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

Lessons nom tho Past Year-A sermon
by de. Morgan.
The delightfully."- serene face Of nature yesterday
brought forth unusually large attendance to the
fashionable church Of the Rev. DR.. Morgan. ON
Fifth avenue ana Fifty-third st-set. The reverend
gentleman preached from the text-'Thus saash
the Lord, Consider your ways"
After q benevolent exchange Of greetings custom
airy with the beginning Of the year. tho preacher
invited the attention Of his hearers to contem-
plation OF the plain, practical things proper to
begin the new year with. He pathetically cast
Retrospective glance over che events OF the IL
months just closed, in which 30 many OF the con-
gregatt0n, In their own persons, had passed
through different phases Of JOY and VICE.
The influence OF the year had Its efects On
all; youth. manhood old ago. showed tho
tracks OF Meeting time. As we grow old we grow
earnest. We are but travellers to the grave, and
what there is to be done must be executed quickly
for we know not whittier tomorrow may lead u.s.
Death accompanies our voyage OF life, and In the
briefness OF this there Is but small space 70 pre-
pare for the t0rrors OF tho tomb At no distant
time oil our enterprises, hopes, fears, pleasures
pains will alike disappear, ana our very presence
be forgotten In the busy scenes Of life. What then
will the world matter to usf None OF the emo
tons that govern mems actions can influence for
an hour the deviation OF life. But while In the
grave duties to fulfil. He has the domestic, social
and religious ties that bind him % member in
the Christian community. Above all worldly
things there are the bonds Of family unity and
Affection And with these there , u -o, higher
sentiment gives families the same hopes. the Same
prospects, the same holy bond OF union. Without
these bonds families are bound but as Dy withos OF
grass; lacking them there 10 = gull between mem
6ers OF the same household which cannot be
passed. And thus It happens that between bus
band and vile religion Is . proscl ibed theme or
the subject Of . witticism or jeer-a thing not
eesires sympathy va w. freedom. expansion; but
earthly affections are often stronger than religious
sentiment: The woman % frequently s'n IKE k1sn,
oftrust-"Whither thou goest, there VIII go also;
thy people shall be my people, and thy God my GOd.
state, II should do 80 strongly. principle
that L. easily ACQUIRED or remembered is
Importance, for who can measure the secret
pr0mptings OF religion even In the conscience Of
the unbelieveri 4 drop o. water win 10 the emo,
way into the heart Of q callous anbelieving nus-
is common spectacle. II presents scene in the
midst OF when Christian must wen consider nis
SoSss Of the sepe Sem meet
death together as was the case recently IN
IS Of 9o
moment. Will they all go the same way IN the
dread nereaIters That Is the awful question tina!
great day of the resurrection, children, par
ents,. husbands wives-all may be sepa.
rated from each Otner by the inevitable
nat OF offended Omnipotence. Consider,
then, the wantonness or worldly pursuits;
cP the US sxa%pe
selves at thus particular moment and put good
resolutions in practice for the time to come. Let
sin pass away With the year that Is fed, and re-
pentence Joined to good works come in with the
new. The great bell Of time has struck again
another revolution OF our globe in the endless
sphere OF eternity and we are urged TO remember
the shortness Of life and the endlessness OF the
grave. Let US be wakelul watchful, dutlful. Now
Is the hour OF repentance and prayer; now the
time 10 approach the Lord, to supplicate the Re-
deemer with all our souls ana all our minds aud
ali our strength Let not the close OF the year on
which we have just entered find us lettering on
the way to salvation, but rather have rs prepare
to GRID up orr ioins and approach the struggle Of
faith in the gospel with nrm resolution Of
trlumphing against the evil one.