The New York herald., 1874-07-20
RELIG|OlS REFLE(TIOM.
Church Services Yesterday in
the City and Suburbs.
nm WILD on SARATOGA.
Interesting Union Sabbath Services in
williamsburg.
A SOUTHERN DIVINE on THRIFT
FIFTH AVENUE BAPTIST cHUScH.

Scui Rest and How, 1t Is 20 he sccNced--
Sermon by Rev. Thomas Arniitage.
1t would seem paradox 10 say that people are
generally less pious III the summer than they are
IN the winter Nevertheless there Is no doubt
that, even if they do not grow less pious they are
not so strict and regular in their attendance at
church. At the Fiith avenue Baptist church, cor
ner OF Fortr-sixth street. for instance, which is
ordinarily crowded with dcvour worshIppers, there
was but very slim congregation yesterday morn
mS. Rev. Taomas Armitage, q. d., the pastor,
preached the sermon tie took MS text nom the
prophecies by jeremiah, VI. l6-"And ye shan hnd
rest for your souis.'
The word rest" he said, wa, one OF the sweetest
I'D the language. Robert Hal said that the word
could make him weep. How delicious was res
alter hard days toll; how soothing to tile war
nor was rest after lay of battle But thls was
The rest of muscle, o. the physical man
only. Many had rest without souls. The
text spoke OF deeper fountain Q!
rest-of soul rest. Soul rest in its nature was ex-
emphned by the saying that he who thought much
ako suffered much man might have powerful
nerves, but the mightiest man might shrek from
geoi agonies. one OF the great attributes Of soul
Ia,sh was the faculty OF seeking and soaring.
In Westminster Abbey there lay two men whose
names would never be forgotten as long as the
world lasted. They wore the diadems OF elo
Quence: they were warriors in tie battle OF hU-
Aian hbvrty-Fox and Wiberlorce. They came 10
sonl rest after great ana severe siIogsies;
h was better Tor wicked man to he tossed
about tnan To be ut ease giant asleep and
dreaming OF the scenes OF his youth, drew, per-
haps, a deep breath, and meanwhile flames were
slowly eDeircing the bed on which nc rested.
Would ANXIOUS and painful waking not be better
than such dangerous rest' The rest Of ad
amant and desperation, as witnessed in
the era,lna! who sto,csy stepped np
to the gallows Lot that which was
tter 81
STRIFE and passion. Let them lock at rest II ON the
point u its desirahleness. Do what they might,
everywhere seeking rest, ami how many could
net end II There WAS demon Knocking within
which was worse tnan II il were knock .ng without,
SOr The soul was hardened with sin. Soul rest-it
WITS the radical want OF all men IN all stations Of
life. The beggar AT the street crossing, the minis
Ter OF stare 10 his palace, the peasant III his hamlet
and The hng on his throne, they were all suffering
from This want OF soul rest. What did 1t arise
kom From the impossibility Or rcconcilipg SOUS
Ia outward circumstances Tne soul could not De
quiet. Peace that passeth all rnderstaD ding must
be enjoyed by man before he could enjoy perfect
rest. rhe soul could not he quiet until its rest was
perpetual. Not a throb Of its heart must Uaver
ee.ore 1t could enjoy periect, absolute rest: 1t
was exactly on this basis that David eXhortcd his
soul 10 come 30 its perfect rest. NOuId they not
say with the Psalrnlst 10 Jehovah ''Oh, tase my
nutteIlng soul to Thy breastr' where shall rest
be ioundN' When universal dea.re for 1t was met
By the words OF Jesus they felt that he had struck
The very keynoes Oh their natures. There was more
evidence OF sesns' aivrnity in the TACT that as
efierei rest TO mankind as His great gift than IL
any otner kuOWleuSe Nn!cn tley uau on lNc SUE
Jcet. on, where could they find rest II they di'
not accept Jesus offers Many sought rest II
snimai pleasures but tnat was not tile gilt wDici
Jesus meant TO bestow upon mankind. Such res
was mere ciumncr. icnruCu p,Iiiv-vpitot5 sUiSb
IT 10y toesing on the religious bilicNs. They Jorge
that the great fever vas better.
The sipncr, who mad been led at last to Jesu;
feet, enjoyed the true soul rest-not the rest {
eeagna tlon bat the rest OF eNaltation and spirtus
happiness Would they stand by the placid lax
when tile Zephyrs whispered 10 Them the giorion
story Of Jesus rest Did they see that pinin
captive yonder, his poor heart uIsttuog and mute
Let the exile say "Return 10 thy rest and so lc
tire soul say, 'return 10 thy rest" During tn
great Protestant reformation many OF the leader
SHaked with anxiety and fear, but Lut]icrs gle
nous soul was at rest The reverend preache
quoted a characteristic letter written by the lrea
German reiorIiIer, in which he expresses his pl
Rounded trust In Jesus. 1t was the faith wbic
gave perfect and perpe tual rest. The child truste
Jor ererylhing--ior food. for raiment, for ever
0tner necessity. 1t said, my iatLer Is ali Car
and can be all rest" 1t exemplifed the devou
CHRISTIAN y ho might well be AT rest, for his etel
pal Father cared Tor him. In the agonizng Christ
Ia the mau who never knew rest from the cra1l
TO the cross. the troubled sonls OF the wieNe
might Wen find consolation and hope and assul
Ance o! fcal rest.