The Ohio conference offering; or, sermons and sketches of sermons on familiar practical subjects from the living and the dead

Front matter

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Preface

The history of the " Ohio Conference Offering," or volume of sermons and sketches, may be given in few words. About twelve months since, on awaking early in the morning, I found "sleep had departed from my eyes, and slumber from my eyelids," and my mind unusually calm and peaceful. As I waited for the Lord as they that "watch for the morning," a voice from the spirit-land seemed to whisper in my ear, "Tell them to remember my wife and dear little children !" In a moment I was transported back to the spring of 1842, when these emphatic words were addressed to me personally by a bold champion of the cross upon his dying bed. For more than twenty-three years he had toiled in the itinerant field without missing an appointment from ill health ; but the " hand of God had touched him," and the noble form was prostrated by an incurable disease; the signet of death was on his brow; and now, while the most tender earthly ties were sundering, and the flashing eye was becoming dim, he took my hand in his, and, with a look of inexpressible tenderness, remarked: "Tell my brethren of the Ohio conference that I love them ; yea, that I love them in the bowels of Jesus Christ ; that I love them better than any men whom I have ever known on earth ;

because they are the most affectionate and charita-

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PREFACE.

lie! Tell them to remember my wife and dear little children !" He could add no more ; his work was finished. Gentle reader, let me ask you if you can imagine any thing more touching than a scene like this.

After recalling to mind all the thrilling incidents of the never-to-be-forgotten death-bed scene of that noble minister of Jesus, my heart became deeply affected, and, as I mused upon the melancholy picture, I wept, and fancied I could hear a soft and gentle whisper from the graves of the loved and departed Quinn, Sale, Collins, Barrett, Butler, Finley, Fernandes, Ferree, Christie, Baldwin, Parrish, Anderson, Jones, Morrow, and Stroud, saying, "Tell

THEM, O TELL THEM TO REMEMBER MY WIFE AND CHIL- DREN !" After pondering deeply on these solemn things, and reflecting on the sacredness of the duty once imposed upon me, and how poorly I had discharged that duty, I asked myself the question, " Can any thing more be done to aid these widows and orphans than the usual annual collections from the circuits and stations?" "I prayed to the God of heaven," and soon felt his good hand rested upon me. The following plan presented itself to my mind: Call on the junior ministers of the conference for short, practical sermons, and publish the same in a handsome volume at the Western Book Concern, and appropriate the entire proceeds of the annual sales to the relief of the widows and orphan children of our brethren who "died at their post." This plan, by request, was made public, through the "Advocate;" and, on ascertaining that it was most cordially approved by the ministry and laity of our

PREFACE.

Church, I immediately commenced soliciting suitable sermons from my junior co-laborers in the conference.

At the session of our last conference, in Chilicothe, the following preamble and resolution, approving the undertaking, was offered by Professor Howard, and unanimously adopted by the conference :

"Whereas, we learn that Rev. Maxwell P. Gad dis, during the past year, has collected a number oi sermons from the junior preachers of this confer ence, and, also, a number of sermons and sketches from distinguished and beloved ministers who have died in the work; and, whereas, brother Gaddis proposes to publish' said sermons and sketches in a book to be called the " Ohio Conference Offering," the proceeds to be applied to the benefit of the widows and orphans of deceased ministers of the Ohio annual conference ; therefore,

u Resolved, That we cordially approve of this benevolent and praiseworthy undertaking of brother Gaddis, and recommend its speedy publication ; and we moreover promise, that we will use our influence to encourage its circulation in our respective fields of labor.

"Signed, Solomon Howard,

Joseph S. Tomlinson, John W. Weakley, William Young, John Mlley, Frederick Merrick, Granville Moody."

