The New York herald., 1874-08-07
CHURCH OF TEE STRANGERS.

CHURCH OF TIE STRANGERS.
Seeking the Things Above-A Sermon by
Rev. DIR. Deems.
Yesterday was beautiful day and the Church Of
the strangers was crowded. The seats OF the pull
! pit were occupied by gentlemen and the aisles
filed with campss0oIs. While scores or people
stood. DR.. Deems began feeby. he had been
travelling and preaching during the week. But
/ his usual animation came as he proceeded The
/ text was Colossians, ILL.,, l-''Seck those things
| which are above" He began by sayfng:-Let Us
first OF all rejOice that everything s not down on
1 the nat OF lowest sel6shness and worldliness
There are high things "things that are ab0ve''-
things that stretch away into measureless heights
inviting and soliciting the highest aspirations.
And yet how nat ana stale and improbable is the
life led by so many thousands of human beings
who have in themselves the measureless capabi-
ties OF immortality; The address OF the Apostle Is
not to those who have no spiritual vitality, who
"dead in trespasses and in sins, but those who
are "risen with Christ" VINO have tasted the good
things OF the new life and felt the power OF the
world to come. TIE exnortation to those is that
they seek "those things which are above"
And why should Christians seek the lowest
tningsp They have forsaken them for Christ
Why 90 back to them They have left an Egypt
Of bondage for q promised land Of liberty-why
long for the neshpots OF the old low homo There
are higher things
There is perfect knowledge. "Now we know in
par,.n II is very great thing that VIC can have
any knowledge. But all true knowledge begers a
desire for greater and better knowledge. The
thing we most know now Is that we are very ig
norant. From the days OF Solomon down to date
men have been studying botany to some extent.
ana yet Professor Agassiz tells Us that he can
coun. on his fingers al the specimens Of which we
/ hsv unIi I'm ado An vot rl,oro
one OF these specimens concerning which you and
] could not In ten minutes ask ten questions, not
enc OF which could bc answered by any scholar.
1t Is SO In the department Of mental sciences it Is
so in spiritual things. The simple fact Is that
we do not know any one thing perfectly. This
Is great embarrassment and humiliation. Jr
we might know SO mucn more Of oi other Things things
We snail never nave Infinite knowledge. That Is
possible TO G0a alone But among shoss things
something. lien that which ~ perfect shall
come then that which is part shall be done away"
''Then shall know even as also am knOwn.r Per-
feet holiness IL among those things which are above
To be spotlessly cieansed from his stains OF sin,
have the body in subjection TO the soni and the
soul 10 subjection to the obedience of Christ Is q
lofty height on which the smile OF God makes per-
retual sunshine-where the atmosphere is Kept
pure by the breath Of the Holy Ghost For our
tor 1--WE rsea With It s
natural that we should desire to ascend with
% OF thog
is It's essential There can be no happiness without
love. That happiness be perfect three things are
requisfte-a perfect being, who loves us perfectly,
Yes. Jesus has SHOWN that the God Of ali perIec.
tiOn loves us perfectly SO rs 10 be incarnate Tor
MS and suffer and die for us; that He spared
nothing-gaye us ALL and then gave the last pos
| sble proof or perfect love for us. While, perhaps,
we cannot know perfectly in our morta! limitations
! and must wait for the "then" Of which Paul
speaks, We can love perfectly, all our affections.
/
| This perfect love casts out all tormcnting lear.
These are three things among the loftiest things,
"those things which are above.n The best lite is
! Lille whose powers are employed In seeking such
heights. This seeking involves several things.
heights. people dwelling IN a valley which was
always covered with clouds, SO that they could not
seen them, and mad no desire to climb them might
| not believe In their existence. The danger with
at n ,na G ess
anything higher. We may be content wi the
things which are below because we DO not believe
in the existence OF higher things. 1t is sad
degradation when man believes That there are
no heights OF moral character beyond those he
loltier sphere Of exs,ence9 If there be power.
ful God lie can pile transcendent heights on
better things than before He viii seek to draw
US up. He must have provided satisfaction for all
the longings which He has created. AS "risen with
! Christ" VIC must have such longings. Why should
we not believe in the possibility OF their gratiflca-
tionY Ynen, we must cultivate love for 'tnose
them. Men do not hunt tor what they do not
want nor go searching for what they deem value.
less. send your ncart on high and all your life
the means necessary to the finding OF the things
above. Ir any soul Is higher ,han mine In know
ledge, holiness and happiness, whether that soul
be 10 the church militant or the church trum-
pnant, must learn how that soul reached that
height and then ] must pursue. Above aIl, 1t
must be remembered that Jesus says that He Is the
way. Keeping close to the side and pressing In
the footsteps OF Jesus we shall ascend. The
preacher then discussed the two reasons assigned
by Paul. one s, that Christ Is among those
heights and Christ to the Christian Is all in ALL
To him there Is nothing without Christ 'Whom
have in heaven but thee ?' "And there Is none ON
earth that desire beside thec.v We shall be "lor-
ever with the Lordu when we find the thugs above.
The other reason Is, '1hat our life Is hid with
Christ In God.v We arc going up stream
TO the fountain head. All our springs are
in Him. All our strength and comfort come
fr0m Him. Having the higher we have the lower.
He who stands on mountain tops sees all the hill
and valley below, and all the hills around. The
question then comes, .sWhat are we to do with the
/ things beowY' We are not TO love them, but use
them in helping US to the things which are above.
/ Food, rainent, physical and temporary things are
stairs on which We ascend. Even sorrowiul ana
pitiful worldly things, our sunerings and our an
noyances, may be made steps up to heaven.
"Een though Ii be cross that raiset1 me-" The
sermon was closed by encouragement TO young and
weak Cbrlstans. DO not be discouraged by the
rapidity with which others ascend, nor with your
low attainments. You need not lose heart at any
thing SO long as you do not cease TO seek. Seek.