The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-11-15
A FINE SERMON
By Rev. Or. 7. S. Dunaway On
50th Anniversary of His
Ministry.
PREACHED At THE BAPTIST CHURCH

life. He had the day before reach
ed his S1st birthday.
Or Dunaway spoke with Vigoi
and large congregation hearu
and enjoyed the fine discourse.
The full text of the sermon toi-
lows:
Before announcing the text anc
entering on its discussion. permit
me TO indulge in personal re-
mark or two.
Yesterday. the 5th of NoNembe''
was the Slst anniversary of my ma
tural birth and today is the 5Oth
anniversary OF my ministerial ne.
On the LIST Sunday of Nov, 1861. l
entered the pulpit OF my old mother
church. Lebanon. and in fear ana
trembling. under sense or my
weakness and the great responsibli-
ty resting upon an ambassador OF
Christ. attempted 10 preach Tor
The first time the glorious gospei
OF the blessed God.
| propose on this 5Oth anniversary
of my ministry to preach to you
from the same text that |
first preached from. | do no,
mean to say by any means | Will
preach the same sermon. for II was
not written | could not reproduce
il If would. and would not II 4
could. hope in the so years which
have passed since then | have made
some progress in Christian expert
ence. in my knowledge Of the scrip
lures and in the art of sermonizlng
In view of the uncertainties OF lie
and the infirmities of age. II may
be Il do not know my last sermon
and if it should be. my first and
last sermons will be from the same
passage Of scripture which is writ
ten in Johns Gospel. 18th Oh. and
26th verse. and reads: If any
man serve me. let him follow me-
and where | am there shall also my
servant be. if any man serve me.
him will my Father honor This
passage suggests to ne as the theme
Of my discourse. Christian service
and its rewards
/ Christian service. II am man
serve me. let him follow me. The
Christian life is eminently and pre-
eminently r. life OF service TO God
and men. Ii would be well for the
indiN idual. the church. and tl2
world al large if every convert 10
Christianity could have engraved
on the tablet OF his or her heart
as with a pen OF diamond point
Saved to serve"
An intelligent and hearty recog-
milton of this truth on the part OF
all of Gods redeemed people is the
basis and incentive to all true Chris
tian character, the worlds evangel-
ization and the coming of Christ s
Kingdom on earth The idea which
every professed Christian should
keep clearly and constantly in mind
is that We are not our own. that
We belong 10 Christ. having been
bought with a great price. that We
might "glorify Him in our bodies
and spirits. which are His.
The service required of every be-
levers is not merely arbitrary but is
founded in reason. equity. justice,
mercy and love. We can see sew
eral reasons for it in the economy
of Gods wisdom and grace.
% In the first place Christ
needs our service in order 10 the
success of His glorious scheme of
the redemption and salvation of a
lost race In the wise economy OF
His grace He has seen fit TO make
Himself dependent on His people
for the propagation of the gospel
and the coming of His kingdom on
earth. For this purpose He. hath
redeemed His people and He ex-
poets each and every one OF them
to take an active part in the work
of soul saving.
90 Another reason for the re
quired service is the uplift and bet
terment and salvation OF the hui
man family While one is oul
master We are all are
brethren and we are our brother
| keeper, and We owe il TO our rel
low men to render the required ser
vice Christ our master has
profound interest in the human race
Having died to redeem 1t. He CALI
on His people TO cooperate will
Him in saving the people.
CD And yet another reason FOL
| the required service of his peOpl,
is their own good and growth II
the divine life and their own happi
ness here and hereafter. The in
dolent and inactive believer II
neither growing nor happl
Christian. AS the natura
child needs constant exercise il
order to its growth. development
and enjoyment of life, so the chile
of God needs to exercise himself
in Goodness in order to his or hel
growth in grace and the enjoyment
of the Christian life The growing
happy Christian is one who is &C
lively engaged in the service o.
God. BY such service his faith II
increased, his hope is confirmed hi
love is inflamed and his power L
resist temptation is multiplied man!
/ fold. The active Christian in th'
service Of God knows by a joyous
experience that "Wisdoms way
are ways of pleasantness and al
her paths are peace. And with +;
stronger faith and a brighter pros
pect of heaven he can say ."
know whom have believed and an
persuaded that He is able to keel
that which | have committed unt'
Him"
CD Character of service. TIT
obligation thus to serve being rec
ognized the honest. anxious Chris
tian naturally enquiries as to tn,
nature of that service and wha
God would have him or her to do
How may l know what God would
have me to do? That question i
settled in the text in these words
IF in man serve me let hin
follow me-" that is let him imitat'
me, let him do as we have seen M
do. One purpose OF the divine in
carnation was TO teach us what ant
how to do and how TO live by put
ting before us perfect model ant
example for our imitation. Henc
I'VE are told by Peter Christ hail
suffered for US, leaving us an ex
ample that we should follow hi
steps. And Christ himself salt
Il have given you an example tina
ye should do as | have done"
Let me illustrate what | am nov
trying to teach | well remembe
when boy at school and my teach
er was trying to teach me the ar
OF writing he did not do II by ora
instructions or by lecture, but Sc
a copy at each page OF the impro
yised copybook and told me TO fol
low that, or initiate that, az nearl