The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-22 00:00:00

THE BISHOP OP RIPON's SERMON.

The praise f the Bishop of Ripon is in everybody's
mouth, hi, Lordship having done much to assuage the
distress. He had a hard day work on Sunday. having
preached three sermons, and assisted in the burial of
some of the colliers. The following is the conclusion
of his Lordship's sermon at Si. Mary's Church, on
Sunday morning :-
--

Oh, that under the 101 r muhnpreestons occasioned by that
startling dispensation of divine Providence which has oc-
curred during the put week. many among us mieht be led
seriously to consider and ti-k, "What shall Idoto be saved?'
This is neither the time nor the place to dwelt upon the
aecondary causes of the event which has been accompanied
with such leer/hi loss of lile. On his day, and in this sacred
place, one thouitht only with rsgard to that event should
he present to our minds It is the hand of OA. It has
come in the course 010 d'e Providence. It has corns with •
startling lesson to everyone among us—a lesson as to the
precarious tenure by which we hold our earthly possessions,
a le-son as to the uncertainty of life, as to the suddenness
With which at any moment we might he called into eternity.
Oh, how hit's§ oid these men and Imps think, astie; went
cheerily forth t their dilly within um morning, that within
a very few house they would be In eternity, and face to ftn,,e
with ti sir Creator ! My friends, let us to whom God In Ilis
Providence has unt the lesson, use it for a spiritual per.
pose. Let each of net ask ourselves the grierl et, ‘• Ain I
prepared to ale? lilt had hose my lot to be eummoneri thus
qtd, kly Into eternity, should I have been safe in the keening
of mr Redeemer?" Oh, while there is sloe, while there
is opportunity, seek Him whi e be may be found, call
urn HIM while He is near. N..r let us forget eaineetly to
prey for tho.e bereaved f unites, for those sorrowing widows
and orphans, fronorhom din Ills Provid, c has been
pleued thus to tale away their earthly stay and supoort.
I doubt not for a siniee moment that the band of pubile
Shari?; wilt. so far nit is possible, rotnitrer to their temporal
wale, that all that li'o.nu spmpathy c in do to alleviate their
biter 2.1,0 W 1•111 undoubtedly be ions; but, after alt,
when piii.lic bevies, hence has donate u•nirett, when C omelets
Sympathy rwi done all in Ile power, still there will remain •
dark shadow of erlef which no earthly hand ran rem no.
Go i bra press tit help for them ; Gad is the refuge In times
old Let us tray on hehalf of these des ilate homes,
for these bereaved widows and orphans, that the Gad and
Father of all comfort, tart Comforter of at, c sr-down, the
Friend of the friendless, he Helper of all that need a refuge.
of all that fly to him for slimmer, msy indeed Onto them a
very pre sot help in trouble, an i bind up r very Moho n
heart, soothe every 1101111111111 spirit, and grant them, by
the wonders of Ws arose, out of this h t,:er sorrow to desire
spiritual consolation. Oa, tin, it may be Mee° 0 many an
Or.C.liiti of thrir turning I, the Lord, that he, cefortb they
may live for ternity, and rea i.e all the fulness of the
blessing of our Lord's words, Ile that Huth and bet ereth
It. me shall never die."

C Iltictions were trade after each sermon in aid of
the fund which will be raised on behalf of the relatives
of the sufferers by the explosion.
We select the following interesting particulars from
various source.:—