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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 um I t* National Library of Canada Bibliotheque nationale du Canada B/C 5(,iz. A Reserve. I : I mfr r ii'T n iri> - iiiii • ^ Tr iiiTir irni^ H i^ iyw ui i n \r.i.'"-C >V# ■'I , > I' 1 THE SEAL OF APOSTLESHlPi AN OEDIKATIOF SERMON ',>'■' PREACHED AT ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH, RED RIVER, On SUNDAY, DECEMBEIl 22, 1850. '-4 r "ft BY DAVID ANDEK«OA,. \).\)., LORD BISHOP OF RITERT S LAND. t LONDOxN : T. HATCITARD, 187, PICOADrTJ.Y. 18;')!. roNnoK : <..KATi;ii'i,i.v in!mhii;i;i) in ITS I'lUST l5lSl|()i\ \ A SERMON. '* The seal of mine Apostleship are ye in the Lord." — 1 Cor. ix. 2. .1 Allusion is here made to the method in which any important covenant or agreement is usually ratified. The most solemn confirmation is the seal, which is universally accepted as the sure pledge of the validity and genuineness of the document, to which it is affixed. And this figure, borrowed from earthly transactions between man and man, is often employed in Scripture to illus- trate spiritual and heavenly truth. It is thus employed rega: ding God the Father, revealing a way of salvation to the creature, sending His only begotten Son, as the appointed Mediator, the accredited messenger of the cove- nant, with tokens of His divine authority, " Him 6 Iwatli Ciod tlic Father scjiNmI." It is ('in])loye(J retin!^' the iiiossago, restiii;^ on it, siiid declarini^' it to l)e the sure r(;fnne ol' his soul ; when thus helieviiig and receivin<; the testimony, " he sets to In's seal that (rod is true." It is u|)])]ied Ijeyond this to tliat inward tokcjii of his adoj>tino' love, which God bestows uj)on all his true children, as the pledge and earnest of the full inheritance jirepared for them above: "In whom al'ter ye believed ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, whieli is the earnest of your inheritance." And, to (juote but one other passage, it is used by the A])ostle, when he would sum up the whole of religion in few words. When wishing to prove that religion is no vain and shadowy thing, as the world would have it — that tlie doubts of the sceptic, the life of the ungodly professor, do not affect the eternal truth of God; "nevertheless," the Apostle says — notwithstanding any such cavils — " the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ de- part from iniquity." As in the foundation of an earthly building is often deposited a stone en- graven with the name of the builder, and the purpose of the erection, so of the spiritual temple, the great Builder is God, and His design is to gather together "a chosen generation, a royal prirstliuod, ail liuly nation, a jn'cnliur i)eoi)le." * Or, to view it perhaps in a simpler li,i»'ht, as a seal ollcMi hears on its sides a twofold inscription, yet 01 lO onlv o])vions to the eve, so of the divine fonnuation the l»road seal is sure — hi(hlen and concealed from the eye is the Lord's secret know- ledo-e of llis people, hnt evident to all, and clearly leo'ihle is that personal holiness, which is the rellected iinaire of the; Creator, the only authentic and in^ West, and He ha^>, we trust, jturposes of nier<'y, days ul In'ightjiess "A-«2i l{ ij yet ill store for them.* This day is an earnest of better things. One from among them is now be- fore you, ah'eady blessed in turning many of his countrymen to righteousness ; f and surely he has thereby " purchased to himself a good degree and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus." Is he not then a seal of mine Apostleship, if not only believers are raised up, but ministers from among them ? If the other cases prove that I am sent from the Church of my home, — that I am linked Avitli the Church in other dioceses — surely he will prove that I am sent to the Indians in Rupert's Land. "If I be not an Apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you," my Indian brethren ; for from among \ ourselves one stands forth to say, " Send me as a herakl to my own * Tilt' liradual melting away ot' the Indian tribes is we fear too true : how blessed then if, as Europeans advance, they can hold up among them the true lamp ot' life, and transmit it to all future G;e)U'rations ! Augeseunt jdifc gcntes, aliiu niinuuntur ; lucjue brevi ^patio nuitantur seeia animantum, Et, quasi cursoics, vitai lamjiada tradunt. Lucre f, II. "fi. f Mr. IJenry Uudd, who as eateehist prepared the way for the Missiouarv Statiou at CUnnberland. Ue was first sent thither in 18 10, and ^Ir. JSmithurst, on his visit to the Station in 1842, t'oiuid uo less than eighty-five candidates for baptism. Since the arri\al of the llev. James Hunter in 1811, Mr. Budd has been laborionsly orcuj)ied there with his duties as schoolmaster and cateci.ist. IG kinsmen according to the flesh, send nie to be- seech them in Christ's name, Be ye reconciled to God." Is there not here then proof in the sight of men, and we trust to the joy of angels, that a living branch of the Church of Christ is planted in Rupert's Land, — that Indians partake of "the root and fatness of the good olive tree ?" Is there not proof that the prayer of the first minister of God who visited this land is now answered ? You, my beloved brother, (for surely to- day we ought to recount the way by which God has led and guided you,) can remember the day when the hand of God found you, thirty years ago, a child engaged at the time in your boyish sport. God's servant asked you to follow him, God made your youthful heart willing ; but it cost your mother a heavy pang to part with you. She lives, how- ever, to see this day, and surely has reason to re- joice in the sacrifice which she then made.