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L'axamplaira film* fut raproduit grftca ii la g^nirositi da: NeM Brunswick Museum Saint John Laa intagaa suivantaa ont titi reproduitas avac la plus grand soin. compta tanu da la condition at da la nattatdi da l'axamplaira filmi. at Btn conformity avac las conditions du contrat da fiimaga. Laa axamplaires originaux dont la couvartura an papiar ast imprim somewhat Episcopal in its oi'ganization. h mistake I charge you. It is the Episcopacy of the ^ . .. Testament, ana not the full blown Episcopacy of these later times, I maj^ say with- out fear of contradiction from those who are able to judge, you can discover no where in the New Testament such an Episcopacy as some would find there. For such a search is only attempted by those who.e prejudices have blinded their judgment, or whose lack of historical know- ledge qualifies them for any undertaking, however visionary and foolish. I would impress upon you the fact that, though personally I wish ever to be humble aa becomes a disciple of the meek and lowly Jesus, that, Tiovcrthciess, you are acturessed hy one who is as truly a Bishop of the Chiu-ch of Christ any upon th'o ORDINATION CIIAIUIE A\ I'l hamlH of Bif'hops or Aichbisliops have Iwen i)lncc(l in cn-cmonial coriHCcnition. From tlie imiiics given to these ofticorn, and nanctioned by the Jloly Ghont, wo sco thai there arc most important functions eonneeted^Avith tii;« office. You are to be pastors. You arc to watch over ilie Hhec]), to tend them with the utmost wisdom and with u yearning heart. You ar<^ ministers of the Word of (i«xl, and this precious book is to be the sour-e of your !> -aching. To this book bring all the lea. ning that you possibly can. Look with vour eyea open ui)on aU that is taking place. But remember that the foundation ol'your sermons is to bo found in this Word. And then you are rulers in the Church of Christ. And you will find that this needs much wisdom. Sometime* you may shrink under a Henso of the responsibilities devolving upon you. But bear in mind that you are rulers in the Church of God, and be faithful in this duty as those wh<* »hall have to give account to God. You have professed to l)e called to the work of the tninistry. It is more than a mere call to preach— that is a very defective view of your position. A call to preach thousands of men have. And how cordially we welcome those who give themselves to the study of the Woixl during their leisure, and to the preaching of the Word on the Sabbath ! But yours is a greater call than that. You hereby covenant to give yourselves fully and devotoiUy to the service of Christ and His Church. Your whole tin.e and energy arc to be devoted to this service. Aiid considering the temper of the times I ought to remind you that your call and your otfice is greater than that of lay Evangelists who have done so much for God, and who have been so greatly blessed. For they may bring to a termination at any period their labors, but not so with you- in the hearing of this congregation, to-night, you have so- 'i i « ,^. > it* .» W#»- BY RBV. K. KVANS. lecd ill these 36 thil'« th tlk;4 h over 1(1 with of G«xl, if your ig tha- j)oii a!J nciiitiou lul then ou will oil may ivolviij^ in the OHO \\\U0 : of the —that is ) ])reach velcome c "^Voixl iVord on 1 at. You Bvotoilly r whole e. And > remind 1 that of and who ing to a vith you- i have so- lonily (M)n8ecM-atcd your whole Tiatnre,l)ody, houI and spirit to a coiitiniuniM lifelong service in the work of (Christ ai..i in the service of His Church. You have now puV»licly covenanted with the Church to give your life with nil youi- energies, every talent, every power, every purpose, to this spiritual office. But lest there should be any doubt respecting the nature of the ordination you have this night received, kt nie briefly refer to its character. I do so on account of (he tendencies of our times. Remember, my dair brethren, that while there are c'Ttremo views current in the Church of (^irist, we hold *-\ .he golden mean tauglit in the Word of Clod. There is the fossilized dogma of tlie extreme saccrdotalists who claim supremacy over everybody and everything. And there is the loose idea of brethreni«n., well defined, *' as the free and easy method which puts the ministerial office in commission, and finds all authority in the aggregate of a fortuitous concourse of ecclesiastical atoms." But this is not your position ; called by a Divine call— called by the Holy Spii-it work- ing in your hearts, as you have declared to-night. Yo\i have been also pi-ovidentially called by the Church of Ood, which call has been manifested in a variety of ways as you have passed through the various examinations and tests, until you have come to this present hour. There was no necessary' virtue in the act and ceremony of ordi- nation itself. It has declared that which in its integi'ity previously