, 1860-03-10

with exceeding sorrow-1opging to see every
child and youth in the Church in actual, COLI
stant connection viii, blessings which mn per-
fcctly convinced could elsewhere never be sup.
piled. would entrcat Christian parents to feel
and to consider rightly upon this subject; and
while in their prayers mad efforts at home and
secret they seek for the chest spiritual vel
fare OF their children, to perceive and acknonl-
edge how blessed and valuable is that helpful
agency which the good providence Of God has
prepared for their uid aud success in tue Sun
day School,"
Fnox HExn1 WAND DEEcurn's LAST SERMON
do you suppose that religion is like bird in
cage, and that you Gun lock it up in thechurch
and that the keeper will take care Of it, and feed
1t, and hare it ready to sing for you Whenever
youclsoose to come here and list: to it? Is that
your idea Of religionx Very well, then; your
translatons! But II your idea Of religion is this:
that it is the establishment in the soul Of the re-
allty Of lore, in its broadest and most compre-
hensiye scnse-that it is the establishment in
the soul Of lore Us dispositional and abiding
state, which controls mans whole life, sending
its influence through every day and hour, rs the
heart sends its blooe tingliug to the uttermost
parts of the bod y-thcn you will see how men
get goods and lose it. ..... look nj the
life and disposition Of these men who CRY for
the lullaby fl0ve, in the family, in the store
il a1l departments Of their life, and find TINT
/
preach on that doctrine Of Gods morul govern
ment. But If werc to 70 to them at their pluc-
cs ofbusiness, and sag, II understand that you
take advantage Of the circumstances Of your
workmen, aud employ them at one.quarter Of
what they ought TO hare, so that they can
scarcely subs,st on what you pay them; and as
you wanted me to preach about lore, thought
would come and tell you what the doctrine
OF lore is as applied to matters Of this kind"
they would say, Religion is religion, and bns-
mess is business. Go home and when want you
TO come to my ahop aud preach to mt, will let
you" In other words, they want sermon love.
poetic lore, tLcoretlc lore, love that makes them
feel good during the insurance day-for Sunday
is the insurance day Of theweek! And ther want
ME to talk Of love because it supdus their fears,
soothes their hearts,. and makes them feel
pleasant. But there is way in which they do
The pulpit. They do not want ii preached as a
rod of iron, that says, IL am sovereign and |
supreme; 1 stand in you for all; and in the |
name Of God l command that every part Of |
your being-your thoughts, your feelings, md t
your factions-shall be subordinate to me-"
they do no. like it. They like to hare it rre-
scented SO Us to allow them to hare their own |
way, and so as to quiet their csnsciencein in their
se!usn coafces Dear brethren,
you arc not born again because you hare chang
ed your name,. because you call yourselves |
CHRISTIANS, or because you have united your
selves to an ecclesiastical organization. ''1f any |
man hare not the spirit Of Christ, be is none Of |
his" And when you come to the gate Of Aeav-
en-, you may he sure, if you knock, and say,
e Lord, Lord, open unto mt" that you will not |
get in. 4 man that is tit to 70 in, always goes up
without dreaming that God will not let him in. |
He expects to find The gate open. He walks in /
as naturally as child, when hurt, runs into its |
mothers arms. And if you arc SO devoid Of |
love that you go with formalities, and ask ad-
admttance, you are not fitted to 60 in; fer tile
sacred familiarity Of ii true Christian with God,
and Heaven, and holy affections aud thoughts,
m irreristable attraction and quick
er than an arrow shot from u strong bow will
The soul Of such M one 60 into the Divine pres.
ence.