The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-19
The ELEVENTH. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

4.
Thou Here s-GOd's Divine Love for TIan-
Discourse by Professor r. N. Haskell.
Notwithstanding the severity OF the storm, many
OF the congregation who worship In the above
church. corner of Lexington avenue and FIfty-ffth
street. were IN their pews as usual yesterday The
pulpit was occupied, In the absence OF the pastor,
by Professor T. n. Haskell, Of Aurora ILL.,, who took
for his text !. Kings, XIX, 9.:-"What doest thou
here?r and preached an impressive discourse. The
minister opened by referring to
ELJAH's TRIBuLATIoNs AND JouRNEYINGs
when pursued and prosecuted by the enemies of the
prophets to Mount Horeb. where, 500 years before
Moses met
GOD IN THE BURNING BUSH.
While there lodging In a cave the prophet was
praying to God to take him out of the world, when
these words, What doest thou here ~ were uttered
by supreme voice, which he recognized as that OF
Saviour. The minister traced the history OF the
prophets movements in obedience to the LORDS
commands ana said:-Now, from this narrative YOU
can see That the common question, "What are you
dong beres' is very significant ana of divine orr
gin. In whatever form 1t comes TO US it Is proposed
by Divine Providence and should not be allowed
to pass unheeded. God is proposing this question
to every one everywhere AS ne asked the first man.
"Wnere art thou?n and the first man who had q
asks every man in every place, ''Wnat doest Inou
hereY' Every man is, Of course some where and
doing something. He is bound to be somewhere
and
DOING WHAT THE LORD HIS MAKER WOULD HAVE
HIM.
This question Is very personal and, to Elijah, who
had wandered so far away, there to do nothing but
pray TO Die and hide away in cave, as If OF no
an % heahea horn bere s very an
might live in Solitude In social and religious indi-
ference; but: for Elljah-a man OF early religious
training and covenant privlleges-to be thus adj
dressed. 1t must have had peculiar significance.
But the acts OF men aud their
MOTIVES ARE MATTERS OF DIVINE INQUIRY
also. What deest thouy' is very emphatic in the
verb do. From the anxious mother who seeks
where is herr when he Is found though it be even
In The temple. comes the complaint, .Why hast thou
dealt thus with us T. The deed and the motive are
made at once the subject OF Investigation and appeal
And when the youthful Savours answer can lie
gwen in devotion to the higher will OF God il Is he
convicted Mary, Will cease TO mUrmur then, because
our highest duty ana interest are to do the win of
Is one OF HIS creatures. for whom He provides, to
whom he Appeals How sublime the idea, yourself
RELATIVE OF THE SUPREME BEING
Does not your neart make haste to say With hal
affection, 'Our Father, which art In heaven there
oy acknowledging your relations to both God and
man; then acknowledge at least that 1.-The God
in whose hand thy breath Is hast thou gloriieln
You may not have seen HIS hand writing your death
warrant on your wall; you may not have
ana the Western tornado, but still God has every
your Welfare ana existence; He is pleading ever
with you la Person, unless YOU have quite glieved
tae sp n % M sIace ac one sSaa re-
Divine providence and by his own preference All
men are somewhere; most men much OF the time
where they ought not 10 be; YOU are bound TO keep
away IRON the fire, from temptation. and consider
whether you are In the place God intended you be-
that your works may rebound to HIS glory, Man is
bound 10 consider what
MS ERRAND TO THIS WORLD IS
II Is q solemn thing 10 have Almighty God following
you up ana continually putting the question, what
doest thou mere - Some situations are very solemn,
because such great issues are there acted on and
sucn far reaching questions are there settled.
There is q time know when,
A place know not where,
That works the destinies OF men
To glory or despair.
The Professor dwelt at great length upon the
necessity for follower OF the saviour to choose the
position and pursuit that best adds to the glory or
God aud is In accordance with His WILL and the
absolute necessity Tor general concession 70 Cod
and entering upon
THE DlviNELY SUSTAINED. CHRISTIAN LIFE,
and contradiction that you would accept my
words the provdcntial appeal OF God to you, per-
sonal as they are, and, like EliJah would at once
obev your Saviour with the most arduous and
approved exertions. Do not longer wrap the nap
kin OF worldliness about your immortal nature and
bury yourself In the earth like the wearled prophet
standing at the door OF the cave with his mantle
folded closely about him, but do what You feel IL
only right and safe and wise submit at once TO the
vine Will, ana when you leave the world let your
consecrated mantle fall upon another, like Elijah,
while YOU go TO dwell, with your TRANSPORTED
Redeemer In the full gories OF Moses and Elias
forever and evec.