The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-06-18
CHURCH IN ITS RELATION
TO THE DIVINE LORD.

Yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock Kinloch
Park Presbyterian Mission was dedicated
with appropriate services. The chapel has
been built free of debt and cost, exclusive
Of the lot. about $50. W. II. Herrich,
PRESBYTERIAN Sunday school missionary. has
been largely in the organiza-
ton of the mission. and in securing funds
for the chapel. The sermon CT the occasion
was preached by the Reverend Doctor
Compton Avenue Church. The doctor took
for his text Ephesians V. 81; inns Is a
Christ and the church,"
He spoke. in part. as foilows:
Some one has said what the Christians
ought to pray for is a revival that would
members by letter. These words are full!
of meaning to the pastors IN oar great
cities. For all about our churches are
hundreds and thousands of protested FOL
lowers of Christ who are as indifferent TO
the Lords cause as If they had never come
out from the world They leave their church
letters behind them. or for some trifiing
reason never deposit them with any COM
munion Of believers. This indifference is
accounted for in part. l am peruaded. ny
A want of any adequate conception Of her
divine origin, her holy character. her high
mission. and her heavenly destiny.
this beautiful little chapel l have thought
that this would be a fitting subject for our
contemplation fuSt, lutH. fi Us sfrah
of the origin and character of the church.
In these days. when contempt for the
sacred IL regarded by some as "A mark OF
intelligence. the supernatural origin OF the
church is greatly minimized or entirely dis
credited. Many look upon the church as
nothing more than q voluntary association
of men and women who hold like opinions
on certain religious subjects. This coming
together is for no higher purpose than their
own mutual Sonye enn aisct ana n im pro sac;atv
and vested with only such authority as the
electing body can bestow. This is the ex-
others. Who. though not satisfied with 80
low a conception. are greatly confused IN
their own minds
/ DRY theocracy, or the kingdom Of the Old
Testament. Hallowed as these divine in
situations are. they are not the church: The
the true nobleman. has gone TO receive for
| himself a kingdom and return, and during
his absence we are to pray. thy kingdGm
throne. according to the Scriptures. He Is
now seated with the Father on his fa-
ene efh I'll throne Sneno . During ms rb absence saicfs I bere
have the laws OF the kingdom, and are heirs
Of the kingdom. but are members of the
church.
THE church bears to our Lord a far more
intimate relation than either the theocracy
or the kingdom. Take the figures employed
to describe the relations: In one place IL Is
likened to a temple of which Jesus Christ
is the chief corner stone. Believers are
the stones, yet living stones. and the house
is a habitation unto God by the Spirit. The
| Spirit Of God dwells in the temple. not as a
tenant. but constitutes its life. as the soul
occupies and WHITES the body.
Again. the church is called the body. of
which Jesus is the head. But. perhaps, the
most beautiful relation Is that of the bride
and the bridegroom. The beauty and init
macy Of this relation cannot be set forth
In words. 1t Is understood only by the
heart. Just as the first Adam fell asleep
1 for him fQkan from HE NUN hndr en- aft
| er the death Of the second Adam. did the
\ Holy Spirit begin the formation of his
faithful servant. who is sent into the world
to get a bride for the true Isaac. This he
Is accomplishing now in the new birth. in
1.-THE church, therefore. is a royal society.
organized for eternity, composed Of heaven
made. biood-bought man.. 1t is the only
society that embraces both the living and
1T is the only society that is both heaven
born and heaven-bound. Its members are
CALLED to both heirship and wedlock with
Jesus Christ.
Then think Of the destiny of the church.
AZ the high priest carried the blood of sac
r1nce from the altar to the holy of HOLES,
SO the church passes from this scene of suf-
fering into the presence of God himself.
was: I go to prepare a place for you. and
II go and prepare a place 1 will come
again ana receive you unto myself
him a name which is above every name
But we are assured that in all that IL his
VIII me PRIDE share. If we suffer with him
Christ ~ ~ !" 'eS"
hours to relate. The promise is so compre-
hensive that We can hardly believe 1t. In
the hrst place. the bride shares with the
bridegroom his holy nature. Beloved. now
are we the sons of God. and II Goth not vet
appear what We shall be. but we know that
when he shall appear We shall be like him,
I. % We SNAIL Ca him NJ r. t.
we have exceeding great and precious
promises. says the Apostle Peter. Whereby
we are made partakers of the divine nature
This Is a wonderful thing. yet no less true.
Just as our Lord, in becoming the son of
man nad eegotten to him a human nature.
just SO we. in becoming the sons of God
have begotten unto US a divine nature.
again; the bride shares the brldegroom's
glory. When discouraged this is one OF the
thoughts that lift us up.
IF we suffer with him We shall he also
g.orined together. And what is this GLORY?
II Is the glory of his m%illennial Kingdom.
ana by he is TO be gloriied on the earth.
"Ihe nrst time he came to earth. he came
10 pc hIS an1 He was the meek and
the second time. he will come clothed with
power and great glory. His first meeting
will be a throne. He came first to be cruel
ned-he comes a second time to be slori6ed.
wren ne came the first time no door opened
everlasting doors will open and the King OF
glory will come in.
He Will reign from sea to sea and from
me rivers unto the ends Of the earth. In
TINS glory mis- church shall share. For he
relgns not over his church. but with his
chlrch:, while those of his kingdom NAV he
be rulers. ' WIN
This is surely 2 great privilege. and vet
mere are people who esteem II a small mat
ter TO be A member of the Church of Jesus
Christ. God pity them"
THE GREEN PASTURES