The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-19
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH.

ssStrOng In Ones Self"-Serm0n by tho
Rev. Henry Powers.
The Rev. Henry Powers preached to large con-
gregatl0n yesterday morning, at the Church Of the
Messiah, Park avenue and Thirty-fourt street.
selecting as his subject "Strong In ones Self" the
text being Matthew xli 35-"A good man out OF
the good Of the heart bringeth forth good
things.n The celebrated British traveller Mungo
Park, informs US, the pastor SAID that during his
first expedition to the interior Of Africa, which
expedition he had undertaken Tor the purpose of
tracing II possible, the sources Of the River Niger,
after having endured for a long time unparalleled
1atigues and trials and reverses, he was robbed
one day by band OF black marauders. His COM
pass was taken from him and all his money, and
with only q few coarse garments to his back
he was lett alone In the heart OF
an unexpl0red and savage country 500 miles
from any European settlement, amid the wild
beasts Of the forest and their wilder aud less pitt
full human companions. Having, therefore, no
hope of escape, in the first moments olhis anguish
his mind became unsettled and his spirits despond-
enr and so he lay down to die. But as he threw
himself on the ground q small and peculiar kind OF
moss met his eye, whose roots and leaves and cap
sues were of such an unusual appearance that they
Immediately excite d mis- attention. In examining
these more closely he forgot for the time
HIS FORLORN CONDITION.
and was lost in admiration OF the wonderful skill
and beauty OF the meanest works Of God. Then
coming to himself he cells us that the thought
arose in his mind, .'Can that Being who planted
and watered and brought to perfection in this
obscure region Of the world thing which appears
OF So small Importance look with uncOncern upon
the situation and the suGerings OF HIS spiritual on.
spriDgr Cheered by the reflection ana encour-
aged to further effort he rose above his embarrass-
ments, and lived to publish in after years this In
cdent as a lesson to all the world.
The lesson contained in it is simply the need we
all of us have s0rey felt at times OF the possession
OF something other better than the good things
OF this world, something that shall remain to
a source Of comfort and strength and continued
achievement after our earthly possessions and adj
vantages nave been oil taken away. In Mungo
Parks case this something MS accumulation OF
scientific knowledge and the moral ability he pos
sessed OF turning IL to account IN the moment o.
his distress, ana generally 1t Is "the good treasure
which the faithful in this lie are enabled to lay
up, and which serves them as sort oil spiritual
reserve fund when their ordinary resources are
completely exhausted would not say, nor would
1t be true II did say 1t, that man cannot be a
Christian unless he Is well educated. But this do
and live such for any length OF time in this evil
world unless the loves and aspirations OF his soul
are turned, to some extent at least, into the con.
scious experience
OF TRUTH AND GOOD.
For what has God rewarded US with the mys.
terles aud riches or His wisdom and power, II it
be not with the desire and purpose OF having US
cultivate our mental gifts and inquire into the
majestic methods OF HIS infinite reason and en-
noble ourselves by an acquaintance with the
beauty and ORDER the skill and goodness which the
depths Ct the earth, the sea and the sky, and the
mental faculties are awake and vigorous, II the
heart be cOnsecrated Dy a Christian temper, then
II God give us noble faculty we may he sure that
there Is no danger In training 1t to the utmost,
provided be kept IN subsection 10 the true spirit
and purpose OF life, and made amenable to the
highest uses.
In proof Of this what wonderful spectacle that
man ever makes oil himself who retires from the
world with treasures OF wealth only, or who per-
haps has been sDipwrecked by the chances OF
trade--some old man, possibly, whose bodily facul-
ties have failed him before mis- energies have given
out, and who Is either restless or melancholy or
listless and unhappy, because the customary ex.
an influential post have been denied him, and who,
therefore. has no love OF truth In world 30 Iull OF
beauty, no mental appetite where nature IL iur-
nishng us continually such bounttIul repast.
When his hour oil plenty runs over or when luck
PLAYS HIM FALSE,
or the bodily members all iaii the stronger mind
within, there Is Tor such one no independent
to support the soul; and hence, by every
consideration Of enlightened selfinterest and OF
gratitude to God for the gut OF reason, should every
and endeavor to form some pure mental tastes rs
foundation against the evil fortune that for him
may Turk In the time 10 come
II, however, we approach the spiritual aspect OF
the question, we shall have still stronger cause for
asserting that every one should possess within
himself treasure OF good things, such as right
principles, affections and the accumulated strength
OF good deeds; for 1t Is not enough, in order
to establish the purity OF any soul, that 1t should
just rub and go IN the effort TO keep itself I'M
spotted from the world. That its virtue may be
serene 1t is necessary that 1t possess fund OF
moral strength, which Is more than equal to any
sudden demand that may be made upon It, Our
Heavenly Father would have our triumph over
evil TO become some time an easy and habitual
thing 80 that our hearts need not be fretted and
worn away by keeping them always
Al TIE TOUGHEsT STRAIN.