USA > West Virginia > The West Virginia pulpit of the Methodist Episcopal church. Sermons from living ministers. With personal sketches of the authors > Part 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
310
WEST VIRGINIA PULPIT.
means, and the exercise of his powers, should obtain this very important knowledge.
There are special divine blessings which should be obtained. Man comes into this world as devoid of spiritual good as he does of knowledge. He is blind, poor, miserable and wretched. As he has sinned,
therefore he is told to repent. He has abused the mercies of God, and should therefore be humbled to poverty of spirit. He must obtain the pardon of sin, the favor of God, peace of mind and love to the Lord, joy in God and the evidence of salvation. These are blessings which form the title to, and fitness for glory and eternal life. To secure these blessings there must be active work in asking, seeking and believing, so as to make one's calling and election sure by being adopted into the family of God.
Man has duties to perform. He exists in a sinful world, and is clothed with a fallen and depraved na- ture. His first duties, therefore, are to resist the temp- tations of the one, and overcome the evil desires of the other. He has to deny ungodliness and worldly desires ; overcome the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. And if in doing these things, a hand or an eye should of- fend, it should be cut off or plucked out and cast from him. But there are other duties which are, perhaps, more positive in their character. Man is placed in various important relations, as a creature, to the Cre- ator, as a brother to the human family, or as a mem- ber of a civil or religious body, and is connected to others by ties of flesh and blood. Each of these relations con- tains its varied duties. That man may resist that which is evil and cleave unto that which is good, he must strive against every appearance of evil. He must read and study the Divine Word, so that it may direct him by its precepts and encourage him by its sacred promises. He should ask for the blessings of divine favor, in order that they may enable him to do the will of God. Man is sent into this world to be re- ligious, and religion is compared to running, wrest- ling, laboring, fighting, agonizing, and working out our salvation with fear and trembling.
Man is placed here to bè an active agent ; and he is
311
DIVINE AND HUMAN WORK.
often found active in the pursuit of those things which please the senses, gratify the appetites, serve his worldly interest, or agree with the nature of his earthly pursuits. But he should be much more active in those things which relate to the well being of the soul, the great concerns of eternity, and the glory of God. He has hands to employ in God's work, and feet to run his errands and move in the paths of obedience. His eyes should be active in surveying the glories of God ; his tongue should be used to speak the Master's praises; his judgment should determine the emotions of the soul; his will should choose the good and refuse the evil; and with his affections he should esteem, love, fear, hope, and rejoice in God.
But man has a still higher guide to direct him in his actions and work. He is favored with a dispen- sation of the Holy Spirit, with a clear revelation of God's will and Word, and a Gospel ministry besides ; and he has the promise of an abundant entrance into glory as the reward of faithful service. Man is placed in this world as a candidate for a brighter and a bet- ter home; and by good discipline and holy exercise he may be prepared for it, as a scholar in school is trained for future situation and employment. Here, in this life, are the works of sin and the works of righteousness presenting themselves as employments to be chosen. To the works of sin, misery is uniform- ly attached; and of the works of righteousness true happiness is the result. These are the most potent motives for the pursuit of holiness, and the reward is the glory of a celestial home.
Thus man in the present state has salvation to se- cure. He has sins to repent of and renounce; bad habits to conquer; wicked passions to control; vile propensities to mortify ; wasted time to redeem ; par- don for past sins to seek ; enemies to subdue; mercies to be grateful for; affections to give to God; duties to discharge to God, to the world, his friends and himself, and purity and fitness to gain for an immortal life. There is then work for every power of man's body, every faculty of mind, every affection of the heart, every talent with which he is entrusted, and for every
312
WEST VIRGINIA PULPIT.
