The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-29
ALE soJL'S CHURCH.

The T,iorns Of Il O. Wards Of Chcer-Cref,
Hope and Fuit.i-sermon by the Rev. DIR.
Fellows.
AT the Church Of all Souls Fourth avenue and
Twentieth street, yesterday morning, there was EVIL
dcnce Of the warm weather from the several pews
that were partially vacant. Quite large congrega-
ron, however, assembled and the fairer portion OF
the worshippers made their reflections and pro-
missed mentally, no doubt all sorts or future rel
gious good things In utter forgetfulness OF
THE ELEGANCE OF THE SUMNER FASHIONS
that were brilliantly exhibited by themselves. Gay
and sparkling were the costumes of the ladies'. and
holy and deeply thoughtful were the utterances Of
the Rev. DR.. Bellows whose prayer at the beginning
OF the service was long and very solemn. The
chanting OF the hymns by the choir was as Is usual
In this church, in the best style, and q well
sung soprano SOLO, that occurred at part Of the
vice. added Its good effect to the fervOr OF the wor.
ship.
The Rev. DR.. Bellows took his text from the
twelfth chapter beginning at The eighth verse, Of
Paul to the Corinthians.
The precise nature Of the thorn in the flesh from
which Paul suffered Is not known to US. Paul asked
God to remove It, but the reply to the entreaty
simply reminded him that he had grace ana that
this was all he needed. We know how easily the
body may be tormented with agony by a continue
ton Of the smallest pain, such as splinter in the
finger, nail in the shoe, sting from ne tie, bit
OF DIRT IN the eye, &C. Every one II Us has
TRIALS MORAL AND BODILY.
Weakness Of the nervous system and those other
diseases SO common TO all are the thorns from
for the most serious consideration. We can see few
faces that do not betray traces OF some secret
looking do not always suffer the most. Sometimes
these sutferings lead 10 sin ana then they become
ns ana arc often aSors from " Heaven
1t becomes us to remember always that the soul mas
| got to fight the body and triumph over It, II the
| body rules there would pc nothing OF the man ap
| pearing to show the Spiritual nature with which
| God mas endowed him. 1t is a perpetual warfare
between spirit and matter, but when the victory Is
won by the soul then comes that happy etect-peace
| or mind. II is Tor this we should labor and crush
| every rising emotion or feeling within us that nigh
| keep us bound TO
| TIE DEvoURING ENEMY.
| We should keep on ever striving, and never shut
! ourselves up within the narrow compass OF our own
minds, and with false stolcism rail at the world
and at our pain, and with each successive conces.
sion OF worry and grief make only faster the mystic
! rous bodily ailment striving for mastery. Among
| our fellow beings we should extend sympathy for
| sympathy, aid open the windows and doors OF our
hearts ana venillate the poisonous morbidites
! But to do this we cannot hope for the continuous
sympathy of men for most people, with their own
/ pahy to bestow. We must go 10 where ST. Paul
| went-to the throne OF God-and there receive the
| same answer he dld-that the grace OF God was all
sufficient. And the beauty OF this grace is that 1t
| brings TO the troubled soul
RECONCILIATION TO IT'S BURDEN.
| This heavenly peace alone assuage5 the tormented
and wearied heart. 1t should not be lost sight Of
that the lna object OF adversely OF every kind Is
that the soul may see what the Independent pro-
perty OF God alone Is. Alas for the soul that never
knows trial II is c0ld hard, caons can never
know or appreciate the sublime thoughts
which follow the submission to aud the
consequent victory over pam. There Is sympathy
between the Suferings or the SOUL and the suffer-
Ings which Jesus went through on EARTH 1t may DE
asked how faith and hope to be preserved under
such crave dinicuty as perpetual warfare be-
tween the mind and body suggests The answer Is
that the difficulties are grave. But not to struggle
for ialth and nope Is to abandon God. We then be-
come traitors; we desecrate our being; we become
towards, and history proves 10 us that
GOD HATES COWARDlCE.
Most OF US nave these thOrlS both IN the esh and
In lae heart, some one form, some in another;
they may creep into the family relation
ship, and again they may pierce Sc
cratly, unknown to al out the sufferers.
But as the rose and sweet briar are beautiful flow
ers, and yet among thorns. so can 1t be with the
soul in difficulties. Trust IN God Is the s0lace for
Che pain. You cannot Know everything without
first knowing something; you must keep growing
and struggling and praying, gaming little step by
step and experiencing now noble 1t Is to struggle on
to the end, outgrOwing doubts and fears. TO fail
under such circumstances would be for God to fail.
Faith can go to Jesus even beyond the grave, with
grace. The th0rns cannot grow as long or hurt as
much as the spear which pierced Christ's head.
None OF us are asked to wear them pressed into our
heads as a dadcm. All wearied hearts should hum
bly, pray for patience like that which triumphed
over crucidxioE, and thus fight the battle during
life,