Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-11-27

REV. Mr.. JONES preached very able and ele-
quent discourse, at the First Baptist Church, the
three societies uniting in attendance there. The
reverend gentleman took his text from Isaiah 40.
3l-"But they that wait upon the Lord shall
renew their strength"
The golden fortunes Of the quacks and their
palatisl residences, in the Fifth Avenue of the
metropolis of our country, said Mr. JONES' attest
that there is no difficulty in convincing men Of
their bodily weaknesses, and need of restoration
but to convince man that his spiritual functions
are abnormal, that his moral habits exhibit symp-
toms of disease, is work of great difficulty and
often utterly impossible.
The text assumes the spiritual decension of
the church, and contains the prescription for the
disease
l. The symptoms at spiritual weakness or de-
clension were pointed ont; and
H. 1t was shown that the voluntary and
hearty service of God is the divinely appointed
remedy for spiritual declension.
Under the first head the following we're enn.
merated as symptoms of spiritual disease:
l. The lOathing of spiritual alinpent. As the
healthy man hungers FOR food, the spiritual man
hungers for the truths Of the Gospel, To loathe
food or truth is sign Of disease-the one of
body, the other of the soul. Nothing diminish.
ss the motive power of the steam engine more
rapidly or eFectually than to put out the fires.
2. Another symptom of spiritual declenson is
that our spiritual privileges do as no good. This
class of Christians embraces the moral dyspep-
tics, whose religious privileges result in spiritual
emaciation.
3. A symptom like the lost, but more fa1al-a
aoant Of judgment in the selection Of spiritual food
Such persons listen with about equal pleasure to
the doctrine of Christ and the doctrine of devils;
without being able to distinguish the one from
the other. The pills which the devil administers
to Christians are all sugar coated. The robes of
an angel Of light thrown over Satan leave him
Satan still. 1t is not the bridal robe that makes
the bride, or the shroud that makes the corpse
not the words that make the doctrine, but the
meaning clothed by the words.
4. That state of the soul aoh,eh demands TO be
constantly stimulated is a dangerous symptom
Men become dissatisfied with the tameness of
principle, the dull monotony of the ordinary
means OF grace, and want something more ex.
citing. Their religion is not like a river, but
like cataract. They prefer the hailstones to
the dew, the whirlwind to the zephyr.
8. A final symptom, the opposite Of the last. is
that in which opiates required. Some Christ.
ians demand to be constantly soothed, and thus
employ all the church, as one obstinate child
will sometimes employ a whole family in keeping
it quiet.
III. The divine remedy for the disease indicated
by the above symptoms is the voluntary and
hearty seroice Of God.
Mr.. Jones proceeded to consider this branch
Of his subject under six different heads. a full
report of which we have but want of space for
bids further extended abstract of this excellent
discourse. He summed up by saying, in conclu
sion, that If these principles be sound. the
churches have only to return to the old maths,
begin once more at the cross, follow the practice
Of the Apostles, and trust to the preaching Of
Christ cruc6ed, and they will renew their
strength. II this will not do it, artificial appli
anoes will uot stimulate them into healthy action.
or any Of the improved processes Of promoting
revivals gGfUdnt@e them into life. The minister
Of Christ may hope for success by the faithful
preaching Of the simple Gospel. The seed is
good. 1t is from God own garner. Some NAV
fall by the wayslde, some on the rocks, some
among thorns, but some will fall on good ground,
and, though he wait long for the blade, the ear,
and the sheaf, we will see the angel reapers bear
home at last hundred fold.
eTh)u not toll in vain;
Cold, hot and moist and dry
Shall foster aud mature the grais,
for gamers In the sky"