The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-10-12
CHURCH OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST.
The Relation OF Home Life to Spiritual
Culture-Sermon by Bishop Gregg.

me INSI0tlOn OF Home A1Io TO spiritual
Culture-SermOn by Bishop Gregg.
The Right Rev. DR.. Gregg, Bishop OF Texas,
preached yesterday morning at the Church OF st.
John Baptist, to rather small congregation.
The right reverend preacher took his text from
Luke, X, Al, 42-"And Jesus answered and said
unto her: Martha, Martha, thou art careful and
troubled about many things" &c.
No character In the Scriptures had been more
misconceived than That or Martha. 1t was not very
strange that 1t should be 80, as Mary was gener
ally represented as being the very opposite or her
sister. But John says that Jesus loved Martha,
showing that it was perfectly Christian family.
Martha was the eldest sister, and the care Of the
family seemed to have dev0lved upon her. In every
household there must be some 0ne-the mother or
the eldest sister fills this important duty. On
the memorable day to which the text referred Mar
tina scarcely knew how to make the entertainment
choice enough. 1t was such q company as she
probably never had entertained and never again
hoped to entertain. 1t was wonder that
Martha was perpiexed and distressed at the alb
sence Of her sister. And go 1t was written:-"But
Martha was numbered about much serving and
came to him and said, Lord, dost thou not care
that my sister hath left me to serve al0ne9 Bid
her therefore that she help me-" This exhibition
of temper was grievous error Mary improved
the present opportunity and
LISTENED TO THE DIVINE WORDS
of Jesus, while Martha was simply bent on serving.
IL was however, Incorrect to regard Martha SIM
ply as the type OF the earthly minded and Mary as
the spiritually minded woman. Roth were faith-
1ul disciples OF Christ and they simply differed in
their modes or expressing their feeling The one
was bent on entertaining Jesus, while the
other was determined upon achieving salvation.
portant lesson to be derived from these words OF
Jesus. great many women were like Martha,
By the pe and too duties Of
seldom fully appreciated by man. The more re-
fined states OF society had alleviated womans
tons were nevertheless manifold. Man expected
frequently some things from woman which he mad
DEPEND the comiorts and happiness Of he con-
tracted world which was comprised IN the word
.home." she only asked, IN view OF what she had
tngS when she renamed
UNsrRENGTHENED by HIS PRESENCE
The history OF wOman's lie, no matter where she
was placed, was one OF vast anxiety and seepless
watches. The responsibility OF man bore no COM
home. He the strong man, would soon give way
under the care OF the burdens which oppressed
one who was weaker than he. The case q the
woman was harder III the world than IL ought to
be- Man was not entitled TO make q servant OF
his wife, and was not TO derange everything by
supply his deficiencies. He should make her a
vile and not q drudge. What wonder that there
were many Martnas IN the world, mothers aud
hustle and daily anxiety Of home, Jailed to sit at
tue ieet OF Jesus as they ought to do This 'be
true, was frequently caused by women
themselves. 1t interiered In many cases with the
spiritual nature OF children, and was the canker
preying upon tue CHRISTIAN development or gra-
c1ous family life. preytng care was often caused
by the habit OF serving which grew upon women,
and sapped the very foundation OF tnat home
which was woman's nOblesC sphere.
THE SLAyIsH sUBJECToN
to household cares which exhausted the body to
the sacrifice OF the soul, and which put the hus
band aud the child before duty and before God,
was also highly reprehcnsible. The religious du-
ties OF the family and the spiritual nursing of
children were frequently neglected In this siavlsh
subsection to the merely material wants. II COM
pany arrived on the Lords day 1t was frequently
made an excuse for staying away from church. IL
was not such spirit that made home an abode
OF spiritual happiness. 1t was woman's mission
and her u duty In that noble sphere which was
assigned to her. But Tor her, as Tor all, there was
zone thing needful,'' she must SIT at the feet OF
Jesus and take Him into her heart This work. OF
course, must also have its proper bounds, and the
needs OF the family
MUST NOT BE SACRIFICED
to the various religious meetings and charitable
undertakings which appealed every day to the
heart OF the charitable In u vast city ike New
York. Some had found In Martha q type OF numer-
GUS Christians who served the Saviour jealousy,
and yet failed to sit at His feet while the picture
generally painted OF Mary received the full light
OF heaven. Botn characters should be united in
harmonious life, the active and the contemplative,
the earthly and the spiritual Let the wise Martha
and the meek loving Mary DC blended In one, and
the harmony and fulness and zone thing needlur'
would be secured.