The New York herald., 1872-12-30
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH.
The New Years Sermon by tho Rev. II.
Powers.

The New Years Sermon by tho Ncv. III.
Powers.
The Church OF the Messiah was well attended
yesterday. and showed decided increase IN it's
congregations since some weeks ago. The pastor,
the Rev. Mr.. Powers, preached his New Years
sermon from the text, .He hath made every thing
beautiful In its time," which Is found In Eccesi-
astics ill.,, IL. Mr.. Powers commenced as follows -
Accepting, now, as true this sentiment Of the wise
man OF the Jews, let us inquire, my friends, what
are some oil the thoughts which it suggests and how
they can be best improved by us in accordance
with the spirit Of the hour. First-Let US seek to
apprehend. if we can, the idea which the word
"time' embodies. But this is easy task, for the
instant we essay to grasp 1t it is gone. we think
to portray 1t by signs and symbols we are mis-.
taken, and yet images are its only means OF de-
scription. Timeis
THE TWIN BROTHER OF spAcE
and nothing in Gods universe can exist or happen
without the Intervention OF both. Time both pro-
duces and destroys all things. 1t is both the longest
and the shortest Of the motions with which we have
to do, the simplest, the sowest the most divislble
and the most indvsible, the most regretted when
II Is gone from and the least regarded when 1t
Is by. Strictly speaking, time Is not itself an
entity, thing, but simply an idea, q
CONSTANT SUCCESSION,
endless duration. 1t Is always the friend OF the
virtuous and well-disposcd but the bitter and tor
mentlng f0e OF the vicious and evil-minded. Its
function is to measure for us here our allotted
space OF Gods good life, as we journey from the
cradle to the grave, and therefore to the good man
II Is redo,ent OF memories sweet and anticipa-
tions delightful; but to the bad, OF recollections
that are sad and f0rebOdngs that are gloomy.
Second-As the proper way Tor us to improve our
time, our opportunity, our segment OF Gods eter-
nity answer generally as Solomon has IL in the
text, "He hath made everything beautiful in its
time" and that "He has set its destined duration
IN the heart OF everything" That God has done
this, remember, and not fate nor the devil and that,
therefore, 1t Is well. 1t Is though mortality were
a huge timepiece, which God had made and set in
motion, which moves its resistless course while
each cog in
ITS MYSTIC WHEELS
pears craven IN Its stern substance as IL comes
swiftly up a blessing for us ALL 1t ticks the time
for us ITO be born," and though we may not like
the age or land or place In which lot is cast, we
cannot help IL, nor need we wish to do
so, Tor 1t is the best for us. SO also
with "our time to die" AS God sees 1t
there is no untimey death; no man really ever
good for time. "To every thing there is a season
and time TO every purpose under heaven;' "a
time to plant and time TO pluck up that which is
planted; time to Kill and u time TO heal; o
TIME TO BREAK DOWN
and a time to build up. O time to weep and time
to laugh, time TO mourn and time to dance.'
No one therefore can fix date beforehand and
say, ION such day will be merry and such day
Will mourn and he certain OF the fulhment OF
his purpose. For the day appointed for his we'd
ding may prove the day destined for his mourning.
After iully explaining the above views on time
the preacher made some very sensible and practical
remarks appropriate to the dawn OF the new year,
New Years motto, "Iet us therefore, brethren, as
many as be perfect be thus minded.n