The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-26
SERVICES AT BABYLON, L. I.

0&IXA v &OGo n 1 DAD AVN, II. i.
The Oldest Church Orga liza ton ON Long
Island-The Results Of Right and Wrong
DOiDg.-SermOn by Rev. ia mes HfcIlou-
gall, Jr.
BABYLON, J.. L. August 25, 1872.
IL is not generally known that the Presbyterian
Society OF this village which is now thronged with
visitors from New York and Brooklyn, was formed
century ago, and is probably the oldest religious
organization OF that denomination OH Long island.
They have recently erected q spacious and neat
edihce, furnished it with good organ and two
years since called the Rev. James McDougan, Jr.,
from Brooklyn, to supply its pulpit. He ia young
man of culture ana more than ordinary pulpit
ability.
He preached an able discourse this morning from
Galatians vi, and s-"Be not deceived; God Is
not Knocked; for whatsoever man sowets that
shall he also reap For he that soweth to his flesh
shall OF the flesh reap corruption; but he that
eth to the spirit shall Of the spirit reap life
lasting" In his opening remarks the preacher
said that the expression, ''Be not deceived" Is a
note Of warning, calling attention to the inpor-
lance OF what Is about TO be said We have next
Gods law for human conduct; that there Is an in
variable and indissoluble connection between
actions and their results-a connection of cause
and effect. As every seed contains in itself by
Its own increase and harvest, SO Is it with the
lives and actions of men. Whatever you do you
shall hear from 1t again. II will como up. and it
Will make no mistake. Corn does not come I'D
wheat. This law Ia Of universal application. In
the natural world the springing OF seeds does not
depend at all upon the intention OF the sower, or
whether he be In earnest or In sport, reckless
calculating or II he go away and forget what he
haSsown. The seeds come up just the same. SO
with human conduct. Alike your most deliberate
and most hasty actions, your best and worst
You may repent bitterly the next moments
no matter, you must reap. You are appalled,
by an unexpected and calamltous result but
by scrutnizing it carefully you may recognize
the harvest Of long forgotten sowing. That hor-
rid, rank and noxious weed, poluting and poison
ing all its neighborhood, was most innocent look
ing seed. 80 do the consequences OF our actions
Oftimes exceed our widest hopes or drest fore.
bodings. II good then good perhaps q hundred fold
to your delighted and blessed surprise; but II evil,
then evil to your CONSERVATION and despair
Secondly, this law Of God for human conduct Is also
inevitable; wherefore the Apostle says GOD is not
mOcked." All sorts OF men are here warned that
God Is not to be tred with that Tie cannot he cir
f ,;s or In respect 70 dnls OF any OF
smart Tor HerOd. They Knocked him and disre-
garded his command, and yet kept out OF his
reach. And this word OF Scripture suggests that
men attempt this very thing with God. Many pass
their lives In the hope that they can successfully
mock Him; that by shrewdness or craft, or ariice,
they shall not indeed they reap. II God says,
''Tne way OF the transgressOr Ii hard" men reply
In their hearts, ''t IL hard only for the weak, the
simple; the wise, the sharp the str0ng-these may
transgress and yet their way not be hard.n The
speaker here at some length, Illustrated the
methods by which evil men cndeavor to dclude
themselves into the belief that God can he success
fully Knocked In violating the laws OF health OF ma
ture and OF society," In all those cases IL IL the men
themselves who are mocaed-whO deceive and be-
fool themselves. Judge, too, with what feelings
the Lord on High must contemplate those who per-
sist In SHINING against Him, trusting to their aro
ness or perhaps their mpudencc to get clear at
words, spoken but once in the Bible
"He That sitteth in tho Heavens shall
laugh; the Lord shall have them In derision.'
II men would but set this down as q fact that God
cannot be Knocked, that they must reap as they
SOW, then might we expect TO witness different
line OF conduct What Is wanting In most mems
lives Is the clement or responsibility, the clear and
assured expectation OF meeting, race 70 iace, every
action, and or answering TO God and to man for all
We should see men sober and careful, walking in
the rear OF GOO ana IN preparation Tor tnet nna
account. In speaking OF sowing TO the flesh and
reapnR corruption or sowing 10 the spirit anu
reapng lie everlasting, ne said that, amid all pos
sible forms ana under AL dlsguises, there were
really but TWO KINDS OF lie, but two species
OF actions: All iile ana conduct either has or
mas NOT I'D u tne element o. endurance. Men reap
from their sowing either life or death. There is but
achievement from corruption, here expressed by
tnc word spirit" tne principle OF vital piety.
everything winch sprlngeth ron the natural man
is natural ailu eaftly, ana therefore COfruptiDlc