New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-30
MEANS TO PERFECTION.
oropcF N.cDoNALD AS A PREACHER.


POSSESSIONS
George Macdonald the Scotch poet and
poves who is now making lecture tour in this coun-
Try preached yesterday the hall of the Young Mems
christian Association in Newark N j. upon "The De
sres OF Mankind for Perfect Goodness ana the Means
Of Attaining It." Mr. Macdonald was formerly cer-
c,nan of the Congregational denomination but Is now
Law member Of the Church Of England Since leaving
the ministry he has occasionally occupied the pulpit
IN England. and has won reputation there Tor the
strength OF his arguments and his el0quenoe' lie
has preached only in this country when was Ut
Boston, a few weeks ago IL is IN the pnlph that NC
seems most at home. In his lecture on Burns re"
nights ago he said: They preach In my lectures
What is man 10 II he speaks not the truth that Is III
him 2" Though nominally member oil the Angh'a"
Church. it is understood that be attaches htte import
apce 70 ecclesiastical lines and limits, and no theological
dogma has secured his advocacy. He is best known III
this country As the author the Annals Of Quet
Neighborhood." Robert FalcOner and Wilfred Cum
bernede" among his novels and the poems OF "lthn
and without" "The Hidden Life,' etc.
The hall Of the Young Mems Christian Association
was filed some time before the hour announced for the
beginning of the There was not even standing
ROOM and many were obliged 10 leave the building uh
able TO gain Abundance. There must have been iuy
a5OO people present The platform was thronged Win
auditors that the speaker had hardly room 70 APP
proach the desk Not available place in the whole
hall was left unOccuped Mr.. MacDonald's unwilling
ness 10 appear as clergyman shown by an absence
OF anything clerical in his dress or conventional IN his
manner The subject OF the was taken from the
story In ST. Matthew. Of the young man who came TO
Christ desiring to know how be could show his faith
The sermon itself marked by eaTnestnes and evident
sincerity
Mr. Macdonald will lecture in Albany tonight, but II s
very much feared OF rest may be rendered
imperative. His health is somewhat improved but he
constantly suffers much from the effort of eetur-
ing as from exposure OF travelling during this unu-
sually severe weather
THE ADDRESS.
Jesus said unto him, Ii thou wilt be perfect."-st
Matthew, XIX, D. Think Of the words for moment
spoken by that man. that Jewish youth: If thou wilt
be perfect Ii the words said 10 some OF you, you
would start of discussion whether perfection were
htainabe world not. The question is whether
you will perfect mott whether you have yet reached
that point where perfection is to you simply TO be de
sired not TO say thing rather than not attain which
you prefer Coo annihate YOU Let as look at
this story.
Jesus is walking along aud young man comes run
ming him. and kueelng 10 him says; Good MASTER
what GOOD thing shall my inherit eternal life
What TO do that may have that something which
need, and which know want that lacking some
thing I'm my nature 10 which give name but the
bichest-etenal lfe3" Jesus said "Why calest
thou me good There only one that is gOOdthat is
God" What does that meant We look at ii in some
confusion but think shall ind It easily explained
Jesus did want 20 be reminded Of his goodness.
That young man. suspect did think good deal OF his
goodness bnt Jesus not given to think OF how good
he was Does God himself brood over his own goodness
We 90 not think Of that which we are The better
any man IL the less he thinks about his own good
ness, and God himself is always thinking how to
make us good the depth Of that Goodness which is
Hmself and which ne does not think about When Jesus
heard the word good" applied to HIM It was as IL Nc
Father" thought Of His Fathers goodness not OF
GOODNESS NOT CENTRED II SELF.
had NOT cOme yett 70 be
goodness of COD he was thinking about goodness for
himself. am not blaming him. He wanted TO be more
good than he was he had got TO that condition
which like Christ he forgot all the goodness In him
sell and only perfectly adored the blessed goodness Of
But Jesus did not carry out the conversation from
men He always takes a man where he is. He does no'
begin telling him things that he is Incapable OF under
nifty living truth which was incOmprehensDle ana Is
incomprehensble TO opinions generally some OF US
WHOM W. teach fOOshlY try TO impress
upon Them things that they are incapable OF seeing and
understanding. We have TO take them where they
are. Jesus began 20 question the young
man: not that didn't know, but he must
Young man aud b.inself And so he says to him. If
thou wOudst enter into life keep the commandments
The youth say that he mas Aet mem an rom us oun
M and the other account that is gwen Us IN 81
Mark We are told that when he had sad, MASTER, az
these observed from my YOUTH" Jesus behodng
MIN loved hD, aud said unto hun, "One thing thou
20 thy WAYS and whatsoever thou hast give to
-th, p,of and take up the cross and follow me-"
Was Jesus deceived IN the young man then, or were
u
thai .uch a thought should cross our minds! seorn is
uuEbown 20 the heart OF Jesus. II he beheld
4u. Young man after such declaration ana
loved him he believed him, aud If he believed
hm he was not mistaken, aud the young man had kept
ia. gts from his youth no IL does not I'M
pJ he kept them perfectly. Jesus knew that the
youth had himself to keep the law and that Wben ne
found himself falling he tried again and again. and never
gave up Lord dld not deceive hlm when ne looked
al him and loved him. Alas Tor those VINO would cast
the name OF their commOnpaceness and unbelief over
tiofs love- When was reading this passage once IN
Bible which contained tOOtnotes, looked at the loot OF
you think was the the words "Then Jesus. be-
holding young man, loved hinlfelt kindly disclosed
toward llIn that II dNLe cOuuoh OI tne hedft "
WAY a dog loves better than that Aud this Is the
way i'm which great heart Of Christ Is Interpreted.
when tine Interpretation IL taken up by man VINO had
MOI learned 90 love himself, how could he have be-
Infinitely srpass term degree the human Affection
Jesus looked az the young man ana loved him. ~ way
that Ve uEd rsind simply and only because IL Is
deeper tcnderer and stronger than anything we CAL
FELLOWSHIP Win GOD.
What was the sign Of that love What outgrowth did
IL takeg Does 10 seem strange you that because Jesus
loved this young man He should say to him, Make
Door man OF yourself and come with me- DO you
think II was very hardl we the youth thought 1t
hard. He went away sorrowfuL" 81 have been keep
lug the commandments all my life up 70 now ne says,
land come 70 Prophet for little help and the
thing lie tells is and sell all have and give 10
though! He did not tank what that meant % He
went away s0rrOwiul, for he had great possessions
DO YOU think then that tins the last OF hunt AS
suredy. DO turns his back upon God, that Is the
last OF him There life after tnat nothing 70 call
GAisence save in God and with Cod The more live
see tue more plainly che absolutely that out OF
God there life. what remains OF It is only gal
Ysnized existence.
NO. don't believe for one moment that the young
mad been training himself from his youth up to keep
~ made the statement No. but 10 swoke special
iudiGua aIecuOn for himself IN The heart OF Christ
dol't believe when hc turned his back sOrrOWfully upon
:, - ia ,,r,d g,,rti, ms wealth ana became leader
of,f atfVg me- ~