USA > West Virginia > The West Virginia pulpit of the Methodist Episcopal church. Sermons from living ministers. With personal sketches of the authors > Part 6
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
72
WEST VIRGINIA PULPIT.
and all restoring event. Here, behind the gloomy de- tail of death and the sepulchre, is lit up the ever burning lamp of the glorious resurrection, and while it radiates against the walls of heaven itself, it throws for- ward corruscations ethereal, through the gloom pro- found, and like a beacon light, allures the Christian to the shore of immortality.
Not less desirable to man is the doctrine of future rewards and punishment.
There is a bell of interminable woe, and unquench- able fire, into which all the wicked rejectors and de- spisers of the Bible will be cast.
There is also a heaven of undying joy and eternal life, into which the lovers of the Savior will be gath- ered, to inherit the reward of their virtues, world without end.
Again, I ask : Where are these truths found ? From what source do they come ? What reflects this light upon the world ? Did some shrewd philosopher search the human heart and reveal its conception ? What ancient muse tuned its lyre to the first notes of man's redemption ? What reasonable judge pronounced the truth of our salvation by faith alone ? What artist first gave us the portrait of immortality-the original of which is beyond the curtain of time ? Where is the historian that first revealed these facts ?
Alas ! for philosophers and poets, for darkness still surrounds them, and even prophets have died with- out the sight. Nay, verily, these truths are divine. They are the science of heaven-the philosophy of God-the revelation of Jesus Christ. A scheme laid in the skies, and completed on Calvary. Angels sang the anniversary of its birth, and the Lord of Heaven accompanied its first publication to man, and the honored and faithful emissaries of Jesus Christ spread it on canvass as the Holy Spirit moved the pen.
In the Bible, then, these truths are contained, and in the Bible only, have we the faithful word of God. In the Bible is the science of salvation. The light of eternity shining on the darkness of time. And, what declares more in its favor, is that this darkness is re- ceding. The kingdom of light is widening, and the
¥
73
SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES.
spell of sin is breaking, and the Macedonian cry is coming on every breeze, and the Gospel of the Bible is gaining on every vessel, It rolls in Nile grandeur towards its long predicted destiny, to fill the earth, and in proportion to its spread is the light of the world.
Finally : The Bible, when viewed as a prophetical book, is of unrivaled importance to us.
It is said by an ancient author, that he who is ac- quainted with history, lives twice. He lives in the past by a historical association with facts and events, and in the present by observation. With equal pro- priety, it may be said, that he who is acquainted with prophecy, adds another life to hisexistence, and lives three times. He lives in the future by a prophetic association with future events. To say which of these lives is the most important, would puzzle our mind. Nor could our judgment decide which to save in the sad event that one must be sacrificed. His origin and destiny-his beginning and end-his fall in sin-his redemption by Jesus Christ, and his final account at the last day, are kindred and vital truths, bearing with equal weight on the existence of every man.
But if there can be a paramount interest in either, it is claimed by the future. To know the past, settles an otherwise ever rising curiosity, and imparts an in- describable comfort. To know the present, is a source of constantly recurring and immortal delight. But to know the future, opens the door of hope to man, and sheds more than a sunbeam of light on the bound- less field of prospect, where all was gloom and doubt before.
Many of the periods and circumstances that most concern and affect the mind of man, are yet in the fu- ture. Some of which are, the world above, the tide of death, and the triumphs of the resurrection. These are items embraced in the knowledge of the Chris- tian world, though in the far distant future. The final conflagration of all things. The day that will melt the elements with fervent heat. The day that will strike stars from their orbits like blasted figs. The day when the heavens shall pass away with a 6
74
WEST VIRGINIA PULPIT.
great noise-and worlds crushed by worlds into the wildest ruin run. The day when the trump of God shall pour its omnific blast throughout the Universe, "and death's wide empire quake from its pale centre to its frigid extremities." The day that will summon the nations of the earth to the bar of final and in- scrutable justice. The day that will end the dispen- sation of grace and trial with man, and introduce the solemn destinies and rewards of eternity. When the righteous retributions of Almighty God will overtake the world, and fix forever its abode in the lake of un- quenchable fire, or exalt it to the mansions of the blest.
