New-York tribune., 1874-03-09
CHARACTER AN IDEAL PERFECTION.


The Rev. DR.. Porteous of England preached,
Yesterday morning In the North Reformed Church, In
Clermont-aye Myrtle, Brooklyn Of which the Rev.
Alexander Il. Thompson is pastor. The building was
densely packed The preachers tones and manner were
very earnest and impressive and he enchaned the
attention OF the congregation while he was speaking.
He selected as his text the OF the fifth chapter
OF the Gospel according to st. Mathew "Be ye there
fore perfect eve your Father who art IN Heaven Is
perfect"
History said he is the record OF mans dissatisfaction
with himself. The highest efforts OF genius IN art III
literature in philosophy in theology. is the result OF
mans dissatisfaction with himself II expresses tset
in all the undercurrents and undertones OF popular
speecb OF popular work. and OF popular experiment IL
SPEAKS out in the family circle IL Is everywhere the pre-
yninc tone: We are not what should be: we are
not what we shall be; not what we must Do we
feel the want OF something else whether II Oe the
whether it be strictly Bible doctrine prefer not to
discuss But this ia true that there Is NO no aa nn
know and think himself not as pure, AS honest
as faithful, as manly, or high IN moral Tone as
ne knows ne ucht to be- knows he might be. "a he
knows be be he reaches the stature OF man IN
Christ Jesus. Everywhere where men nave come 10
tnis moral sness they nave SAID: % much
below what according my conscience ought TO be-
| am much below what my aspiration Is; my actial az
tainment and morality are lower than what they should
he and might have been; but have reluctant heart
and on fire with Gods VIII ana truths; anu
wiile / have the consciousness that ! below the
standard OF perfection yet have little will TO work
little aspiration TO tad me forward 10 the quokhlb
i'm me OF the higher life and the desire 10 he perfect
must naturally retrograde and become less ana less the
ideal man in perfection winch is mrrored TO me III ny
c0nscIousness I'm the revelation or Jesus christ rms
consciousness lies the OF all the morality and the
social problems and the social reforms o tle present
doy This CONSCIOUSNESS lies at the base OF all the
changes in the Church. OF human depravty and OF NOR
tai suiulness and the evil doctrine were 10 De Dhfed
i'm an eternal srpucner tomorrow if 1t possible
eliminate it from the Church still would the human
heart confess it-till would 1t weigh men down ana
make lives unhappy. God never permits nation IA
man 70 q consciousness
go but nation that has distinguished lt,ef III art or
Goodness has felt we are not what should be. and
we m,nst work 70 be waat we ought to be-" How
am to become perfect even my Father whch Is In
heaven being perfect, begs To be 2, This is the
question OF all questions that demands definite, clear,
loving answer How shall We add ess ourselves 10 the
task OF making ourselves perfect TINS Is an age OF
reforms reforms OF all kinds But the vici0usness OF
all reforms the present day lies ~ ts mat hey are
rather tnkerings than reforms. They appeal only To
thc circumference of man, and aim work toward the
Whereas the true reform must always begin az
the center and work outward must first take the
citadel and aerward the outwOrks. You must Degln
with man himself which Is his heart make the FOUNTAIN
pure and the streams must be pure At the present
day We hear n great deal said about education. We
hear that education will etace ana obHterdte lgno,
rance that lt will lberte the soul from alacies and
errors and misapprehensiOn that IL will make men To
believe that To God - the best thnE; that eAas
man into communion with God that it gives him the
utmost freedom from all sayeres OF the heart. Educa
tion does give accomplishments, but 1t never gives
power; it does not give man spirit, it
make him a SAINT. Education was made to be the helper
nf reiaion: in was made 10 be It's handmade it
made ike civilization, TO give embodiment and dignity
Christian precepts speak not against euucaiion
come n country where 1t Is held as the ehle Dene-
factor OF the What do MAINTAIN is that when such
broad power il assumed for it, such an assumption Is
ter Christianity offers itself the highest law OF
spiritual life not routine Of ma5ims, not number OF
doctrines TO weigh down mans intellect But Chris
tianity life IN Jesus Christ lie OF selfsacrhce
OF body. II II does all that you VIII seq that IL has
drawn Father IN Heaven. who IL perfect
because lie has no false AMBITION no unhealthy sent