ST. MARK'S CHURCH. FAREWELL SERMON.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 356, 3 April 1889, Page 2

ST. M ARK'S CHURCH. FAREWELL SERMON.

It having been announced that Rev Jus. Marshall would preach for the last time, as minister of St. Mark's Church, Te Aroha, on Sunday evening last (prior to leaving Te Aroha for his new district, Ellerslie, and Epsom), a very large congregation assembled on that occassion, to hear as they no doubt supposed a * Farewell Sermon.' All available seats were occupied fully five minutes before the huiir of service, and chairs and forms were laid down one side of the aisle and quickly filled also ; in fact the church was crowded in every part. The lessons weie read by Mr Winstone, lay reader. Rev Mr Marshall read as the subject for his sermon, the last nine verses of the Ist chapter of St. John's Gospel, narrating the story of Phillip finding Nathaniel and inviting him to come and see Jesus, of the subsequent conversation between Jesus and Nathaniel, and the public avowal of the latter that Jesus was indeed the Son of God and King of Israel. In the course of his sermon Mr Marshall said the following, amongst other lessons, were to be leaint from this portion of God's word : If we aro found of Christy we should follow the example set by Philip, and bring others to the Saviour ; this was a work every Christian should be engaged in. Respecting Nathaniel's prejudice, before he met with Jesus, as expressed in his remark to Philip, " Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip adopted the very wise t course possible when he invited Nathaniel to " como and see" and judge for himself ; as, to commence reasoning with a man who in evidently greutly prejudiced against certain doctiines or persons, as in this ea^e, often does more harm than good. Jesus in reply to Nathaniel's question, "Whence knowest thou me ?" said " Before that Phillip call«d thee, when thou wast under llio fi_, r tiee, [ saw thef." Chiist knew all that was passing in the irind of Nathaniel, when he was under th,it fisr tree. Probably his earnest pi ayer to God at that time was that he mi»ht become a tiue lsiaelite indeed, and not in name only, that he might be led to God. The air at that time was full of the coining of the Saviour If he looked nt the subject in that light, Nathaniel would have seen that Philip had been sent to him in answer to that prayer of his under the fig tree, to bring him to Jesus. Such thoughts pass-, ing through his mind would lead him to sco that his now being in the presence of the Saviour was all of God, and to exclaim as he then did, "Thou art the Son of God," etc The preacher having referred at further length to this part of his subject then went on to remark that the great gulf that had existed between earth and heaven, caused by sin, had been bridged by the coining of the Son of Man. He was the ladder Jacob saw in his dream, that made a passage from earth to heaven ;and by Him all blessings had flowed down to earth. When Christ went up out of the water, after being baptized in the river Jordan, we read the heavens were opened ; and they have never since, in a spiritual senso,been closed, but the way has ever since been open for sinful men to obtain pardon and forgiveness of their sins, by accepting Christ as their Saviour. This great blessing was for us>, as well as for those of old. God sent his son to bless us. Do we want the blessing? The subject was u gloiious one, and most suitable on the present occasion when he was addrcj-sing his present congregation for the last tima as their staled minister, lie wished to leave with them this message from God, The way of salvation had been gloriously opened up. These changes that come serve to remind us that change and decay come to all, and warn us to seek a city that hath foundations whose builder and ir.aker is God. We are living in a world of toil and liouble, and change. If we would have pea:e and true happiness we must accept Christ as our Savour, acknowledge God in all our ways, follow His guidance, and then he would give rest and peace such as the world knew not of — would support us through life, and sustain us in death. The preacher concluded his discussion with the words : " Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man that trustetli in Him." The service was of no more than ordinary length ; and beyond the brief remarks reported as above with reference to his leaving, Mr Marshall's sermon would in no way lead a stranger to suppose it was a farewell discourse from a pastor to the flock he had ministered to for several years and by whom his removal will (although voluntary on his part) be greatly and deservedly regretted. We have since heard m.my express disappointment that Mr Marshall did not say something further in the form of farewell remUrks on the eve of his departure, and there are those who seem to think he ought to have done so. It may be the rev, gentleman could not trust himself to say much on the subject, for even in the slight reference he did make, it was quite evident to any observer he keenly felt the parting, although not saying much with respect thereto. We may add Mr Marshall left on Monday morning by train for his new parish.

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