existed. By the vote of your ftithers and brethren in the Conferenceyou were virtually constituted ministers of the Church of Christ. You have now solemnly and publicly declared your consecration^ body, eoul and spirit to this important work. By your vows recorded upon the memories of the brethren and this congregation — and heard as they have been m heaven — 8 ORDINATION CHARGE you have solemnly covenanted to devote yourselves to God; and now by this symbolic ceremony handed down from the days of i\w. Apostles, you have been, finallv. set apart to the pastoral office in the Meth- odlst^Jhurch of Canada. This act has but declared that which existed before. But you will meet in the Bervice of the Church some who will attempt to under- value your ordination. I speak thus because I have come from the thick of the tight in which you are engaged. I know what you will meet with. It may be that to some of those who are in your charge otters will be made, with all the blandishments, courtesiesand wiles that policy can Huggesl, to leave the Hock of Christ over which you are l)laced, and to join what they arrogantly term " the true Church." My dear brethren, I have no doubt but that you have considered this, and that while there are some Who may endeavor to proclaim that by the hands of the bishops there is communicated, essentially an^t power- fully, a certain mysterious ministerial grace which could never come throuj^h any other agency, you will remember that it is not taught in the Word of God. I may call it a monstrous dogma, full of anti-Christian, Pagan and magical notions. We have conferred upon you no new grace. We have now given to you no special treasury of gifts which are not bestowed upon others. But all thele gifts I tirmly believe are within the reach of faith, and to-night your profiting has l)een according to your faith. And you have been strengthened, not by the liands of these fathers, but by the Spirit in the inner man. This doctrine of Apostolic succession is used to harass the Church, and is asserted with as much confi- dence to-day as if It were true, though it has been refuted again and again. The bishops of some brunches of the Church represent themselves as the only true successors BY REV. E. EVANS, 9 of the Apostles, and of their posver and authority ; antl that only tho.se appointed and ordained by them are true ministers of the Lord Jesus. All others are intruders, and the sacraments which, according to their theory, are the chief means of spiritual grace, are, when administered by such, devoid of power, and those who depend on their ministrations are without the true grace of God and out- wide the Church of God. These views are contradicted by history, are not taught in the Scriptures, and cannot be reconciled with any system of spiritual philosophy. Any test which common understanding can apply may be tried in vain. Have these ministers thus ordained exhibited superior proofs of their authority and power and usefulness over those of other churches ? Have they in learning, critical acumen, or in their biblical knowledge exceeded ministers of other churches ? Have they shown more of the graces of the Aiwstles and the virtues of their Master, above all others ? What does the dreary 18th century, and earlier part of the 19th, in English Church history, show as to their character? What exhibitions of Apostolical piety, Christ-hke gentleness and loving entreaty were shown by them to the early Methodists ? What evidences of priestly arrogance and un- christian rancour have been made public since the passing of the Burials Bill in England ? Surely these successors of the Apostles have conferred by the imposition of their episcopal hands, but a small modicum of special minis- terial grace, if we are to judge by its visible etfects in the attainments or character of its recipients. But, perhaps, the purely official functions of reclaim- ing men fj'om wickedness, and establishing them in righteousness by the ordinances of the Church, are intended as the chief tokens of the magic grace conferred. How did England prosper under tiieir sole administration 10 ORDINATION CHARGE I. previous to the great revival ? Who I'eclaimed the popu- lation t'rom almost inconceivable spiritual ignorance and Avickedncss? Were not the greater part of these instruments of Divine grace untouched by episcopal hands, and laboring in defiance of episcopal threats ? Did not the anointed ones shov/ their pi-iestly virtue by stirring up mobs and leading drunken brawlers to dis- turb and persecute the men who, under God, were lifting the English people from barbarism ? Who have been blessed so that the little band of live or six has become one of live millions, with 25,000,000 of adherents, but the laborers who never believed and never taught this figment, and have been untouched and unblessed by these boasted successors of the Apostles ! Tried by every test