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[0:00] of God, let us read our text in the lesson, verse 32, chapter 20, the Acts of the Apostles, verse 32, and now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

[0:46] Will it be thought by the beloved flock here at Union Chapel, Bethesden, incongruous with the occasion that is marked this year in your expectation of receiving in love another precious gift of a godly pastor that I should read before you this day, shall I say, the farewell message of the great apostle Paul, our own apostle, to the fairly infant church of Christ that he had founded by the sovereign, invincible, almighty pair of the grace of God in that wicked and idolatrous city of Ephesus, where the majority worshipped the goddess Diana, and it was renowned through the whole world for the temple to Diana, which was one of the seven wonders of the wonders of the world. Now, I have proposed something to you as this incongruous, that whilst you are now under the influence of the Spirit in the expectation of joy, that I should read what is tantamount to a farewell message. I think not, because of this, and let us postulate this immediately, undoubtedly, especially during the terminal years of the ministry of your late beloved pastor, this this was his continual exercise and prayer for his dear flock in Union Chapel. And has not the Lord responded most mercifully and graciously and triumphantly to this one-day prayer?

[3:59] wonderful word, commending you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance inheritance among all them that are sanctified. And so, I see the linkage and the harmony between Mr. Dawson, who is in glory, and your expectation of Mr. Howard later in the year. And as an old friend of this cause of truth, and one who prays for your prosperity and holy peace and concord, Lord, we may say that this is an epitome of everything that we wish for you, God willing in the ensuing years, so that I may join in this personally.

[5:20] And you will know so well that our own apostle's position especially was unique, for he was, by divine appointment, a wise master builder.

[5:45] And it was by him chiefly, and through his most powerful and unctuous ministry, that the gospel was carried into Asia, and through so many parts adjacent to the Holy Land.

[6:13] And undoubtedly, it was through those who had heard him, that the gospel was brought originally to the pagan island, Britain.

[6:32] And so, this is a very wonderful consideration. The misery and the distress and the disgrace is that now, in a retrograde condition, we have become very largely again infidel.

[6:56] The Lord commands towardazo absolutelyUp causa- Surprise, the Lord.

[7:08] Because we have prayed together for this, this afternoon, and on many occasions, that shall just sweep over Great Britain, and indeed come to all nations.

[7:21] But what a wonderful thing it would be if the dear Lord sent another glorious reformation. But now with him, the Lord directed his steps, as he does in the cases of all his dear servants.

[7:44] And he went to the fallow ground. To Ephesus, for instance, a city that was absolutely steeped in this idolatry.

[8:04] The fame was worldwide for Diana, the god of the Ephesians. And this great temple.

[8:16] But the Lord had a few of his chosen there. And so for three years, his apostolic ministry was exercised in that city.

[8:29] And to the great wonder and joy of the apostle, how many souls were blessed and converted and given spiritual life.

[8:48] It just shows the wonders that God alone can do. I am not perhaps staying there now.

[8:59] But never be surprised. Never be astonished if the Lord gives you the spirit of grace and of supplications as to the miracles of divine grace that the Lord will work.

[9:14] There may be some of the most extreme cases who have gone as far from God as it is possible for them to go.

[9:28] That the Lord will stop. Open their eyes and perform that operation of the spirit.

[9:39] Take away the stony heart. Give them a heart of flesh. You would probably be astonished to see them in Union Chapel.

[9:49] All the wonders that the Lord is pleased to work by his grace. And so for three years did our apostle labor amongst them as he says here.

[10:09] And just one other word. You will know from his claim in 1 Corinthians 4.

[10:26] And a beautiful and exclusive claim it is. Not everyone can make such a claim. He says, though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers.

[10:46] You had a father here. A father. A pastor, a real pastor is a father.

[10:58] Has a father's heart. And all the blessed progeny. The sons and the daughters. I quite expect if I came to many of you personally and said to you, Who was your spiritual father in God?

