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PKEACHED IN THE

CHURCH OF THE ADVENT.
BY THE
Eev. HENEY H.%EAN.

CHITBCK OE1 THE ADVENT, PHILADELPHIA.

PHILADELPHIA:
J. B. LIPPINCOTT AND CO.
1851.

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CHURCH OF THE ADVENT, PHILADELPHIA

INTRODUCTORY SERMON:

PREACHED IN THE

CHURCH OF THE ADVENT,

PHIL ADE LPHIA,

On Sunday, November 30, 1856.

BY THE
Eev. HENEY H. BEAN.

PHILADELPHIA:
J. B. LIPPINCOTT AND CO.
1851.

Vestsy Room of the Church of the Advent,
December 10, 1856.
Rev. Henry H. Bean,
Dear Sir: — The Vestry being impressed with the belief that much
edification would result from a wider dissemination of the sacred
truths and principles contained in your introductory sermon, delivered
in this church on the morning of Advent Sunday, have unanimously
resolved, to ask of you the favor of a copy for publication.
Very Respectfully Yours, &c,
JOHN W. DIXON,
Secretary of the Vestry.

Philadelphia, December 17, 1856.
Dear Sir: — At the request of the Vestry, I furnish a copy of my
discourse delivered in the Church of the Advent, on Advent Sunday ;
though it is imperfect as a composition, being prepared with no ex
pectation, whatever, of its being published; but hoping that "the
sacred truths and principles" it contains, may tend to "edification,"
I place it, with great diffidence, at their disposal.
Yours most Respectfully,
HENRY H. BEAN.
John W. Dixon, Esq.,
Secretary of the Vestry.

SERMON,

I ask, therefore, for what intent ye have sent for me ? — Acts x. 29.
The inquiry contained in this passage was made
by the Apostle St. Peter, when he appeared before
Cornelius, the devout Centurion, who had sent for
him to unfold the words of eternal life. The call
ing of the Gentiles had been a subject of prophetic
vision for long preceding centuries, and a theme
for the sublime songs of inspired poets and seers.
The Jewish economy had been one of awful exclu-
siveness, admitting none but proselytes into any
of its privileges, or to any share of its promised
blessings. But the Gospel dispensation was in
tended to usher in a more glorious day — the mid
dle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile
was to be broken down, and all were to be one in
Christ Jesus. The Apostle Peter had been com
missioned to open the door of faith to the long

8
neglected Gentiles, and Cornelius was the first
trophy from among those who had hitherto been
" aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and
strangers from the covenants of promise."
The apostle, clinging to his prejudices as a Jew,
was greatly perplexed concerning the heavenly
vision which he had seen betokening God's mercy
to the " strangers and foreigners." But while in
this state of doubt and uncertainty, the messengers
sent from Cornelius arrived and " stood before the
gate," and being divinely instructed to accompany
them, he yielded an instant obedience to the call,
nothing doubting but that he was in the direct
pathway of duty. Coming to the house where
they were assembled, he presented some prelimi
nary considerations, of a peculiar and distinctive
character, to the Centurion and those that were
assembled with him, stated his prompt obedience
to the call he had received, and then asked for its
precise object. " Therefore came I unto you with
out gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for : I ask,
therefore, for what intent ye have sent for me V
The question here propounded would admit, on
an occasion like the present, of great latitude of
remark, and might very naturally lead us into a

9
contemplation of the various motives which, it
were easy to conceive, might strongly influence
the minds of a congregation, or their official repre
sentatives, in their choice of a minister to become
their settled pastor. The diversity of taste, senti
ment, and feeling, which, from the very constitu
tion of the mental mechanism, must meet and
mingle in a body thus composed, would lead to
the rational supposition that very different motives
might have full play in a matter of such acknow
ledged and commanding importance. It might
be supposed that the first inquiry of some would
be, what are the distinctive features of his eccle
siastical creed] An inquiry by no means unim
portant in this our day, when there exists, unfor
tunately, such a wide difference of sentiment, even
on doctrinal and fundamental truth, among the
men who minister at the church's holy altars.
Others perhaps might inquire with equal earnest
ness concerning his manner and address, and
powers of oratory, things not in themselves indif
ferent ; whether by his lofty and. persuasive elo
quence he would be likely to fascinate the fashion
able and the frivolous, and at the same time
attract the men of literary taste and refinement,