In presenting the Church with this humble " Offering," I feel an inward consciousness that I have

PREFACE.

been prompted by the purest motives, and actuated, from first to last, by a true spirit of disinterested benevolence, a sincere and fervent desire to glorify God, and an anxious solicitude to co-operate with, my brethren of the conference, in drying the tears of the heart-stricken widow of the deceased itinerant, and, also, to contribute my mite to assuage the woes of helpless orphanage. I have spent much time in collecting the manuscripts of the departed. This has been a mournful yet pleasant task. But my work is now done. It has brought its own reward.

"For if there be one joy above another,

Which minds of earthly mold may borrow, To thee that angel bliss is given, While weeping for another's sorrow."

With this brief explanation of the origin and design of the work, this unpretending little volume, with its gentle voices of love and warning from earth and heaven — the living and the dead — is sent forth on its errand of mercy and mission of benevolence.

Maxwell P. Gaddis.

Springfield, 0., May 3, 1851.

PART I. Introduction Page 13

SERMON I. by rev. uriah heath.

Adoption of the Fatherless and the Widow 21

SERMON II.

BY REV. FREDERICK MERRICK.

SERMON III. by rev. james l. grover.

Present Sufferings and Future Glory 54

SERMON IV. by rev. john w. weakley.

The Security of the Church. 63

SERMON V. by rev. henry baker.

Ldte, Death, and Immortality 79

SERMON VI.

BY REV. DAVID WARNOCK.

SERMON VII.

BY REV. ANDREW CARROLL.

Proper Use of the Mammon of Unrighteousness 95

SERMON VIII.

BY REV. WILLIAM F. STEWART.

SERMON IX.

BY REV. LORENZO D. HARLAN.

CONTENTS.

SERMON X. by rev. george c. crum.

The Importance of Moral and Religious Education Page 139

SERMON XI. by rev. moses smith.

Israel's Triumph at the Red Sea. 157

SERMON XII. by rev. john s. inskip.

Resurrection of Christ 165

SERMON XIII. by rev. clinton w. sears.

Keeping the Heart 182

SERMON XIV.

BY REV. NATHANIEL WESTERMAN.

SERMON XV.

BY REV. JOHN MILEY.

The Duty of Reverence in approaching God 208

SERMON XVI. by rev. william h. sutherland.

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 226

SERMON XVII.

BY REV. WILLIAM I. ELLSWORTH.

SERMON XVIII.

BY REV. JOHN W. FOWBLE.

SERMON XIX.

BY REV. ASBURY LOWREY.

SERMON XX.

BY REV. ARZA BROWN.

SERMON XXI. by rev. alexander nelson.

Necessity and Evidences of Revelation. 283

SERMON XXII.

BY REV. DAVID A. DRYDEN.

Characteristics and Dutles of Man 291

CONTENTS. 1 1

SERMON XXIII.

BY REV. JOSEPH H. CREIGHTON.

I Law and Better Hope Contrasted Page 304

SERMON XXIV. by pearl p. ingals. , Life and Character of Joseph 318

SERMON XXV. by rev. william young. ■ The Christian's Possessions. 325

Part II. Sermon I

BY BISHOP WILLIAM M'KENDREE.

Funeral Discourse. 337

SERMON II. by rev. edward tiffin, m. d. ! The Nativity of Christ 340

SERMON III. j by rev. edward tiffin, m. d.

Search the Scriptures 349

SERMON IV. by rev. edward tiffin, m. d.

The Choice of Moses 355

SERMON V.

BY REV. WILLIAM B. CHRISTIE.

SERMON VI.

BY REV. JOHN FERREE.

SERMON VII. by rev. russel bigelow.

Dissolution of the Earthly Tabernacle. 379

SERMON VIII. by rev. russel bigelow.

The Flood Improved 895 r

CONTENTS.

SERMON IX. by rev. alexander morrow.

Crucified with Christ. Page 399

SERMON X.

BY REV. CHARLES R. BALDWIN.

SERMON XI.

BY REV. ELIJAH SPARES.

SERMON XII.

BY REV. RUSSEL BIGELOW.