The New York herald., 1873-11-24
CHURCH OF THE INCARNATION

DIR. Montgomery on Rest in the Lord
The services at the church at the corner OF
Madison avenue and Thirty-dfrh street were con-
Quoted, as usual, by the Rev. DR.. Montgomery and
assistant.
Dr. Montgomery took his text from Psalms, cxvi
:, and spoke to the following enect:-There is
perhaps, nothing delicious to our bodily gratf-
cations in this world as rest. and men are con-
stantly aiming at that one thing-to obtain the
rest which comes after honest work. There Is
nothing which spreads more grateful feeling
through our frame than that languor which
steals over Us at twilight after we have been up
and toing all the day long. 1t is sense OF repose
complete in itself, and partakes OF the nature OF
utter vacuity. when even the spiri. is un.
willing TO give itself the work OF thought
or mental action OF any kind. This rest
is refreshing and recuperating In Its effects upon
the overtaxed body. But IN the same way 1t Is a
perfect boon TO work after one has been idle for
some time-after, for instance, a long sickness,
when one has been tied down to a sick bed. Then
work Is joy-work is rest. Thus the nature OF
pleasure may be said 10 have many forms, and we
might deduce the argument, which may seem a
paradox to lazy people, that work is pleasure and
pleasure work. But pleasure has SO many dir-
ferent aspects To the preacher, who considers
who dwells upon the words to which ne gives
meaning and sense and continuity; to
the painter who, after years OF elementary
his coors together, places his pigments upon the
canvas, until what seemed at first a wretched
daub gradually assumes the forms and harmony OF
perfect picture. This is all work. but IL is a work
which ennobies the man and gives him the purest
earthly pleasure. And the rest which follows this
work is the reward OF honest, perseverlng industry
God gives the same reward to the soul which
follows Him and seeks rest within His bosom. The
soul scars at all times for higher plane, and one
might as well say that the angel Gabriel had ceased
10 labor for our salvation and had gone to nlde
himself In the fartnest corner OF heaven 10 say
that the soul does not higher In It's aspirations
which nutters about and strikes at It's gilded
bars, Is an exempifcatlon OF the desire
| ior liberty and a broader domain, and typifes the
| soul winch Is confined In itsmovements and wants
rest above. take the prisoner who is condemned
10 solitary confinement alone, with no occutation
~ - said 70 be The most terrible punishment Which
man can lnnlct upon man, ana a person condemned
or " ,ns Woulu wiilngly do the hardest work that
nave some occupation. And yet solitary confine-
| ment ~ perfect rest II anything can be on this
eartn But both the body ana the mind crave for
| some occupation, something to do which viii
| cause them TO I'LL their place In Gods universe
and appear well before His eyes God Commando
| That our body should do some manner OF work and
tne comnana ~ ooeyed literally to the letter for
The rich are bound by their very richness to IVORY
1 by taking proper care OF their riches The moor
| are bound 10y the necessity OF daily subsistence TO
| DO ike wise-work. IL Is not total cessation from
occupation OF all kinds that lie means when ue
asks us TO 70 TO Him and obtain rest. God offers
us the happiness which He knows to be best for
us. he asks our souls TO come mp and pour
them in one eternal rest where the sins and the
mseries OF this life Will be msre dim memories
where the good will live and the bad Will perish
ana where the immortal soul shall live forever II
tAs bosom q tpe AGrds II " tQalA2l W ibai N'