Again : May I inquire where are these truths found? With whom were they originated and what is their authority ? Did some God of Apollo first pronounce these truths-or has the goddess of fortune turned partial to the Christian world. What wise men of Egypt, Babylon or Greece gave these lively oracles to us ? Did some heathen heart or soothe sayer first pen- etrate the awful future ? Nay, verily, these truths are divine. They are the prescience of God-the burden of the vision of the Holy Sees. They came in the burn- ing message of the Spirit. In thus saith the Lord, and verily, verily, I say unto thee. Here, then, in the Bible of God is our eternity laid open-we hold it in our hands -- we learn the past-we know the pres- ent-we see the future. The eyes of the world are turn- ing to this light and soon all men will look upon it, wonder and adore.
Well may the poet exclaim :
"Hast thou ne'er heard
Of such a book ? the author God himself,
The subject, God and man, salvation, life
And death-eternal life, eternal death-
Dread words; whose meaning has no end, no bounds-
Most wondrous book ! bright candle of the Lord !
Star of eternity ; the one star
By which the bark of man could navigate
The sea of life, and gain the coast of bliss
Securely ; only star which rose on time,
And, on its dark and troubled billows, still,
As generation, drifting swiftly by
Succeeded generation, threw a ray On heaven's own light, and to the hills of God,
The eternal hills, pointed the sinners eye. "This book, this holy book, on every line
Marked with the seal of high divinity,
On every leaf bedewed with drops of love
75
SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES.
Divine, and with the eternal heraldry And signature of God Almighty stamped From first to last-this ray of celestial light, This lamp, from off the everlasting throne, Mercy took down, and in the night of Time Stood, casting on the dark her gracious bow; And ever more beseeching men with tears And earnest sighs, to read, believe and live: And many to her voice gave ear, and read, Believed, obeyed ; and now, as the Amen, True, Faithful witness swore, with snowy robes And branchy palms surround the fount of life, And drink the streams of immortality Forever happy and forever young."
Thank God for the Bible. Thank God for the relig- ion of the Bible. Take this blessed volume and press it to your bosom. It will be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your pathway-a rock of invio- lable safety from the assaults of the adversary of your soul, and a never-failing spring from whence you may derive your most exalted pleasures and richest consolations.
"It is said of Sir Walter Scott, that when he re- turned a trembling invalid from Italy, to die in his own native land, that the sight of home so much in- vigorated his spirits, that hope was entertained that he might recover, but finding that he must die, he said to his son-in-law 'Bring me the book!' What book? said Lockart. Can you ask what book? replied the man, whose works had charmed the world. 'There is but one !' Precious Bible truths that never grow old-riches that never fade-crowns that are never tarnished-bright hopes and incorruptible im- mortality, these are the rewards of all the lovers of the Bible."
II. OUR SECOND GENERAL PROPOSITION IS TO INQUIRE INTO THE DUTY OF SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES, AND THE SPIRIT IN WHICH THAT DUTY SHOULD BE PER- FORMED.
1. We should search the Scriptures under the sol- emn conviction of their authority and importance. These two traits of the Bible, as we have so feebly de- scribed, should invariably affect your mind and oc- cupy your attention in your sacred reading. We should be careful to guard against that common and fatal delusion of the world, that truth is too much
76
WEST VIRGINIA PULPIT.
strengthened or weakened in its effect upon the mind, by the circumstances under which we hear it. The same truths read in the book, and heard from the mouth of a speaker will have quite a different influ- ence. The book, which is but paper, is held in our hands, lies open on our tables, but produces no excite- ment in our feelings. The speaker stands before us with his expressive countenance, his graceful gestures, the warmth of his zeal, and the sweet- ness of his voice. All these affect the mind and excite the feelings of the hearer. We read the trial, verdict, and sentence of a criminal, the history of a battle, or the dying address of a martyr, and are somewhat moved, but had we been present to witness these scenes, what different emotions would have occupied us. Had we seen the criminal and heard his chains ; had we heard the clank of arms and seen the wounded men; had we seen the martyrs flames as they curled around the devoted stake, and heard the wailings of his friends, how much more deep- ly would we have been affected with the truth. The application is natural. All the great events recorded in the Bible, did actually take place. We read of the deluge, but Noah saw it. We read of the destruction of the Sodomites, but Abraham saw the smoke of their ruins ascend like the smoke of a furnace. We read of God in pomp and splendor on Mount Sinai; of the fearful flashes of lightning, and the terrible peals of thunder, the long, lingering sound of the trumpet waxing louder and louder ; but Moses led the hosts of Israel to the base of the trembling mountain and talked to God face to face. We read of the birth, life, miracles, death and 'exaltation of our Lord Jesus Christ, but Peter and John heard his words, saw his miracles and witnessed his resurrection and ascen- sion. They saw and believed. We hear and believe and only divest these truths of circumstances, and they have an equal influence on them and us. We have an omnipresent God-his word and whether heard from his mouth or read in his book it is the same.
