New-York tribune., 1874-09-14
THE HIGHER ROCK.
IN. Rer. r. s. MaeArt4r at tie Calvary Baptist

The Rer r. s. MaeArthw al the CALGARY Baptist Church
The. Rev. r. S. Macarthur preached in the CAL
vary Beptist Church in Twentythird-st between Fifth
and dSxthayes yesterday morning His text was selected
from the I'd Of the 6st Psalm Lead me to the
Rock that higher than l." The preacher said, among
other things:
1t is fitting that the term rock should be applied to
God In Its nature, and in the thoughts which 1t
gests 1t sets forth many Of Gods more prominent
attributes. But interest attaches TO the term In
Scripture because OF It's connection with great events In
Gods progressive revelation TO man. The law was
written blythe finger Of God upon rock God was en-
throned the hoary rock when he promulgated that
law presence of the trembling tribes. Jacob pill
lowed upon rock when the vision of heavenly
glorles greeted him. He anointed the stone; and
1t became the precursor OF every lowly chapel
and lofty cathedral the world over. That was
the foundation stone Of every Bethel "-bouse OF God
which has since blessed the world. Out OF q rocK
water flowed at the touch OF M0sess rod to supply the
wants of children OF Israel The apostle adds and
that Rock was Christ" Rocks in all OF tho church
places of refuge for men and women or whom the
David lifts up and connects with the protection OF God
AS the Rock protected Elijah when fleeing from the wrath
is refuge to the weary soul David's circumstances
when he uttered the prayer .a OF the rsSl tsxt
lion, and his son was the leading rebel.
David the father, was in exile because AbsaIom, the
son. had risen against him. AS king, he m0urned for
his country; father, his heart bed for his SON. The
waves OF afictlon were going over him. But there Is
help; there hope. The God who had never failed him
Will not His struggling soul cries out for help
His eye of faith the rock To his sad soul in that
lonely land God was the shadow OF a great rock
The term is appropriate Indeed the l0test songs OF
praise to God IN scripture are 10 'im as tne LORD
of tenderness attaches to the name because OF Its app
cation Christ in OF the sweetest hymns OF tue
Rock of Ages cleft for p-
lie, me hide myself in Tnee.
This "a humble prayer 1t is on that account all the
more rational prayer. The highest manlness IN the
divine estimate, is the loyehest chldhkeness Tae
,l.t lows hold on
which controls men. Paul was right IN saying that
when he weak then he was strong There are times
dependence The strongest must bow. Although human
nature abhors this sense dependence It FEELS IL; IT,
left 10 the prOmptings OF our deepest instincts,
utters lthe prayer, times at least, Lead he 10 the
The mind-the inteiiect--offsrs this PRAYER. We
surrounded by mystery. infinitely great the
hand and the infinitely other. alike
With all our lofty powers we are obliged 10 con
fess weakness and feebeness when struggling with the
great problems OF thought These intellectual difcul-
ties are peculiar TO Christianity They existed be.
fore the Introduction of the Christian system They
would have existed had Christianity never been estaD
lished great thinker has said that all these prob
lens emerge in philosophy before tney do IN rehgon
They are peculiar TO finite condition. The mind
reels and staggers at times. Its is on, that knew
confess their Ignorance and God for help, they
begin spin out OF their own minds spderike theo-
which they fail into blank despair Creation teaches US
about God but its testimony is often confusing III there
are days OF brightness there also times or darKness
Sunshine and strangely blend II there are beds
Of roses there also quagmres In creation we a9
see evidences Of Gods power and designs But God
Himself we see through glass darky." Providence
teaches Him aud His But the testimony does
not satisfy We cannot far enough Seeing partially,
we Judge falsely Could we the end. Gods provi-
dences would appear they arejut But to US often
rinmphs The good are in despair; the wicked rejoice.
We want more light than nature can give. Inc mind
needs God The intellect In its search after truth cries
out for Jesus Christ who is king ia the realm OF truth
Shall not the author OF the inm1rta mind know best est
hoS to guide its movementst Jesus Is the way, the
tyuth and the life o. no Mr. Huxley, must give the
cravings OF the intellect something better than proto
with more inspiration than n can get from the potency
OF matter" The mind like the heart needs God win
Thomas AZ saws, the Father and 1T suftceth
US; and like Thomas hears the voice OF Christ say
meets the want of the deepest longings OF the soul
Hearing the Of Christ "Phe Rock Of Ages 1t says
Ths heart utters the text The heart was made to
love and 10 be loved He is more or less than man who
can deny this truth Now nothing earthly can satisfy
nv God and for God and he only I'LL It, This IS the
cfowning glory Of manhood and w0nannSod me te
And his God 10 himself others feels THAI he stepping
from the % Ss T s II made s Us to BE- kings
and priests unto Himself We were born TO be sous
1s ssns9,er' the Si tns
heart They earin may try gut owsves sa,,sy numerous
and glorious these things be- the heart that does
not repose the bosom or Its Cod Ia an orphan IN this
living cod Glory be TO God Nothing short OF Himself
can satisfy the SOUL II the unspoken longnes OF the
those who the body while tney starye the soul
II would be seen that they crying Tor God They
want one who never is fathessone whose love Ia ten
derer than mothers, and whose arm Is rs mighty as
Gods You read Doubtless, the works of George Eliot
size rs a remarkable woman. In her power TO analyze
tbe human heart has superior In many respects
sne is--compared with men as well as Womenathe
ssaost e,ftad writer of the century. Prof.
wilkinson, Wiz in recent article IN The Brnniner
calls her writings, and especially Middle
march the language OF despair Her life Is sad
She has no outlook Earth bounds her view Her mind
accepts as far as can cold eless philosophy Of
ratonaiIs VS. reveals itself In the varied forms OF
materlalism. But she has woman heaft. her heart
spurDs what her school OF philosophy forces on her
mind Tue heart is restless IL quvers as does the
need unt 10 points the p0le Hers Is crying out for
fbe living Cod It refuses DO orphaned. o. that she
aud ALI might find God Of the mind aud the heart In
the cod OF ths Bibethe Father and the. Savior OF all
ho come 70 Him. He only ID worthy TO DO loved with
the fun devotion Of When the restless heart
finds Jesus 10 clasps Hin with warm embrace The soul
cries out in its Joys "My beloved the chief among ton
thousand He is altogether lovely am my peioveds,
ana my beloved Is mine"
The consciepoe needs offer this prayer. Men tell
our fear are idethat God will not punish sin, that He
IA TOO merciu We try 10 put down our fears but they
will assert themselves We know that God Is merciful.
INIT we know also that He does punish here aud now.
His penalty quickly falls on every one who yio oates HIS