Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-04-13

APklL l0. 1911
IN order to SOW to ourselves in righteous
ness it ia necessary to have good SEED:
This seed is furnished in the Gospel OF
Christ. Let Us go to that gospel ana SOW
the good seed.
The Injunction is for us to SOW the SEED
to ourselves. 1t might seem, on super.
fetal view, that this was selfishness; out
we shall find that the more good we gain
the better able are we to benent
others. 1t ia by the scattering OF this
seed of gospel truth that Romanism is to-
be broken mp. Not by forcible meanf,
but by gradual dissemination OF pure
and the steady growth OF
righteous practices. The noxious growths
of intemperance, Romanism and political
corruption can be changed for harvest
of purity, morality and sobriety. GOD
has promised that what we cannot do our
selves, He will accomplish for US. In
His strength we can go forward in the
good work of reform, with the assurance
of success. 1t is time the ground was cul-
tivated and the growth of evil arrested.
There is a rain that comes only from God,
and we are to look till He sends the rain
of righteousness. When the prophet
prayed for rain, he prayed till the rain
came. He plead with his Maker, till the
cloud appeared and the rain descended
Now some have been seeking for the Lord
with earnestness, but the rain has not
come. If He is sought till He come, then
a rich harvest is in store. We shall reap
in righteousness if we SOW in righteous
ness. The weeping sewers shall return
with Joy bringing their sheaves with
them. How greatly is this harvest of
righteousness required at the present
time. For the interests of Christian civil
ization how much we need it. If we heed
the Injunction of the text we shall reap
a rich harvest.
TRINITY CHURCH.
At Trinity Church the services of the
Episcopal Church for Good Friday were
held. A large audience assembled in at
tendance. Many from the other congre-
cations of the town joining in the SER
vices. Rev. Mr.. Harris, the Rector, read
ing the service, psalms, litany and pray
ers, and Right Reverned Bishop Bissell
reading the communion service. The SER
mon was by Bishop Bissell.
SERMON.
The remarks of the Bishop were founded
upon the words of Christ at the crucific-
ton, at is finished" There were three
events in the history which were more
important and sublime than all others.
The creation of the world, the creation OF
man and the crucifction, when the utter
ance of the Saviour announced the COM
pletion of three most important eras.
Therefore, the words on the cross, alt is
finished" arethe sublimest of all utter.
ances.
The sixth hour of the day had come
there had been poured out upon the
Savior all the malice of his enemies and
the designs of his prosecutors; but amid
his suffsrings he was not forgetful of those
surrounding him. He commends the
thief to his Father in heaven. He saw
his Mother standing near, and with words
of sympathy He commended Her to his
disciples. All things were accomplished
and His were the words of victory.
This victory of Christ on the cross is
our salvation. 1t is, therefore, our duty
to consider this scene and remember these
words on this day with reverential medi.
tation, and to measure the depth of this
saying. There is no palmer speaking
than that at the cross on that day. These
words were the termination of the bur-
dens of sinful man, for they gave him
hope. Nothing remained for him hence
forward but to make peace with his God,
through the merits of Jesus Christ.
This was also the triumph of the Jews,
who had to this time been the chosen
nation. But now they had filled up the
full measure of their guilt, and His blood
be upon them and their children. On the
Gross was fulfilled the functions of the
law. Christ had been school master be-
fore the people, and forerunner of things
to come. All those various shades of hid
deu rnenning In the prophets, have boon
accomplished and Isaac has been offered,
the true Sampson had broken the bonds,
all sacrifices of goats and lambs aud blood
are now fulfilled. The predictions of the
scriptures have been filed.
At the cross also is finished the work
of the creation. Here again on the sixth
day he makes all things new. The mid
die walls of partition between the priest
and the people have been thrown down,
and here is accomplished the removal of
all the obstacles of drawing near to God.
The ransom has been paid and proclama-
ton made that all may draw near to God.
All has been done that can be done to
show the love of God toward man.
God had looked upon the life of Jesus
from His boyhood through all His per-
secutions and scourgings, loving Him and
willing to give Him sacrifice for a world
Therefore, shall we not love Him? Shall
we not show in our lives more regard for
Christ and His teachings? We should
bear witness also that it is finished. A
great work is committed to us. Is oar
complete? Are our sins wash
ed away? Have we accomplished the
work of regeneration, and are we truly
penitent for our sins? Do our lives show
a good record If we belieUe. it will reach
US, for belief is a great thing and has been
In all human history. Are we doing all
things for Christ in self-abnegatiop ? The
pattern of Christ is the great pattern of
human life. At the close of life
we cannot say at is finished" but we
should be able to say 81 have fought the
good fight and kept the faith"
The address of Bishop Bissell was
clear, earnest and appropriate one for
the closing hours of the penitential season.
The services were concluded with the
Apostolic Benediction.
Services at Trinity Church.