The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-10


fact that although he died among strangers he enjoyed
all the medical and other attendance that could be be-
slowed.
Religious Intelligence.
SERMON By THE REV. JOHN SINCLAIR, ARcHDEACON
OF MIDDLEsEx, ENGLAND.
Yesterday morning the Rev. John Sinclair Archdeacon
of MddIesex, England, who is in this city mem
Der of the delegation sent from England by the Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel belonging to the Episcopal
Church in that country to the American Board of Foreign
Missions of the religious denomination, preached
discourse in St. Pauls Episcopal Church.
The following the text, Goth psalm, 9th verse;
Lord have loved the habitaton of thy house. and
the place where thine honor dweeth.
The pious sentiment here expressed is far from being
general among those who call themselves Christians
as it ought be- 1t is evident from the words of the
text that the Psamist David in going TO the house Of
God PEI forming formal ceremony but that
his heart and soul absorbed 10 the holy work. He
loved the habitston of Gods house. very natural
question here arises namely ho far Christians sympa
thse with the holy David When consider the urgency
with which God enoins to preserve his ordinah ces
should not expect to see them neglected in Christian
land but have to fear that the greater part OF
the population here well elsewhere do not in general
attend sufficiently to them Of those who do tend to
his religious ordinances, how many absent themselves in
mind that their bodily presence is of Importance,
eyncing disposition opposite to that OF David which in
pressed by them their devotions This distase for
hgous orcna arises from the corruption of human
and its alienation from God In the Of public
ship there is great prevailing ignoran among the
uneducatee dupe but it is not confined to them Alone
for from whom better things might be expected
quite unacquai ated with the liturgy Of the Church. 1t is
much be regretted that there is not done the
part Of class afford instruction. and the other to
receive it. Although the text refers to congregational
worship, shall confne myself that alone but In
cude among TIE ordinances Of God mediation heavenly
things the reading of Gods holy word and private prayer
Again. observe His religious ordinan when l draw
in fat tn he "A
blessed gifts. Having remarked On the reluctance OF
mankind observe religious ordinances will now advert
10 the motive that should induce to attend to
this indispensable duty With reference to God HIMSELF
taught by the light of nature to hold communion
with him, and if the inquiry into the phenomena Of ma
tura science il ennobing pursuit. how much greater
is the contemplation of him in whom all the submity of
present. oniscent and able to attend to ca III individual
object Of his But not left unaidcd to the In
ferences Of alone, for He encourages exhorts
and commands to approach him, declaring that
He Is ready to hear The promise of oar Lord is
to the same effect where two three gathered to-
gether in my name there will be in the midst OF them"
We have therefore, mediator and advocate to plead
for and much good considered Of prayer that it
is made the condition of obtaining what we ask io as
permitted Spproach God, the eternal King, and the
commandment to pray proceeds from an authority indis
pu,ab and neglect doing the extreme of folly and
stubbornness He is not only Creator but our bene
factor and Redeemer. In the instance of human bene
factor avoid him. to keep aoo from Him. to be indifer
ent towards Him. and to be without that kindly feeling Of
loving to be in His presence would expose to the re-
proach Of selshness and ngratitude So is with Cod
unhankul selfish spirit shows itself in the impious
sentiment-depart from for wish not the knowledge
Of Thy principles. To mind rightly constituted it is
delightful join in the devout ejaculation of the Psalm
ist " And / have loved the habtaton of thy
house, and the place where thine honor dwelleth."
we viii resnt to
from interference by prayer in his behalf The fer
vent prayer Of righteous man. says St. James, avaeth
pious parents for their children ST. Paul. in Of his
Epistles mentions several friends of whom he made men
to pay for ali as does also our blessed Lord
who enons pray for those who reve and prosecute
you. The great advantage to our neighbor from our
in his behalf il the bessng Of Cod but he also
gamer by example There is necessity, however,
for Pharsaical display Our devotions should not be
injunction of the Lord-''To pray in secret" At the
time neighbor, when he finds that we are given
to prayer, may be disposed to inquire why he should
debar himself from the enjoyment and forego
qualification ennoblng in itself-why he should be
esranged this we are-why he also should not put
blessed when the highest blessings Of all may be secured
In the of public worship, example is most bene
fetal here il must exert influence for good for evil
BY this give par ular evidence whether worship God
not and its influence will be felt according to our work
and intelligence. Even the poorest and NEST obscure
Is not entitled to say, 1t Is indifferent to
my neighbor whether go to the house of God or not
hurt one but myself" This excuse would do more
mischief than is supposed It dpenses the poor from
hearing the wsrd of God and leaves the rich only
all the advantages Of this world but the prospects Of
another The opinions and habits Of every nation are
poor how much does the rich man sin against his
neghbor BY neglecting the religious ordinances susp
cions aroused that nothing gained by public worship
and such evil surmises produce baaeful effect The
spirit of detection becomes contagious other worshppers
fall OIL and is difficult to describe the blight that may
overspread whole parishes and neghborhoods from the
bad example of those renowned for rank, genius
learning. But to give good example Is not the
ship it is Likewise 10 be attended for our
own sake. If allow it to be supposed that
It Is only for decent example, the idea Of whole
tim npct In Ia ma
another, IL would be absurd 1t must be vel understood
that the emily is met together for nautua benefit
together for their private benefit so 1t the
same in the house of God. IT. throughout the whole
length and breadth Of this Christian land II in all the
parishes Of this great republic the great body of the peo
pie TO be SMILED together morning and evening
in the sincere, devout, and humble spirit to which
ltugry gives uterance, would be difficult to express
the blessings and spiritual that would be poured
forth upon II is solemn inquiry how far each
Of you has promoted hndsred glorious consumma
ton.
Let us consider those motives that have in1u-
upon ourselves BY public and private prayer evils
things obtained Not only the observance Of religious
ordinances needfu to be able to have taste for them,
tut devotional habits and feelings necessary to render
suitable for the enjoyments of heaven
Like us, it Ia said &c Enoch, who walked
with God upon earth, and God carried him up to
heaven without seeing dealt Our Lord Is example
ofhshe attended constantly the worshp and ordinances
the synagogue mstanced In the Feast Of the Pass
over let there be in you the same mind as in Christ
Jesus whose disciples followed ia the footsteps OF their
Master and incucated the necessity Of the obligations OF
prayer in their exhortations any feels dislike
for prayer he cannot be 1T for failure state Of blessed
II may be his intention TO repent and to be
oed TO God before he Dies but he does not appreciate
the alarming difficulty Of fulhng that intention No
doubt upon his deabed he win be conscience stricken
and dismayed ready 10 promise everything; he win cry
earnestly Tor mercy and engage in the event Of recovery
10 attend his religious ordinances public and private
hut this dread Of punishment Is mot love for God II does
not imply sympathy with the dcyout feeling expressed by
the Psaiunist dying man may sec the necessity Of
such thing, but II does not spring from the heart the