moment of precious time. This work is to be done with an eye single to God's glory and with a heart sin- cere, by laying aside every weight and running with patience the race set before him. Jesus is man's great pattern. He had to work the works of him who sent him, and endure the severest suffering and trial. But though he sweat under it even blood, there was something in it sosweet, that it was more than his meat and drink to do his Father's will. Paul had some of the hardest portions of it, and found in it such a charm that his life was not dear to him, so that he could finish his course with joy. No man, at the time, says it is hard; none on reflection will say that it is un- pleasant ; none ever repented on a death-bed for hav- ing done God's work. But many have been burned at the stake, before they would abandon it. God has given to man time that he may improve it; talents that he may employ them ; grace that he may use it ; strength that he might exert it; and appointed work that he might do it. So man should use the strength and grace he has, and action will be attended with a growing delight. God will reward the righteous for their works of faith and labor of love. Though Paul's salary for preaching was, at times, persecution, yet he knew that there was laid up for him a crown of righteousness. Even mad Balaam, who loved the work and present wages of unrighteousness, wanted the re- wards of piety hereafter. "Say to the righteous it shall be well with them for they shall eat of the fruit of their doings."
This work of man is also a work of personal sanc- tification. Some might object to such a view of the subject, and say that sanctification is of grace. It is by the blood of Christ we are sanctified. Looking with respect to God, it is altogether of his grace that we are saved. Just as penitence is his gift, just as power to believe springs from the gracious influence of the Spirit of God upon our hearts, so the sanctifi- cation of our nature is by the impartation of his Spirit. But looking manward-looking towards our duties, we have a share in this important matter, and it is laid upon us; hence, the exhortations to
313
DIVINE AND HUMAN WORK.
sanctification by believing trust in the promises, that we are to cleanse ourselves "from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord." Thus the standard set before man, is having found the rock on which he is called to build, to place stone upon stone, until at last the same hand that laid the foundations shall complete the edifice, amid shoutings of " grace, grace unto it." It is man's part as a spiritual husbandman in the plot of ground which is assigned to him, to root out the pestilential weeds of sin and impurity, and to cultivate the vari- ous fruits of the Christian mind. His hand must grasp the promised blessings. His energies must be put forth day by day, and by his efforts, in associa- tion with the Holy Spirit, he is to "perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord."
There is also the work of personal service in the Church of Christ. There are many misconceptions as to man's duty in this respect. Some persons seem to think that Christianity consists almost altogether in privilege. They are ready to take the Lord Jesus as a Savior, but they seem to forget him as a Master. Man should never think, however, that he can take the blessing of salvation without, at the same time, putting his shoulder to the burden. But Christ tells him that his burden is light. Man should never think to enjoy the blessings of salvation without, at the same time, subjecting his neck to the yoke, dis- cipline, and service of his Divine Master. There is a personal work for every man to do in the extension of Christ's spiritual kingdom in the world. Look at the teaching of the Apostle Paul in regard to this work. He says, "No man liveth to himself." That is true of all; none can live to themselves. The drunkard and Sabbaih-breaker do hot live unto them- selves. Man cannot exert his energies withoutt send- ing out influences in his thoughts, actions and words, which will, in some way, affect his neighbors and associates or friends.
But what does the Apostle say as to the character of the good man's work ? He distinctly declares that the purpose of the Christian is to live unto the Lord.
21
314
WEST VIRGINIA PULPIT.
"Whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord's." Look at the connection between the authority of Christ and man's living. "No man liveth to himself;" but the Christian lives and dies in the Lord. It is for this purpose that Christ reigns in heaven ; " that he might be Lord both of the dead and living," and that he might gather to himself the effects and consequences of man's moral and spiritual work, so as to use them for his own honor and glory. Our Lord himself, the great Teacher, speaks of the Church as an active agent. When speaking of the Kingdom of God, and speaking of its wide diffusion throughout the world, Christ represents it as leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. It is not the preacher in the pulpit, nor the officials of the Church merely, who are to work to advance the Kingdom of Jesus upon earth; but the whole Church are to act as leaven for the diffusion of his kingdom among the people. It is only by this means that the world will be converted. So man is called to this work of actual, personal service, in con- nection with the Church. Oh! what a dignity it is to be engaged in rolling darkness from this world and flo oding it with light ; exiling misery from this world and filling it with happiness; dethroning Satan from the world and enthroning Christ. If every man who professes to be enlisted under the banner of the Cap- tain of our Salvation, were only to do his duty, there would soon be a triumph in comparison with which the splendors of the tented battlefield would sink into insignificance. If all would work aright, there would soon be the grand chorus of a redeemed and re- covered world. "Hallelujah, the Lord God Omnipo- tent reigneth !" Each individual should then do his or her part in this great work-the aged, the middle aged, the young, the learned, the unlettered, the rich, the poor, parents and children-all should "Come to the help of the Lord against the mighty."
