The New York herald., 1870-03-14
ST. Phul's CHAPEL.
Trinity Pnrish-Disconrsc by Rev. Morgan
Dix, d. D.-i.enren SERVICES.

Trinity Pnrish-DiscOnrsc by Rev. Morgan
Dix, ID. D.--ienten Services.
At ST. Paul's chapel yesterday the sermon was de-
livered by Rev. Morgan DIX OF Trinity Parish
he said Without the formaiity OF text /
propose to give some plain practical instruction on
a subject concerning which the clergy are much con-
suited. Lent Is q season OF practical devotion-a
time when we should draw near to God both in pub
lie and private prayer Now, one OF the hardest
siings Imaginable TO keep the mind fixed during
prayer, and many are very anxious on this subject
fearing that they are IN such state of sinuness as
VIII bring some severe judgment upon them. Now.
do not intend IN what say to excuse wrong doing,
but II ANYTHING can be said IN iayor or hu-
for at the best we have weary load
10 carry. Now all SINS are not OF the same grade.
Our Lord spoke of the sin against the Holy Ghost
having no for2ivness, thus implying that for other
sins there is forgyness; ana common sense shows
that SINS which are done with dcberatlon are
grsper than those which are, 10 a great extent IN
voluntary; ana of this number the sin of wander
ing thoughts In PRAYER. la extenuatiOn OF this two
things may be saidfirst, 1t Is not possible to keen
the NINA liked upon subject Tor any length Of time
and secondly, the mind can carry at the same
llnle several operations entirely disconnected with
each otoer. How long 40 you suppose YOU can Keen
The miad hXed upon any subject without the least
wanderng2 Not more than five seconds. unless you
are master OF the art OF SeffahstractOn. The COM
pete abstraction of the mind il not its normal state:
when man is IN this state we he is absent
minded; but we should have our wits about us-not
IN the CLOUDS Again, lie mind is remarkable for It's
power OF carrying on several trans Of thought
WHOLLY unCOGuected-tne reasoning ana reflective
faculties may be working at she same time. One
may be listening to discourse and AT the same time
be. counting the zigzag lines in the car
pet and yet not lose u single word.
Such is the action OF the mind not
simple but complex, and 1t Is not so much
dIicul matter TO keep the thoughts from wander.
ing III prayer as II is an impossbilty. Surely, tnen,
tins 10 SIN Of ,nfirmiIy. Are we, then, TO remain
passive, allowing our thoughts to take what course
they wlll BY no means. We are TO 10 what we
can TO check and direct them. There are two RENE
dies which we may apply To this fault. The first Is
special the second general First, then. during
prayer we afe to keep constant watch and recall
our thoughts whenever we lind them wandering; to
throw all tue earnestness we can into part or
the service ana make that specially. But the only
way to overcome this fault IS To lead All uniformly
godiS life. 10 constantly direct their thoughts to-
wards God and then on special occasions we shall
not have the same dlfculty in directing and con-
trolling them. st. Paul's chapel built In anti
onary days Is the special pride Of The rector
OF Trinity, who Oiciates here, leaving Old Trinny
to his assistant, DR.. Francis Yinton. and the beau
ful chapel on Twenty-nIth street 10 Dr. Swope
During Lent there are six sermons delivered IN tins
chapel weeky-on Sundays Wednesdays and Fri