USA > West Virginia > The West Virginia pulpit of the Methodist Episcopal church. Sermons from living ministers. With personal sketches of the authors > Part 9
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After utilizing what common school and home instruction he could command, he attended for a number of terms, Allegheny Col- lege, an institution under the direction of the Baptist Church, at Blue Sulphur Springs, Virginia. This was a good school, and here Bro. Ryan received a liberal education.
He informs us that it was his intention, in early life, to preach the Gospel ; but just how and where to begin, he could not ar- range in his mind. His desire was to practice law, and preach occasionally, as a local minister; but under no circumstances could he reconcile himself to the regular work of the itinerancy. Before he left home for school, he received local preacher's li- cense from the hands of Rev. James L. Clark, who was at that time Presiding Elder of the Charleston District; and it was dur- ing his college career, that he was trying to arrange his future course in life. -
The Lord, however, was at work upon the conscience of the young man; and, when urged by friends, he half-way consented to allow his name to be presented for the regular work, to the annual Conference,which met in Wheeling, March 13, 1861. Just before
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the convening of that Conference, however, he wrote the Presiding Elder not to present his name. He was, nevertheless, sent to Nicholas circuit as junior preacher. He accepted the position, but the war soon after broke out, and he and his colleague, Benjamin Darlington, were compelled to abandon their work.
During this year, the Convention which framed the Constitu- tion for West Virginia, met at Wheeling, and Bro. Ryan, next to the youngest man in that body, represented Fayette county. When the convention adjourned, he started home, intending to become a candidate for the Legislature and continue in politics, for which he had a great liking. Before going home, however, he attended the session of Conference, which met at Parkersburg, March 12, 1862. During this session, he heard several mission- ary addresses, which seriously impressed him, and he made up his mind to take another appointment. He was thereupon sent to Malden Circuit, where he remained until the next September. But on account of the civil war, he was again compelled to leave his work, because of the withdrawal of the Federal forces from the Kanawha Valley. He went to Ohio and engaged in teaching, and intended to remain until the next Conference, which was to meet at Fairmont, March 18, 1863. Being greatly pleased with his situation as a schoool teacher, he wrote Presiding Elder Clark, that he did not then desire to return to the ministry. Rev. Henry Stevens was made Presiding Elder of the Charleston District, and he promptly informed Bro. Ryan that he (Ryan) had been assigned to duty on Point Pleasant Circuit. He was greatly disappointed, and obeyed the call with many tears. But he went forth into the Master's field, and this may be regarded as the beginning of his regular itinerant work, which has contin- tied, without interruption, for more than twenty years.
The next session of Conference was held at Parkersburg, March 16, and by it he was stationed at Catlettsburg, Kentucky, where he spent two pleasant and successful years-the church having grown in membership from twenty-one to one hundred and eight. He next spent three years at Hartford City; and in March, 1869, he was stationed at Charleston. Here he remained two years, doing earnest and successful duty, and was sent from that place to Chapline Street Church, Wheeling. For two years be preached to large congregations in Wheeling, and at the Con- ference held at Guyandotte, he was stationed at Morgantown, the seat of the State University, and the pleasantest appoint- ment in the Conference. He remained at Morgantown three years, when he was sent back to Charleston. When three Con- ference years had come and gone, at Parkersburg the Conference again assembled, and he was stationed at Grafton, remaining two years. His next appointment was the Wheeling District, as Presiding Elder, where he is now serving his third year. Be- fore he came to the Wheeling District, he preached eighteen consecutive years, and only changed territory six times, thus averaging the full term in each appointment.
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. PERSONAL SKETCH.
Bro. Ryan's ministerial career has been a successful one. He is an attractive preacher ; has a delightful imagination ; is fluent in speech ; has unparalleled social qualities, and is generous and true. He has the energetic mode of presenting a subject, and is frequently powerful, because experimental and practical.
March 8, 1866, Bro. Ryan was united in marriage with Miss Susan Cherrington, of Gallipolis, Ohio. Mrs. Ryan is a most estimable Christian lady, who has shared with her husband the joys and burdens of life, and has always made his home com- fortable and happy. She is among the very best women the writer ever knew.
