Year: 1860

ical abstract Of the Church since his con-
nection wish it as pastor commenced, and at
an early hour the spacious church was filed
to OverAowing with the multitude Of his
warm personal friends in this city. Mr..
Eells is now pastor of the Dutch Reformed
Church in Brooklyn, n. Y, the health Of his
wife having rendered it necessary that he
should remove from Cleveland. The Second
Church and Society parted from him with
regret, and hearty, whole-souled welcome
will always greet him when he revisits the
scene of his labors here: fII..t


Mr.. Eells announced for his text the fol-
lowing


And samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing
from him. And he said, It Is the Lord LET him do
what seemeth Him good.-I. Samuel III; IS


Only lot your conversation be as it bOcomoth the
else be absent, may hear Of your affairs, that ye
stand fast in spirit with mind, striving to-
gether for the faith Of the GosPei-PhilhPians' L.


He remarked that there is no source of re-
lief and comfort like the CONSEQUENCES that
all things are under Gods direction and con-
troll. There is no higher altitude of piety
than to feel firm assurance that in deed
and truth " He doeth all things we'll" To
him who can truly say this, He will attend
him like tutelary spirit, and will be to him
as a shelter from the heat at midday, as
wells of wator in dry desert, and relief in
every trouble. Strength in Him is to us
like light amid the darkness, like songs in the
night, and in Him are our hopes of bliss be-
yond.


From this time forth we must suffer our
paths to diverge as we journey through the
wilderness, but they will meet again, and we
shall worship and praise together in a new
sanctuary, where there will be no parting
Had God been pleased to continue the re-
latiOn of Pastor and people between them,
none would have rejoiced more than he, not
one would have been more thankful But,
said he, the Lord has separated US, let Him
do what seemeth Him good, though cannot
prevent darkness, disappointment and tears.
Let US not harrow our breasts, but for a time
dwell upon some of those things which will
ever promote the prosperity of a church.


Earnestness in ministering and receiving
the truth and spirit of the Gospel. Strive to
keep in yourselves love of the simple piety
of the Bible and its plain truths. The SEN
timents of men have too large basis in the
hearts of professed Christians. They are
more anxious to ascertain how other persons
think and feel in regard to the dogmas of
human doctrines, than to know whether the
Gospel is there. So, too, the members think
more of the pomp and circumstance of the
Church than the devotion of the members


We must interpret the Bible for ourselves.
We cannot be too much opposed to the inno-
vation of any other spirit, in the place of
earnest piety. There can be no greater bond
between Christian brethren than the love Of
Jesus. The Church in our day has departed
too far from the Bible, and gone into specu-
lations, or philosophy, or appliances, or ma
chinery, or extravagant demonstrations Of
success, and she must return, discarding the
doctrines of men, and striving for the faith
of the Gospel.


They should strive for union in the pros
ecution of Christian work. They should
have one spirit and one mind, hearty, act
ual, vital union. The members of the nat
ural body act in perfect harmony, because
they have one central source-the heart. If
the Church of Christ had more of such a
union, we should have no more bitter feuds
between professors of religion. Il


Your history, said the speaker, is a COM
mentary upon this. There is no one thing,
aside from the blessing of God, that has SO
tended to your success, as the continued har-
mony among yourselves. You have wasted
no power upon internal friction, and have
worked together for one common good
Fear nothing in future more than that awful
curse of dissensions, which will allow fends
to gather around here and howl their orgies
around this sacred place. Strangle any
wrongIfeelings within your own breasts, mark
and shun any man who would create the
smallest sehism. Be built up of reliable
material, and grow up beautiful temple of
the Lord, and "Ichabod" shall never be
written upon your walls.


Be steadfast, and persevere in the duties
W hA1lCA yOu dIc Cdlleus DC uDileu not only
in particular circumstances, but in your
habitual estate. Use uniform efforts for the
good of others, not only for their benefit, but
to edify yourselves. No church can ereal-
ly prosperous that does not employ large
number of its members in active labors for
the outside masses. God save you from
church content and pride. Be firmly plant
ed upon the Gospel, the spirit of the Gospel
your life current, and the fruit of the Gospel
your work.


| The pastor will always feel an interest in
the success of q church. It is his great work
to secure just this result; What an occount
will he have to render, when he who is
called priest of God shall dare to offer sac
rifiee to himself or to the Devil from this
sacred desk The faithful pastor feels most
warmly attached to his people. In his hap
py hours, they have shared his joys, and
when he has been cast down they have SYM
pathized with him. He has been with them
at the hours Of feasting, and the hours of
mourning, at the death-bed side, and in the
social circle. He has helped to lead Christ
ians out Of dependency into gladsome light,
and can he cease to feel an interest in them ?
His interest viii continue after he leaves them
<An HuA AefSA AuA 5Os aAl1 lON6 lOf
plans, or those at Colossus and Rome, so the
pastor ever bears his people in his warmest
feelings. 1t IS not true that new scenes will
blot out the past; not true that love and
gratitude for new friends will blot out the
remembrance of the old; but his hope ever
is, let me hear of your success, though the |
voice cannot disobey leads me away.


leave you, but not of my own choice
You did not drive me away, nor did leave
you willingly. God has pointed out the way, |
and these Christians here will not forget me |
when they come near to Jesus. We shall |
meet often around the Merey-seat.


Five years and half ago to-day, said Mr.. |
E., preached my first sermon to this church,
but the installation did not take place till |
three months later. At that time the church |
had 271 members there were added during /
my ministry 274 members-1l5 by letter |
from other churches, and 159 by profession |
Of religion; during the same time l27 were |
dismissed by letter to other churches; 2were |
excommunicsted and 16 died-leaving 400 |
members now. BE had performed the rite


IL