The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-05
SEVENTH STREET METHODIST CHURCH

Christian Responsibility--,rhc Lessons OF
tho Past Year-Man a Steward Unto
Gsd-The responsibilities OF That
Observation-Disclosures by the Rev. John
Parker.
large and serious minded congregation gath.
cred at the Seventh street Methodist Episcopal
church yesterday morning to listen to the pastor,
the Rev. John Parker, upon "Christian Respon-
sibility," subject considered especially appro.
pirate at the beginning OF the year. In comment
Ing upon the Bible lesson taken from the opening
chapter OF Exodus he exhortcd his hearers to
have realization OF their duty toward God mixed
with all their plans Of life, without which there
was no safety. 1.-TWO years ago." said he. "you sat
here. appalled, as you observed the bold, bad,
licentious riding broadcast over this CITY, and
now mark the change. God was not In their uves.n
THE SERMON.
The religious exercises over, the preacher an
nounced as the base Of his remarks the Lords
parable Of the unjust steward as found In the six
teenth chapter OF Luke, laying stress upon the
passage In the second verse:-"Give an account OF
thy stewardship" In this parable, which IL ad-
dressed solely to the disciples, the Saviour
designed to show how men OF the world deal with
each other. The drit OF the whole parable Is that
we should show the same earnestness, vtgor and
address as Christians which men 90 In their
WoItiiissess, auQ tuAt We bnOusu De as BAg0clOuB,
wise and devoted to our heavenly Lord as they are
In their relations to the pleasures and rTOhts OF
life. We all hold stewardship to God, for which
we shah eventually be called to an account. The
glory vi our existence Ia that we are responsible
beings, inspired TO good by the influences Of
the Holy spirit, prompted to evil by the
temptations OF the devil. We yet have the re-
sponsIDllity which attaches to free Will These
Influences are to the moral nature what the attrac-
ton or grayitatlon Is 10 the material universe
by them man Is held In allegiance. This RESPONSE
bility enters into our
RELATIONS WITH BOTH wORLDa
without cohesion In society anarchy must fol-
love- There IL In the moral world O centripetal
the other draws rs toward each other, repre-.
sented By the active principle OF benevolence.
Our responsibility to God Is based upon the fact
that he IL Our Creator and Rcdeemer. He argue
that mao Is entitled to the BENEFITS to be derived
from his inventions. so God, in . higher
vice OF His creatures. This has the authority
OF Holy Writ. too; for both In the Old
ana New Testamentg our absolute And entire
service IL enforced. Our responsibility, moreover.
to Him has reference to our redemption, and our
gratitude should bear proportion 10 the immcasur-
escape THIS responsibility. AS we. citzens Of the
United States, are amenabe to the laws Of our
country, and cannot avoid tue penalty consequent
on transgresston OF them. 80 the laws or our
physical and moral natures are imperative and
must be ooeved. We may take poison, ignorant OF
80 SIN has tie same b}ighting, deadly erect upon
our moral natures; nor can we avoid Il by pleat-
ing ignorance. We are responsible not only for
what we knO n, but what We might have known.
Cavinq will not benefit u.s. There N
much Of tins IN those latter days. owing 70