The New York herald., 1870-03-28
EGLlsE DU SAINT ESPRIT.
Sermon ON the Uncertainty Of Life, by tn,
Rev. Antoine verrcn.

Sermon ON the Uncertainty Of Life, by the
Rev. Antoine verrcn.
the French Episcopal church OF the Holy Spirit,
Twenty-second street. between Fifth and Sixth ave.
nues, merits visit from all who understand the
language In which the exercises are conducted.
The ritual IS simple the singing excellent. and the
pastor classical French scholar whose pronuncla-
tion leaves nothing to be desired.
Yesterday morning, after the services the Rev.
Antoine Verren chose for his text Ephesians ", 16-
"Redeeming the time because the days are evil"
We do not like to think about time, It's uncertainty
and brevlsy; Of eternity. which is at our door, and
its duration OF the foolish and deceivng joys of this
world; Of the glorious pleasures OF heaven. Such
tnOugnCS are none the less Indispensable
ana sae d1sy Gsys of minister IN o
REDEEM THE TIME.
The definition OF time Is not easy to all. Il is
Tor this reason that we employ II 80 ILL., Ike an infant
destroys or Injuries some precious WORK OF art be-
cause 1t does not know Its value. Do not coniound
It with eternity. Time began with the creation Of
be enguHed in eternity Why is 1t that men 40
not think more OF the Meeting hours which speed
dies the instant was speaking, Is already far from
me; how shall redeem lt?' The answer Is, by sac
rifce ana efforts. We should, like the mechanic
who has wasted his time and spent his money rise
with the sun, and by hard labor till 1t sets endeavor
to make up Tor lost time. What have we done since
births AT the age Of fifteen at least five years
have not been employed In Gods service, at twenty
our uselessness IN his service becomes frghtfuy
apparent and at forty, when soOn perhaps II Is too
late what retrospccuOn, what nulty The
speaker then gave a vivid picture OF the aimless
lives we lead, and OF the horrd spectre which VIII
one day or another start up before all OF US OF life
Ill spent, OF
WHAT WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN,
and tnis too on our deaLhped perhaps when IL VIII
be too late To the Ephesians, to whom Paul ad-
dressed his episte, the days were indeed evil and
iull OF persecution and troubles. on the one hand
they had to combat the successors OF Moses In the
P0ntlcal char; on the other phil osophers, priests
OF paganism went 30 far as to offer them TO the pub
c by exposing them to the Jury OF wild beasts and
r0n, called hypocrisy, and pubic opinion con-
demned them. We have no such excuse. Religion
Is free. Prosecutions are at an end, but
WHAT ARE OUR LIVES?
Are not the enemies OF Jesus In our homes, our
streets at every corner and 40 they not try to make
ech apaceY Tear away the mask which hides our
daily lives and what do we seer hdeOus spectacle
and corruption. No delay is allowable. Death Stares
US IN the face at every turn None can count on the
morrow. Here IN this great city we have been
spared the scourge OF plague for several years.
W hat may tlis summer bring fOrthf We have all
with horror witnessed the scenes which have passed
before our eyes when the angel Of death struck right
and left, ana the strong man OF the morn was
putrd corpse ere night fell Did that angel spare the
merry? Was 1t not death uncertain, yet certain;
unknown, yet known; visible esinysible every IN
stant near us to make US better Christmnss
THE CHOLERA, THE PLAGUE
are not at our doors n0w but death Is none the less
among US. Oh, should 1t seize us unawaresl We're
within month, but IN ten years. you are astoRsned
at this berality would not be too far away
to neglect redeemng the time and to this task 1t Is
our own duty to apply ourselves.