The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-11-04
THE PULPIT.
AN ELOQUENT SUNDAY SERMON BY
THE REV. EDWARD NILES.
Theme: Rejoicing in Suffering.

Brooklyn, N. Y.-At the Bushwick
| Avenue Reformed Church, the Rev.
! Edward Niles, pastor, preached to a
large audience on the subject: Re-
joicing in Suffering" The text was
from Colossians 1924: NOW l rejoire
in my sufferings for your sake, and
fill up on my part that which is lack
ing in the Affections of Christ in my
flesh for His body's sake, which Is the
church" MI. Niles said:
When Paul was converted, Chris
| tianity was a Jewish sect unknown
outside of Palestine. When Paul had
finished his missionary tours, he
could say with pardonable exaggera-
ton, The gospel is preached in all
Paul, was made a minister And
how he loved to preach! How he
yearned to bring every n into
knowledge of the truth!
Then, while in his prime, he be-
came a prisoner, fettered to a soldier,
any hour liable to execution. He
would be we'll nigh excusable had he
complained. I never read this verse
without astonishment: Now I re-
joice in my sufferings for your sake
He Is not submissive. No passivity
| turks in that word rejoice" Now
after the flight Of years., r%etracing
his life, he comes to realize that the
things for the present grievous never
theless worked out the ~peaceable
fruits of Righteousness. Now, while
suffering, he rejoices.
No back sight, but present feeling.
Why does he rejoice? Not because
he is glad to have a rest from work.
Not because he is a poser and fishes
for sympathy. 1t is for the sake of
the church. There, in his cell, he
can perform what makes the church
happier, more useful, healthier. Each
soldier who mounts guard over him
is a soul for him to save until the
whole palace garrison talks about
Christ. His presence in the capital
city gives boldness to the brethren.
He has leisure for writing letters to
Epheseus, Colossae, Philippi which
will do good for centuries after his
preached sermons are forgotten.
So, whether as a minister or a suf-
ferer, he fills up what was lacking in
the Affections of Christ, is a supple
ment to the otherwise incomplete
gospel.
Our text means just that, although
many timid Protestant commentators
endeavor to explain 1t away.
Without Paul, Christ's suferings
would have been lacking, His coming
to earth a partial failure.
Atonement means at-one-ment be-
tween man and God. Our Saviour's
ministry and death brought 1t about
fro~ Eod'c cido not from mans
The debt shining humanity owed
was paid by Him, but the debtor
didn't know it. Jesus lived, preached
and suffered in a little corner of the
world. He never went outside OF that
one Roman district on the east shore
of the Mediterranean. Caesar never
so much as heard Of him. Purp6sely
He made His work intensive, training
a few men and women, who did not
fully comprehend Him until fifty days
after His death, that they and those
they inspired might fill up what was
lacking in His sufferings for the
world.
Jesus died to save the world, but
He could not saw the world alone.
A thousand people were probably con-
verted by Paul's% preaching to n by
Christ's. PauDs soul was full of hap
piness, no matter what the condition
Of his body, as he realized how essen
tial he was to the Son of God. 1t was
for him to do what Jesus had not
done. If he could not do it in n
way, he would do it in another. Moth
ing was hard with such a stimulus. 3
Paul far from filled up to the brim
what was lacking, with all his
triumphs. He made a beginning and
every real Christian since has been
adding to Paul's contribution. Just
so much self-denying effort must be
actively put forth, just so much pain
must be passively borne for others
before every phase Of the redemption
plan is filled out and the great day Of
atonement is ushered in, when every
knee shall bow and every tongue con-
fess Jesus as the Christ to the glory
of God the Father.
In proportion then, as you do your
part will this kingdom Of God be es-
tablished upon earth. Yours is the
responsibility for it's delay! Chris
tianity is not a means for you to es-
cape suffering hereafter, a plan for
you to attain future bliss. 1t is a
method for you to hasten on the act
ualization Of the angels song on
Bethlehem's plains.
Like the greatest of Christians, you
are called to the ministry. A collie
giate education is not required, a the
illogical course unnecessary, ordina-
tion, a p~astorate may be or may not
be conferred upon you. You have a
calling, whatever your means Of live
lihood, and that calling is to fill up
what is lacking in the Affections of
Christ.
Fill up the purse of this church so
far as in you lies. Fill up the pews
of this church by your presence and
persuasion. Fill up the prayers of
saints, those Walls of golden incense
which should ever be kept burning
before God. Fill up what is lacking
in Christ's affections for the children
by participat On in the Sunday-school
or some branch Of young peoples
work.
With you, the work here reaches
nearer the perfect. Lacking you. it
lags. Even Christ is insufficient, mi
nus the weakest Christian.
The Captain of our salvation must
have soldiers of salvation or His Or
ders are useless. The private behind
the gun is as imperative as the officer
beside the gun.
Like Paul, you are called to suffer-
ing when it comes to you, Christian.
or if it has already come, don't bear
it, 1 beseech you. Rejoice in it. Ira
vail is a part of the new heavens and
new earth birth. wherein dwelleth
righteousness. So much grooming