[11:19] You would say instantly, The late dear Mr. Dawson. Our late dear pastor. Our father in God. That is to say, You were born again through his ministry.

[11:37] Well, our apostle makes this remarkable and beautiful and sweet and blessed claim.

[11:48] Though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers in Christ Jesus.

[11:58] I have begotten you through the gospel. Never can God's ministers rest in any satisfaction until they know the Lord has quickened souls through their ministry.

[12:18] What a seal that is. A sinner born again. So that these dear ones.

[12:31] This flock. This comparatively infant flock. In that wicked city. That idolatrous city. They were his children.

[12:43] He loved them. Loved them dearly. Precious thing that is. And although it was according to his divine commission and the appointment of God that he should move on to lay the foundation of churches and to lay the doctrinal foundation ministerially.

[13:11] All these children that he had. These children that he so loved. And I want just to say to the friends.

[13:26] You're not all ministers, are you? But you're the servants of the Lord if you fear him. All his people are his servants.

[13:38] Now, have you in your time travailed for souls? And have you seen them brought forth? And if so, do you love them?

[13:52] And are you now in the experience of any travail for souls? Because when Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

[14:07] Wonderful thing this is. In the divine economy of grace and salvation. This travail for souls.

[14:18] You go on and on and on. Under the influence of the spirit. You can never give it up. And then one day. You begin to see the signs.

[14:30] Of the life of God. The grace of God. The spirit of God in their souls. And it may be after 20 years of praying or more.

[14:43] And the severest trial of your faith. And then you begin to see your prayers answered. And are bringing forth.

[14:55] Do you love them? Are they precious to you? And when we have those who give their testimony.

[15:07] Coming to the church. And we take them through the waters of holy baptism. Are you able to say. For this child I prayed.

[15:19] My friends. This is perhaps elementary. But I ask you this in the name of God. Can you say that before him.

[15:33] For this child I prayed. I've been praying for this soul for a long time. There's a special claim. So you can see the position of our apostle.

[15:48] Their father in God he was. And. They were his sons and daughters. And nothing could alter the relationship.

[16:00] Give her the living child. The Lord knows. Ah. The Lord knows. To whom the living child belongs. Well.

[16:17] By the grace of God then. You can see the apostle's position. He was going to Jerusalem. And the time had come now.

[16:30] For him to do two things. Mainly. To give a charge. To the elders of the church. A special charge.

[16:41] Very wonderful. How the Lord raises up elders. Raises up godly. And faithful men.

[16:54] And there is a very special charge. For them. And then. He. Takes this flock.

[17:06] And what does he do with them. He commends them. To God. And to the word. Of his grace.

[17:17] And notice how. He so lovingly. Addresses them. I don't want. A religion. That is.

[17:28] Destitute of the love of Christ. The religion of Jesus Christ. Is a religion of divine. Immutable.

[17:39] Everlasting love. And so. He speaks to them. In a most. Affectionate. And loving. And tender.

[17:51] And filial. Way. Of relationship. That is not transitory. But eternal. Everlasting.

[18:02] The relationship. He says. And now. Brethren. I commend you. To God. Just give you a brief word.

[18:14] Before I come to. Some of the cardinal doctrines. Here. And it is this. You take the word.

[18:25] Commend. Commend. It is a very sacred word. Commend. This. Greek word. Commend.

[18:36] Is the same word. That our Savior. Used on the cross. When it came to the ninth hour.

[18:47] That is three o'clock in the afternoon. He cried with a loud voice. And said. Father. Into thy hand.

[18:57] I commend. My spirit. And having said thus. He gave up the ghost. It is a very sacred word.

[19:08] This. Commend. It is indicative. Of something. That is. Of.

[19:19] Such a preciousness. That you cannot. Really. Fathom. The depth. Or know. Fully. The dimensions. Of it. And it is so.

[19:32] Precious. That it is. Commended. It is committed. And entrusted. To God. I wonder.

