The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-18
ATTORNEY STREET METHODIST onuRsH.
Prize Racing - Sermon by the Rev. MIR.
Swift.

Prize Racing - Sermon by the Rev. MIR.
Swift.
The Rev. Mr. Swift, pastor OF the Methodist Pro-
testant church, Attorney street, between Delaney
and Rivington streets, yesterday delivered sermon
on "prze Racngn He took for his text that part of
Pauls episte to the Corinthians which reads know
ye not that they which In u race run ALL but one
receiveth the prize? SO run that We may obtain.
And every man that striveth for the mastery Is
temperate in all things. Now they do 1t to obtain
a corruptible crown. but we an incorruptole."
Everything man did, good or bad. the reverend
gentleman said, was done through some motive,
which, as II were, pushed him forward TO the at ain
ment OF whatever he sought. There stimulus to
every action, and all men were more or less controlled
by propelng power to obtain things which they
considered all important to themselves which seem
ed to be irresistible. Men who sought for fame
eagerly pushed onward every obstacle in their
way, and never ninched when difficulties that APP
peared 10 others insurmounable stared Them in,the
face. Those who desired to accumulate riches acted
IN n like manner In fact, dangers and sacrifices
were as naught to the man who desired to obtain
A CERTAIN PRIZE.
Wnether the prize sought for was one that was In
tsei pad or not, the struggle for ITS possession by
him who coveted IL was al the same; his determine
ton and purpose were mistaken. Indeed, when u
man determined 10 attain certain obj ect which &c
was possible, though difficult TO attain, his resolve
to succeed became the stronger and his efforts were
feu0uD.ed In proportion az tue obstacles In his way
multiplied and became more and more q barrier be-
tween him and the object of his desires. There was
prize in everything that man sought iOr, anu
when st. Paul spoke OF the Grecian games 10 make
his idea OF the Christian running the OF life for
an lncorruptible crown he spoke OF things which
We're In existence In his own day. lie did not 20
back to the time of Abraham to fnd metaphor by
which to strike the minds of those 10 whom he adj
dressed himself. He dealt with
THE LIVING PRESENT,
as people nowadays should do. as well in The pull
pit as IN all the departments of life. We all could
see what excitement, what anxiety, the grea5 race
between the yachts Dauntless and Cambria hal al.
ready gwen rise TO; how everything about them was
eagerly read; how The newspapers Were scanned
day after day for some tidings as to where the
ses We're at gwen time. And why all this exotic
ment, all TINS anxiety, ON the part of two nations
concerning the result of the racer Because there
was prize at stake national prize prize that
would make whole nation cry out for JOY or
sorrow. as the case might be- And knowing all
every effort would be made by the men On each Of
the yachts to gain the prize sought for which only
aa 'Taa % me aa Il 6s a an
games only. one could win; yet that fact did not
deter many from contending for the prize aud max
Ing great sacrifices to be able 10 contend with some
| snow OF success. Christians were racers on the
course OF life and the prze Of the race was an In
corrupibe crown-a life ofeernal happiness beyond
the grave, with Him who ruled the universe-bu
more than one could win the prize Every Christian
who contended could win the prize In the same
and 4s Great !s0 Of 1t all Ss5
courage manfny to contend for the crown, and
finally reach the goal where the crown would be-
given It, No matter what men COntended for In this
life the prize the winner won was always corrupt
ibie one. 10 might be- as In the Grecian games,
A CROWN OF LAuRELS I;
but, then few days and 1t would be faded aud de-
cayeJ. In races where the prize was an earthly OBJ
ject the reward could not be otherwise than cor
ruptble. The crown which, ny leading good lives
ana running well to the very end, Christians would
obtain would never fade, never decay, but be q
thing Of eternity-a life OF Joy ana glory without an
end.
In the afternoon the Sunday school concert OF this
church took place. and, Notwithstanding the terribly
hot weather, was well attended. The exercises were
very interesting, aud addresses were made by sew
the proceedings