SERMON VIII.
BY
REV. EDWARD W. RYAN, P.E.
THEME :- THE TRIUMPH OF THE CHURCH.
TEXT :- "Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion ; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for hence- forth there shall no man come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean."-ISAIAH lii: 1.
Zion, as we find it in the Old Testament, and Sion in the New Testament, was the name applied to the highest mount at Jerusalem. It rises about twenty- five hundred feet above the placid bosom of the Med- iteranean sea, and from two to three hundred feet above the narrow valleys which nestle at its base. It is separated from Akra on the north and Mount Mo- riah on the north-east by the narrow valley of Tyro- soean. It had the valley of Gihon on the west, that of Hinnom on the south, and the memorable vale of Kidron on the east.
This mount, because of its superior elevation above the surrounding country, was selected by the Jebus- ites as a favorable site, and upon it they erected a citadel. This citadel was besieged by King David, who commanded the hosts of Israel, and the Lord gave it into his hand. Pleased with the surroundings, he made this the capital of his kingdom; and trans- ferred the court thither from Hebron, and brought the Ark of the Lord and placed it in a tent or taber. nacle, pitched for that purpose. On this account this has often been styled in Scripture the "holy hill." Here David constructed a city, including a.palace,
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which altogether was denominated "the city of David." No labor or cost was spared in order to make this city the perfect ideal of the cultured. king of Israel. The material out of which it was builded was of the finest quality, and this was brought to- gether in the very best architectural style. Circum- scribing the whole, was a strong wall, built in the face of the enemies of Israel, with high towers at in- tervals, upon which watchmen were placed who kept their daily and nightly vigils. From their superior eminence, they were enabled to survey the surround- ing valleys ; to give the alarm in case of an approach- ing enemy, so that the massive gates might be closed and all should be secure within.
The king seems to have set much store to this city, and perhaps regarded it as the crowning work of his successful life.
First, Because of the favorable site upon which it was erected. Hence we hear him cry out, while the chords of his immortal harp are trembling with the sweetest melody, " Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King."
He also valued this city on account of its impreg- nability. Thus, again, while pouring forth the music of the forty-eighth Psalm, we hear him exclaim, " Walk about Zion and go round about her : tell the towers thereof, mark ye well her bulwarks, that ye may tell it to the generations following." He goes on to say that when their enemies saw it, fear took hold upon them and they fled away.
Again : David loved this city, because the Ark of the Lord, which contained the decalogue, the pot of manna, and Aaron's rod, which budded, were lodged in the midst thereof. Hence he says: "Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord." No wonder that the devoted King of Israel boasted of this city. It was elevated. It was beautiful. It was impregnable, and above and beyond all, it was the dwelling place of the manifested presence of the ever blessed God. The cymbal of the divine glory was
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here. Here the king prostrated himself in deep ado- ration, and made supplication unto the Lord; and here the Lord through Urim and Thummim gave sig- nal answers to his prayers. No marvel, then, that in the fervor of his soul, he declares that he would "rather be a doorkeeper in the house of his God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." He asserts that "the Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than the dwellings of Jacob."
Though David talked and sang much of this place, we have abundant reason to believe that the cause was other than any undue attachment to things that were earthly in their nature. It seems to be more than intimated that he saw in this city, with a pro- phetic eye, an emblem of the Church of God in the oncoming history of the children of men. Hence the fire of his zeal was kindled upon prophetic altars.
But whatever may have been the sweet singer's view of this matter, we are quite sure that the evan- gelical prophet, Isaiah, so understood it. Here he is most certainly addressing the Church, when he ex- clai ns in language that is quite military in its spirit, "Awake! awake ! put on thy strength, O Zion." As if he, from his height of vision, surveying the vast field of action, in the oncoming ages, had said, " Zion thy foes are martialing, and thou art slumbering un- armed and unclad. The foe is upon thee, Zion awake ! awake! and immediately address thyself to the dread- ful conflict which is before thee."
