Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-13
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE.
sermon by Rev. Frank Moore.

sermon by Kew. Frank Moore
Rev. Frank d. Moore, pastor of the
Moore Memorial Church, preached a very
interesting and very instructive sermon yes
terday, from the text, "a city that is set on
hill cannot be hid" Matt. v, IA.
The following is synopsis of his dis
course:
The theme is the necessary (legitimate)
conspicuousness of the Christian character.
So clearly set before the eyes of men as to
be like city set upon hill.
/. Why ii is so conspicuous. First, be-
cause of the essential difference of chris
tian character from every other type. Leav-
ing out of question their comparative ex-
cellence, the christian character differs from
every other.
Second. It differs uplcdrdS from every
other type of human character. mean, of
course, the ideal christian character. Patriot
and philanthropist are noble characters.
But you do not stop by the love of country
nor Of kind in building the christian char
acter. You add to those faith in Christ
and love to God. The difference is, then
like that between elOquence and worship
the difference between wondering at great
mountain on the earth and wondering at
what may be behind the farthest star.
ii. EUery Christian life ought to beG clty
SetupOn hill. We may not sit in a corner,
chipping. "Im Christian" Come out
and let the fact that you are a Christian lie
Numbered so loudly in quiet deeds Of
mercy, and pSalmed so sweetly in gentle
ness and charity, that no doubt may be in
heaven nor earth that you belong to Christ.
Hide everything else, that you hare, wealth,
or rank, or learning, or benefcence, but let
there be no doubt that you believe in
Christ.
You are startled and answer-we have
heard that sour life should be hid with
Christ" True, extremes are often to be re-
cOnciled in the teachings of Christ. The
inward and the outward life have both their
place. The principles that drives the bud
to flower is greater than the bud OF flower,
but the flower is sweeter to human fancy
than the principle of growth. The inward
SuppOses-shOuld never dispose the out
ward. You cannot check it, put the in
ward Christ-life in a man, and, despite
you, it will drive blossoms out over all the
life.
LII. The difficulties in being such a city
on hin.
There are difficulties both in being so
anu III u llie3 W bt 90 LII OClllE 81. Nllt
first difficulty is from within-IndOlence
In the outside world, men are so similar in
outward seeming, that you will not, at first
glance, see how wide are their inward diff
ferences. But inwardly they are vastly
different. The outward sameness is be-
cause the common man is too indolent to
make his peculiar difference felt in the
world of sense. This same Incidence in
spiritual things explains the fact that only
a few Christian heads are so high in the
assemblies as to meet the demands of the
test.
The second difficulty is from without
men will admire you, but will not sympa-
thize with nor assist you. Cities on the
hill are at war with the cities of the plain.
So much for the difficulties of being
now for the difficulties of tryiRq to be a
city set upon hill.
First-The Danger of Ostentation. NV
whole discourse could be most easily mis-
understood just here. But, necessarily?
No; city can be set on a hill without
a trumpeter on the walls to below into
the valley. 40! we are upon a hill :"
Build on hill, not to be conspicuous, but
because that is the best place to build.
Humility and greatness are counterparts,
not contradictions.
Secondly-The Danger of Hypocrisy.
Here, of course, there is no city built upon
a hill; but city set deep in a ravine with
a mocking fellow on hill holding a mirror
over the city. The way here is to break
the mirror and the city disappears, while
the hooking fellow runs of bowling.
Third-How to become city set upon
a hill. Special teaching from the pulpit is
always dangerous-almost always false.
| could only tell you how / strive to
build my city up there-and that would
have little value and less authority. / can
tell you that the hills is Christ; the founda-
ton love to God and Man. Build there
and do and you will meet the text. Build
high.
ConcluSiOR-Our church enters to-day
almost upon a new life. Our misfortune
drew us closer. 1t is little that we have
made the roof strong above us-our efforts
must be equally united to give mems souls
here a strength quite other than that of
bolts and bars.
Pastor, ielders, deaeons, people! Let us
Join our hands that our beloved church
may, too, become city set here on this
hill, shining with no mountain light of
ruth and grace to the eyes Of men.