The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-11-13
SERMON BY REV. DR.. 7. S. DUNAWAY

Sunday by Rev. Dr. T. S. Dunaway:
Before announce my text and pro-
ceed to its discussion indulge me in a
preliminary remark or two of per
sonal nature. occupy the pulpit to-
day by a courtesy and kindness of
our pastor, which has been continuous
and cordial since Brother Williams be-
came our pastor. Without moment S
interruption our relations have been
brotherly, cordial and sympathetic 1t
is not always thus where the eX-pastor
remains on the field and member of
the church. Between us, however, the
most fraternal and tender relations
have existed. This seems a fit occa-
sion TO publicly and gratefully ackDowl-
edge the uniform kindness Of this
church To me during my 81 years pas
torate and since then TO the present
day, while she has been thoroughly
loyal TO the present pastor.
wish further to state publicly, as
have often done privately, how much
gratified have been at the growth,
prosperity, harmony and unity Of our
church under the ministry and leader
ship of our pastor for the last five
years. The Lord bless him and the
church he serves so faithfully and eifi-
GENTLY, more and more as the years go
by.
Allow another personal remark. My
heart prompts me TO acknowledge pub
licly my obligations to the good people OF
this good old town, irrespective Of church
denomination or creed, for the unifoWn
kindness with which they have treated
me during the entire 43 years | have
lived,among them My heart goes out in
gratitute and affection TO the people of
Fredericksburg in view of the uniform
kindness and courtesy | have received
at their hands. God bless these good
people Of fredericksburg is the prayer
of a grateful old citizen.
With some misgivings as to the pro-
priety of my attempting to preach to-
day, owing to physical causes, yet |
have yielded to strong desire to speak
to you on this the 49th anniversary Of my
ministry. On the first Sunday in No
vember, 1860, in my old mother church,
Lebanon, in my native county of Lam
caster. | preached my first sermon.
/ Clustering closely around this day are
| the anniversaries Of most of the i'm
portant events of my long life. Just
two days ago, the 5th of November,
was the S0th anniversary of my natural
birth. The 30th Of September last was the
6lst anniversary Of my spiritual birth.
The 23rd of this month will be the 18th
anniversary of my ordination TO the
ministry. And next month. December,
will occur the anniversaries Of the be
ginning and ending of my pastorate OF
this church separated by 30 years. !
think that my desire to speak to you
today is a natural, and | hope lauda-
bic one, and | may be excused for at
tempting it.
ask your sympathy and prayers
while | attempt to preach TO you once
more "the glorious gospel Of the bless
ed God" "
The text you will find written in 2nd
Corinthians, 5tf chapter and 18th, 10th
and 2lst verses:
God was in Christ recOnciling the
world unto himself. not imputing their
trespasses into them, and hath com
mitted unto US the word Of reconcilia-
tion.
Now then we are ambassadors for
Christ, as though God did beseech you
by us. we pray you in Christ's stead be
ye reconciled to God.
"For He hath made Him to be sin
for us, who knew no sin, that we
might be made the righteousness OF God
in Him. =.
In the text we have an epitome OF
the whole plan Of redemption, the sub
stance and essence, the very marrow
and pith of the gospel, which l
would il | could unfold to you in simple,
plain, earnest words.
The apostle says "Now then we are
ambassadors for Christ, Among
men in human affairs an ambassador IS
minister of the highest rank employed
by one sovereign to manage the affairs
Of his government at the court of an
other and represents the dignity, SOW
ereignty and power of the home govern
ment. An ambassador is sent to
foreign court to make known the Will
of his sovereign, to negotiate matters
of commerce, peace or war, and in gen
eral do everything affecting the inter-
ests of the home government among
the people to whom he is sent. He Is
bound to obey implicitly the instruc-
tions of his sovereign and as far as
possible TO do the things his sovereign
would do if he were present in person.
All this and more is true Of the am
bassadors Of Christ. To them is COM
mitted the word Of reconciliation and
they are in Christ's stead to persuade
men to be reconciled to God. They are
not to negotiate any new terms nor
change those God has proposed. God
has given to his ambassadors a definite
and specific message to deliver TO men.
1t is solemn and responsible thing to
become as it were the mouthpiece OF
God and in Christs stead TO seek to
reconcile men to God. Well may any
man shrink from 1t and hesitate till he
feels like Paul that a necessity is laid
upon him and woe rests upon him II
he preach not the gospel.
ITO US is committed the word of re-
conciliation. " When God sent Jonah to
Nineveh He instructed him "go and
preach unto them the preaching that
| bid thee" So He instructs his ambas-
sadors now. The greatest, wisest and
best preacher that ever lived and spoke,
Jesus Christ, said to the people 1.-THE
words speak unto you | speak not OF
Myself, but the words Of Him that sent
Me-" Gods ambassadors are commits
stoned to preach the gospel, reconcilia-
ton and salvation by a crucified Christ.
Tindall renders Hath committed the
word of reconciliation, ''he hath COM
mitted unto us the preaching of the
Atonement". The meaning is, 1.-THE of
fee and work of making known the
terms and conditions on which men are
TO be reconciled to God and be saved,
'had been committed to the ambassadors
of Christ"
The text sets before us in
strongest, clearest light mans condi-
ton by nature and his attitude towards
God. 1t is state of RECONCILIATION
and enmity towards God. The carnal
or natural mind is enmity to God.
1--WE are born in sin and brought forth
in iniquity." Depravity is natural to
man. 1t is born with him and not ac-
auired in the progress of life. 1t is
not to be attributed TO evil habit or
evil example. Evil habits are formed
by evil doing, and evil doing would not
be if there were no evil propensity.
God, we are told, created man in his
own image, which Paul explains to be
in knowledge, righteousness and
true holiness. But that image was
lost by the fall. The narrative Of the