We come now to call attention to some points of analogy which exist between the "city of David" and the Church of Christ, in the world. We shall use the word Church in its extended sense, so as to imply all true believers who have received the bap- tism of the Holy Ghost, and have been made "par- takers of the divine nature." Then, let us see what points of resemblance we may be able to find.
First, This "city of David " was an elevated city. It was " built upon a hill, and, hence, it could not be hid." In this direction, the Church is very beauti- fully and fitly represented. I know it will not readily be conceded, upon all hands, that the tendency and
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influence of the Church, is to elevate all who come within the range of its power, in the scale of moral excellence. But we feel certain that no very lengthy train of argument will be required, to convince hon- est minds that such is even the case. To put this in a clear light, we mean only to appeal to a few facts, which come under the observance of almost every person. Who doubts, for a single moment, that a protracted course of transgression of physical, civil and moral law, brings upon the transgressor hopeless misery and degradation ? If any are not convinced, let the certain signs of a disease-shattered system, read in the blanched cheek, the hollow retreating eyes, indicative of the ceaseless gnawings of the guilty conscience of the abandoned libertine, pour in their united testimony. If any doubt that a course of be- sotted intemperance will bring distress and ruin upon humanity, let the history of the inebriate speak, as he reels and swaggers along our streets, or freezes in the gutter. Follow him, while the apostle thunders forth the awful fact, that " no drunkard hath part in the kingdom of God." Let the pale, thin face of the scantily clad widow, and the hungry cry of the unfed orphan, tell the tale of dreary woe.
Now, what is known to be true, with reference to the classes here specified, is known, by observation and sad experience, to be equally and inevitably true with reference to all other classes, just in proportion to the ingratitude of their transgressions. If, then, it be true that a course of sin always brings wretchedness and woe, it must follow that an opposite course of conduct will bring about just the opposite results. Disobedience to the revealed command of God de- grades and ruins, while obedience to God's truth ele- vates and saves; and this truth is lodged in the bo- som of the Church, founded by the Lord Jesus Christ. Has infidelity ever attempted to produce a single in- stance where an individual obeyed the precepts of God and was not benefitted, whose sensibilities were not refined, whose views were not elevated, and whose soul was not peaceful and happy. The best and wises men, with which this world has ever been blessed,
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were members of the church of Christ, and obeyed the word of God. Here it is perfectly safe to assert that the church founded upon the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone, is the only true elevating influence known, whether we consider humanity as individuals, or as one grand total. Human ethics and human philoso- phy, unpurified by the Holy Ghost, never did and never could raise man, even to the heathens' ideal of moral excellency. But Christianity has fully met the sublimest expectations of its votaries. What has paganism accomplished, though it has tried under the most favorable circumstances, for more than forty centuries, to satisfy the earnest cravings of the im- mortal mind ? For an answer to this question, turn and sweep the horizon of the flowery empire of China. Go walk through Japan, India, and benighted Africa, then tell us if the heathen systems of religion have not succeeded in well nigh sinking man below the brutes of the field ? Has not sin, in fact, done nearly as much for its subjects in this country in which we have our homes ? All Pagan systems lack the vital- izing principle which is inherent in Christianity. They appeal to the appetites and pander to the gross- est passions of the human race, while Christianity proposes to transform man's very nature and make him a new creature in Christ Jesus the Lord. We are certain that not enough has been awarded to the influence of Christianity by the public mind, in this enlightened country of ours. To it belongs the honor of preparing us for every noble work which we have been able to accomplish.