[19:44] If you have ever. Thought of. This word. Commend. So. I would dilate on this.

[19:56] Briefly. Look. Let us have just a little. Catechism. When the Lord first gave you. Living faith.

[20:08] Which synchronized. With the revelation of his son. In your soul. What was the first act of faith.

[20:20] Or how may it be. Translated. You answer that. And deceive me.

[20:32] The first act of faith. When you believed in him. Surely. It may be expressed. In this way.

[20:42] You committed your soul. To him. And you committed everything. To him. Is that true? And are you not doing that.

[20:55] Continually. For I know. Whom I have believed. And am persuaded. That he is able. To keep that.

[21:06] Which I have. Committed. To him. Against that day. Committed. You committed. Your soul. To him.

[21:19] What do you do. With your children. Your family. If you are favoured. What do you do. With them. And when I say.

[21:32] Your children. Let me also. Use the term. Relatives. It may be. Brother. Sister. Mother. Father. Father. Uncle. Aunt.

[21:43] Niece. Nephew. What do you do. With them. As you are enabled. You commit them.

[21:54] Into the hand. Of the Lord. To you. To you. To you. To you. To you. And what do you do. With the church. That you love. You know what I mean.

[22:09] The. Local church. The place. Where. The Lord. Has. Given you. To feel. Just what. Ruth.

[22:20] Felt. And treat. Me not. To leave thee. Or to return. From following. After thee. For whither thou. Goest. I will go. Where thou.

[22:30] Lodgest. I will lodge. Thy people. Shall be my people. And thy God. My God. Where thou. Diest. Will I die. And there. Will I be buried.

[22:42] What do you do. With that church. Well. Under the influence. Of the spirit. You.

[22:52] Commit it. To the Lord. Don't you. And what do you do. With your life. And all the vicissitudes.

[23:05] Of life. By the help of God. You commit it. To the Lord. What do you do. With your troubles. Your distresses.

[23:17] Your afflictions. Your trials. As enabled. You commit them. To the Lord. What do you do. In the expectation.

[23:29] Of that dying moment. And what will you do. When it comes. To that terminal moment.

[23:40] The last. Triumphant. Act of faith. Is to. Put the soul. Into the hands.

[23:51] Of a faithful creator. That's very wonderful. Isn't it. Commit. And so really.

[24:01] This expresses. A very considerable. Portion. Of the exercise. Of faith. In the. Life.

[24:11] Of a child. Of God. You commit. Thing. Everything. To the Lord. Your times. The dispensations. Of his hand. Everything.

[24:22] That concerns you. You seek. Grace. To commit it. To the Lord. But let me again. Remind the friends.

[24:34] The word. Commend. Is very sacred. Because. Of this. Indication. Of the.

[24:45] Great. Preciousness. Of what is entrusted. For you. Entrust. The Lord. With this. Think of our.

[24:55] Dear. Saviour. Then. When he came. To those. Dying moments. Father. Into thy hand. I commend. My spirit. Having said that.

[25:08] Thus. He gave up. The ghost. So. This will. Emphasize. And amplify. In your.

[25:19] Understanding. The blessedness. Of this. Term. Commend. And you can see. How precious.

[25:29] Then. These dear. Souls. Of Ephesus. Were. To our. Apostle. I commend. You. Really.

[25:44] There is. Something. Very. Very. Very. Sweet. And. Blessed. About. This. And. I would like. Just to. Shall I say.

[25:55] Put an appendix. To it. If I may. Reverently. Say. This. The Lord. Jesus. Having. Said. That. Father.

[26:07] Into thy. Hand. I commend. My. Spirit. Then. He gave up. The ghost. Say. Look at the peace. The peace.

[26:18] Some of you. May have. Been. In hospital. You may. Have. Been. In affliction. Or trial.

[26:28] And. When you've. Been. Enabled. To commend. Yourself. And. Commend. These things. To the Lord. You felt. Such. Peace.

