New-York tribune., 1874-11-30
THE BOOK OF LIFE.

Fareru Discourse Of Ii. Ret Dr. w. H. NehO on Trinity Pro
tcstqnt Episcopal Church. Aerark. n. }.
The Rev. DR.. w. r. Nicholson, the retiring
rector OF Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church. Newark
an account of whose secession from that Church aud
aGiation with the Reformed Episcopal Church move.
ment has already appeared in The TRIBUNE, preached
his farewell at that churcn last evening" to an
overAowing house. He took for his text Phil w., 8:
"WhOse names are in the book OF lfe."
We feel said tie preacher that these words tell
us OF something beautiful; they arc so beautiful
ia themselves. And feel 1t all the glancing
at their context. Very often the local relations Of
truth in Scripture are what the prism to object OF
sight said object retaining its identity and all its
own proportions. but appearing how manifold and how
ornamental. Our text IS part OF wonderful outpour
ing of love. The Philippians had remembered ST.
Paul in prison at Rome and sent to supply
tbs letter in acKno Of the service
pressing his "ioyous thaukfGlncss," Now this loving
spirit of the letter mounts TO lis highest Just
IN he neeIbcrlood Of the tSHt oy r e 6tIo;o m te
l0nced for my Joy and crown. my dearly bcoyed" A
stress endearment whole soul full OF delicious 10y
i'm and then mentioning particular persons; he is mind
fu also of the many whom he cannot mention aud SAYS
of them, by way OF compensation: Whose names in
these words in the fellowship of kindred Christian
minds, and they ring with gladncss irrepressible
Blessed indeed must be their subcctmatter. as agree
ng fully with the dear sympathy between the inspired
writer and his correspondence the truth OF the text and
tho feeling of the context, like drops of water flowing
into one And us, doubtless the believers at Philippl
felt themselves more than repaid BY letter so full Of
anticipate lovebreathng words OF the shall
warm up our hearts, and weld Ills together Ill closer
union with the gospel Of the grace Of God
name I'm the book OF hfe-what does II importi Now.
the Psaist says MY tears are In Thy book" In such
like passages the idea of book Is that Of writing down.
as security the memory II God did actually reg
lister his observations OF The weeping OF His children 1t
being thereby represented that He knows their troubles
accurately and renemberingly and accordingly IL Is
said, a BOOK OF remembrance was written before
Him" God as using book, then, is God searching
ne
mistakes So that Gods look Of life is His most
thorough knowledge OF all the truly living ones, and
name" In that book indicates some particular
who is approved OF Him as having life" Tue divine
life IN tie SOUL the life which begins with the being
Opposite Of dead IN frespasses ana sns the only life
which is lie in the Judgment OF God
"the book OF life Of the Lamb" III other words the
book OF life Of Christ tue crucned-the sn-ohering
mcl-the Precipitation for our sius. Wherefore "a name
therein Indicates one who s aiiyc to God by means OF
the iegvug efficacy OF Christ; that is believer
i've V e f OF the si% Of God snc nua HoW '
knows TO have life. for the very that lie
im To De- as an uttery lost sinner In and rest
lug upon the blood and righteousness OF HIS dear Son.
Snch one Is named, as II were, In the mind Uf Goa his
minuied down by the searchcr OF hearts Only peni-
tent. trusting believer In Christ hath his name In the
book OF he only he is adiulge OF God to bs truly
living man.
Yet be II understood that whatever soul Is named IN
that book, tbat soul may read It's there for
God names II living soul by means Oi 5 kuO wing tue
SOUL and certainly tue soul itself may consciously
lie own operatious. The believer In Christ cannot but
knO" himself as seeking refuge from ion
Oi his sins, feeling his guil ana before
Ioo, ahd Ills need OF the SAVIOR actually coa-
n%alns % Ia the Savior Wherecre, being conscious Of
.ns. anu As also knowing that every such believer God
SSouuses 20 10 nave ne ne may himsef know mas
W fe anew ana Thus LIS assurance fa!ti
answers bacR io The kno xiecg. OF Coc Aud so sad
Jo,oe thaty our names IA heaven"
No" sec "hat blessed ieac.iug rs tAs OF ll,e lrxf
name Ii The bO0k OF lie Is OF hcar1y M ver in
, ,ne & Tr,,ing e"sn OF his nauc Indicates thai
" Knows MN thoroughly ms having nfe-lnat II IL
IseI About wnivh tneTe san Se sHke that he hath