The New York herald., 1873-12-08
SECOND UNITARIAN CHAPEL.

Jacobs Dream-The Nature of Law-Thc
Last TeI ribie Ocean Catastrophe.
DR.. Chadwick's church was very well attended
yesterday morning. He preached sermon on the
late terrible ocean disaster. lie chose his text
from the twenty chapter OF Genesis sixteenth
verse-"And Jacob awaked out OF his sleep and he
said, Surely the LORD is in this place, and knew
it not.'n
We know next to nothing about Rebecca's house
keeping, what kind OF bed Jacob's mother could
lurnish but as he was the favorte son, 1t Is likely
it was softer than the bed Of stones he slept on
when he had the dream Of the ladder. 1t Is not
Likely his dream would ever have come to him un-
der his mothers roof.
1t is true that God deals with us as the Bible tells
US. He sends us trials to discipline u.s. and then
He will give US JOY. Have we not found that in our
personal experience, people lind themselves
cramped and hampered? Then they lind
POWER OF RESISTANCE.
IL summons new energies Things are sugges-
tive OF opposites just as starving man dreams Of
plenty; so 1t is in the material PLAIN where the
ocean by which you wander has smooth beach to
wash itself on IT is tranquil but when the Jutting
crags present themselves to the tide it shows re-
sistance, and so IL Is with men and women.
1t was Charlotte Brontes pillow OF stones that
made her dream as she did; it was the lonely liie
her hard surroundings, that were the making Of
her. and SO 1t was with Burns and Sir Walter
Scott and when they looked back at the hard
places, they must have sad, ''Surey, the Lord was
there and knew IL not.n
Has IL not been SO twice in the history OF our
own nations lt was when British tyranny became
too hard, that our dream oil liberty came and later
In our civil struggle came our dream OF emancipa-
ton.
Many persons fear that the tendency OF science
Is towards atheism; that
THE TENDENCY or SCIENCE
is to expel God from the universe. william Hami-
ton states 1t that every natural phenomenon was
regarded rs miracle, and the movement OF the
celestial bodies was resolved into few matne-
matlcal laws by Kepier All contingencies In the
heavens find explanation IN the law OF gravitaton.
II the idea OF law excludes the idea OF God, then
is the world in fair way TO exclude God.
Law Is every day making new conquests. But
these ideas include each other at every step. The
omnipresent principle OF law hints at the omni-
Kepler 81 think thy thoughts after thee, Lord"
Ignorance eliminates God, and science restores
God and enables US TO say, "aurely the Lord was III
this place and knew 1t not.n Every new revea-
tion OF science makes US bow our heads reverenuly.
But If these laws furnish us vita the joys o. life
let US look how stern they are; how unre-
lenting. Gods love is central. do not say God
works by general laws, that he consults the
greatest good at the sacrifice OF the lesser. The
antitnesls OF general providence Is universal pro-
whence. Law Is schoolmaster, sometimes
sadly stern and unreentng one, but II is the
calculations II law was an unstable commodty2
We see there is no reason why our claim should
cruel is liberty, born OF God, ana shall be able to
say, God Is good TO all; mercy no alterthought
We do not intend to say That ignorance Is
THE CAUSE OF DISASTERS
like the last one we have had, but seldom do they
happen without careessness. Is not law here the
schoolmasters Is there no special providence
none, Ia the sense OF law suspended, much IN the
OF law revealedY 1t Is law thatts the educator
Reflection Is the corrective OF imagination. This
reminds us that sooner or later, all on board that
vessel would have gone. There Is q time 10 die,
but how lew live to reach that time. The Bible
puts 1t at three and ten. What IS the reason,
but ignorance. We are like soldiers in the midst
OF battle; we know OF nothing except our imme
date surroundings; and am sure OF this, that
OF tie souls on that ship entered the unknown
land without rebellion.
Are we SO wise that we would choose q longer
death quick death seems besn
Referring TO the death OF a member OF the con-
gregatlon who was on board the Vile du uavre
when she went down, he said:-
Our dear friend Will always dwell In our memory
Us we saw her last in health and vigoT. She was
Iull OF hope and Joy, gong abroad; and she has
gone abroad can't think her dead
LOVE Is STRONGER THAN DEATH
Water cannot quench 1t. l rejoice that was
privileged to know that passenger shall always
her with her hand held close in the strong hand
OF one she loved. My neighbor is gone before.
Shall we not meet her aQaiuY