Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-04-13

ture OF the aesthetical nature? Certainly.
There Is beauty for him in the violet of
the valley. in tho symmetrical tree. in
the outline of mountains, and In the vast
Imagery OF the heavens, and think you he
would not have Us see beauty there too?
But these are not the richest gems he
searches for In human nature. Faith and
love, The upturning Of a child's eve, OF all
things In Gods universe, these are to him
the most precious.
My friends. there Is much In this world
passing for religion which Is the ''merest
trash better name for it would be
sentimentalism. Now, when experiencing
religion humans man, or units woman
for practical life. something Is wrong. We
may he sure 1t Is not the new birth, for
the new birth implies that We realize God
as our Father, and surely this will strength
en- us for earthly duties. 1t was given to
develope humanity, and not to stunt or
dwarf 1t. BY virtue IF this new birth we
inherit soul-ship, and become God-like,
and II Go i-likc, man-like
There is a tendency to exaggeratc this
change, TO expect from 1t more than we
are authorized to expect. Let II ever be
remembered, man becomes no shrcwder In
business or sharper in intellect, What
does he become? A child OF God, and
nothing more. Not fanatic. not mystic,
not piece of sacred statuary cold and
rigid. but a child Of God, aud nothing
more.
Much that is called piety in the church.
In the world would lac called talent or
genius. IL does not even make men clo-
quent, only la the sense that "out OF the
abundance Of the heart the mouth speak
eth. The thoughtful preacher would be
thoughtful lawyer. or politician. 1t
makes man child Of God. by feeling aud
practice. this. aud nothing more.
Let me guard you here. | hold 10 the
belief that all men are Gods children. In
my creed the universal brotherhood OF men
Is acknowledged. Nv God hates not the
sinner. Not with drawn sword does he
sit TO cut him asunder, when BE sees him
tripped up by some strong temptation.
Nay. he broods over him with love strong
or and deeper than a mothers. When all
Others have given up all hope of his re-
form he clings to him a. only God cal.
cling. Let wife or sister turn from him
brother or father blush To own hun. God
remains ever the same. Around him God
winds the arm of strong influence to
draw him beneath the roof of a clio ser al
lance, when the door OF every earthly
friend Is closed See then here the need
lessness of any change In God. but the
ut'd VI tHau-c III MS 0l>pbcIlcnt ''nH
spring. aud that change the Saviour calls
the new birth" Bought by the same
blood, yet ignorant of its cleansing virtue.
arc many who are strangers TO God His
children by birth, yet SO unnatural a to he
destitute Of the first feelings of child
To such the words OF Christ come. mar
vel not that said INTO thee We must be
born again. The, must indeed be chang
cd before they can realize the blcssedncss
of being children OF God.
Good friends, here we must part We
dismiss YOU now into your future Around
us doorway many foe and heavy trial
Turk to engage Your wrestling powers
For auEhi ! know, many hcartachc and
night OF sorrow is In store for Won Tears
may flow, and prayers ascend. breathed
out from . heart whose blood thlckeus
with grief. and this many time, before
that messenger iseu so much dread, vet
cannot shun, confronis YOU. But there /,
nothing T. fear from the hard bow> Of
foes or descrilon of friends And should
death he like stretch OF rapids, and brin.
To you the pale check aud painting. reach
ing out from that other shore TO assist
such a. love God now. and trust him for
the future. is Fathers Hand