2. But in searching the Scripture we should labor
77
SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES.
to bring our minds under their influence, in propor- tion to their importance above any other truth.
What is naturally true of any inferior order of news, is equally true of the sublime intelligence of the Bible, the exercise of our judgment and the power of our will. We hear the song of the comme- dian and admire his note ; but the news of the mis- fortune of a friend fills our eyes with tears of sympa- thy. A friend bequeaths us a fortune, we read it and exult over our prospects, but news from our physician that we must die, fills us with profound gloom. To- day a note from a friend bids us to a feast, but to-mor .. now a letter informs us of the death of a father, and we abandon ourselves to expressions of the most im- moderate grief. We turn to the Scriptures, we search them. Here, we hear the inspired strains of the harp of Israel, met by the hallelujahs of the heavenly el- ders, all strung and tured in favor of him who hath loved us. Here before our eyes sinks in hopeless trag- edy, a world of human beings. Here, in the last will and testament of a friend, is bequeathed to us the incorruptible riches of the kingdom of God. Here, news from our great Spiritual Physician announces our certain and speedy departure from this to another world.
Again : In the Bible, we read our invitation to the great supper of the Lamb, and here the death of our Father-our Lord Jesus Christ is detailed in the moving strains of the eloquence of the spirit. These are all written in terms, not to frighten, but to con- vince ; not to excite the passions, but to enlighten the judgment; not to conceal our deep corruption, but to search our hearts so as to reveal and expose our deep depravity. But are we convinced ? Are we enlight- ened? Does the authority and importance of the Bible move us ? If not, read it again. Think of its authority! It must be true! Think of its import- ance! Your endless weal or woe depends on him you read to understand. Are you still unmoved? Then, oh, that your heart were marble, then would this hammer from heaven break it in pieces! Oh, that it were brass, then this fire from heaven would melt it,
78
WEST VIRGINIA PULPIT.
and refine it from dross! Guard against infidelity at this point, because of entertaining doubts of the au- thority of what you read. Suffer none of your own interpretations to diminish the eternal value of these truths. Better believe them worse, if possible, than they really are, than to regard them as indifferent. Let all who are deceived, be deceived on the safe side. Beware of making baptism a saving ordinance-re- pentance a mere reformation of manner-the day of judgment, the destruction of Jerusalem, and hell, the grave. All these are stepping stones to infidelity, and take away the weight of the eternity of these truths from us.
Finally : I would have you guard against prejudice. Read with a sober, reflective state of mind. Throw away your preconceived notions. Forget the creed of your fathers. Have no preference for that which is most pleasing to flesh and blood. Like the miner searching for the precious metals of the earth, follow the pure vein of truth, for this is your interest. There is no way to shun these truths. Their import- ance and authority still press upon you. They will drive you to God, or lead you to embrace error and folly. Are you yet unmoved ? Then remember that this is one of the strongest reasons why we should search the Scriptures. The harder your heart, the more you are in need of truth. The less taste you have, the more you should labor to acquire a taste. Here, and here only, is the medicine for your disease. Where else in the wide expanse of creeds will you find a remedy ? Ever rally to this point, for a bless- ing is here. And remember that awful must be the condition of him who can adopt the following lan- guage as his experience :
" But I can read each moving line, And nothing moves this heart of mine."
