The New York herald., 1873-06-09
ST. pAULs METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The Building-Up Of Charactcr-Christ
tho Only Sure Foundation for the
EdiAce-Nlan tho Sum OF All His Acts
on Earth-SeI mon by DIR. FOss.
The Rev. Dr. Cyrus D. Foss, pastor OF the St.
Paul's Methodist Episcopal church. on Fourth ave-
nue., preached to large and attentive congrega-
ton last evening from the passage found in the
twentieth verse Of the Epistle OF Jude :-"But ye,
beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy
faith" lie said every man Is building
house In which he must live forever.
That house Ia his own character. There
are many builders who, in the prosecution or their
work for Others. may slight 1t, but ne Is indeed
foolish man who ncglects the proper construction
OF house for his own use. This illustration is
found throughout the Scriptures. The saviour
uses 1t in the closing paragraphs OF the Sermon on
the Mount where he speaks OF the wise man who
built his house upon rock. 1t s iavorlte Illus
trati0n OF the Apostle Paul, who, In his
Epistle to the Corinthians, says:-"Accord-
ing to the grace OF God. which Is given
unto me as q wise master builder have laid the
foundation and another buiideth thereon. But let
every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon."
In the study OF architecture there are several
things to be considered. There are the plan, the
foundation, the materials, the workmanship and
the location All OF these are essential to the per-
Is the class OF the edl1ce. And, drst, the skill
OF the architect is called on to prepare
before him for whom it is to be constructed Ths
accomplished, the location the foundation and
materials are duly considered. The speaker then
proceeded to show that any defect in the dive
points mentioned became fatal to the structure
and the consequent necessity Tor care in every one,
and then drew an analogy between this ana the
buding-up OF character, which every man, either
for good or evil must do for himself In very many
instances the materials and Workmanship seem
Statesmen AND CASHIERS
In the business world, who, perhaps, go on for
and yet, in the end a fault III the construction is
manifested somewhere and what seemed so beau
tiul and wellpr0por TONED comes crashing TO the
ground, leaving only shapeless mass OF ruins.
He showed the necessity Of a carefully prepared
plan OF life as q requisite for the buildingup OF
character, the planting OF firm foundati on, the
care in the selection OF materials and in the work
manship, and added:-I submit that we have
reached o point when we are called on to build up
THE BASE OF CHRISTIANITY.
He read from the context to show that we are
building under the eyes of God. Every person in
the Holy Trinity as therein stated Is assisting us
This should be carried home to our consideration.
Those who have built upon any other foundation
ing scene OF life have cried ont, with Solomon,
'All Is vanity and vexation OF spirit, and there
Is no prophet under sc hs me s" eoes Asr s
is constantly constructing can only be occupied by
himself and one other, that is, the spirit OF good
it is what he has made it, lie cannot get away
from it, ana 1t will remain with him forever. This
is well stated in the concluding chapter OF Revea-
tions He that is UNJUST let him be unjust still,
and he that Is righteous let him be righteous STILL.
The acts OF mans life can never be hid for aside
from the book OF remembrance, in the final day, he
Will stand before God
THE SUN OF HIS LABoRs 80
whether for good or evil, while upon earth. AS
man sows so shall he reap; that Is, OF the thing he
sows shall he reap; and, in Illustration OF this, no
more terrible idea was ever suggested than that
the mser should retain his avarice, the licentous
man his lust without the privilege OF indulging in
these passions. They thus, like the archfend
mentioned by Milton, become torment to them
selves:-
Which way fly is hell; myself am hell
In considering how can best build up char
acter which we would be willing TO carry with US
to eternity he urged that Christ is the only sure
foundation. He cxhorted the young, that they
to take every means Of mental and bodily culture.
The building must he done by days work, by
persistent plodding labor, without which nothing
can be accomplished In life. The architect lays
out labor for various persons but our duty is per-
formed in the labors which are assigned us. Bear
in mind Gods grand ideal OF q man, ana what IL Ia
the secret eye OF God and when the universe Is
gathered for the Judgment OF the Father then
shall accrue the result OF your abOrs peace and
happiness forever.
FIFTH AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Dr. Halls Sermon-Life Perpetual
Round OF Change, Full of Interest and
Variety-The Married Statc-Allusion
to the Recent Parricide-Thc Duties Of
Parents-The Obligations of Public
Men.
The Rev. DR.. John Han preached yesterday at the
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian church to large con-
pregation. After the usual services and prayers
Nhe sunDlication beseechnr proyiden tia ,lisnen.