New-York daily tribune., 1858-03-31
SERMON BY THE REV. DIR. SPRING.

The Rev. DIR. SPRING (Od-SchOo Presbyterian
preached sermon yesterday afternoon, to large con-
gTegation in the Presbyterian Church in Grand street.
Hs telt was the passage in the 18th chspter OF Prov
elbs "The spirit of man sust aims his infrmties, but
O. wounded spirit who can bear ~
He said that men OF strong will sometimes
crushed by vast load OF outward Calamity; but IN a
good cause good will endure trials even
where bonds and Affections combine he can say with
Saul "NOne of these things move me. But when
the mind becomes discouraged his energy ls lost ana
the strong will is subdued and he becomes either
oowardly deselter from duty the victim of despair.
lie announced as his subject, " The cause and cure
OF a wounded spirit There are times when de-
preston ard trials are common to every one. " Man
" is born 20 trouble az the sparks fly upward Sick
ness poverty and death, and the gloomy grave, are
bitter things that the heart to grow faint II
was when God pped Job of his earthly possessions
and al other comforts that he cursed the day OF ms
birth and his friends could not restrain his grief
"y:ll complain" he says "in the bitterness OF my
soul The prophet jeremiah displayed the same
weakness. David was also desp9ndent, ana almost
hopeless at Zines. They sank under the burden oil a
wO, nded spirit. There not wanting good men ID
fee the p6ngs of wouaded spirit in view OF their
SINS lnd the fact Of their being good men make;
them more sensitive. David, though ne occupied
the tn one and the love of great nation
felt the srrIOws Of a wounded spirit. So with Peter,
whO in a moment of unaccountable rashness, denied
his LNrd Ii is no wonder that when Jesus O0ke1 on
him he went out and wept bitterly. Judas l.carot az
that nome Mt not 20 miserable man as Peter
There is another class of persons who are not stran-
gers o ths pangs of wounded spirit; those VINO nave
never bnoWn what it is to feel confidence In Goa ana
His mercy. The man OF vicious habits Is not happy
man: his very wickedness embsrrasses him.. LOOK
at Nshab frettiDg himself sick iof the vineyard
OF Nsboib. Look al Judas who hung himself %nen ne
saw his Lord was TO be cruched Oi all the burdens
IL tie word the heaviest - wounded spirit we
need 20 further evidence that God is against US, 1t our
cor science IS against us.
Nor a,e the mos. wicked alone liable to this delec-
-, . ~ 40 ghn
never been guilty of any gross violation OF the moral
Law has made the discovery that he Is Srea sinner
He feels there is fearful account between him ana
Lis mastel lie sees that he has made light oil the
claims of his God. Tie principal cause OF wounded
spirit is a conscience hardened with sin and tremoung
with apprehension OF Gods di.peasure. On the dark
things OF the past Men Can endure pain but not a
burc ned con, cenCe lie feels that this burden may
last fo evcr. This is wounded spirit whchihe can
J OF tesg
be csnnot resist it, and be cannot lure It, What
shall he 90! This brings TO the second part OF our
cscourse, which brings us to the cure OF wounded
sDir;t IL is Coo work TO show the sinner ts WICK
.dness which makes the wounded spirit, and blessed
he Ills name il is His work to provide the cure. No
mau feels his need of healing TIL he ieeIs tha' ne Is
lost without the great Healer e.,.;.
A wounded spirit cannot be got rid OF by making
TgLt Of Il; Nothing is more unwise than t. tell man
under the burden OF sin that he IS as good as MS
neighbor and that there Is no need OF th.s SeNe'c
distress This haste and preturbaton; to ten man
who feels be deserves to perish that1t Is al
Ycu may just as well tell dying man ct fame heat9
aud pleasure This is not remedy i)r Modh1ei l
spirit which conscience viii receive Instead OF max
ing light Of it, his wounds must be probed To the
qsick. -. ..-, ,....,..o o.,o
turos. The man feels the terrible burden on his mind
10 f.e's MS lost condition his friends cannot help
him sad Is the lot Of that man who looks u the arm
OF man ior help 49,, W. =,
nfa wouuded spirit is ia the sovereign, nmsa'urable
,,sce - God reigning ard aboundiug through HIS
Cos se.s the burdene0 sinner venturlng to look
..S ard there is 10 irowp upon the Fatner : face
X 20 greet his return, aud the only words lie
- &c words of ioy. 81 with the lost steep the
- aLepberd goes alter him and brings INN baiA To
.he fold. r:o, ., vain aud be
49,. IN DESPAIR az his lost cOnditioo. Just al
this time the Great Shepherd hnaS hh, taAes ul, ou
- ne nit and sets his feet upon foeA am P-'s
new .6,g tito hls mouth An si-suicien' os'coi - IS
provided for the sinner. Inc oavLoi %! yu,o
:. you -e,t Again lie says, Him teat cojetn
cn,o me- will in nowise cast out ms Is 'le
o1Iy Fgbt that shines on the wold-taere - forgive
Lees IN God.
There is another thought that If this view does moi
NEE: the case OF the despondent ii must he because
they do rot see II 81 II - % are not "'"s ~ ~
A Gracious God is able TO give the convincing
toyer OF His spri' a. lie TO seDc this son 70 s9e1
His blood !or tue sinners falvaon' andtLis The oHy
here. He alone eau take away jour heat oi stone
aud give yol heart Of flesh.
Dc ycu ask NE no" this Is TO appsy 10 your case
caL ,n'ytay, oh, that you would ask Hcn. DOGS
ms world ,ook dark to you Ase yOn alarmed
Are ytu received 10 iorsske your sim Are yea ssn'
sale & ,Our lost condtion Tsis is scetnn ori-i'
10 TIE vi tory If mae, whtn his thoughts A." dfa"n
- - !" -. ~ ;;,t Chs-i,b these ccuyiciious Ct