10
so as to fill the house of God's manifested presence
with large and brilliant audiences. Others again
might prefer the profound reasoner, the accom
plished logician, who convinces by the power of
argumentation. And there might be some who
would require such urbanity and personal accom
plishment as would draw around him the votaries
of pleasure, as well as the grave and the dignified
worshippers of mammon, and cause them to forget
in the fascinations of the man the heaven-born
dignity of his office as an ambassador for Christ.
But upon these and kindred topics it were
needless for me to dwell here and now, believing,
as I am constrained to do, that such considerations
exerted no weight of influence upon the minds of
those by whose voice I have been called into your
service. I shall, therefore, proceed to consider
what may, with more likelihood, be presumed to
have been the all-pervading and all-constraining
motives which have influenced you to invite me to
this interesting field of duty, where my ministry is
for a time to be exercised.
The acknowledged character and principles of
all concerned in this business, with all the attend
ant and surrounding circumstances, leave no room

11
to question, that you have sent for me to preach
among you " the unsearchable riches of Christ" —
the simple Gospel of the blessed God — to proclaim
the good news of salvation to sinful, dying men ;
to administer . the sacraments and ordinances of
the Church ; to instruct the ignorant, comfort the
distressed, bind up the broken-hearted, and to
build up, to the utmost of our power, the waste
places of our Zion. As a flock of Christ, you de
sired a shepherd who should lead you to green
pastures, and to living fountains ; one who should
be a safe and experienced spiritual guide in con
ducting you over the rough and rugged passage
from the Mount that burneth, to the hill of Cal
vary. Surrounded by dangers, and exposed to the
assaults of insidious reasoners, and the plausibi
lities of heterodoxy, you wanted a watchman who,
on descrying danger, should sound the alarm-
trumpet, and endeavor " to drive away . all erro
neous and strange doctrines contrary to God's
word." Then the weak are to be strengthened
and established in the faith, the wavering to be
settled and grounded in the truth, the wayward
to be admonished and awed by the terrors of a
coming vengeance. To all the pure and unadul-

12
terated doctrines are to be presented, and the
scheme of reconciliation and redemption must be
set before them in its glory and grandeur as it is
revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We can
not, and we dare not attempt to amuse you with
novelties, or dazzle you with the fire and fascina
tions of genius, or the subtilties and speculations
of metaphysics, when feeding souls perishing for
the bread of life. But you would have us by the
foolishness of preaching to bring honor to the
Cross, and collect gems to adorn the diadem of
Jesus Immanuel. In a word, the office of an
ambassador for Christ, a steward of the mysteries
of God, a watchman upon the walls of Zion, a
spiritual pastor and guide, you expect to be faith
fully, zealously, and affectionately discharged, ac
cording to the ability which God has given to him
who labors among you. Presuming these to be,
in some sort, the views and sentiments of those
by whom we have been called to this field of
labor, it will now be my duty to bend myself to
the task of telling you for what intent I have
come. unto you. And I trust it will be seen that
our views happily meet and harmonize.
It cannot be questioned, I presume, by any one,

13
that it is the duty, and should be the chief aim
and object of every man who ministers, to fufil
the Divine commission which he has received from
the Lord Jesus Christ, to " preach the word" — the
Gospel of the grace of God. This is the great
instrumentality ordained of God for the conversion
of sinful and guilty men, and the ultimate evan
gelization of the world. Hence we find the in
junction interwoven into the instrument conveying
the commission, "Go ye into all the world, and
preach the Gospel to every creature." This com
mand received the prompt obedience of the apos
tles, when, with a courage that never relaxed, and
a dauntless heroism which defied opposition, and
a boldness which made governors and kings quail
and tremble, " they ceased not to teach and to
preach Jesus Christ." They bore witness for
Christ in proclaiming his truth before courts of
judicature, and in the presence of the most re
nowned and erudite scholars, the proudest and
most vaunting philosophers of the day. Hence
we hear one of that noble and illustrious band
saying, " I am not ashamed of the Gospel of
Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation
to every one that believeth." Hence, also, we find