PERSONAL SKETCH.
REV. F. H. J. KING was born at Ripley, Jackson county, West Virginia, September 21st, 1834. His ancestors, as far back as he can trace them, were either members of, or sympathizers with, the Methodist Episcopal Church. He joined the M. E. Church, January 1st, 1848, and was converted in March, 1851. He was licensed to preach by Rev. A. J. Lyda, in January, 1857, and was received, on trial, in the West Virginia Conference, March, 1857; was ordained Deacon, April 24th, 1859, by Bishop Thomas A. Morris; was ordained Elder, March 17th, 1861, by Bishop Osman C. Baker.
His first appointment was Phillippi; his second, Pruntytown; third, Buckhannon; fourth, Raleigh; fifth, Fayette and Raleigh. Then the war drove him from his Circuit. From this time till the close of hostilities, he had no regular appointment, but preached anywhere and everywhere a congregation could be gathered.
Brother King, with most of the preachers of the Conference, suffered greatly during the entire rebellion. Immediately after the war, and for his sixth appointment, he traveled Petroleum Circuit one year and a half, when his eye sight failing, he took a supernumerary relation for a year and a half. His next, and seventh appointment was Raleigh Circuit, two years; the eighth, was Murraysville, two years ; ninth, Middlebourne, three years; tenth, Nicholas, three years ; eleventh, Fayette, one year ; twelfth, the New River District. He was the first Presiding Elder this District ever had, as it was not established until 1880, and he is now serving his last year upon it.
Brother King was brought up on a farm, and necessarily had but few educational advantages in early life. In writing to me on this subject, he used the following language: "I was a farmer, and had very poor opportunities for education. The most of my information was obtained by the light of 'pine knots,' or 'tallow dips,' on the kitchen hearth, or, in front of the old- time log fire ; or while plowing, hoeing, or reaping in the fields. I often left an open book on the fence, at the end of the furrow, to be read and studied while turning the horses, or while rest- ing." This was a severe method of cultivating the brain; but it was a sure way. Only the few, however, have the pluck, or ambition, to persevere in such a school. As remarked in other preceding Sketches, many of our most prominent preachers
316
REV. F. H. J. KING.
educated themselves very much the same way followed up by Brother King.
The subject of this sketch, though not a scholar in a classic sense, yet, he is well up in theology, and is the possessor of a good English style. His sermons are clear, strong, carefully prepared, . and convincing. He has a powerful voice,-no audience has yet been found too large for him to fail to make himself heard by all present. By his impassioned delivery, occasioned by efforts be- fore large congregations in the open air, Brother King has earned for himself the patronymic, "King of thunder ;" and in no ob- jectionable sense is he often thus addressed. He has been the instrument in the Lord's hands of saving many souls in his va- rious fields of labor; and as he is now in the prime of life, there is yet before him, we trust, many more years of usefulness to the Church.
January 20, 1861, Brother King and Miss Rufina Elizabeth Wilson were united in marriage. One of their sons-W. Wirt King-is a minister in the West Virginia Conference.
SERMON XXV.
BY
REV. F. H. J. KING, P.E.
THEME :- MORAL DESPONDENCY-ITS CAUSES AND ITS CURE.
TEXT :- " Why art thou cast down, O, my soul ? and why art thou disquieted in me ? Hope thou in God."-PSALMS xlii : 5.
David's writings are full of sighs. We see him lean- ing upon his harp and sighing, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove ! for then would I fly away and be at rest." We see him again as he beholds the sanctuary desolated by the workings of wicked men, crying, "O God, why hast thou cast us off forever ?" We hear him again, when an exile from his nativity, crying in language of intense longing, "My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God : When shall I come and ap- pear before God ?" We view him again as he mourns over the defeat and disaster of Israel, and hear him sigh in all the distress of utter helplessness, "O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased : O turn thyself to us again." And again we see him in the hands of his enemies, op- pressed by the impious, perfidious, wicked and deceit- ful Babylonians, under the government of the unjust and arbitrary Nebuchadnezzar, crying, "O my God my soul is cast down within me."
