National Republican., 1873-09-22
METROPOLITAN NJ. n. CnuRcu,
srrmon by IIr. TInanr,

'o''cIuhy' " IL y. n., Doctor 1lnany, who Il
ten weeks past has been touring Ia Europ,
occupied the pulpit for the nrst time since hi
return.
He addressed larre and refined audience fror
Episile Of James, i;id-l5; "Do not err my be
loved brethren. Bvcry good gift and every pei
f,ct gift Ia from above. and cometh dow
from the father Of lights with whom Is no varll
brhess, neither shadow OF turning"
The speaker remarked that the words OF tn,
text are Intended as a caution, as well as an ex
hortAtion, their object being 10 disabuse oni
minds OF the Idea that the good which accrue.
10 us as mass in this world lain any sense, OF
our own working or begetting not that the bless
ings Of life do not come to us through the
MEDIA OF NATURAL LAWS,
hut that there Is power behind the laws constI
tuIlng the source from which the good COMES.
Iae.e III nv ~ xannlans w vel as revealed
attendant with ills as their observance is npn,
iuctlye OF hspplness and weltare-as the law Of
temperance, upon which health Is conditionoJ.
the law OF frugality and economy, on which
wealth depends; the law OF effort on which nro'
grsss hangs; aud ,be law Of prayer, on which all
hut " !, not the law In any OF these cases
Nnloh produces or secures the blessing, hui the
,s,, pSwer oeninn ~ dhe iaw which has ordered this
OF the universe. All law must have a fonntai,
OF source, and this very idea implies existenre
,hesa e bsInt, o te aulnistrator or maker; hence
avenues, not originaiors OF blessings-onIx ce
nefs " the divine economy TO bring the bessin o.
Laws cannot explain the facts OF life. ,h,. ro
lnlres mind. IL Is not correct TO regari Mas
,ngs "a, as crumbs thrown out upon the scenes az
ice cannot do this. It requires s,oy a
"a ruler OF all, and Though h.
noe.- by carriers made Of me
the overseer b. '''' ~"
sends sends we nsv o,esd nrav,depces Il. raj, but
mistake the carrier Tor God. Y"
some forms o. ldoIs5y isem Te NJ ma; =; ,,s
OF Cod 10 guide aud we might easily, with the
Eastern idOlater, worship the sun coming up
dren OF nature that the great blessings Of light
heat and proinctiveness come TO Us through the
sun. We might worship forests OF water foun-
tains, feeling that nestinable blessings burst
forth nnon the world from these; bat when
man worshipsa" "
Of wood, stone or metal, II involves wonderful
peryefsion Of human skill and Ingenuity. so
when a man substitutes the law through which
blessings come to him for the hidden source and
puycr Of blessing, and accepts the media as |
satisfactory explanation and substitute for God, |
he IL perverting the faculties OF dlscernment |
with which God has endowed him; These bless. |
tpps are represented In the text as looming |
down from the Father Of Lights" The Apostles |
cali God the "Father Of Lights" because OF the
TsSS IISST sest and prodactivsness and TO balance
the earth and the spheres. God Is thus 10 the
world the source OF present comfort and pro
10 gladden. mans nome on earth with blessings,
all of which come "down" from him, and In re-
cOguizing this line Of blessing man realizes his
true relation to God rs the Col Of Providence.
No, In seasons OF trouble, when the waves OF
misfortune threaten to overwhelm man u Is his
privilege to throw himself upon him who holds
affairs may be klndled by proper study OF prob
abilities; but hope concerning M unknown world,
moi based upon statements from some one from
,bat world, "a mere fancy, tending only to make
phaptoms Of realities. We may desire hope and
dream away our lives; but there Is broad chasiil
brtWeep hope aud reality which no human power |
can bridge. The beautiful descriptions OF
heaven aud the fearful pen:plctutes 0f hell are
only understood by US 10 so tar as tney are SYM
bos which usage has made expressive OF our
IDEAS OF the beautiful or the dreadful In this
world They do not show US what heaven and
hell are In reality.
Father" Is the only way OF receiving any good.
st.James refers TO God rs the "father OF lights,
van Is s .s,s s s
catches only the nearest ysys of hight and heat,
then drifts on into coldness, so we get ouly the
,iIyine rays from the loving hesst OF God as we
keep near to him, the never-chRnyfns centre OF
ME and light. Imagine what the world would
he II there was variableness with God IN the
dlspensation OF his providence; 1t would be i'm
uossibls TO rely on him; what human nature
wanls Ia to know that In pr rJsperity or adNersity,
10 health or sickness, on the crest OF ProsPeI,y
God Ia the same unchanged and unchangeAbe,
always TO be fornd In the very spot where we
III ia of the greatest Importance that we should
~ver realize and recognize ,se fact that AL our
lii. 'ings .'come down" from above. we are
.m, ~ 'agard only spiritual blessings as divine
" surs r,'s Is u great mistake. physical and
%,aJieotuai blessings are as truly the III OF
nv, 80 me SD, ritual. The power TO make
oo,,s 20 nnparal!e !eled ly giving the mass OF
humanity ability Ia sSs masses aaS spP5f Psts
cla.e ,,s tna ,ss ,ssr,,A conld have no geuluses.
ysSPse ne srdSns sSGasn5 out ASi Of
the duties anu lev p, ,,.It-S OF absolute owner
Se shtnr az Ptes bIessnss are ~ fror,ant and In.
renible in nxing mans destlL.. "a 80 ", ,hs
W. are TO give account TO God for l.. "a ~
talents he has gwen Us, and he requllS" T9.ss
multiply them for his honor and glory, 80, -
,iessings are not TO be treated lightly. II pro-
erIy conceived and practiced Gods blessings
Would change the whole appearance OF NE
Wecngnizlpg the source back OF the law would
n,sy,nt All the clOse-1sted, hard-hearted pro-
seedings Of life and teach US how 70 use nes,n ~
reI.aas and advance GOds Kingdom and glory
among men.