As my last direction then, I recommend that you bring to mind the sentiment embraced in the follow- ing stanza :
" But power divine can do the deed, And that blest power much I need,
Thy spirit can from dross refine
And melt and change this heart of mine."
79
SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES.
Then go to some secret place, seek some retired spot, take your Bible with you, kneel down, and implore on your heart, and on the truths you read, the light and power of the Holy Spirit. Ask God to take away your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh-a heart to understand his word. Then open the Bible and read. Try and understand every word you read -the construction of every sentence-the connection of every paragraph. Then close your Bible and lift your eyes to heaven and implore the help of the Holy Spirit. Then read again, and pray again. And if you remain unmoved, we recommend no more-except to repeat the plan. Darkness may increase around you. Temptation may engulf you in doubt, but summon all your resolution. Gather strength at every defeat. Turn every discouragement into a rea- son to renew your efforts. Go again to your seques- tered place. Kneel again. Pray again. Here only is life. Anywhere else is death. On this point turns your final destiny. If you would shun hell, and if you would gain heaven, ever pursue this course, ever read and ever pray.
" Oh, may these heavenly pages be, My ever dear delight! And still new beauties may I see And still increasing light."
PERSONAL SKETCH.
REV. FRANKLIN BALL, D.D., son of Dabney and Penelope Ball, was born in Fairfax county, Virginia, October 4th, 1822. His parents being limited in means, greatly interfered with the early education of their children. The boys labored upon the farm in summer, and attended school during winter. When Franklin was about nineteen years of age, he attended two terms at an academy in Washington, D. C., the sainted Alfred Cook- man was also a pupil, and was a personal friend of the subject of this sketch.
When Dr. Ball was twenty, he borrowed a small sum of money -his father went his security-and attended two terms at an academy in New Baltimore, Farquier county, Virginia. His funds gave out, and he was too conscientious to contract further indebtedness, and therefore returned to his home in Fairfax. A few days thereafter, an advertisement appeared in a local paper, announcing that a teacher was wanted to take charge of a country school. The day was fixed for all applicants to be ex- amined, as to qualffications for teaching. Bro. Ball was one of three young men who applied for the place, and after undergo- ing the necessary examination, the school was given to him. Here he spent two years in teaching, and was quite successful.
In 1847, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Catharine Delaney, of Dumfries, Prince William county, Virginia-a most happy event for him, as Mrs. Ball is, in every respect, a superior woman. She has always been a great help to her husband in his responsible and laborious duties as an itinerant minister. She is a leader in those branches pertaining to woman's work in the Church; is fluent in speech ; is eloquent in exhortation and prayer, and is social, and generous to a fault.
Shortly after his marriage, Dr. Ball purchased a farm, and set- tled down, to what he then thought, was to be his life work, as he at that time, had a taste for the farm and field. He, natur- ally industrious, labored hard, but failed to accumulate property as he desired, and expected. In 1854, his eldest brother, John, who was in the ministry in Pennsylvania, died, and bequeathed his " saddlebags" to his brother Franklin (who had been con- verted at the age of fourteen, and was a consistent member of the Church), with the request that he would fill the place that he had left in the ministerial ranks. "This," says Dr. Ball, "settled the matter, and I yielded to the conviction which I had quietly, but stubbornly resisted for twelve years. In March,
81
PERSONAL SKETCH.
1856, my application went up to the Baltimore Conference, but there was no room, and so I turned back with the hope that my conscience would allow me to remain on my farm. But my call to the ministry was so strong, deep and abiding that I could not rest. I lost my appetite, and could not sleep. Everything about me was out of joint. I had no enjoyment of farm, home, or life. I was miserable. I had, meanwhile, been elected Jus- tice of the Peace, and my friends proposed to introduce me to political life. But I said in my heart, 'preach I must, and preach I will, if I have to go round the world on foot to find an open door.' In June of that year, altogether unlooked for to me, my way was opened into the West Virginia Conference. To Rich- mond I had been sent to hold an interview with Governor Wise, and to present to him a Bill of Exceptions in the case of a trial for murder. From Richmond I hastened to Buckhannon, Upshur county, the seat of the conference, and I was admitted on trial and appointed to Grantsville, Allegheny county, Md."