* The first prayer taught you and your companion is re- corded by that clergyman who from that hour took and trained you. " Great Father, bless me, * Mrs. Budd is now very aged, and remembers, though in- distinctly, the taking of York Factory by the French, under La Perouse, in 1782. Slie understands very little of EngUsh; how great then her gratification in hearing her son explain in her own tongue the plan of salvation ! 'lo carry this message to others, she is wilUng to give him up with little expectation of ever seeing him again on earth. i M \i: 17 tlirough J(.su.s Christ." Siu-h worn tho simple words in wiiich he first ttiiio^ht you to approiieh the throne of Grace, and after menilonino- them, he adds his own fervent petition, " May a gracious (jod hear their cry, and raise them up as heralds of His salvation in this benighted part of the woHd.''* 'Jo-day God has answered this prayer. The lips wliich uttered the petition, and taught you the prayer, are now sealed in death. Of the two then committed to his charge, one is in active secular emplovment in the country at this mo- ment, and you are here, about to dedicate yourself solemnly to the service of the sanctuarv. The respected clergyman whose name you bear, whose kindness you have long experienced, and who affectionately writes to you as a father to a son,— he, I trust, still survives, and glad will he be to hear, in his declining years, that his name will now be associated with the first minister of native birth in this land.f Is there not proof then here that God hears and answers prayer; that " the bread cast upon the waters is found, though arter many days?" The petition was uttered before any Church was yet raised to the glory of God in this country, before the voice of an^- mmister had been heard in this settlement, and * See the Journal of Rev. J. West, p. 16. t See Appendix, No. I. C %i 18 now our eyes beliold the fulfilment of it under circumstances -which ou<,^lit to fill every lieart and mouth with praise. "Go for.V then, accompanied as you will be by the prayers of many on your behalf. Gladly would I have kept you here to minister by my side, and assist nie in intercourse witli the Indians around. Manv would wish to retain vou here* no one more so than myself; but 1 know the w^ants of that spot to which you go. 1 know the desires of your countrymen there for the word of life. Go then to your brethren, and may the Spirit of the Lord go with you. Plead with them in your Saviour's name affectionately and earnestly ; bear with them patiently ; place before them the joy of heaven, and the narrow path which leads to it ; depict the terrors of hell, and the broad wav wdiich conducts thither. Dwell upon the constraining love of Christ in pitying lost souls; dwell on the Spirit's quickening power in renewing sin-stained hearts. Say to them, when yearning for their eternal salvation, My heart's desire and prayer to God is, that you might be saved. 1 have great heaviness and con- tinual sorrow in my heart for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh. Expect trials, for Satan will be very active, and your countrymen still in the chains of heathenism will employ every * See Appendix, No. II. I li ': I 10 a<»'oncy against you; but take unto vou the wliolo armour of (iod, watcli in all tliinns, endure afHic- tions, do the work of an evann^elist, make full proof of tliy ministry." * But we must not limit our view to the minis- tering servants of (Jod. Tlioy may indeed naturally occuj)y much of our tliouglits this day, when, iu many a cathedral at liome, a large band of priests and deacons are being sent forth, aud when in many a colonial diocese, as here, a few labourers are being set apart to gather in the fruit of fields, already^white unto the harvest. If however we rejoice over tliose ordained as seals ; if I can feel the^humble confidence that those before me are indeed men of God, men of faith and prayer, I would regard them as means to an end, and would seek to realise iu my ow^n mind, and to im])ress upon yours, the mighty consequences which may result, under the blessing of God, from their ministerial labours. Let us view then the Apostle, not no was send- ing forth ministers of the word, but as himself tlie unwearied preacher, — the highest pattern for us all, my reverend brethren. Contemplate him re- ceiving the