appreciable by mankind, the dogma is false, and its results pei-nicious. And he who seeks to trace his ministerial authoritv tliroutly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the lining God, not in tables of stone, but in the fleshy tables of the heart." II. / now j)roceed to speak of the trust that is com- mttcd to you. " Hold fast the form of sound words which thou has heard of me." There are two ideas, (1) the things themselves, the doctrines ; and (2) the mode in which they are to be jyesented, the form of sound and health}' wordti. In speaking of the doctrines of Method- ism, not simply because it is Methodism, but because we believe, and believe from the heart, that these doctrines express the mind of the Spirit in the Word of God, I feel thankful that what I have to say was preceded by the sermon of yesterday. Is it any wonder that we believe the doctrines of Methodism to be the very imprint of the Word of God when we look at the wonderful and marvellous success that has attended their proclamation? What must have been the eminence of that spiritual character which wrung from the unbelieving and atheistic Voltaire the following eulogy : — " Wesley was the most fitting representative of Jesus Christ; of His life, of His character and of His doctrines, that the last century pro- duced." We m:iv well add — " The secret of the Lord is Avith them that fear him." He was u man of self-deny- ing zeal and of humble piety. He w^as a man of one book. He lived in constant communion with his Master, and received the light of the Spirit to guide him into all truth. Because of this we hold these doctrines, not because Wesley tauglit them, but because they are in accord with the Word. Though if any people might be pai*doned for j'ollowing the teaching of a man, surely we might be in following one of whom Cardinal Newman said, and this is 12 ORDINATION CHARGE a fitting reply to those 'vho seem to mjike opposition to Methodism so prominent in their utterances, " What his- torical personage in the Establishment during its whole three centuries, has approximated in force and splendor of character to one who began by innovating on your rules and ended by contemnim;^ your authorities." Be- come acquainted with our Methodist theology. It is a glorious theology. It may be said of it as of Goliath's sword — " There is none like it." Do not be led astray by thinking that you will find something superior, Br. Dollinger, the distinguished Old Catholic historian, — and his vast range of knowledge and accuracy of discrimina- tion well entitle him to be a judge — says, that " the works of Mr. Fletcher were the most important contributions to theology in the latter part of the eighteenth century." Will you turn away from these to the vague theories that some would substitute for them, where you will look for grains of gold and must needs turn over tons of sand to find them ? Methodist theology is in the life current of the Christian Church in every age. It is without the ])ara!yzing excresences wiiich have clustered around many systems. It is in the great gulf stream of eighteen cen- turies of Church doctrine. There is nothing new ; some features of practical Christian life and expei'ience have been jjut in the foi'cground instead of occupying the sub- ordinate position in which they had been placed by others, but they have only been put where the New Tes- tament puts them, and where an Apostolic Christianity will ever put them, and where an earnest Christianitj- in every Church does actually put them, whatever their the- oretical position may be. 1. I proceed to show the similarity of our doctrines with those held by the Church of Christ in its most glorious period, the Apostolic and Martyr times. Wher- BY REV. E. EVANS. 13 sition to Vhat Lis- ts whole aplendor on your 5S." Be- lt is a Goliath's d astray :or. Dr. an, — and crimina- le works •ibutions entury." ries that look for of sand current loat the rid many :een cen- w ; some ce have the sub- iiced by rew Tes- istianity anity in beir the- loctrines its most Wher- ever you go you can publish a full salvation, a free salvation — a salvation for every man and woman. Thank God no narrow decrees bind you when you entei- the pulpit. Our Church is like the ancient Church in its repose upon experience. It is not so much the philosophy of religion ; not so much speculations about God, but the grand truths which are needed to teach man's heart, and to arouse his nature. From the possession of a regene- ]'ated nature, and the shedding abroad of the Divine love in the heart, we are led to tell of sin and of holiness, of penitence and of pardon, of regeneration and sanctiti- cation. It is the doctrine of experience. And if you could visit those catacombs, where these early followers of the Lamb have left the record of their religious expe- riences and hopes, you would find in those inscriptions the very same utterances that you have heard in our class meetings thousands of times. You go forth not to preach theories, not to philosophize, but to declare, from the fulness of your spiritual life and consciousness, " What we have felt and seen, With confidence we tell. And puhlish to the sons of men The sijjns infallible." 