The New York herald., 1874-08-10
ST. JOHNS METHODIST oHuaUH.


Humane HelPlessness and Divine
. Competsnee-ssrmen by Rev. b. M.
Adams.
The pulpit Of st. Johns Methodist Episcopal
church, Dodi0rd avenue, was acceptabiy nlled
yesterday hy Rev. B. n. Adams. OF Hampstead,
who. In the morning, delivered an earnest
practical discourse. taging for his text
Exodus ill.,, 14-'T am that ] am" In his
Introductory remarks the reverend gentle
man said that Moses hsd q strange history,
as most really great men fn the world had. Any
man Of strong individuality and great powers
ordinarily had an uncommon history. When Moses
was aDout forty years Of age he seemed to wake up
to the fact that God had called MIN to something
else than the government OF great earthly
kingdom, and Q few sharp, decisive actions on his
part brought things to o crisis He was dSiven
out rom the land Of Egypt and became keeper
OF sheep. II would seem like q great coming
down for the heir OF great throne to spend forty
years in the wilderness tending sheep, but he was
going through process Of education necessary TO
accomplish the great work which God had for him
to do. 1t was whom he was alone with God that
the marvellous revelation OF the burning bush
was made. Moses began to talk Of hts weakness
and to excuse himself from the service to which
GOO had called him, and his excuses were similar
to those made by protesting Christians in this age
Am hath sent you unto them" The doctrine Q
of the text covered the entirety Of God
and man, aud the nrst point elucidsted was that
OF human helplessness, which was Illustrated
vious night and to terr1ble thunder storms. At
such times the worst Of men, II sensitivev organ
felt the Of
little things There was nothing more nelpiess
than snowflake wh,cn 1r0pp,edt On a. mans se SUas %r
business from leaving home, and overpowers .
est thing man has constructed. The forces OF
gravttation and of electricity. financial panics,
ni how helpless human beings were 10 shef presence
when man studied onI his DS own is, heart IN IN
sss pssn GHds to nsVs
his own weakness, and those who felt strong
spiritually should heed the Injunction, .'Let him
mas has weak point where he can BE- overwhelmed,
and If It were not for the marvellous power OF
stand before the breath OF satan's terrible temp
tations. the children 0l israel when IN Egypt
Ssa wsss TSey felt Ike Great many people In this
age, who are content to i've in bondage to sin
when they have enough TO eat. The Israettes
God looked down upon them In pity, sending
Moses as an ambassador, who went to them 10
miHbtiness. The preacher proceeded in tho sec
upon upon sSe divine competence In its reia:
weaRness was that 1t had power to cling. What
was weaker than vine growing up by the SIDE Of
the oak But 1t grew sometimes until It lifted its
head high above the foliage Of the tree on which it
climbed. God was close by men to give them the
reinforcement OF His strength IN their weakness.
The phrase II am" referred to Coo immutabllIty
power and love. Love planned good Tor the human
race and power carried out the plan. American
parents might plan largely for their children, and In
this connection the speaker alluded to converse.
ti0n which he recently overheard between fond
mother si aaa oes or pnnr aseI onnn1 gnf
reach, reached the climax by the usual prophecy,
the ss uu,ss Johnny {stass PS auman eRs
might plan e sorts =, x.d.. o, I'll things n but
resources at His command, which He had promised
to exercise for the good OF his faithful children.
The message Of God BY Moses to the degraded and
the promised land, the perpctuity OF their nation
ality, and under the dispensation OF Jesus Christ
rom re sn and Blessed hope Of ssernai ME- The
lesson which the preacher deduced from the theme
OF discussion was one OF faith In Divine omnip0-
ton on aue every side. and there was no realm Of
grace provided In the wonderful scheme
OF redemption where human nature was
Il was only when the ,pearly gates closed behind
the soul that was beyond the power Of the devil
to tempt It. II, when the weak and tempted fol-
lower of Christ was endeavor1ng to quench the
merry darts Of the adversary no took In the thought
"God loves me and His power Is promised to take
care OF me-" those darts would fall as harmless as
arrows OF glass against pillars OF granite. Those
who were longing for more OF the divine nature to
come into their lives, but who were discouraged
and weakened BY the circumstances which sur
the glorious and holy God who promised strength
and deltverance. II was crime 70 be weak when
we could be strong-t0 be poor when VIC could be
God and feel the warm clasp OF Hts love and the
sweet kisses OF His everlasting benedicti0ns.