The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-30

Importance OF Troubles In the Formation and
Elevation Of Christian Charact er-Sermou By
Rev. DR.. e. ID. Foss.
The faithful few who faced the storm Yesterday
morning to hear the Rev. DR.. Poss preach were not
disappointed as, indeed, they never are His text
was John, XVII, 16-"l pray not that thou shouldst
take them out Of the world but that thou shouldst
keep them from the evil" The worst possible pic.
ture that could be drawn srthe evils OF this life was
presented, and then the query was put, why the
Saviour should have prayed such prayer as this for
his disciples There many reasons why he should
have enered up far different prayer. The griefs
and the risks the and the trials OF this life are
such that it would seem the Saviour should have
been anxious to take His followers as speedily as
possible to HIMSELF The smallest community on
earth Is not free from physical and mental pain and
anguish; and who can compute the sum OF pain and
suffering which the one billion two hundred and
fifty millions Of earth's Inhabitants endure from day
10 dayf The inheritance Of this life Is
AN INHERITANCE OF TWO FOLD RISKS
the risks which await rs here ana those when
await US nereafter-risEs OF the body ana or the
soul.
But the SAVIOUR knew all this. He had passed
through them all, ana yet knowing, as
He did. the full measure or human anguish
ana suffering, lie prayed not that His
disciples might be taken out OF the world,
but that they might be kept from the evil. This
world Is good place to live in, sinful as IL is and
while as rule Christians should not die early, but
should live on to show to the world the beauty OF
the Gospel and the religion OF Jesus Christ
tnat men may take knowledge Of them that they
have been with Jesus there are many and noble ex.
ceptions to the rule The early martyrdom Of the
Saviour has itself been the inspiration to lead on
many young saint to labor and SUFFERING ana mar.
tyrd0m and glory. John Summerheld, who died OF
the age OF twenty.seven, having burned out his
have done more for Him had he lived to the age OF
three score and ten And for us who love God It is
blessed to live and labor and suffer on until the Mas
'Ir IS ENoueH COME Up HrGHER.n
This world Is q good school Tor virtue. There Is
many man whom God cannot get to heaven with.
out leading him chin deep through tribulation And
though we DO not understand the discipline and do
ana He therefore prays not that we should be taken
out OF the world, but that we should be kept from
virtue cannot Be produced and nourlsned. The lot
OF every Christian In the pursuit OF holiness Is moro
% gass Oy org ocs
Of wrong, &C., which he could not show had he not
those trials, 81. James points TO the example Of
Job and calls It an example of suffering patience
which manifested tine goodness and iongsuferine
OF Cod And in the trisls OF human life we have
angels must be- stranTers Mans SIN has been the cue
UNWILLING OF GODS GLORY.
very cha acter which shall make Us meet Tor heaven
The temptations that we meet mere are favorable
10 greater sharing Of the glory that shall &c re-
yealed hereafter 81. Paul can hold more OF heaven
than the penltent thief on tho CROSS Perfect hap
piness is relative to our individual capacity to enjoy
DO that white we may be all perfectly happy In glory
one may be ten times % happy as another. They
that win souls are WISE and they that wlse that
IS who win souls shall shine as the ARMAMENT with
q general lustre upon the bright sta light night,
but they that turn many to righteousness as the
stars-particular stars the brightest OF the bright
sarsforevcr and ever. Every trial Is Gods chlsel
stroke to ut us for the ncnes OF His great sculpture
gallery In glory, but at every strose we vince and
wish Il were not So Let ua step little higher, and
with ST. Paul rejoice In tribulation, knowing wen