call of God on his way to Damascus, with that call renewed to him by the lips of Ananias, and then afterwards solemnly commis- sioned by God, when kneeling and praying in the * See Appendix, No. III. c 2 I 20 courts of Ilis \\o\y teni|)l(s as you have heard in this morning's service * ; there tohl that Jerusa- lem was not to be his appointerl spliero, but that to proclaim salvation to the Gentile worhl he was now " the chosen vessel." From that hour how mighty the A[)Ostle in the power of the Sj)irit ! To pass over those in Asia, at Antioch and Ephesus, at Lystra and Derbe, and to take only those in Europe, when the vision of the Mace- donian man invited him to cross the narrow boun- dary, saying, " Come over and help us,*' — how many seals ! How many at Philippi, " in the pure and lovely Church," f which he planted there. How many among the Scripture-loving disciples at Berea — how many among those whom the Apostle so tenderly cherished, as a " nurse doth her children," at Thessalonica — how many even in profligate and luxurious Corinth ! And where then is the secret of his strength ? Is it not in the full persuasion that an obligation from heaven was binding on his soul; is it not given in the chapter of our text, where he says, " Necessity is laid upon me, yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel ?" Was it not that deep distrust of self which led him to labour unremittingly, "lest, having preached to * Acts xxii. 21. See Stanley's Sermons on the Apostolic Age, p. 177. f For the expression see Tate's Horse Paulinse, p. 32. i 1 21 otliers, ho liiiiiselt* should be a ciistiiway ? " Was it not ill this, foinbinod with that Hrm dept'iid- oiicu on Ciod, whicii led him tu anticipate fresh triumphs in every fresh fiehl, and not to rest until (lod had graciously given him some seals, some crowns of rejoicing? And where then is the apostolic office in action and vigorous exercise at the present time? When churches are multiplied, when believers are strengthened and built up, when communicants increase* and sabbatlis are highly prized : a savour of holiness is then diffused around, and many are led to say, " We will go with you, for we have seen that God is with you." And if the Apostleship be a missionary one, then must we add, — when unbelivers are led to throw away their arms of rebellion, and " falling down begin to worship God, and own that God is with us of a truth." How blessed when the work and word of God so advance and flourish ! Not that we are to value ministerial labour by its success ; not that we can calculate that a given amount of energy will produce a certain effect, nor infer neces- sarily, from want of success, that there must be ministerial unfaithfulness.* With God, brethren, * li' Gofl suffers cvi u ;i lioly [liistov not presently to see the tVuiis ■)( his liihoius. it is to eonvineo iiim tliat tlie success ol 111--. iubiMii.i k'ionj/,1 lo God; ainj he ou<;ht to h-unhl,' lii.u- *io is iUv residue of the Spirit, uiul the Spirit alone can breathe upon liie shiin that they may live. Hut thoiio-h He may ivoep the soul lou<>' wait- iii^^, si'Mom does He withhold a hlessiii-,>(), (.J, ■':,• Miilio/1. r.n'l .Maui'Ci of Mjiiisionni Str.dv. 26 petition tliiit they may go forth in the power of the Spirit, and may be "i.s workmen that need not to be asliamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."' Nor imagine that it is for our own sakes that we make this demand. We have spoken of ministerial seals : what are these setxls but your souls ? The question for your own hearts is, — Am I yet sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise? Am I among the sealed ones of (jJod? Until their number be completed, the voice from heaven withholds the destroying angels saying, "Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their fore- heads." May God include us all in this happy number, while time and opportunity are yet vouch- safed : that when minister and people stand before the throne, " we may be your rejoicing, even as ye also shall be cur's, in the day of the Lord Jesus." APPENDIX. .1 M No. I. Tjie aged clergyman referred to is the Eev. Henry Btidd, of White Rootliing, Essex. Mr. West having been his Curate before leaving England, gave his young charge at baptism the name of Henry Budd. In the baptismal Register it stands thus : — " July 21, 1822. Henry Budd, an Indian boy, about ten years of age, taught in the Missionary school, and now capable of reading the New Testament, and repeating the Church of England Cate- chism correctly. (Signed) John West.'' To bear out what I have said of the interest which this aged servant of God has ever since taken in him thus named after him, I cannot deny myself the pleasure of quoting from his last beautiful and touching letter, and I hope I am not guilty of any breach of confidence in so doing. White Roofhiiiy, Essex^ April 2b, 1850. My dkah Henjiy Bi dd, 1 cannot sutler another year, (it may be my last,) to elapse w'thout tl'.anking you for your kind and all'ec- lionate Idler