[26:41] Everything. Has. Been. Commended. To the Lord. So. These. Precious. Souls. Who.

[26:52] Can. Tell. How. The apostle. Loved. Them. And. Now. He. Commends. Them. To God. Your.

[27:03] Pastor. Commended. You. He. Commended. His. Family. I. He. He. He. He.

[27:15] Commended. This. Flock. To God. Also. I. Can. Say. I. Heard. Him. Many. Times. Commend. You. To God.

[27:26] It's. A. Sweet. Thing. Isn't it? Some. Of. You. Are. Widows. It. Must. Be. A. Path.

[27:38] Of. Deprivation. The. Dear. One. Commended. You. To. God. The.

[27:48] Fatherless. Children. The. Motherless. Children. You. Think. Of. It. Presently. And. It. Is. So. With. Some. Of. You. Now.

[27:59] But. Think. Of. It. When. The. Children. Look. At. The. Home. And. They. Say. Ah. That. Was. The. Old. Home. I.

[28:10] Could. Always. Go. Home. Mother. And. Father. Of. God. But. They. Commended.

[28:21] You. To. God. And. Now. It. Is. Your. Place. You. Commend. To. God. Think.

[28:34] Of. The. Dear. Ones. In. The. Brightness. And. Bliss. And. Beauty. Of. Of. Emmanuel. Land. Think.

[28:44] Of. Them. How. They. Commended. You. To. God. Before. They. Departed. And. In. The. Moments. Perhaps. Of. Their. Departing.

[28:56] It's. Very. Sweet. This. Word. Commend. I. Believe. We. Have. Therefore. Established.

[29:06] With. You. The. Unique. Position. Of. This. Greek. Word. And. The. Preciousness. That. Is. Associated. With. It. Commend.

[29:20] So. Now. I. Want. Just. To. Look. At. The. Term. Of. Loving. Address. To. Them. And.

[29:30] Now. Brethren. You. May. Say. Well. This. Is. A. Perfectly. Simple. Term.

[29:42] And. Surely. Whatever. May. Be. Be. Said. About. It. Can. Be. Said. In. Just. A. Few. Moments. I. Want. To. Dig. Into. This.

[29:52] A. Little. I. Want. To. Find. The. Doctrine. Divine. In. This. Brethren.

[30:03] What. Does. It. Mean. In. Any. Case. Don't. Think. You. Dear lady. Friends. Are. Excluded. This. Term. Includes. You.

[30:15] And. Now. Brethren. The. Very. Simple. Meaning. Is. Members. Of.

[30:25] The. Same. Family. Same. Father. Just. The. Same. Family. And. So. You. Brethren. You.

[30:38] Are. United. You. Are. One. Brethren. And. Let. Me. Say. It. To. The. Glory. Of. God. There. Is. Nothing.

[30:48] Sweeter. Than. A. Double. Union. And. That. Is. Where. You. Have. This. Wonderful. Union.

[30:58] In. The. Flesh. And. You. Are. A. Happy. Family. Not. A. Quarrelsome. Family. But.

[31:09] A. Really. Happy. Family. And. That's. That's. A. Wonderful. Thing. But. Where. You. Have.

[31:19] This. Union. Then. A. Happy. Union. As. A. Family. But. Also. A. Greater. Union. And. That. Is. In. The. Lord. Jesus.

[31:30] Spiritually. And. Now. Brethren. He. Says. I. Want. To. Speak.

[31:40] A. Little. About. This. And. Let. Let. Let. Me. Ask. You. Initially. Is. It. Something. The. Lord. Has. Led. You. Into. And. Given. You. To. Feel. The.

[31:50] Wonder. And. The. Joy. And. The. Bliss. Of. It. And. The. Permanency. Of. It. Brethren. What.

[32:02] Is. Then. The. Foundation. For. This. Union. What. Do. You. Think. It. Is. The.

[32:14] Foundation. For. This. Union. Is. The. Oneness. Of. The. Glorious. Trinity. The. Distinctiveness.

