an
book. In its Interpretation use yol
own common sense. directed by u
spirit Of God. Enter into the spirit
its writers and subjects. and let "thl
saith the Lord" put to flight eve
wind aud wave OF subtle and deceitf
doctrine which seeks to undermine d
rock Of your faith.
Mark the harmony of your expe
fences with the teachings Of the bib
4