Till all the nations 'neath the sky
Conspire to raise the sound.'"
Brother Benjamin Moomaw, Brother Nininger, Brother John Harshberger and myself were appointed a committee to draw up a memorial on the subject, to place before the next Annual Meeting.
Saturday, March 1. Council continues. The subject of divorce and adultery is considered to-day. It is decided to send it to the Annual Meeting, as also a query on proposition to district the churches, and have general council meetings in those Districts. It is also unanimously passed to have lamps in our meetinghouses. Pass some other minor questions, and council breaks up.
Sunday, March 2. Meeting at the same place. Brother Benjamin Moomaw speaks on Heb. 5:8, 9. He is a man of great power in the Word. I regret that I cannot recall to memory all that he said, but I will here give a condensed outline of what I remember. These are the words of his text: "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him."
This is a remarkable passage of Scripture. It deals primarily with the human nature of Christ. It is in this nature, the Divine humanity, that God manifests himself to man. This humanity brought with it the infirmities to which flesh is heir. This same apostle tells us that Jesus Christ was "tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin." Innocence, freedom from all sin, is the orderly following of obedience. In this happy consciousness he challenges the whole Sanhedrim to convict him of sin. They could not do it; and Pilate acknowledges before the infuriated mob: "I find no fault in this man." From the part of the text, "yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered," we are rather to understand that he learned or realized the blessedness of obedience. In his own words: "He came not to do his own will, but the will of him that sent him." In his last great prayer with his disciples he says: "And now, Father, I come to thee, having finished the work thou didst give me to do." These words portray his immaculate righteousness.
But let us look at some of the glorious testifications borne by the Father to the honor of the Son. Let us turn to the first public act of his manhood. I guess your minds all turn at once to the scene of his baptism. Here are the pellucid waters of the Jordan coursing their way to the Dead Sea. "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus said, Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." This righteousness is the righteousness of obedience. And notice, a few moments later, the glory and honor with which it is crowned. The opened heavens, the dove-like descent of the Spirit, the Father's recognition, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased," must have thrilled his heart with joy unspeakable. In this instance he realized the blessedness of obedience; and the hearts of many since that time have been made to thrill as they have gone up out of the waters of other Jordans, with kindred joy.
We now turn to his temptation in the wilderness. Here, our Lord, during forty days and nights, suffered all the privations and all the temptations arising therefrom, which man is capable of suffering. But never for one moment did his heart or hand swerve a hair from the line of perfect obedience to his Father's will, even in the darkest hour. And how did it turn out? Why, he resisted the devil, and the devil left him; and, behold! angels came and ministered unto him. Brethren, have you ever thought of the precious food these angels brought to the exhausted human nature of our Lord? He ate and drank with angels from the skies. They poured the spiritual oil of joy and comfort into his burdened soul. They brought fresh tokens of his Father's approval; and we read of no more sore conflict with the powers of darkness until the "last hour."
Some of us have, possibly, passed through trials, in a small way, somewhat akin to those endured by the Lord. We all know our own individual experiences best. For one, I can say right here that I am no stranger to temptation. The adversary of God's people has never yet counted me out of the number he seeks to seduce. I confess he does not try me at all times alike; but he does seem to come every time when I am the least prepared effectually and instantly to repel his assaults. If in preaching I happen to get off a fine thought or good sentiment dressed out in a becoming attire of words, he tries to flatter my vanity by making me believe that I am a great somebody. Brethren in the ministry, how is it with you? I see from the nods you give, that you have had similar experiences. At such times Herod's awful doom flashes over me—how that in the midst of a beautiful oration he fell dead, and right away was alive with worms consuming his body, and all because he gave not God the glory. This generally gets me rid of him on such occasions. At other times he comes with promises of worldly honors, saying to me that if I will enter the arena of politics I may count it as sure that I will be lifted to offices of honor and rich emoluments, for, says he, "the whole scheme with all its workings is in my hands, and to whomsoever I will, I give it." At such times I baffle him with this Scripture: "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God; and him only shalt thou serve."
Jesus is now glorified. He is exalted higher than the heavens, far above all principality and power. He is invested with all power in heaven and earth; so that in him all things hold together, and the integrity of the universe is preserved. He is the head over all things to the church and has become the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. All things are now in his name and unto his glory, so that now he that honoreth the Son, honoreth the Father.