But, as if alarmed at the weakness of his faith, and, fearing, lest his soul should turn traitor to him, in whom he had trusted, and as if recognizing the im- propriety and unjustness of mourning over discour-
318
WEST VIRGINIA PULPIT.
agements, with which he had already struggled and conquered, and over calamities which were still threatening him, he rebukes his soul for its doubt and skepticism in the power of God, and in a comfortable apostrophe encourages it not to relinquish its trust and confidence for a threefold reason : First, that be- ing righteous, God would be his judge; second, that being merciful, God would plead his cause ; third, that being almighty, God would deliver him. He inquires of his soul, " Why art thou cast down ? why art thou disquieted in me ? and then with holy firmness and Christian devotion, commands it. " Hope thou in God."
My dear brethren, we find that David is not the only man who has succumbed to the influence of op- position. Not the only man whose soul has been daunted by discouragements. Not the only man whose faith has been weakened by shadow and darkness, and by the test o fadverse circumstances. Not the only man whose heart has been burdened with anguish, and whose soul has been borne down by the infirmities of his na- ture. We see the indomitable heart of Paul bowed down, and hear him longing " to depart and be with Christ." We hear the oriental monarch, amidst all the emoluments and luxuries, and acquirements of the world, sigh, " Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." We hear Isaiah say, "I did mourn as a dove," and then sigh, " O Lord, I am oppressed ; undertake for me." We hear Jesus himself, amidst the physical pain and agony of the expiring hour, sigh a sigh that made the earth and the heavens tremble, " My God, why hast thou forsaken me." And from the millions of God's children throughout the world, arises the sigh freighted with all the melancholy of certain anguish, " Is life worth living ?"
By a close and critical examination, we find that that this moral despondency, which has entered so largely into the Christian experience of all ages, and no less into the religious trial and conflicts of the present, has its basis in the influence of external circumstances on the internal moral sense. These present themselves in forms innumerable as the sands of the sea shore, and in degrees of potency proportion-
319
MORAL DESPONDENCY.
ate to their number. The Christian's character is thus laid open at every point to the possibilities of an im- mediate attack from the internal moral sense, affected by the force of external circumstances ; and hence the necessity of fortifying our characters against the assaults of our own natures. Eternal vigilance is not the price of liberty only, but the price of Christian safety, also.
It is our province to endeavor to examine more closely the causes of spiritual depression. And we remark :
I. MORAL DESPONDENCY IS OFTEN OCCASIONED BY INDI- VIDUAL AFFLICTION.
The more we investigate the motives which incite men to Christian activity, that prompt them to labor, the more we are convinced that these motives are too frequently imbedded in selfish desires and unchristian ambition. The closer we analyze the secret impulse to action, the more certainly do we discover marks of insincerity. And when we place the actions of men, as well as the desire that prompts to the action, into the crucible of Christian inspection and scrutiny, we are frequently startled by the revelation that selfish- ness and depraved aspirations form the substratum upon which we erect our most conspicuous tabernacle of good works.
Hence comes moral despondency in time of afflic- tion, when excruciating bodily pain and physical weakness confines us to the sick chamber. Borne along on a full tide of prosperity during health ; with surrounding circumstances propitious ; playing the virtuous part on the public theatre amid the huzzas of the multitude; we are prone to incline toward the vice of the accused Pharisee-to lose sight of the great end for which we labor,by unintentionally yet unques- tionably drifting away in obedience to the suggestions of a corrupt ambition. And when we are brought to perform the virtuous drama in the shade we become dejected. An unaccountable reaction takes place. It is easy to emulate even the loftiest conceivable type of Christian manhood when such emulation is attended
·
320
WEST VIRGINIA PULPIT.
