The New York herald., 1874-11-23

north country and from oil couatrios whittier l
had driven them"
This closing sunday OF the year. according to the
Churoh's calendar, said the preacher. suggested
that the annual circle OF the teaching OF the
Church was once more finished, and that wnen
they should next assemble 1t would be to hear the
advent call renewed. to present the tribute OF Q
ricn and loyal service. the gold aud irankincense
and myrrh, al the manger OF the God incarnate,
and TO begin again the blessed story so sweet and
sad. 80 bright and hopeful. OF the saviours suffer.
ing ana victory. AT such time their thoughts
would naturally dwell upon the past aud remind
them that they had not profted quite 80 fully as
they ought by the religious privileges OF the year.
And yet 1t WAS noteworthy that the services pro-
vided by the Church for me closing Sunday in the
year had nothing sad or m0urnful IN them. The
collect, l0r example. had
NO GLOOMY BACKWARD LOOK,
but spoke OF wills stirred up to earnest enort o.
good works and abOundng rec0mpense. Equally
the episte reminded them OF the coming of the
King VINO should reign aud prosper, and the
gentle care Tor Hts people, and or their acknowl-
edgment OF HIS mission as the divine prophet. 1t
should SSs Id recognize the work and duty which are
before Us, rather than dwell IN gloomy retrospec-
ton on tue failures or ne sans or dead and irrep.
arabic past This WAS tile prophets message to
the Jews, ana Is equally the lesson OF the Gospel
We are not, Of course, either to be unmindiul or
ana thanksgiving are Doth parts OF the Christian
system. 70 owen upon the past to look
ocspai. Or its 6l blessings ia hopeless regret il
very different from the spirit which recognizes
the evil and thanks Cod Ior the good. and then
takes courage Tor u new and better future. In
iaei VIC are conn relled TO recognize the past when
we turn ourselves away from 4. Bnd we are not to
the Christian lile, looking away from 1t In
nope, expecting the HORIZON to expand as we
how grscIoasy God leads Us 70 this onward out.
ward LOOK bOtn by implantng in our souls the
princlple OF hope, as the strongest and most IN
aestructibc attribute OF our humanity ana by
satisfying our hopes by
THE EVIDENCE OF CONTINUED PROGRESS.
may ma s ne isssmoa s In His promise Il is His way 10
did aid At the marriage least Of Caoa. ne
isss SSs our % weak and aixsy y'''f brain IN should
cast US down while We are looking at the things
beivw .as From tho earliest promise onward
revelation to the days OF Christ there was con-
tinued progress. Alter the birth OF Christ this
estv se!,t and The uncessing growth Of inc Church.
snd even at the presen. day men are still looking
forward. expecting the Glories OF the iutnre life
And wnat /. true OF the historic Church Is equally
true Of the personal experience Of the faithful.
sTs eer !:
the days pass swiftly and the gray nars come and
we feyi that THIS little life IS isdng we begin to
beyond and to anticipate The light which
is so soon to break IN upon the dis
embodied spirit. The prscept to look onward
to the future thus translates itself into an exh0r
tatlon 20 progress toTard the good which Is still
upattained II reminds US OF the need OF earnest
ness, OF humblcness. OF prayer and OF glad antici-
patton, that 81 we may win new victories Tor
Christ and for ourselves ana secure the blessing
which 10 promised TO faithful earnestness.
At the conclusion OF his sermon DR.. Conrad an
nounCeu his resignation OF the associate rector
for years, and left with great regret IN 0be-
dieEce to c0nvlcttOn OF duty. In few words OF
farewell he acknowledged the Kindness received
during has ministry and testified his affectl0nate
regard ior MS congregation. and urged them to
practise the lessons Of earnest faith, OF true
hearted work and OF truthful reliance upon Chriet
which ne had tried to impress upon the0l.