The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-09-13

Holy Ghost; whosocyer sins ye remit the,
are RENTED unto them, and whosoeycr ain,
ye retain they are retalaod." But Thomas
one OF the twelve, was not present wher
Jesus came.
The special subject Of the discourse was
First, the absence Of Thomas and Its conse
quences. We can only conjecture the proba
pie cause OF Thomas absence, just as we art
len to conjecture the cause Of other alb
sentees. great disappointment had faller
upon all the disciples. They saw their Lord
cruciaed and buried. It may be fair to So,
that their hope was extlnguished, and naugh
but faith remained. And when they now as
semblcd at their accustomed place Of meeting
their hearts were sorrowful. II was theii
regular meeting for consultation and prayer
no special notice was required Thomal
knew his brother disciples would be In theil
places, but as the time drew near he felt him
self less aud less inclined 10 direct his step
TO the appointed place Of prayer. There was
likely, no deliberate purpose or predetermlna
ton not to go, and II Thomas himself hat
been interrogated, he would likely have beer
at loss to frame definite reason for hi
absence; but by his absence, he lost much
| good and gained much evil. These were the
consequences, both negative and positive.
LIST. Consequence In the loss OF good
Jesus stood In the midst and said peace be
unto YOU" II was a fulilment Of that
promise, land We must never forget that
Christ himself is bound by q promise, }
my name, there am In the midst OF them
They had restored TO them that presence OF
which they had supposed the grave had for.
ever robbed them. Their faith had but this
promise TO cling to-"After three days I will
rise again." Reason was against II, but
they remembered the commandment, "Tarry
ye at Jerusalem until ye be endowed with
power from on high" and SO they assembled
not knowing what II meant or how he would
commemorate the gin. And as they watched
and waited and made supplication, "came
Jesus and stood In the midst OF them, and
said peace be unto YOU"
reason what 1t may, missed the presence and
blessing OF the Master. 1t might be much
to miss other opportunities the course oil
ones life; the face OF a long gone friend,
the dying kiss of a father or mother or other
dear ones; but TO have missed the first pub.
lie return of the cruciacd, and to let slip by
neglect the sweet breathings Of peace by
those adored and loving lips, was lifelong
regret and never-ccasing source Of perpetual
upbraidings.
The conclusion VIC draw from the entire
ssbject, as portrayed In the discourse OF this
eloquent divine, Is that every neglect Of
social congregation IN the Church of Christ, IN
her established means Of grace, Is he loss Of d
spiritual opportunity, whose consequences
must be felt 10 both the experience and life
OF the individual. Christians, resolve, then,
that over your good name the record shall
never again be madc-dbseIt; for ye who
would not have Christ absent when you
need him had better sec to II that you arc
present when he needs you.
CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
This new church society assembled for is
first service Yesterday morning In the library
room Of the Young Mems Christian Associa.
ton. The regular opening OF the church,
however, takes place In the main hall Of the
same building next Sabbath morning. 1t was
announced that the seats would be entirely
free to all, as the society had determined TO
try the experiment Of free seats and volun-
tary support Of the gospel.
The sermon this morning, by the pastor,
DR.. Boynton, was from the text: go We into
all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature" The discourse throughout was
an Illustration Of the duties of the Christian
soldier by reference to the various require
meuts Of military officers, and the daily life
OF soldier In an active campaign. The
scenes thus presented made deep impress
sion upon the audience, and the application
to the enlistment OF q church under the Cos
pei banner was very forcible.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The services at this church were interest
Ing and impressive. Amer an invocation to
the Almighty, "How Beauteous are their
Feet" was sung by the choir. While the
usual contribution was being taken up, Mrs.
Butts sang a sacred piece. Rev. j. Ii. Beck
with then preached an able discourse from the
Doth Psalms; "For thousand years in Thy
sight are but as yesterday when 1t Is past,
aud as q watch In the night" He COM
menced by contrasting the numerical calcu-
lations OF time from units to millions. A
million or thousand millions are as nothing
In the scale OF lasting being. We cannot
calculate eternity from anything Of this
kind; for, take millions away from II and
II is no less. IL has no beginning and end
Ing. It can be known by no one but the
Lord OF eternity. Duration of years are to
Him but moment; 1t Is like great sea
without shore or bottom. In His own
time He brought the world into being for His
own purposes, for His own ends. "Thou
art the same, and Thy years have no end
the same to-day yesterday and forever"
To us II may seem slow that He has been
so long In conquerlng the nations-in putting
down sin In the world. Why does lie allow
them TO go on In their evil ways SO longl
Why does He permit sin to continue to rnle
in human calculationsi We cannot estimate
this on finite grounds. He understands and
takes his own time. Man Is not from eter-
nifty. lie comes but as yesterday-is here
to-day and gone tomorrow. The speaker
here turned 10 q striking retrospect, describ-
Ing visit TO his native town in New Hamp-
shire, which he visited after thirty years alb
sence, finding but Que or two persons there
who were contempornneous with his youth;
to this he added such remarks as were illus
trativc of the idea under discussion. The
question nrises-"Where has my time all
GOMEZ" What answer. The history of the
Oldest man Is summed up in a single SEN
tence; the lives OF all men are the same; on
the stage and then of; life ia little time
and then vanishes. Where are the friends
that set out with us In the journey of llfel
Some are gone; some have outstrlpped us; a
few are remembered In the circle of dear
friends. Aye, VIC are passing away. How
soon will we be gone
But short as life Is, there is vet time
enough to accomplish the object of our being.
Even the grass OF the field does this. 1t will
be the same with man. We are placed here
for another life-prepare to meet God. How
much has been done for Hin, even In this
brief time. Christ gave himself TO redeem
the World the apostles went forth and gave
all TO God. But we need not go back SO far;
later times have recorded the lives OF good
men who left their mark. Luther, Bunyan,
WhitNeld and others left thoughts that never
will be eiaced. The missionary enterprise
embodles much of this. How much has
been"done here to save man and glorry God.
Not alone for eternity, but much has been
accomplished for time In comparatively brief
spaces. Witness Alexander, Napoleon -
what vast results in few years time. This
nation Is young; but, If true, 1t will be a
model nation. General Grant and his com.
patriots In arms have gained their great
names In a short time but they will stand.
Washington, Webster, Lincoln, Harriet
Beecher Stowe, have made regulations,
fame, In brief period OF time.
Life Is short, but long enough to the work
before us. Christ has set the example. He
went about doing good. God worked In ere
iting the universe. He works still; the Spirit
abors, and makes interCesslOn for us. God
works for man, and man must work for God !
Those who have been eminent In any cause
have been In earnest. Would you be like any
great or good man then initiate him. Chris. |
Ian brother, have you work TO perform |
hen rouse up TO duty, and go forth to claim |
your share In the world Of effort before YOU. |
The choir sang "Jerusalem, nv happy |
lome," and the benedlctlon was pronounced. |
ST. STEPHENS CHURCH.
Yesterday, the seventeenth Sunday after |
Pentecost, very large congregation was in |
attendance at st. Stephens. High mass was |
celebrated by Father McNally, and the excel |