with present remuneration. Comparatively easy to exhibit moral heroism when everybody's hat is in mid air at the deed; but to retire from public gaze and with devoted earnestness and manly intrepidity exhibit the same ardor with no encouragement but the secret consciousness of having done right, "aye, there's the rub." If you were to be stricken down this moment with some bodily infirmity that would completely disable you through life, and you were never again permitted to set foot out of doors, then do your duty sitting in your arm chair or lying on your bed. Exert that gentle Christian influence, cultivate that Christian patience and resignation, exhibit that certain comfort and help and peace that God bequeaths to you as his children, and through affliction perfect the Christian graces in your heart, and little do you know the good you may accomplish even in the val- ley and the shadow, which will tell, God only knows what, eternal ages. A work which even a human eye may read a thousand ages hence. Despond not; ever hope in God. He gave you just those circumstances and that location, and those opportunities, and he only requires you under those circumstances to do all you can.
II. A SECOND OCCASION FOR MORAL DESPONDENCY IS FOUND IN WORLDLY OPPOSITION.
In the third verse of this Psalm, the Psalmist mourns and says, "My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God ?" The Israelites were in cap- tivity and the Babylonians, their captors, while hold- ing them in complete subjugation, mocked their faith in a Divine power, and chafed them with the inter- rogation, Where, now, is thy God? The same spirit is still abroad in the world. We cannot confess that it is the same now in its manifestations and potency that it once was. We cannot acknowledge that eigh- teen hundred years of Christian ministry and its ac- companying benign influence, has done nothing to- wards revolutionizing public sentiment, and modify- ing the vulnerable and unbelieving criterion of the
321
MORAL DESPONDENCY.
world. Far be it from this. But we do say that vir- tually the same spirit exists in an ameliorated form in the world to-day. The same spirit presumptuously and boldly manifests itself in our own age, and even in our own Christian land, however much may be said of progress, of civilization, of culture and of religious superiority. The same skeptical interrogatory with which the unbelieving Babylonians irritated the Is- raelites is still thrust into the face of the believer, from some pulpits, from many rostrums, and from many more journals. It is a sorrowful fact, a fact too comfort- less to be reiterated ; that even some of the clergy in our orthodox denominations have so far forgotten their high and noble calling as to hang out the flag of truce on the approach of certain forms of infidel doctrines.
In vindication of which assertion, I need only refer you to the published sentiments of such men as Doc- tors Beecher, Cook, and McCosh on the subject of evo- lution. Each attaching his signature to the philo- sophical technicalities of the other, and all uniting to substantiate the unscrupulous teachings of the six great English and German scientists. Endeavoring to effect a compromise between the inner teachings of this blessed book and modern so called science. True science and revelation do agree, and all philosophy is but the crystalized gems of the word of eternal truth.
" Religion and revelation have found friends in the friends of science And true prayer has flowed from lips wet with Castalian dews."
But these commotions and contentions and com- promises, cause spirits of doubt to rise in your hearts, and we frequently find ourselves revolving the ques- tion, "May I not be wrong? May not the Bible be a cunningly devised fable ?" and we are led to despond. Such epochs as this are found in every man's history. They are the darkest hours we ever experience. These considerations and doubts constitute what in the terse strong language of the great Roman historian is called the " crises of the soul." Allowing such considera- tions as these to find an entrance into the heart, will cast a shadow over the brightest experience, and is a treason, which, if not immediately expiated will in- evitably seal your damnation.
Drive back such ideas, Advertently shrink from
322
WEST VIRGINIA PULPIT.
entertaining such thoughts. Let the world scoff and oppose. Let atheists and moralists and materialists and sceptics pour forth their maledictions against your faith and your religion. Let combinations of wicked men who have set themselves against Christianity as a Divine scheme, hurl their futile resources of anath- ema at your religion and your Bible. It may seem dark and doubtful; but I tell you my friend, it is in- finitely darker without hope and without God in the world. "Fret not thyself because of evil doers, neith- er be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord and do good ; so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him." Here is the remedy. This is the panacea offered by the Great Physician. It is the philosopher's stone-the true se- cret. "Hope thou in God."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.