14
another of those fearless champions for the truth,
the author of my text, standing in the midst of
the multitude assembled out of every nation under
heaven, and with a commanding and persuasive
eloquence proclaiming the doctrine of salvation by
Jesus Christ, and urging the duty of immediate
acceptance of the proffered mercy, saying, "Re
pent ye, and be converted, that your sins may be
blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall
come from the presence of the Lord." And open
ing the door of salvation to the Gentiles, on the
memorable occasion to which my text refers, he
"preached peace by Jesus Christ," and testified
that "God was no respecter of persons, but in
every nation he that feared him and worked
righteousness, was accepted of him." In a word,
they all preached " Christ crucified," all demanded
faith in him as the sole ground of justification be
fore God, without making void the law, but showed
distinctly that "the law was our schoolmaster to
bring us to Christ, that we might be saved by
grace." They did not, for one moment, slacken
its obligations, or lower its demands, but enforced
it, not as a ground of justification, but as a standard

15
of holiness and a rule of life. ' But in the method
of pardon and reconciliation, Christ was all in alL
Nor did the commission become extinct when
these inspired men had sealed their testimony with
their blood. For we find the same charge echoed
from their lips, when they laid their hands on those
who were to be fellow-laborers with them, or suc
ceed them, in the work to which they had been^
called: " Preach the word: be instant in season, out
of season : reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-
suffering and doctrine." And this commission and
obligation must run parallel, and be commensurate
with, the promise, " Lo I am with you alway, even
unto the end of the world." Bearing this com
mission, and clothed with this authority, I trust I
shall ever feel it to be my highest privilege, as well
as bounden duty, to render implicit obedience to
the Divine command, and to follow, at however
humble distance, the bright example of those illus
trious men who " counted not their lives dear unto
themselves, so that they might finish their course
with joy, and the ministry which they had received
of the Lord Jesus to testify the Gospel of the
Grace of God." While it may please Him whose
I am, and whom I desire to serve, to permit me to

16
stand before you as an ambassador for Christ, I
shall endeavor, God being my helper, like the great
apostle, to hold up to view in one hand, the tables
of the law as delivered from the summit of the
burning Mount, and in the other the cross of Jesus
as exhibited on the brow of Calvary. Over the
one shall be written, as in letters of fire, " Cursed is
every one that continueth not in all things written
in the Book of the Law to do them;" over the
other shall be engraved in legible and indestructi
ble characters of love, "Christ is the end of the
law for righteousness to every one that believeth."
And standing before you with the Law in one
hand, and the Gospel in the other, my motto shall
be inscribed on the forefront to be seen and read
of all men, "Knowing the terrors of the Lord, we
persuade men." "We entreat you in Christ's
stead, be ye reconciled to God." It will be my
aim to enlist under the banner of Christ, the Cap
tain of our salvation, all, — the quiet citizen, the
industrious artisan, the parent and the child, the
men of taste, and men of attainment, and urge
them to fight manfully against the world, the flesh,
and the devil, that so they may come off more than
conquerors through him who hath loved them and

17
given himself for them. And oh, that while speak
ing, the Holy Ghost might fall on as many as hear
the word, and cause them to magnify God, and be
lieve that "Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father."
But it may be important to remind you, that in
presenting this blessed Gospel for your acceptance,
it is not intended to be laid at your feet in its
simplicity and purity, without any protection or
guardianship, and left to be assailed by the rude
hand of violence, or the insidious attacks of secret
and designing adversaries. Oh, no. We bring you
the Gospel — but we bring it, as we have received
it, in the Church, appointed to " be a Witness and
a Keeper of Holy Writ." We do not mean
simply the invisible Catholic Church, of which
all true Christians are members ; but pre-emi
nently the " one Catholic and Apostolic Church,"
which was formed to be the depository of the
Gospel. She is the glorious casket which contains
the precious jewel. She is " the pillar and ground
of the truth." To this apostolic Church it is our
high privilege to belong; this Church it is our
duty to aid in building up. Her standards must
be appealed to in all matters of doubt or difficulty.

