The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-08
MEMORIAL SERMON
By Rev. ]. h. Iitssll, on the Late
d.. Mcclure.
ACTIVITY IN CHRISTIAN LIFE

ohfidhoOd and YOnder's the Ham
hood.
At the United Presbyterian Church
yesterday morning, the pastor, Rev. j.
II. Llttell. delivered an able address
to q large congregation, in which he
alluded feellngiy to the passing away9t
Rev. J. t. Mcclure, DID,, who had been
pastor Of this church for hfty years,
lacking two months. Rev. Mr.. Lltteln
outlined the constitution Of church
body, and specified In particular the
work done by the minister. Said he:
When a company OF persons Join to-
gether around the truth and teachings
Of Jesus Christ, and become properly
organized with all its parts they form
a congregation OF Gods people. Saving
faith exercised constitutes them ''The
Saints Of God" The purpose of such
an Organization is that It's members
may come into the unity OF the faith,
and Of the Son Of God, unto a perfect
man, unto the measure Of the stature
of the fullness Of Christ" The end to
be obtained is that, as individuals, and
as an organization, they may glorify
God and "be partakers Of the inherit
lance of the saints in light"
This outward and visible organIza-
ton, with its several parts, is Of
christ's own appointment These parts,
in the order of growth and develop
ment, may be stated as follows: First,
the minister; second, the people; third,
the governing authority. Or. in the
more suitable order OF continuation:
First, the members; second, the gov
ernIng authority; third. the minister.
/. The people are those whom God
chooses and calls together unto His
grace, to be saints. For "as many as
are ordained unto eternal life, believe"
says the scripture. People are led to
believe by preaching OF the word. q
The governing authority, called the
session, Is appointed, designated and
regulated by the gospel Of Him who
ordained 1.-THE powers that be-" Its
members ere led to believe by the
preaching OF the word. as also are min
listers. 9. But the minister, in a very
peculiar sense, by the will of God, is the
central authority and completing force
OF Gods appointed organization. With
out the minister the organization is In
complete, and without the minister the
visible church must soon disintegrate.
God well knew this. And, therefore,
in His word has set forth divine love,
divine guidance and divine protection
in behalf of His servants, who ore call
ed to labor in the midst OF sinful
and wicked world for the upbuilding
Of His kingdom. How much this book
has to say about Gods ministry and
Gods minister 1t speaks Of their call
ing; Of their ordination by the laying
on of the hands Of the presbytery; OF
their labors; Of their support; Of the
armor with which they must contend
for the faith once delivered unto the
saints: of their faithfulness in the dis
charge Of duties: OF their glorious vic
tory and the crown for their reward!
In Gods view of It there It no such
important office in all the world as that
occupied by the ministers Of God. And
no man taketh this honor unto himself,
but he that is called of God" Having
been called and ordained. he enters up
on his labors, and becomes pastor, ac-
cordinE to Gods Providentlnl directing,
Of some congregation of Gods people.
He therefore becomes the completing
force of that portion of Gods visible
church.
The duties Of Gods ministers are laid
down here in the inspired word. They
are to rule In the Church Of Christ, and
are not to be tossed about by the
whlms and notions and defects of men;
but are to preach the word; be In
slant in season, out OF season: reprove,
rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering
and doctrine" No minister can dis
charge his duty faithfully without
seeming to be severe at times; but his
severity is not out of the bitterness of
his heart, but in the discharge Of his
duty for the well-being Of others. And
no minister can discharge his duty
faithfully without being the object Of
attack, by sinful and unregenerate
men, for their labors are in the midst
OF a sinful and wicked world. Said the
Master TO His Disciples; Woe unto
you when all men speak well OF you"
And Paul, addressing the young min
lister. Timothy, as he was Just setting
out to preach the gospel land which
applies peculiarly to the mlnister),
said: 'T have suffered; you. Timothy,
will suffer. Yea, and all who will live
cody in Christ Jesus shall suffer perse-
cution."
But Notwithstanding this, ministers
under the command of Christ must go
on with their work, performing their
commanded duties, being faithful in
season, out of season. They must warn
sinners. Point out the errors set as a
snare for the feet OF the innocent;
sound forth the judgments OF God upon
the ways OF the wicked. and with all
love and exhortatlon lead the believing
saints unto the fountain Of the waters
of life.
They administer the Lords Supper.
They bupuze the children.
They seal the marriage relation.
r,h,,, hurry the dannrtsd
They weep with them that weep, and
..l.I... In, thnrr, Tint rnnnIre And