[32:25] Of. Those. Glorious. Persons. In. The. Godhead. And. The. Unity. And. Oneness. Of. Substance. And. Essence.

[32:35] In. The. Godhead. That's. The. Foundation. Of. It. All. The. Ineffable. Love. Of. The.

[32:45] Father. And. The. Son. And. The. Holy. Ghost. To. Each. Other. But. The. Wonder. Is. The. Outflowing.

[32:56] Of. That. Love. To. Poor. Sinners. So. That. The. Divine. Ineffable. Sovereign.

[33:07] Immutable. Love. Love. Of. God. Flows. Out. To. Poor. Fallen. Creatures. Those. That.

[33:18] He. For. Knows. And. Has. Predestinated. To. Eternal. Life. The. Outflowing. Of. It. So.

[33:32] That. As. I. Have. Sometimes. Said. The. Lord. Jesus. Is. Never. Alone. Never. Was. Alone. Why?

[33:47] Because. His. Deadlights. Were. With. The. Sons. Of. Men. And. He. Rejoiced. In. The. Habitable. Part. Of. His.

[33:57] Earth. And. They. Were. Always. In. His. Heart. Not. Alone. One.

[34:14] And. And. Through. His. Suffering. Shortish. And. In. The. Garden. And. On. The. Cross. And. In.

[34:24] The. Tomb. And. When. He. Rose. And. Ascended. And. Was. Enthroned. One. With. Him. there's the union and it's an eternal union I want just to look at the other side of this now the Lord's people are brought into that spiritually and with gracious intelligence and according to the teaching of the Spirit to know what this union is and so I shall endeavour just to name this to you when the precious Lord Jesus is first discovered to a needy soul and a living faith enables them to believe in him to the saving of their souls what takes place?

[35:42] we have already named one thing about the committing but what takes place efficaciously by the sovereign power of the Spirit union oneness you become one you know what that is?

[36:07] in union with the Lamb immediately the Lord blessed you with faith in his Son and you felt his love begin to flow into your heart his mercy his grace his compassion his clemency there was union brought by God between your soul and the Lord oneness now that's an amazing thing isn't it?

[36:44] union and what is consequent upon union communion sweet communion first union now this is a very blessed thing immediately we know love and union with the dear Lord we begin to know what it is to feel union and great love to his dear people and so often this relates to a particular church and people a flock the Lord makes it your spiritual home and there's this wonderful feeling of love and union now let me tell you to his glory alone how the Lord accomplished this in my soul that is in its most blessed dimensions beyond anything that I could express adequately and it is something that is very choice in my spirit

[38:10] I don't know that I've ever heard anyone else refer specifically to it but I will tell you what my experience was in the year 1930 in August it's a long time ago now almost 50 years ago the Lord granted me forgiveness and full deliverance so that I knew that all my sins were pardoned and he transported me until I felt I was almost in heaven in that wondrous and concentrated experience of the spirit I felt married to Christ married there's union my friends and I said this according to the deduction of the spirit in my soul

[39:28] I said this I have Christ he is mine and Christ said I in them I in them and to his father and thou in me so I said I have the father and the holy ghost we are one this is not presumption these are some of the heights that the Lord will bring his people into the understanding and joyful experience of the Trinity is mine now then something followed in fact two things followed one was this the promises and the blessings of the new covenant

[40:30] I said they're all mine why because they're all yea and amen in Christ and Christ is mine so they're all mine it must be so it is the logic of faith and then this followed and that will take me straight into this word brethren being one with the Lord Jesus there was his bride and I said I'm one with the whole election of grace all the saints in glory I'm one with them and I'm one with all the people of God on the face of this planet the few I know and the many I shall never know in the flesh but I'm one with them and it didn't stop there and I'm one with all those who are in the womb of the covenant to be brought for now I was one with the whole church of God and now brethren blessed be God the collection is for the immense fund of the

[42:04]  Union Chapel dear friends gentlemen