2. Again, our Church is like the earlier Church in its (I use a technical term) synergism — the cooperation of man Avith God. Yoa do not proclaim that grace is ir- resistible. That never was the doctrine of the early Church. You go to men and you call upon them to repent. You tell them to turn from their wicked works as the early Church did. And you believe that through the grace of God which cometh upon all men through the death of Christ, the Spirit bestowed upon them enables them to hoar and to understimd. Consult the works of the Ante-Xicene Fathers, now rendered so accessible to all, and nowhere can you find any other doctrine in their 14 ORDINATIOX CHARGE pages. The historians of Church doctrine all concur that this was the universal belief of the Church of the first three centuries. Yea, not till A.I). 430 did a contrary opinion find any expression within the Church. It is true that a theory of predestination was held by the Gnos- tic hei'etics befoi-e this. But within the Church it was never heard of till taught by Augustine. Rejoice in the free theology which enables you to sing — " O that the world might taste and see The riches of Ilis }ii ace I The arms of love that compass me Wuuldall mankind embrace." 3. Another similarity that exists between our Church and the early Church is in its simplicity of worship. The other night you heard the eloquent refer- ence made to Justin Martyr. Turn to his writings in the year A. D. UO or L^jO, and his descriptio of the Avor- ship of the Church at that time readily answers to ours. There was neither pomp nor ceremony; neither minister standing robed in different garments from the rest of the people, nor elaborate ritual, but the utmost simplicity. The greatest glor}' of the Church then was the presence of God who ever meets with His ])eople, when they draw near to worship Him in the Spirit and in truth. The teaching of history is that in proportion as an elaborate and ])ompoiis rituid lias found its home in the Church, so lias the true spirit of devotion, which is too ethereal to bo enshrined in garments and ceremonies, forsaken the mass of her worshippers. Though innovations upon this simplicity wcj'C very rapid after the age of Con- stantine, yet we find that in the fifth century ministers performed all the holy offices in their ordinary garb. Those are. in outward detail at least, more the successors of the Apostles who accomplish thoir mission in the ■common dress of the time in which they live, as the BY REV. E. EVANS, 15 Apostlob did, than those who array themselves in robes and embroidery calcidated to gratify a feminine taste, but surely not to improve the heart, or assist the secret workings of the Spirit. 4- Then, again, look at the Christian fellowship that we have. Much is said nowadays about the class meeting not receiving the attention that it ought to receive. I will mention the testimony of a leai-ned theologian and distinguished minister, Dr. Tholuck. He says he was accustomed whenever he could to attend the Methodist class meeting, because the Methodist class meeting ap- })roaches nearer to the fellowship of the early Church than anything he had ever met with. Dr. Dale, the celebrated Congrcgationalist 3Iinister, speaks of the class meeting as one of the things that he would like to have in their Church. And our love-feasts are a direct heritage from the early Church, where the agapa? were celebrated every Sabbath. And our tickets that we give quarterly come from the practice of the early Church. They are the continuation of the ivory cubes or tablets of the early Church, which the members of one city cai-ried when they removed to another. So we are in the very atmosphere of antiquity, if any C^hurch in the world is. 5. I would refer to the success that has attended the labors of this branch of the Church of Christ. That success has been achieved by moral means alone. And if success be a mark of a true Church, when achieved by purely spiritual and moral means, what Church has had more success than our own ? A success equal to that vouchsafed to the primitive Church. The estimate of the number of Christians at the close of the first century varies from 500,000 to 1,000,000. Take the larger number as the result of *70 years' lal)our, and for a little over double that period we find God has given to us five mil- 16 ORDINATION CHARGE d lions of full and accredited members. We may well say what has God wi'ought, and .still triumphantly exclaim^ as our founder did, " The best of all is God is with ns." 6. And, then again, look at the moral purity which Avas pi'oduced by the