18
Her Scriptural Liturgy must be indissolubly con
nected with the Gospel which we preach, as our
formula of devotion in the services of the sanc
tuary. Her rubrics and canons must be our rules
of order and discipline. For this glorious Gospel,
this apostolic Church, this Scriptural Liturgy, have
been connected by a bond which no man may
sunder and be guiltless. In this union there will
be strength; in it there will be safety. In this
connection we bring you the good news of salva
tion, believing it to be the method ordained of
God for the recovery of sinful and guilty men
from death and hell, and for the enlargement and
extension of that holy temple in the Lord, whose
walls and battlements we are authorized and com
manded to build.
But it may be said that the preaching of the
Gospel from the sacred pulpit is but a small part
of the work contemplated by our office and com
mission as the authorized ministers of Christ; that
the apostles, in the fulfilment of the duties of their
high office, taught, not only publicly, but from
house to house; making every village and hamlet
vocal with the sound of redeeming love, and them
selves all things to aE men, that by all means they

19
might save some. Doubtless this was their prac
tice, and much of the success of their ministry was
owing to this fact. Having endeavored to tell you
what is meant by the former, I shall now proceed
to state what I understand by the latter.
The distinction usually drawn between teaching
or preaching publicly, and from house to house, is,
if I mistake not, this : Public preaching, in the
common acceptation, consists in the delivery of
sermons and lectures publicly before the congre
gation from the pulpit, or other place appointed
for that purpose ; which sermons and lectures must,
according to the canon, always be preceded by the
service as set forth in the " Book of Common
Prayer." Teaching or preaching in a more private
way, includes all other means authorized or allow
ed, either by common consent, or the expressed
or implied authority and example of Christ and
his apostles, as set forth in the New Testament.
Some of those which may be mentioned, are the
Bible class, the catechetical lecture, the social
meeting for prayer, and the still more informal
instruction given in our pastoral visits to the fami
lies within our cure. Of the former of these^ the
Bible class, &c, I need not here particularly speak.

20
They are, perhaps, the best adapted means, next
to the public preaching of the Gospel,^ for impart
ing clear and sound religious instruction, especially
to the young in our congregations, and enforcing
on their consciences the precious truths of human
redemption, and the doctrine of human responsi
bility. Through the grace of God, and the influ
ences of his Holy Spirit, they cause the seed sown
in the public preaching of the Word, to germinate,
and exhibit, " first the blade, then the ear, after
that the full corn in the ear." In regard to the
latter, that is, pastoral visits, we may remark, that,
in addition to the advantages above mentioned, we
are enabled to ascertain more accurately the pecu
liar wants and necessities of each, their modes of
thought, their doctrinal sentiments, their hopes
and fears, their sorrows and their joys, and are
better prepared to adapt our instruction to their
particular needs and exigences than we could pos
sibly be without such familiar intercourse.
But allow me to define what I mean by pastoral
visits. It is not the visit of an evening, to spend
an hour or two with a party of gay and thought
less people, who are " lovers of pleasure more than
lovers of God." It is not the formal call of the

21
morning, to reciprocate the fashion and etiquette
of the polite and refined in the higher circles of
society. It is not the visit which we pay, to par
take of the kind hospitalities of a friend. These
are not, in my view, pastoral visits. By pastoral
visits I mean those which we pay in our official
capacity; when we visit the sick or the whole
within our cure, to present to them in the name
of Christ the offer of a Saviour's mercy; to in
struct the ignorant, to comfort the mourner, to
pour the oil of .consolation in the troubled or
wounded conscience, and to press home directly
upon the heart of the careless and indifferent the
awful motives of eternity. But while such visits
are of acknowledged and commanding importance,
and almost indispensable to the success of a minis
ter of Christ, it is not meant to pass sentence of
condemnation indiscriminately upon those others
to which we have adverted. If we are invited to
a feast, the Gospel does not forbid us to go. We
are not inhibited from reciprocating the friendly
visit for social intercourse, or visits of mere eti
quette or fashion. But judgment and discretion
must guide us in these as in other matters, where
expediency is our only rule. For it is a question

