THE REV. DR. BEGG.

Evening Star, Issue 3324, 15 October 1873, Page 2

THE REV. DR. BEGG.

To the Editor. Sir,— The great Presbyterian leader of the Anti-Unionist party in the Free Church of Scotland appeared in the pulpit of the First Church this forenoon, After ascending the pulpit, he read a por* tion of Psalm 106, beginning “Give praise and thanks unto the Lord.” After praise, the patriarch read the last chapter of the New Testament, and made a running comment thereon : —The Bible opens with man in a state of innocence in a beautiful garden planted by God, and it closes with a description of the river and tree of life, and of the glorious condition of redeemed humanity in Paradise regained. Thereafter the preacher read, and the congregation sang a part of Psalm 103 d, verse 8, “The Lord our God is merciful, and he is gracious,” &c. The venerable doctor then offered up a prayer, abounding in appropriate Scriptural phraseology. 1.1 is left hand rested crosswise on the Bible lying on the desk, while his. right laid hold of the margin of the pulpit. His posture was erect, stately, and solemn, while his face was raised up, as if to the Mount of Beatitudes. His articulation was fluent, homely, and decisive. Like a resur*

rented prophe tof great presence, tall, stout, muscular-looking, with a hex! of Olympian grandeur, he breathed forth the weighty petitions of an Ambassador of Christ. v The text was chosen from Paul’s Epist’e to the Hebrews, chapter 1, verse 3, last clause—“ When He had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Dr Begg did not, like modern critics of little minds and small faith, open his discourse with an oracular speculation about the genuineness of the epistle. Accepting its authorship, he pointed out Paul’s intention in panning it—viz., to exhort the Jewish community to stand fast in the faith, and to remember the supreme dignity of Christ, and the peril of rejecting him as the Messiah predicted by the prophets. The sermon clustered round two grand truths or facts, viz. 1. The sufferings of Christ. 2. The glories that follow in their train. (a) As to the first branch of his theme, the Doctor remaiked that the sufferings of Christ derive all their efficacy from his Divine and Mediatorial nature and character. (b) Christ’s sufferings were altogether spontaneous. His humiliation was purely voluntary. He emptied himself of all fulness of glory and riches, and consented to become the servant of servants for man’s salvation. (c) Christ’s sufferings were completely finished on the cross. He accomplished everything necessary for the redemption of the fallen and sinful sous of men. With rrspect to the second branch of the discourse, the preacher showed that 4 hrist s exaltation was not in His Divine nature, but in His human nature annexed to the. Divine, and glorified accordingly. Wherefore He now silteth at tbo right hand of God, the Father Omnipotent. By this figurative expression wo are sensibly given to understand that he occupies the scat of highest eminence, of greatest glory, and nearest proximity to God. The prophets, priests, and kings of Israel were referred to as all more or leas prefiguring the advent of tbo chiefeat of them all. Joseph’s history served t« shadow forth the cruel sufferings and consequent glory of Christ. David, in the Psalms, is represented in many circumstances that find only a perfect fulfilment in the character of Christ,. Christ has now under his control the Kingdom of Providence and Grace. He is the Lamb in the midst of the Throne. He is raised by God to the supreme pitch of honor, power, grace, and glory. The Book of .Revelations seems to draw, as it were, aside the veil of Heaven and to show us the glories of Jesus promoted as a Prince and a Saviour, endued with power, riches, wisdom,strength, honor, glory, and blessings inconceivable. Christ’s mediatorial dominion is universal. His power and authority are over all. He only has the right to reign over and judge all men. God has subjected all things under his feet. Angels, and fallen spirits, albeit innumerable, and very pow rful, are all made subservient to Christ’s purposes of grace. They are all ministering servants to the heirs of salvation. Kings and rulers of the earth are also under Christ’s dominion. If they refuse allegiance, they shall soon perish. I he worthy preacher is a brave upholder of the Crown-rights of the Redeemer, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Every individual man, good or bad, is made instrumental fur the glory of Christ, who is above all principality, authority, power, dominion, and name, both in this and the future world. He is the King of both. Pre-eminently Christians are under the do' minion of Chri.