pi-eaching of the Apostles. You have read of the terrible state of depravity that existed in the heathen world when the Apostles went every- where and proclaimed the truth as it is in Jesus. The baseness, the treachery, the immoiality of the Pagan world were proverbial. Yet from the black lilthy ooze of Pagan immorality in its last stage of festering cor- I'uption, there sprung up the pure white lily blossoms of Christian morality. AVas it not so with our forefathers, Y^ou have heard of the men to whom they pi-eacl^ed- - men brutalized — men demonized — the most filthy and depraved of mankind. But the gospel they i)reached elevated the people. These who had been sunken in vice became eminent in virtue. The drunkard became tem- perate, the thief became honest, the adulterer became chaste. They became examples to all. And those who had been so covered with sin that hardly any ti ace of the Divine image could be found in them, were pui'itied and made new creatures in Christ Jesus. 7. I would refer you to the stability of your doctrines. Of course it is with regard to the times that I am addressing you. I need not tell you that there is a great uneasiness in the Christian Church to-day. There are scarchings of heart and intellect. Ableme]i, learned men, and good men, are liecoming dissatisfied with creeds and confessions, because these contain much that is not of the spirit of the gospels, but mere human accretions, metaphysical subtleties, overdrawn niceties, and unscrip- tural additions, but in rejecting these th" mind has received^ an inijctus to scepticism j it is j^.i'Gcipitated BY REV. E. EVANS. 17 headlong into doubt, and henco with such the Scriptures themselvoH lose their supreme authorit}, as well as the symbols of belief. How is it we have been preserved from these disastrous changes and conflicts? Because our beliefs, and our doctrines ai-e but an orderly arrange- ment and statement of our conscious knowledge. Wo preach what we have known, v>rith a certitude that no mere theoretical belief can ever give. Tlie truths that we preach ju-e built upon God's Word. And a conscious experience sustains, and corroboi-atcs the ti-uth of that Word. Our doctrines are not mere formulas, mere phi- losophical axioms. God in His Word describes man as He made him, and man as He saves him ; and the con- sciousness of man answers to both descriptions. The same appeal to a Christian consciousness marks the early Christian Church, and this internal testimony of the soul is quoted with approval and delight. In this way we tread in their footsteps. " He that believeth on the Son of God liath the witness in himself." And in this fearless appeal to the testimony written by the Spirit ontlie regenei-ated heart, taught by the Word, illustrated by the history of the past, and confirmed by the gladsome experience of thousands in his day, Wesley showed uot only his accuracy as a theologian,but also his suj^eriority to the philosophy of his time, which was wholly sensational; and to the jDcrception of w^hich truth the most Christian philosophers of the present dry have arrived. Who caii doubt the grand circle of truths and changes which are tiiught in God's Word, Avhen these have been manifested and wrought within his own soul, and which could no more be explained away by subtle reasoning than the fact of one's existence. The clear, well-defined religious experi- enCe of both 1tMAfm>fa ami i\{\^\r\\a ao r>T';/4/»»\«^H '-> ^.»— -^I"£,a meetings and prayer meetings, is the foundation of our ^w 18 ORDINATION CMIAIKJE E i doctrinal stal iiitv a^ a ('Inireh to-day, and an-urs well for the contiMuaMue of itn theological doetnnes in the future For the ehara<-terot'(rod a« settorth in llm ^Vo^l «iust chan-e. and the eharacter of man as therein dehneerfect -love? Are you gr oaning after it ? -Do you preach it ? M it lU'i- BV HK\ . K. K\ ANS. 19 fill's well M in Ihc tliK Woi-a in(loHnc()ni'ti*ayed by St. John, who, leaning npon the bosom of his Lord, di-anlv in His spirit, and delighted to set forth the grand central trutij " that (Jod is love" and the love he bestows is a " perfect love which castoth out fear," Methodism teaches her followorsj to look to the word of the Saviour '' who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that wo can ask or think" and proclaims f he grand ideal. II(^pe and faith ai-e kept alive i-eady to leap forth in eager antici])ation of receiving the fullrie>s of His love. Ti-anscending all cold,tbrmal and mere logical Christianity it is afire with the warmth of love, and a glow- ing fervor, and a far-seeing instinct recognizes and receives the deeper tiHiths of the believer's union with his Lord. Wesley exclaims, " I want you to be all love; th'*s is the perfection I believe and teach." Behold your vantage ground. Methodism has in her ci'eed and practice the type of the glorious ('hurch of the future, and the time i» coming when every branch of the Christian Church will come nearer and nearer, T will not say to our doctrine, but to the docti ine of tlds book as exhibited in the gos- pel and epistles of St. John. Oh ! be as earnest in pro- claiming it as 3'ou are zealous in attaining it. AnotlK'i-im]><)rt;int part of this tnist now committed tQ you, consists in the form or mode in which these doc- trines ^h()^dd be pi-e.