22
not as easy of solution, as at first sight might
seem, how far we may indulge in these things and
be innocent. We are told it was a resolution of
the pious Hervey, "never to go into any company
where he could not obtain access for his Master."
And we should at least determine to venture into
no society where we cannot hope, or may not en
deavor, to introduce our Master. Our position
and responsibilities show us the importance of
this. We are to be " a savor of life unto life, or
of death unto death," to our fellow-men ; we are
to lead them to happiness and heaven by our ex
ample and faithfulness ; or we may increase their
misery, and make their perdition more certain, if,
through neglect or cowardice, we fail to discharge
our imperative duties. It becomes us then to
avoid temptation, or whatever does not tend to
edification. We are spiritual builders of a spirit
ual edifice, workmen upon the spiritual temple of
God's holy Zion, and when temptation presses upon
us from the world, or when our own inclinations
or desires would call us off from our work, we
should say, as good old Nehemiah when repairing
the walls of Jerusalem, " I am doing a great work
so that I cannot come down."

23
But the time would fail me to speak of the
many obligations which grow out of , the Divine
commission I have received, and the many duties
you have sent for me to perform. I must in
candor confess, in the very outset, that these obli
gations are so transcendently high and holy, the
responsibilities so weighty and awful, that I have
little hope of being able completely to cancel
them ; and the duties assigned me are so nume
rous, many of them requiring so much judgment
and discretion, that I have but too much reason
to fear I shall very imperfectly perform them.
But in the cancelling of these obligations, and in
the performance of those duties, I shall expect,
and certainly hope to receive, the cordial and
vigorous support and co-operation of this whole
congregation. I must look to you, brethren, for
aid, cheerful and effective aid, in the work to be
performed among us. You have not, I am quite
sure, sent for me to labor alone and single-handed
in this great work, but will feel it to be your duty
and privilege to be. co-workers with me, as it is
mine to be a co-worker with Christ. We there
fore invite you, and in God's name, we bid you to
" come up to the help of the Lord, to . the help of

24
the Lord against the mighty." To the members
of the Vestry especially do we look for friendly
counsel and co-operation in matters pertaining to
the interests of the Church. They can do much
to aid and sustain me in the work to which I have
been called. To the members of the communion,
permit me to say, give us your individual and
collective influence, both by your godly and pious
example, your fervent and importunate prayers ;
and lend your most strenuous efforts, your most
vigorous energies, in promoting the interests of
Christ's kingdom among you. Hold up our hands
in the battle with the powers of darkness. " Pray
for us that the word of God may have free course
and be glorified." " Pray for me, that I may open
my mouth boldly, to make known the mysteries
of the Gospel, that therein I may speak boldly as
I ought to speak."
Having said thus much on our reciprocal duties
and obligations, I shall now bring these remarks
to a close, and in doing so shall endeavor to make
a practical improvement of what has been said.
I have inquired for what intent ye have sent for
me, and considered the supposed response you
have made. I have also stated with as much

25
brevity and clearness aS I found myself able, for
what intent I have come unto you. I must beg
in conclusion to present strongly a few points,
which it may be of importance for us distinctly to
understand, in entering upon this most interesting,
important, and solemn connection.
I remark then, brethren, and I wish it be kept
steadily before your minds, that, in coming among
you as your minister, I come, as before intimated,
as an ambassador for Christ, as the pastor and
shepherd of this whole congregation. I belong
to no party or faction in the Church, if there be
any such, but as a Churchman my services belong,
and shall be given, through Christ, to the Church,
the whole Church, and nothing but the Church.
" For her my tears shall fall,
For her my prayers ascend ;
To her my cares and toils be given
Till toils and cares shall end."
I have no peculiar dogmas to set forth, no novel
or strange notions to maintain. I stand in the
way, and see, and ask for the old paths where is
the good way, and in them I desire humbly but
steadily and perseveringly to walk, for there Ave
may each find rest for our souls. I know not to