Thus Bro. Ball was ushered into the ministry. I have often talked with him on the subject, and he always expressed deep regrets that he had not yielded to the "call" earlier in life, and given to the Master many more years of earnest labor. As it is, however, his ministerial career has been, in every respect, a successful one; but he always seemed to feel that he begun later than he should have done. Well, this may be true, still I cannot but feel that he pursued the proper course. If more of our preachers would "tarry longer at Jerusalem," and learn more of business, more of men, and more of the ways of the world, it would be far better for them as individuals, and certainly better for the Church, as well.
On his first circuit, Bro. Ball labored two years successfully. In 1858-9, he spent two successful years on Brandonville circuit ; 1860-1, he traveled Morgantown circuit, and 1862 he spent on Kingwood circuit. There were nineteen preaching places on this circuit, but he filled each of them every fourth week, until the latter part of the year, when he was assisted by Rev. S. W. Davis. In 1863-4-5, he was stationed at North Street Church, Wheeling. This was a very difficult, yet successful term. While at North Street, he, with other prominent citizens-in- cluding most all the members of the Legislature, which was then in session-were volunteers to apprehend the noted Con- federate raider, John Morgan, who, with an immense body of cavalrymen, was passing up the Ohio side of the river. During his pastorate at this station, he spent two months at Louisville, Kentucky, in the work of the Christian Commission. In 1866- 7-8, Dr. Ball was stationed at Zane street Church, Wheeling. His term was a very successful one-the membership being in- creased, thoroughly organized, and a large new edifice was erected. His 'next station was at Triadelphia, six miles from Wheeling. This was in 1869-70-71. The church was greatly revived, and a large brick edifice was built. He spent the year
82
REV. FRANKLIN BALL, D.D.
1872 in Charleston, where he was wonderfully successful. He was instrumental in securing the erection of one of the finest- church buildings in the State, and took into the Church upwards of fifty members. In 1873-4-5-6, he was Presiding Elder of the Wheeling District. It was during the latter year of his term on the Wheeling District, that Mount Union College conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor in Divinity.
Dr. Ball was transferred to the Central New York Conference and was stationed at Phoenix, where he remained two years. His next station was at Marcellus, where he staid the full term of three years. He is at present, stationed in Elmira; and we are glad to know, is doing efficient work for the Great Head of the Church.
Dr. Ball is a man of unusual firmness of character, and is conscientious in all that he does. He would suffer his right arm to be cut off rather than encroach upon his conscience. Would that the States were filled with such men. He is a good preacher, and the world is better because he has lived in it.
SERMON VI.
BY
REV. FRANKLIN BALL, D.D.
THEME :- EVERLASTING HABITATIONS.
TEXT :- " For we know that if our earthly house of this taber- nacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.,'-II. COR. v: 1.
In the Scriptures, the human body is compared to a house, a temple. For example, " Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you ? if any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy ; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."* And when Jesus said to the Jews, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. * He spake of the temple of his body."
In man's mental and moral faculties lie the power; of volition, constituting him a free moral agent hence he may, by a virtuous and holy life, honor the body and live, or he may, by an impure, sinful life, dishonor it and die ; " For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption ; but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlast- ing."+
The body is an "earthly house." It is earthly in composition. "It seems at first thought somewhat strange that the head of the human family should have
"I. Corinthians iii : 16-17. ¿ Gallatians vi : 6, 8.
84
WEST VIRGINIA PULPIT.
received his distinctive name from the affinity which he had, in the lower part of his nature, to the dust of the earth-that he should have been called Adam, as being taken in his bodily part from adamah, the ground ; the more especially as the name was not as- sumed by man himself, but imposed by God, and im- posed in immediate connection with man's destina- tion to bear the image of God." And God said, "Let us make man (Adam) in our image, after our like- ness." Man got his name Adam from the earth, ad- amah, not because of its being his characteristic dig- nity that God made him after his image, but because of this, that God made after his image one, who had been taken from the earth. The likeness of God, man had in common with the angels, but that as the possessor of this likeness, he should be Adam-this is what brought him into union with two worlds-the world of spirit and the world of matter-rendering him the center and the bond of all that had been made, the fitting topstone of the whole work of cre- ation, and the motive principle of the world's history.
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.