-ented to the people placed in your charge. The apostle urges upon Timoth}' that not only the doctrines them.-elves .should be held fast, but also the clear modes of thinking and speaking, customary among, the apostles. Timothy well knew these, for in the im- pressible' perio.l ot early youth he had heard the apostfe in his native city of Lvstra, and n.o doubt in the a 20 ORDINATION CIIAROE i! jMiuion, ana ho went with him andhcar.l tliOHodiHCOurHOS in Philippi und elHowhere which wei-o to be \m model. 1. The apostloH spoke tlie great truths clearly and distinctly with the utmost sincerity; peruse carefully this epistle and you will firul plain examples --f the point- ed maimer in which the truth was spoken ; love, wrath, heaven, heli, are set forth without shadowing. So you must follow this example as our forefathers loUowcd it, giving the whole counsel of the Lord, and leaving untouch- ed the sharp edges of denuncialion or appeal. There is much je'.ly fish theology in the present day with no backbone in it, a vacillating, uncertain set of hazy, indef- inite notions ready to take any shape according to tho whim or pressure of the passing moment. You have a well defined system of doctrines; preach them clearly. Lot no one go away without knowing what your doctrine is, and what you believe. You have an advantage over many in the profession of your creed ; you can always take it into the pulpit. You hold no doctrine that you need be ashamed of, they are all foi- use publicly, aa well as privately in your studies and examinations. Now, this bold, plain preaching is much wanted to- ♦?' y. It is proclaimed that there is much antinomianism i^niong pi-ofessed Christians, that an ethical revival is needed solely. Your theology needs no mending, it wants clear preaching. V >llow tho example of these godly fathers before you. What has every' true revival of religion been but an ethi^il revival. In the great Methodist revival, what stupendous and mag n ilicent mor- al results followed ; drunkards became temperate, brutal fighters meek, whoremongers clean, brawlers gentle. F..^ooU orw +v.uf nn opA • an consider himself a Christian if lie lies, cheats, or robs in his business. Preach a holiness which reaches to every thought, word and action. Speak BY REV. E, EVANS. 21 m that none shall take rofugo in a coiTeet creed, and in- diil;jfo a bad heart. 1 adjure you, let there ho no paring, or niineing, of the great moral truthn pertaining to our holy religion. Let your own lives be niarUed by the moHt thorough-going hone-tty and uprightness and nobil- ity. Be lull-orbed Christiaii ministers in this respect also. 2. Be faithful in the discharge of this great duty, in the proclamation of truths which the temper of the present times renders more difficult than ever. Never before has such a weight of res])onsibility been laid upon Christian ministers as to-day. But you must not shi'ink or falter. The apostle Paul, in that most impressive in- terview which took place n[)on the sea-shore at Miletus, declares how that he " warned every man day and night with tears." A warning ministry is imperatively re- quired. It is your duty to proclaim, " Behold the good- ness of God." But none the less 3'our duty to proclaim, Bch(;I(l the goodness and the aevcriiy of God. You will say that, '' knowing the terrors of the Lord, we persuade men." Alas, there is a hell ! This is not a de- batable topic with us, and men are hastening to it. Do you call it unkindness to awaken a man whoso house is on fire ? And if you can touch some hearts by enforcing these truths, is it not unkindness not to do so ? You have no option, you must be either faithful, or perish, and also become the stumbling-block ovei* which num- hei's may fall into the fire which " is not quer -;hod." 3. But great tenderness marked the manner of the apostle's utterances, and has ever been characteristic of the best style of Methodist preaching. Perhaps the re-, volt against the doctrine of future punishment may have,, jjartly arisen from the harsh and injudicious way in 'Nvhich it has been declared from some pulpits. Alas, 22 ORDINATION CllAROE i!' ! '■ '1 sometimes it appears as if the preacher fancied himself a Jupiter, seatcy the CJiurch of (iod as a drowning man cbngs to, yea, clutches, the rope which shall .save him. For there is np other name given under heaveu whereby men an l)e saved. Jesus, and Jcsusordy is to be the theme ol your ministrations. BY REV. E. EVANS. ^i^' OS corn- Hold fast these ti-uths a-; the wa'.'rior