of lui^t veai', and sending vou another back, 28 :f ais a memorial of aflbction to you. By this time pro- bably you are a preacher of the everlasting Gospel, and may you be able to say with my dear brother lately de- parted, at 77 years of age, " I thank God that the object of my sermons has ever been to bring- sinners to Christ." I am DOW very old, about 77 years^ and our God has merci- fully given me two hints of late, that my time of depar- ture is ai hand ; I have been suddenly deprived of one of my senses, and dear Bickersteth, who used to call me his father, is just gone before me. I cannot last long, but God has given me to see a wonderful day, in which the day- spring from on high has visited us, and we have seen about fourteen Bishops sent out to our c^'onies, to bless the churches there established. God Almighty be praised! and one sent out to call you, I trust, into the ministry. I re- joice greatly in that event, and am sorry that my age and absence prevented my giving and receiving his blessing before he left. May he and his fellow Bishops be a rich blessing to the colonies, and the Lord give the word that great may be the company of the preachers. Perhaps this may be my last, as I am nearly tlie eldest of my day. I have been honoured with the ministry of our Saviour now nearly fifty-three years : God help me and receive my poor exertions, and forgive me for my dear Saviour's sake, in whom alone I desire to be found and to be complete in Him. May God bless you and your wife and children, and your Bishop, and bind us all up in the bundle of life for hh dear Son's sake ; so prays, my dear Henry Budd, Your aiVectiouate father, Henry Bddd. 'i i' 29 N.). II. Ar. n proof of tlie feeling entertained towards Mr. Biidd by l»is bretliren in tlie settlement, I may give the follow- ing address presented to liim at the close of his last sermon, the day before he left the lied Kiver, Jan. mii, J851. Rev. Sir, We, your countrymen and friends, sincerely congratu- lating you as well on your present promotion as on tho prospects which lie before you ; and feeling anxious to express our sympathy on your behalf, cannot allow you to depart from us, now that you are about to enter into a field assigned to you as your ministerial charge, without accompanying you with some token of the sincerity of our feelings and good wishes. We feel indeed that our offerings are but small when contrasted with the noble character of the cause to which we contribute our mite, and when compared with the vastness of the field in whicli you are called to labour. Humbly trusting however that He, who did not overlook the " two mites," will be pleased to vouchsafe His bles- sing upon our humble efforts, we beg you, in His name to accept the following contributions, specially for your station of missionary labour. And should they tend in the least to aid and facilitate your labours, in endeavour- ing to ameliorate the present wretched condition of our poor and benighted brethren, we shall feel ourselves more than amply^rewarded. With these we would add our humble but earnest prayers for you and your fainijy for your safety and for no your success, and fc^r better and brighter days to all around you. Hero follow the signatures, with their promised offerings of grain, clothing, and money, for his new station. No. III. The ordination of the first native minister in Rupert's Land mav recall to many the history of Eleazar Williams amonjr the Oneidas. A sketch of it mav be found in the history of the American Church, by Dr. Wilberforce, Bishop of Oxford, pp. 348 — 8(i0. It is there charac- terized as " full of that romance by whicli Indian life is so frequently distinguished." The account of his ordi- nation is thus given in a Memoir of Bishop Hobart, published at New York, 1831, a book, I believe, now scarce. " When the Bishop visited this interesting tribe of Aborigines (the Oneidas) in the year 182G. he con- firmed twenty-five of their number, and admitted their first lay-reader, Mr. Williams, to Deacons' Orders. In a discourse to them, fraught with spiritual tenderness, the Bishop, at every pause for the interpreter, called the assembled group 'My children.' After the Ordination service, several of the chiefs advanced, each placed his right hand on the light shoulder of the chief before him, the right hand of the foremost resting on the right shoulder of their minister. It was their characteristic and expressive sign of concord. A petition was then made to their ' Right Reverend Father ' by a party of the natives, about to remove to the far distant region of Green-Bay ; and they desired, with a grateful sense of 31 'the blessings of his ' wfttchful providenco," tlint lie would extend to their remote region his paternal care. The touching answer given to this solicitation, and the Bishop's glowing language to the duly ordained Indian Herald of the Cross, will occupy some of the most attractive pages in the mission-history of the New World." LONDON : PRINTED BY G. J. PALMER, SAVOY STREET, STRAND.