The New York herald., 1872-07-08
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH.

Correspondence OF Thought and Action
Imagining the Pleasures OF SIN Leads
to It's mmiasl0n-Early Piety tho
Best Safeguard to Virtuc-A Dig at
Tammany's Corrupt and Fallen Chief
tains--Serm0n by DIR. Farley, OF Brook
lyn.
The services at the Church Of the Messiah corner
ofPark avenue and Thirty street. were yester
day morning conducted by Rev. Fred A. Farley
D. D., OF Brooklyn VINO chose for his text Proverbs
w., 23-"Keep thy heart with all diligence for out Of
1t are the issues Of life." There Is, he began, a
beautiful illusion in this moral precept to the
chief physical function OF one OF the great
organs OF the body The heart is the
grand centre OF circulation. Thence start
the arteries which, branching out, distribute the
ife-blood to every part Of the system. AS long as
the heart can receive and propel blood life re-
mains; when the heart ceases to beat life ceases
and in proportion as the blood itself is pure
or impure, as the action of the heart Is
sound or unsound will the health be vigorous
OF feeble. The force Of the precept Is obvious.
The heart is the grand centre anu source
of moral action. Thence originate the motives and
purposes nom which all human conduct nOws. AS
the heart Itself, then, is pure or impure, is filled
with good and holy thoughts, plans and Wishes
or the contrary, will. VIII the character of
the Individual IN reality ne g0Od OF bad
will find appreciation or censure In
THE JUDGMENT OF GOD.
The care OF the heart then, Is the lesson OF the
text; and how important, how indispensable this
is 1t is the government OF thought, the control
OF the motive, the regulation OF desire, the right
direction Of the affections which the text contem-
plates when il charges us ITO keep the heart.r No
rejecting person will doubt or deny natural and
close connection between thought and action. Will
not the mind when called upon to decide between
conflicting claims interests-wll 1t not be indu-
enced nay, governed, by the rushing in OF every
previous thought or idea which 1t or the heart has
chershedY The power OF such previously induged
thoughts Ia such that when in the solitary musings
Of the man they have been permitted to array
SIN IN DAZZLING AND BRILLIANT COLORS
the hour OF actual temptation will cothe II in even
more attractive hues, and make its power next to
by the revellings OF the mind in anticipated enjoy
ments; the fear OF God has already been dssipated
by the foul sophistry OF passion, and either atter-
drawn, or that there win be time beyond for re-
pentance, the sinner casts Off the shackles OF o
stern virtue ana holy religion and Yields TO- the
buckler. or shield thoroughly tempered by
q rigid process OF discipline and control.
Whatever virtue such a one possesses is
the result OF circumstances and not OF a rightly
trained and cultured heart. The man who Is thus
overcome made his mistake in not laying the foun-
tion well laid the superstructurc would rise easily
ACTUAL TEMPTATION
the chambers of imagery in the soul may be filled
with all things pure and good. All the consdera.
then hold the mind by their legitimate power and
strengthen it for the hour OF trial. But how few
thus "keep their hearts!" What multitudes give
full rein to their corrupt and vicious fancies How
many natter themselves that they are uncOn.
demned because while they cherish the thought
| they withhold the action And what too often
Is the consequence Desire infamcd by every
incentive but actual enjoyment will be gratined
Appetite reused and sharpened to the keenest
edge by an abstinence which is still kept brOodinQ
over Its Indulgence will be satiated, and thus the
obstacles which mercfu Creator has placed In the
way OF transgression are one after another over
come by the
DIS0RDERLy REvELLISGS
OF the Imagination till the sinner in thought be-
comes the bold violator OF every divine and human
| law, dishonors and ruins his own soul. But so re-
! luctant are we 10 surrender that many are
ready to resist the claim Of such religion to the
Excepting OF the heart' as cruel and arbitrary eX-
action. They unwilling 10 give up these, they
allege, innocent enjoyments. Well for New York
/ had her
PUBLIC OFFICIALS
given up the speculation In her money as their
own, and then taking IL! We must not wear virtue
as a mask We must know that II Is not enough
| to do no outward offence. The inward and outward
| man must harmoniZc. Christianity begins with
the first springs Of thought, and thus at once
| makes virtue more easy and secure; for It Is be
| fore the awakening OF the passions. And always
remember that there Is always one eye upon you
ALWAYS respect Yourself.