The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-23
CKVaCH OF THE HOLY LIGHT.


Of HoIiness-Thc Duties oil tho Christian.
The services yesterday forenoon at the abovc-men-
toned unpretentons little church. situate on Seventh
avenue corner Of ThirryIourth street. were read by
the rector, the Rev. Dr.. Mcvickar.
The keen wlntry blasts, that blew with more than
usual severity had not the least effect on the rell.
gious ardor Of the small select rregaon that at.
tend this church; and The young LADIES particularly
can apply the hattering unction 10 the vanity more
precious than oil the patent pigments used 10
obtain a mere color Of charms. that, as they
gracefully stepped into their pews with brisk pace,
the FRESH bright nues Of health. beauty and youth
called up by the natural whoesomcness OF the
clear, bracIng weather, was layshly spread over
their features. The services according to the
liturgy of the Church of England. were varied ANA
solemn. especially thar portion In which the minis
ter, kneeling before the communion table, reads
aloud the Decao2ue or len Commandments. the
beautiful ana concise com srehens on OF all laws
natural. moral and civi-wnlie The whole congrega-
on bowed III pray utter the response In tones or
ear. estness. This frequent renewal OF the public
declaration OF the law strikes one as being very
imposing ceremony, IRON which the mlnd ever de-
lghlin IN The association Of important events, sud-
denly aces back TO the ,ie In remote ages long be-
fore the Christian era, when the
ALMIGHTY HIMSELF
delivered these holy oraces to Moses on the noun
tatu. amid the responses Of the creation the light
nngs OF the elements. anu surrounded 10y the nef-
ianle and dazzling light oil HIS majesty.
day and the choir cnanted hymn. fhe services
being nearly through at tnis stage DIR. Forbes the
Dean OF the Theological seminary preached the fol-
seventh verses IRON the fourth chapter or the Epise
OF st. Pau TO the Pnilippans-"Be careful
ana supplicstlon with THANKSGIVING let Your
requests to be made known unto God Aud the
peace of God, which passeLh all understanding,
snan keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus" Originally, man was as devoid or this
anxiety and cureiuncss mentioned In the text as
IA m
TO the one as 10 the other IL Is seldom considered
concerning the goods OF this world that they are all
God disposal and that, Jnsequeutiy, this over
carefliness and retfuness are productive not only
causes or much evf and disappointment. BESIDES
by thus worrying ourselves TO death by these
CANKEaING CARES
for the perishab.e goods OF this Ilfe we Indirectly
douot the providence of tie Almighty BY the vain
at mpts on our part to obtain the iulh!ment OF
wishes without gong to the fountain head without
prosratlng ourselves in prayer we advised 10
do IN Inc text. aud thus ooiain provided we BRING
the proper disposition with us when seek the
laVnrS. all that IS good for US. necessary or u.s.
Indeed, there Is one Thing for which man ought TO
have precious care and an xiety-h,s immortal
souland get strange to say, that pre.eminent care
Is neglected, and does not disturb or fret him. while
his life tort red by the enleayoys which he is con-
tinualy making TO CRAFTY petty vanity or to
procure some place or honors. But, 1t may ne
asked, are we TO rely solely on the providence OF
God In our worldly afairsf Decidedly: the man
that does 50 Is tue most happy though he may not
be the NEST prosperous, according to the judgment
Goa In all our undertakings is perfectly ana truly
CONSISTENT with laudahle exeriion on our own side
abuse OF tins prul lent watchfulness that the Philip
Again, It may be saia, that no human being
worldlv interests and carerm thoughts about
them: Tnai, certainly, Is perfectly true. No
II man continues In this grace ne Will not be ha-
raised by The gnawin2 cares OF workings. Instead
OF sinking Rapidly IN despair II ev,is ovcrwnclm
HIM or STRUGGLING on IN VAN and ievered pursuit OF
The phantom Fortune, the prudent and pious man
= HANDS OF PROVIDENCE,
has recourse TO meditation and prayer, and gains
quiet from OUT the turmoil. There Is something ia the
very nature OF providence TO relieve the soul and
e1at it, When We are cast down we find noble
refuge IN prayer. In this refuge have all peace
Notni1g Is too great and nothing too insignificant
10 DC made the su ect OF prayer Jesus tells us that
we can obtain every Thing ny prat er and suppcation
Let Us t1cn lnl ate the, perseverIng wild W. full OF
fa,ih, VIC would not take delial but again and
AGAIN besougit The saviour 20 raise up ner Dow
WITH this prayer we ought also to offer up thanks
giving TO Gcd for all tue inercis5 that lie has be-
slowed uoon ut. They Infinitely exceed our deserts
as fdr rs tile goodnes s OF God Is above u.s. The
apostle also unites tAs act OF THANKSGIVING with
payer as -dy against the carefulness to which
he refers BY prayer, suppication and thanks
giving let our requests be made known 10 Goa and
then we are prom sed the peace that pas5eth all I'M
derstan ing. There Is no subject tina interests
CHRISTIANS 50 niaca as the one with which we are
now dealing. We are IN want oil frlenls, and feel
tue ioveiness OF mercy; we are stricken with
disease. and the spirit Is weak: we have had
our WOrdty fortunes shattered; we nave suffered do.
nestle trials or public caamities; we anticipate the
IA hing on o. some misio.tlne; perhaps our hast-
ness OF mind or rashness OF action Tempt US 10
means OF bett ring our condition that our better
moments we would blush to think of-aye we might
go on and enumera,e thousands OF the evls, the
trials AMI
MIsHRIEs or LIFE,
and, after all, what more efrectual alienation of them
In Il slucere aud ardent prayer? IL the refuge,
the haven IN winch our storm-lossed soul can alone
find resi- And II we fad that temptations iuvte us
TO depart from the strict line OF duty because or our
great carefuness OF the perlshaDlc goods OF life,
do we not see how much this uncertain
anxiety Is not only harassn-, but snfU
II is known That God will never forsake those WHO
love Him. He wac leeds the ravens Will not forget
those who place their trust III Hin. This ov trween-
Ing anxiety for the world can accomplish nothing;
on The contrary, II causes u TO a frequently Dy IT.
very Intensity and rashness No desire, no effort
cal be overwhelmingly successrul--wl,hout
Gods concdrnng blessing, and In It must soaght
In PRAYER. and return made for IL as far US lies
within US by repealed acts OF Than lsgivng.
ST. PhTL'5 EPISCOPAL CHURCH.