his sword, for by this word alone, the sw^ord ot the Spirit, can deliver- ance be wrought for the captive thousands of our race- Hold it fast as the only balm for the healing of the na- tions. Hold fast these great truths as our forefathers held them, and proved them true by tlie mighty results which f()ll(>we(i. These fathers pi-esent licld them, and liave seen hunib-eds turned to the living (rod by their power. These biethren, in the vigor of their physical and Chj'istian manhood, are proclaiming them to day^ and the old tiMith has lost none of its power. We need no change, we will have none ; founded upon the Rock of Ages, it is immutable. Hoki it fast, and it will hold you. fast, and your petjplc fast, u])on the everlasting founda- tions. All this is implied in the woi*d faith, for this faith is no mere intellectual belief, but it is essentially the trust of the whole spiritual, moral and mental nature in the mighty Saviour who is behind these truths, and of whose love, justice, power, and redeeming and saving work the}' are but the expj-ession. It is the gathering up of the whole man to grasp continuously the perfect Saviour in His full salvation. Thus holding this form of health-giving words, you will proclaim ihem as the only I'emedy for the worlds misery. Each succeeding age fancies it has found. some panacea lor the world's wrongs and ills, anil the flowing centuries have ever re- vealed the vanity of these unfounded hopes. Apostles of culture, high-priests oi' science, are now assuring the woi'ld that its )e-' 1> up 1' 24 ORDINATION CHARGE I! I ans, consider tho teaching of the present time. The most ediicjited city on the continent of Europe in the city of Berlin. And what in the result of its university teach- ing and its complete school system ? " Empty churches and full ])risons." Within seven years nn increase of crime and immorality and fraud of nearly three hundred per cent. Nominally Protestant, practically faithless ; her artisan popidation has been led away from the truth by her univei'sity professors and educated schoolmasters. Does ignorance alone do wrong ? No ! Culture steals, commits Ibi-gories. frauds, adultei-ies, murders, and every abomination. Is envious, deceitful, ungrateful and mali- cious, too. My reference to Germany implies this truth also, that not only is this boasted education impotent to cure, or avoid moral evils, but that a rational Christianity HO callel, a diluted theology, is equally powerless. It is that "form of sound words"' known as " evangelical " which alone has i-emoved the world's burdens and cured its ills. Go forth in laith then, that you possess not only a cure for perishing hionanity. but the cure, the onhj cure. What has this so called broad or libei'al Christianity done for tlu^ world? Where aie itsti'oj)hies ? Where its missions in bonighted lands? WIk^'O its converts from barbarian tribes? It may please men, but it cannot save them ; may gratify pride, but cannot change the heart. While others propound their nostrums, go forth with this Divine bMlni for the heidiiig of the nations. (;o in love, tilled with that divine tenderness and hoi}' unction which Jesus gives, '• For as lie is so shall we bo in this world.'" (b), with the abiding eonvietion that you liold in your hands the true balm for the healing of tho . clvnesses of men. Proclaim to all this Saviour. Cease ii ot to urge upon men ahvnys and everywhere to repenfi 1. . BY REV. E. EVANS. 25 The he city ' teach- lurches jase of undred ithless ; e truth lastei'H. ? steals, J everv id mali- Lli also, to ciu-e, ^tianity 1. It is '' which its ills. ' a cure // cui-e. stianity lie re its ts iron I cannot iiL»;e the Tjo i'oi'th nations, nd hoi}' 11 we he hat you 1^ of tlie Cease J repenfc and turn unto God. So preach the truth in faith that men may cry " Sirs, what shall we do to be saved," and then in holy confidence give the divinely inspired answer, " Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be sav- ed, and thy house." This faith and love will be required in all other parts of your duty beside that of preaching. In the study of the word you Avill find that after the use of all aids, your dictionaries, lexicons and commentaries, as you ponder over the very words spoken by Jesus or written by his servants, that a mist hangs over the out- ward signs, but a loving heart in believing prayer will go upward. " Lord, open thou my eyes to behold the wonders written in thy law." Then the " eyes of your heart being enlightened, " ' the sacred page shall blaze with a divine radiance, the truth will be visible, the hid- den fulness burst forth as the sun from behind the cloud which shadows his ett'ulgencc. Oh ! never did jioor slave in Brazilian mine clutch with more eager joy the precious dia- mond that should ))e the price of his ransom, than a true lov- ing student the gleaming jewels of divine wisdom whicli a i)rayerful lielieving