26
court the esteem and affection of a people by
adulation and the arts of flattery and obsequious
ness, or by a punctilious regard to the hollow and
heartless refinements practised at courts, or by
candidates for public favor and patronage. But
plainness, and candor, and honesty, must be pre
dominant characteristics in all my intercourse and
public ministry among you. As a preacher " I
come not with excellency of speech or of wisdom,
declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I
determined not to know anything among you," as
the way of life and salvation, "save. Jesus Christ,
and him crucified." The message which Christ
has given me to deliver, I am bound by the most
solemn and awful sanctions to declare, with all
affection and fidelity, as I shall have to answer at
the bar of my Judge ; for " necessity is laid upon
me, yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the
Gospel," in simplicity, sincerity, and faithfulness.
And this message I must deliver with that ability
which God has given me, and thus endeavor " to
commend myself to every man's conscience in the
sight of God." The cross I shall hope to bear as
a good soldier of Jesus Christ, and fulfil the trusts
committed to me as a good steward of the mani-

27
fold grace of God. Both "publicly, and from
house to house," I shall not cease, in my humble
way, to teach and to preach Jesus Christ. And
God of his mercy grant, that I may labor both
faithfully and successfully.
Beloved Brethren : the connection between us,
as pastor and people, becomes interesting and mo
mentous, when we take into consideration the
duties and responsibilities which rest upon each
of us, and the consequences which will assuredly
be suspended upon the fidelity or faithlessness
with which we shall discharge our various and
respective obligations. I look beyond the limits
of our mortal existence, and behold a soul driven
from the presence of its God, and the glory of his
power, to be shut up in the restless agonies of the
second death, through my neglect to warn that
soul to flee from the wrath to come, and shudder
ing, I start back at the awful spectacle, and ask
myself, how can I dare to be unfaithful 1 I glance
my eye at the judgment bar, where pastor and
people shall have met to hear their final doom,
and I see there the minister of Jesus to whom
was committed so high an office, so great a respon
sibility, with the command to be faithful; I see

28
him covered with shame and confusion of face
because he proved recreant to the trusts committed
to him, preached another Gospel, which is not
another, and thus destroyed souls for whom Christ
died ; and in horror and trembling I cry, Lord,
help me and strengthen me, lest I also come into
the same condemnation. On the other hand, I
behold a people who had been exalted to heaven
with Gospel privileges and mercies, disowned of
heaven, banished from glory, because they were
ashamed of Jesus, and put far away from them
the overtures of grace and pardon, and I am con
strained to cry aloud, and lift up my voice like a
trumpet, to show them the height of their trans
gressions and the enormity of their sins. No
requiem shall be chanted by a devoted people
over the slumbering ashes of an unfaithful minis
ter ; no shouts of angels to meet and to welcome
a dead and heartless people, who withheld their
influence and support from the cause of Christ
and the Church. But when I look forward to
that eternity which will soon throw back its ever
lasting gates to receive the ransomed and re
deemed, and behold a faithful pastor welcomed to
the throne of Jehovah by a convoy of angels,

29
wearing his immortal diadem of glory, with many
souls given him as gems to be set in his crown of
rejoicing, as having been saved through his instru
mentality ; oh, my heart rebounds within me, and
my bosom glows with zeal and ardor, and I go
forward, constrained by the love of Christ, to
preach peace and salvation to those whom Christ
died to save. Come, then, brethren, let us encou
rage one another in the great work which our
Master and Head has given us to do. Let us
place before our minds a wrecked and ruined
world ; a bleeding and beseeching Saviour ; a
heaven of unending glory, a hell of inconceivable
misery ; and let us each ask ourselves, what can
we do to gather trophies to redeeming love'?
Gird on the whole armor of God, and go forth
conquering and to conquer, till victory shall be
achieved over sin and Satan by many a precious
soul saved through your instrumentality and mine.
Then the sower and the reaper shall rejoice toge
ther, for God, even our own God, has given us
his blessing.