For proof of the superiority of the influences of Christianity upon the public mind, let us for a mo- ment compare ourselves, in a few aspects, with those nations whose God is not the Lord. Look, first, at the useful inventions found in Christian lands. While Hindoos, in order to cultivate their fields, simply dis- turb the surface of the ground with a rude piece of timber, for want of a better invention, we drive the fearless plowshear through our rich soil, either by the force of our trained animals, or by the almost irresist-
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ible power of steam utilized for that purpose. While heathen travelers go on foot or ride on donkey or camel, or, at best, are wheeled along mud roads in a creaking ox cart, at the dreadful speed of three miles an hour, we lay our iron thoroughfares across a continent, and the brazen steed at our bidding, with muscles of steel and lungs of fire, wheels us through mountains, along the rivers and across the valleys, at the easy rate of forty miles an hour; and at the end of many hundred leagues still pants for the race. Our mighty ocean steamers have found their ways into the ports and rivers of China and Japan, and have beached the inferior awkward junks of those heathen nations. And thus we might continue the points of contrast indefinitely, pointing to the trans- mission of thought by the lightning wing, and still at every point exhibit our superior advantages over those of heathen countries. But what is the reason of this great difference. We answer, China builds Joss houses and sacrifices to devils-we rear churches and colleges, and worship the God of our fathers. While other nations degrade their women, giving them the place of the meanest slave, and teach, in their sacred books, that women have but simply a right to serve and not a spark of immortality, we reverence our mothers, protect our wives and sisters, educate our daughters, and assign them all a place in social society, more enviable than that occupied by ourselves. Now, I declare that whatever Christian na- tions have in common, that is more desirable than hea- then nations, it is solely due to the influence of the church of Christ upon the public and individual mind.
Our inventions, our facilities for education, our re- finements in a domestic and in a social sense, our qualifications for the enjoyment of the sublime, the good, the pure, and the beautiful-all these are easily traced to the power which Christianity exerts upon the human heart. Who then will say that the Church of Christ is not elevated and elevating in its influ- ences ?
The second point of resemblance to which atten- tion is invited, is that of strength, or impregnability.
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David builded this city with reference to the strength of his enemies, hence her majestic walls and stately towers. These walls were of goodly height, and at intervals the towers were situated upon which watch- men were stationed, who constantly surveyed the valleys of Gihon, Hinnom and Jehosaphat. These watchmen were charged with the safety of the city, in that it was their duty to give the alarm upon the approach of an enemy, even in the distance, so that the mighty gates might be closed, and all the people within might be secure. Now, it does seem strange that while the Church of Christ is constructed ex- pressly for man's safety, yet she is now, as she ever has been, beset, on every side, by sworn inveterate enemies. But the Great Architect has reared her wall, in view of, and with reference to, this awful fact. Let us for one moment walk about this spirit- ual temple ; let us mark well her bulwarks, and con- sider her splendid palaces, that we may tell it to the generations following.
All will admit that the most important thing for the perpetuity of a building, is the foundation. And what do we find here? Why, that this glorious su- perstructure is firmly planted upon the "Rock of Ages." "Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation, and he that believeth shall not make haste."* Who has ever found a substitute for this foundation ? Many have been sought out and tried, but still that saying of the apostle is true, that "no other foundation can any man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
" Dear name the rock on which I build, My shield and hiding place, My never failing treasure, filled With boundless stores of Grace.
Having anchored the Church upon this foundation, to make her even more secure, God has thrown about her the everlasting arms of his promise in that he has declared that "the gates of hell shall not pre- vail against her. Empires, kingdoms, thrones and
*Isaiah xxviii: 16.
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powers have arisen and successively followed each other into the mouldering scenes of the past. The incessant gnawing of the teeth of time has brought to dust the polished shaft and the symmetrical tower. The crushing weight of centuries has been wheeled over the sepulcher of buried magnificence. The na- tions have gazed and wondered much, while the thoughtful have often anxiously inquired, what will become of the Christian fabric, in the midst of these mighty changes ? But they have ever hailed the fact that layer after layer, and story after story, it is still rising toward the grand and final completion.
I ask what can hell invent in the future, that its rage has not tried in the past ? All its infernal pow- ers have been laid under contribution, to destroy this blessed city of refuge ; but in the midst of it all, like the Hebrews in the land of their enemies, the more she has been opposed and oppressed, the more rapid- ly she has gained strength and multiplied her hosts. Like the tree of liberty, the more it has been dis- turbed and shaken by adverse winds and storms, the deeper it has struck its roots into the hearts of the peo- ple. Until it now lifts its stately head, and promises soon to extend its protecting shade over all the earth. So the influence of the Church of Christ will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.