search opens to his admiring gaze. You will need to exercise much of both in your pastoral work, for while love may prompt, it will require a con- stant lively faith in the Master's presence and promises to sustain you, so that this important function shall be discharged with diligence and fidelity. I must hasten to look jit, and that but briefly, lY. llie source of all power, the sphere in ivJuch a true minister lires—'' in Christ Jesus." Your life ii>ust be one of close personal contact with Christ, foi- without this there can be no power. There must be this living, lov ring communion with Ilim, you must know by heartfelt experience the meaning of those words so wm n 26 ORDINATION CHARUE. II I : full of mystery ; '' He that abidoth in me. and I in him, the 8ame hringeth forth much fruit : for without me ye can do nothing." John 15 : 5, and the servant rea- lized that which the Master promised, for triumphantly he exclaims '' I can do all things through Christ which ijitrengtheneth me." Phil. 4- 13. You must live in (.^hrist. By Him you must obtain the power. You have heard of the power which followed the preaching of some of these fathers. It was not obtained by a ten minutes' prayer before they went into the pulj)it. But it was by living in a life long walk with God and sweet communion with His Son Jesus Christ. Let me give an illustration, ^o physical power is so adapt- ed for setting forth spii'itual things as the mysterious power of electricity. It has been found capable of being stoi-ed in certain cells, and then liberated, at once exerting its wojidei'fiil iovQn in a short time. So, that electricity from a machine which took hours in generating may expend its energy in a few moments. So it was by constant praj'er and faith, this spiritual contact with .Jesus, that these ahtoDishing I'esults were produced. The etl'ccts of the moment were the result of this stored enei'gy, this indwelling power. If you want to go into tlie pulpit with power to speak to the people, you must live in Christ. This book is to be a lamj) unto your path and a light to your feet ; and in the brightness of this light these truths become mighty Avith power, and your soul receives boundless supplies from (iod, and you pi-each in the power of the Sj)irit, and in the demonstration oi' the Holy Ghost. Brethi'cn in Christ, whatever talents you have, or what- ever abilities you have, or whatever attairnnents you possess, they are but instruments. Tln^ })ower is from Jesus Chi'isl, and He has promi.sed to bestow it upon us,. BY REV. E. EVANS. 27 " in him, without rant rea- iphantly it which. st obtain followed was not rent into alk with 8 Christ, so atlapt- iis power ig stwed srting its !ity Irom i expend constant sus, that ?trects of i-gy, this Seek thus to be surcharged, and as you go for 'h your language will be — " O for a trumpet voice On all the world lo call ! To hid their hearts rejoice In Him Avho died for all; For iill my Lord was crucified, For all, for all, ray Saviour died." We commit to you these truths. These fathers and brethren place the deposit in your hands, Be faithful. Oh ! we must be earnest. We shall have to give our account atthe last day. I have endeavored to be faithful with you. You have received godly exhortations from the chief officer of this Conference. Our united supplications have gone up for \o\\. The Lord grant that you may be wise in winning souls! And then vou shall have at- tained to the greatest possible honor God can confer upon you. The Lord be with you! n SUNDAY SCHOOL PBRIODKALS, 1881-82. -o- THE SUNDAY SCHOOL BANNEE Which is an 8vo. 33 page Monthly, edited by the Rov. W. H. Withrow. It will contain Notes an.l Illustrations on the In ernational Sunday . School Lessons, Infant Class and Black Board LessonB. 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Aunt Rebecca's Charge Aunt Lois Beruice. the Farmer's Daughter Bertie's Birthday Present Capt Russell's Watch ward Carl's Ilonic Every O iv Duties FloBDOv vVilloujfhby's Self Fatithl'ul intlie Least Findintr Shelter Froggy 's Little Brother Father Muller Gathf-red Sheaves Heart's Delight Isaac Phelns, the Widow's Son Jessica's First Prayer Jimmy's Shoes Little Meg' Children Ned's Search Not Forsaken Old Sunapee The Family Doctor The Golden Work The Golden Fruit The Golden Lite Tlic Golden Heart Tlio Squircs's Daughter Tom Carter Tlic Wliole Armour Wayside Service Wee Donald Miriam Brandon Mary's Patient's Bank Newell Boys Robert Joy's Victory Simon Martiu Upward Path Btssie Browu Door Without a Knocker Vivian and Her Friends Emily's Bracelet Ellen Vincent The Poor Clerk Hatties Powers Mecca Mrs Fielding's Household Mark Stcadman Old Barracks Quality Fogg's Old Ledger Two Books £XiEL8IOR 1^0. 1. • Fifty volumes, sttoioyly bpiind, of excellent booh •jThe Secret Drawer The Story i^izzie Told Under Gray Walls ^'/J net. 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