Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-04-29


TuE GROUND AND OBJECT OF HoPE FOR
MANKINp.-From sermons preached before
the University of Cambridge, in November
1867. by Rev F. d. Maurice, NJ. \. Pro-
fcssor of Moral Philosophy in the University
of Cambridge, Boston; William V. Spencer,
1865.
This Is neat volume of 81 pages, con-
tanning sermons on the following subjects
The Hope of the Missionary; The Hope of
the Patriot; The Hope of the Churchman
The Hope of the Man The discourses are
well worth preserving. They breathe an
earnest christian spirit. and are animate
with loving zeal for saving the world.
The discourse on :. The Hope of the Man. -
concludes with this invitation to hope
So we come to that other struggle, which
is the one am specially concerned with in
these sermons, the struggle 10 hope. That,
too. Will he very hard. that must be repeated
dav by day. Spirits of cowardice. of self
Indulgence will he about Us every day
whispering to Us the manifold arguments
which there against hope Why
should you work What good is to come of
it all Why should YOU believe? What
have YOU u believe in? Why should you
look t. be happy? Does it not seem as if
all these multltudes were born to be misera-
ble?'
The last is the point at which we should
begin our answer u these suggestions. You
ask me what title can make out to happi-
ness? None. You ask me how can prove
myself better than the suffering multitude ?
] I eaD 14f,ar +. STsl 1s-tt,fS mo tbaD
what | have 10 believe in? | answer. in
Him who created all these myriads and me !:
in him who has redeemed these mvriads and
me; in him who works, even in me. by his
Spirit. to care for these as we'll as for myself
| believe in him who brings the light out of
darkness every morning. who causes his sun
to shine on the just and on the unjust, on
the good and on the evil. You ask me what
+ is the good OF work? | answer, if this is
my belief, am bound also to believe that
every work. from the beginning of the uni
verse until now, has been in some way or
other for the manifestation of the glory of
him who created it. | am bound 70 believe
that no work of the hands, work of the
brain. has been useless. Every student OF
nature, of history. of language, of the
world without or of the world within, so far
as he is faithful. 30 far he suffers ne
preudices OF his own. to interfere with his
search for truth in his own direction. must
be a minister of God. one who is contributing
in some way to the manifestation of his
glory. Every man who is toiling honestly
in the field or ut the loom, must be con
tributing 10 the manifestation of his glory
IF any are unfaithful or dishonest, he will
accomplish his purpose but it is our privi-
lege. III we will. TO enter into his purpose
to be tellow-workers with him. And every
one who claimS that privilege must cherish
hope,-must treat as devils and powers OF
darkness all that would tempt him to despair
Specially, my friends, must those who call
themselves by the name of Christ's ministers
who have taken upon them the awful respon
sibility of preaching his gospel, cultivate thi:
hope. They know, all too well, what the
temptations are TO abandon it. They may
often see Il bottomless pit of atheism opening
at their feet nearer to them than to al
others, ready To swallow them and the uni
verse. Hope, therefore. becomes to then
not pleasant luxury. but an intense neces
!, sity. They are sent to proclaim atone
ment OF heaven with earth, of God will
men. They arc to testify of blood wbicl
cleanseth from all sin.-of divine Spiri
who guides to all good. We must reduc,
these messages 10 our own measures W,
| must explain them away if we may not hop,
for the complete triumph of good over evil
OF lie over DEATH W c nave no heart o.
energy in ourselves to anticipate such tri
umph. All that we see mocks us when W
dream of it. Our refuge must be in tn
hope of that which we see not-in the Go'
of hope. If we believe that his love wa
manifested in Christ. that all the hatred o
| men contended against it, and that it pre-
vailed, we dare not lose hold of this hope. o
this God. The language of st. Paul and Q
t St. John may stretch beyond all that Cal
1 ask think, but we have no right to use ii
We may be confident that every enemy @
| Christ shall be put under his feet. We dar
r not reject the divine promise that ever
creature which is in the heaven. and on tn
, earth, and under the earth, and in the sea
and all that in them, shall be heard say
ing, Blessing and honor and power and glor
| be unto Him that stitch upon the throne
and to the Lamb forever and ever.
TuE CROOK SrHAIGHrENED. One of the Cees
: stories. Boston, William V. spencer
= This is the third story of this series, I'll
IL; L.