Again : This city was the dwelling place of the manifested presence of the great God of Israel. Here, the tabernacle was erected, which contained the Ark of the Covenant, and upon this Ark, between the cherubim, appeared the symbol of the divine glory. Oh ! what a centre of interest was here. No wonder Israel's sweet singer exclaims, "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord." Here he found himself in the audience chamber of the great and holy One, where
"Heaven came down his soul to greet, And glory crowned the mercy seat."
How his heart must have burned with sacred fire, when he said, "I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wick- edness." The tabernacle has decayed. The Ark has
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long since been lost, and yet sometime it may be re- stored ; but the true and living God still makes the Church the place of his abode. Here he has deposited the truth with his people, and has promised, "Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world."
What a blessing to this benighted world is the Church of Christ. Who can properly estimate its value ? Strike it out of existence, and it would be far more disastrous to the human family, than if the natural sun were eliminated from his place in the sky.
Moral gloom, only faintly represented by the raven wings which hung around the land of Goshen, would be the inevitable and endless consequence. Then,
" Ah whither could we flee for aid, When tempted, desolate, dismayed, Or how the hosts of hell defeat. Had suffering saints no mercy seat."
But let us "lift up the hands which hang down," and fling to the winds our needless fears, for God, who has founded and makes the Church the place of his own abode, has promised, "that of her increase there shall be no end," and "one jot nor one tittle of his word shall never pass until all be fulfilled."
Again : As watchmen of old were placed upon the high towers around Zion and the City of David, so that they might scan the hills and valleys in every direction, in order to give the alarm in case of an approaching enemy. So God calls men to the high places of Zion in the Church. What responsibility ! " Let Zion's watchmen all awake, And take the alarm they give. Now let them from the mouth of God,
Their awful charge receive."
And let them ever be faithful to sound the alarm in time of danger; and in large measure commit to their hands the safety of his cause. "Thus saith the Lord, I have made thee a watchman to the house of Israel; therefore hear the words of my mouth and give them warning from me." What a calling is this, and who is able for these things? How fearful must be the retribution of that minister, who proves re- creant to this high commission which he has received from God.
This text more than implies that, in the days of the prophet, Zion slumbered while she should have
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watchful vigils kept. Hence Isaiah's earnest address, " Awake! Awake !! " Here is a source of great dan- ger. The danger to the Church does not arise from a want of numbers, nor for a want of facilities or re- sources, nor yet for want of power. Her chief danger arises from her spirit of indifference. The giant does not lack for strength for his sure defense, but he needs to exert himself upon his foes. When was it that Sam- son was shorn of his great power ? Was it while he was contending with his enemies in a hand to hand con- flict ? Nay, this only served to make even more iron- like the muscles of his brawny arms. He lost his strength while unconscious upon the lap of the de- ceitful Delilah. So the Church may become careless, under a conscious sense of her own mighty resources, and thus, while at least partially slumbering, her foes are forging chains, with which they hope to bind and lead her into a strange land of captivity.
Centuries have come and gone since the prophet put the trumpet to his lips, at the command of God, and blew the alarm of the text. Zion arose, put on her strength and swept forth to the field of conflict. The battle has been waging along the ages, with various apparent results. But as the years go by, the great plan of battle unfolds itself to the reverend and thoughtful mind. Many well fought fields have al- ready been past, and the strength of Zion still remains, and the munitions of war are not yet exhausted. Even now she seems to be "coming up out of the wil- derness leaning upon the arm of her beloved, clear as the sun, fair as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners." There may be many battles yet to fight ; many more victories yet to win ; but all the Church has to do, in order to final conquest and glorious tri- umph, is to obey the warning of this text. Be watch- ful-exert the strength which God supplies-put on, and keep her beautiful garments clean, and over- whelming defeat will be visited on every foe; and Jesus Christ, the Captain of our salvation, when the conflict is passed and the victory is won, will say to each and every soldier, "Come ye, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
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