The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-25
THE MODEL CHARACTER.
A Sermon Delivered Last Evening by
tho Rev. DIR. BOmberger, at the Rev.
AlbeKt Bnrnes' Church.

Sermon Delivered Last Evening by
tho Rev. DIR. BOmberger. at the Rev.
Albert Barnes Church.
SPECIAL REPORT FOR EVENING TELEGRAPH.l
Last evening, by request of the Young Mems
Christian Association, DR.. Bomberger de-
livered an eloquent sermon on ''The Model
Character at the Rev. Albert Barnes Church,
onSouth Washington Square. He took tor his
text the 49th verse of the I'd chapter of Luke,
reading as follows:-
"wist ye not that 1 must be about my Fathers
business.
Among the many bright examples of moral
excellence furnished by the Sacred Scriptures,
Incompatible preeminence belongs to that of
the Lord Jesus Christ And this superiority
pertains TO every period OF His life on earth,
from his early human childhood through that
of tender youth, down to His propltiatory passion
on the cross. 1t presents heavenly model,
therefore, not only for those engaged in the
more earnest work of maturer years, as is
doubtless too commonly supposed, but it sup
plies a divine pattern for children also, and
especially tor that period OF life when the foun-
dations of human character are laid-laid either
in the decetfu sand of worldly maxims and
policy, or upon the Rock OF eternal love and
Truth and righteousness which is supplied in
Jesus Christ.
That He is thus offered to us in the Word of
God we have sufficient evidence in the text.
Here He stands forth to view as youth. The
incident in connection with which the inquiry
is recorded is, indeed, the only authentic and
Trustworthy revelationIof His youthful char
acter, but is quite sufficient to afford a lesson
worthy of the devout study of every young
man and woman, and an example deserving of
their closest imitation. Allow me, then, to
hold up this model to your view tonight, and
to have your earnest believing attention, whilst
l endeaVor to set forth its claims to your con-
stsnt meditation, and to designate some of the
| leading points in which you should seek to
initiate it in your lite. RsssBH
We underrate the excellence of the example
of praiseworthy youth OF any age or station in
lite. Study those examples closely, and admire
| them as they deserve. Remember they enjoyed
no superiority over yourselves in my respect
| which rendered it easier for them to fear God
! and do good, and you may initiate, and even
excel their virtues. Like Abel begin in your
| youth to offer unto God the living sacrifice of
your body ike Enoch, start out in life by walk
ing with God in flial plety and selfdenying
! obedience TO your heavenly Father. Like
! Moses, when Fsurrounded by the enticing
! pleasures of Pharaohs court you may turn
! from the allurements OF worldly luxury and
glory, and choose rather to suffer atlliction with
! the people of Cod than to enjoy the pleasures Of
Why walk by the light of candles when we
! may walk by the sun OF light, the Lord 6Jesus?
! Yes, look upon and be guided by Him. Christ
| the youth listening in the temple to the words
of its teachers, and earnestly seeking know
| ledge of the life, and even then declaring His
consciousness of His glorious mission
| You may have been too accustomed to looking
upon Jesus with feelings only OF awe and tear
but we should also copy alter His matchless eX-
ample, and although we may tail in reaching
up to Him, yet we may approach.
| If adult professors followers of Christ, should
strive to pattern after the virtues displayed
during His public ministry, why should you
hesitate to make Him, youth OF twelve years
| your example. ENeoA
The strong Divine foundation upon which
| His character as man was building, was his
full surrender of Himself, soul and body, to the
| conviction Of having holy, heavenly mission
| fn f11lG and is iDCt
| with all the acquisitions oil that mission Know,
| love, and yield yourselves uDto God as your
| Father!" is His command. Good resolutions
may avail for a season, just as plucked hoWers
| and fruits may be kept for brief season though
| without a root. Thus the pledges and VOWS OF
an outward profession will not last What Is
| wanted is thorough planting OF the roofs OF
| the tree of life in our moral nature.
Grace can do what mere nature attempts III
| vain. He that in the beginning laid the toun-
dations of mans moral lie in truth anu Dou
ness, can restore him to that foundation again.
God can reach and reCtfy the perverted centre
| OF your souls being so as to give you iresn
| start, and under all the advantages OF the
| Fospel dispensation He can reconcile the
| hearts of sinners to Himself, reinstate them III
| his love- and so regenerate them that tpey
| become "partakeTs OF the Divine nature" as 81.
| Peter sayeth,. and animated with new impulses
| and affections. tod
| to the Lord, baptized in the faith and hope ana
| lite OF God in Christ; let us hope you are re-
| solved to follow the holy pattern Jesus sels IoI
| ou,gand like Him say, II must be about my
| Fathers business" .,
| Who OF you can be at loss to know what you
| should do, with your own heart and conscience
| to tell you, with living Church to tell youl,
| with the Holy Scriptures TO tell you, ana WIN
| the blessed Spirit to confirm 1t all, oY oeaTIlng
| it home directly to your soul! At loss
| what to do when you have a soul to save
| At a loss what to do in world OF SIN ana
and bene6cence every hour, and the bright
| example of Jesus Christ is to illumine the pain
to righteousness Choose the heavenly ann
the noblest of all MISSIONS and your lte WIN WIN
| not have been spent in VAN. We often deplore
the breyity and uncertainty of life, and Why
should we waste ite most precious daysF "he
that saveth his life shall lose it," and we cannoS
too soon consecrate ourselves to our Goa anu
Saviour.
| .Ernsa PHILADELPHIA SURGEON
| - O6kzY RANDAGE INSTITUTE, No. u