-t—as their priest and intir cessor —as their king and governor—as their fore-runner within the veil. Every true Church takes Christ’s authority as supreme. He is the source of all gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit. In virtue of his sufferings, he purchased spiritual blessings for his Church and for every member of it, and he bestows them upon all believers through the agency of the Comforter—the Holy Spirit-who taketh of the things of Christ and showeth them to the saints for the perfection and edification of Chiist s mys tical body, Christ is the way, the truth, and the light to the Father. The Spirit opens the Word and applies its knowledge f o our souls. But the Word is given by Christ on the Throne. This is the reason why so very few wepe converted by Christ’s ministry on eapth. The full jnapifestat’ous of Chr st’s ppwer wpre reserved till after Iris aspension. Then tffe Hply Spipit wqs sent down on the Day of Pentecost, Tbp world fnqst be converted to God, if converted at all, by the effusion of the Spirit’s blessings, and not by what men call material scienc j and progress. Despite the sneers of infidels, we arc to send missions to the heithen and to preach the gospel to every crea'urc, according to the command of Christ, cro lie ascended to His everlasting throne on high at God’s right hand, and epe He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men. The Omnipotent Spirit of God in His own set time will beat down the oposing buttresses of Judaism and superstition. They who, like the preacher, believe in the s-upre-maey of Christ over His Church, in his three-fold capacity of her prophet, priest, and king, to whom all power is delegated by the Father, are bound to obey the Divine command to go and teach men to observe all things that be commanded, and to rely on the faithfulness of the Great Head of the Church, that he will be with them and over her till the end of the world, to bless and do thptn gpp.i, above their highpst anticipations. The conversion of Saul pi Tarsus was pointed out as a signal example of the identity of Christ with His Church, bodily and individually. The gates of heaven, that closed on our ascending Saviour, we must believe, shall again open for the reception of the redeemed By him, as our priest, we have access to God now. He offered himself once for all as a sacrifice for our sins, and then passed within the veil, aa Aaron did in emblem, to present our prayers consecrate I by His hand, and accepted in virtue of his all-suffi-cient merits and mediation. He now reigns over His Church, takes possession of heaven as king of saints and angels. As Joseph took possession of Qoshen for his father and brethren, so Jesus went to the heavenly Jerusalem to prepare mansions for his people, a place of pverlastipg felicity for every member of the Christian family ip His Father’s presence- where there are fulness of joy and perennial pleasures in the conteni? plations of the mysteries of God’s love in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. Rhe reverend doctor, by way of practical application! pointed out the blessedness of those wfio are the true disciples of Christ, and the misery of suyh as reject the overtures of grace. These last cannot escape the power of Christ, He will be glorified in the salvation of his saints, and even in the damnation of the finally impenitent. Wfffi characteristic appropriateness, the congregation were given to sing a portion of the GBih Psalm, verse 18, “'Thou hast, O Lord, most glorious, ascended up on high,” « c. The minister thereafter gave an exhortation to a pan nt who presented his child for baptism ; after which there was a prayer of dedication ; then the rite was performed ; again a thanksgiving prayer; then several announcements wore made of things appertaining to the Church ; and last of all the benediction, , , , ~ The Rev Dr Begg is an out-and-out orthodox preacher, and a true blue Presbyterian, after the straitest and strictest sect of tlcottish Presbyterianism, In the method of bis

discourse, there is a remarkable resemblance to the sermons of Bishop Sherlock. Dr Begg, like the Bishop, has a solid judgment, but he lacks the great erudition of the late Bishop of London and Master of the Temple. I cannot close this letter without making a pointed reference to an odious habit that prevails in churches generally here, but paiticularly in this church. During the < elivery of the sermon, and indeed throughout the enlire service, the congregation coughed loud, long, and universally. They res mblud a flock of penned sheep in the cold days of winter. 1 too could have done the same, but I restrained myself. I have heard ministers at Horae sharply reprove such a bad and unmannerly practice in church. My indignation knows no restraining bounds in censuring such a vile, rude, and uncivilised habit. It greatly annoyed me. —I am, &c., J. G. S. Grant. Dunedin, October 12.