National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-25
CNarnh Of the Inoarnation.

Rev. 1. L. Townsend, rector Of the Church of
the Incarnation, corner Of Twelfth and N streets,
discoursed yesterday from the 10th chapter Of
St Matthew, 9Th verse. Mr., Townsend began
his remsrks by saying while the UIass Of men are
SO husyln life's work theY.sEe at the same tine
negleotsng their duties toward God, and JRey
hold false theories in regard TO tire time Whenthey
should begin to turn then after tton to the BEepa
ration Of their souls for'tAe OF her world. Many
Claim that business prevents them from giving
that attention which IS due to their Maker. They
hold that in a convenient sea kon they will begin
GUS, and immediate RtSSntiCn should be given to
this important subject
THE kingdom of 'keaV n is like unto nrsa
that is an hOusehOldoy, wlJichlWent out early IN
the morning to hfre labORers into the vineyard;
and when he had sgCeed with the lssOrers for a
penny day he sent theI into the vineyard. And
he went out about TAe bird hour aRdsaw others
standing idle in tse ms Gket place, and said unto
them go ye slso5rSo ne vineyard, and whatso-
ever is right wiz give you; and Uhey went their
way. Again hewent out about the sixth hour
and ninth hours3d I'd likewise and about the
eleventh hour he we at out and he found others
We here all the day idle? They said unto him,
because 20 CaTn hath hired as. He saith
%RtS RS5 also T6 into tt tas ,b 1G
We receive. So when even was come the
Lord Ofthe Vineyard saith unto his slaves: Call
the lEborerS Cud give them their hire, beginning
from the FsSt unto the first And when they
came that'UCre hired about the eleventh hour
they received every man a penny, but when the
first csmetSey supposed that they should receive
more. and they likewise received every man a
penpy. sAhl when they had received il they muir
INJURED RgRknst the good man Of the house, saying:
ETkcsellst has wrought but one hour and thou
haFt mGdC them equal unto US which have borne
the burden and heat OF the day But he
answered one of them and said: Friend, l do
thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for
a pennS- Take that thiRe is and go thy way.
will give unto the last even as unto thee. Is it
not lawful for me to dc what will with mine
OWu2 T. thine eye evil because / am good? So
the last shall be rst and tho first last: for many
be called but few chosen" Many hold the idea
FROM the above that all would be rewarded by
God alike.
he did not think God.wouId reward all alike,
and thought the text did not teach any such doc
trtne. Man must work earnestly for his saliva
ton. Men deduce that whenever they choose to
turn their attention to God they will receive ia
VeFs. This conclusion was utterly false. There
was no foundation for such an erroneous theory.
The payment Of the labOrers in the vineyard all
the same wages was from sense Of justice, Ow-
ing to their being in want This would not hold
good 10 those who were slow to obey Gods or
der. There was no eKcuFe for prOcrRstinatiOn.
Truth fOrbids holding out that those who are
slow will reap the same benefits as he who begins
early Sin could be discarded with the ease that
one garment could be changed for another. Every
moment men continue in sin they render them
selves less liable to turn to God. The uncer-
tainty Of human life must be thought Of They
should take heed in due season. No man hath
things. He closed by saying he desired to de-
stroy all false theories in the minds OF men, and
let them know that TINS duty towards God could
not be pu; of until the last moment.
E-street Baptist Church.
Rev. J. Hervey Appleton, at the E-street Bap.
fist church, preached in tho morning, Ike
lot cast into the lap, the dIsposing of which,"
IN Solomon's language, sis of jehovah Prov.
xvi, SO, presents this text. The discourse opened
with the scene on GaHlee's lake. "Christ's i'm
perial tread upon its storm-shrOuded billOwsn was
Tividly set forth. He challenges Peters conf
denee, bidding him take the waves for pave
ment." And Peters name means stone. Bat his
heart 1t was that resembleI stone, so like stone
he sank. DeserYedly, too; for Christ's call made
that duty which otherwise would have been pre-
sumption. This truth, which expands into q
principle, was tested alike by Abraham, Jacob,
Joehebed-indeed by all the heroes of Faith. 1t
rests on the great doctrine OF Providence This
uDderlies the text. All proper and warrantable
las men term IL, is an appeal to GOD.
NOnpiussed, after the use OF every ordinary test
and reverently recognizing God as actual SOver-
eIgn over all the befOgged and care-worn man
turned, in his dilemma and a last resort TO the
lot. By using this he virtually fOrsOOk his own
tive which by GODS direct ordering, the settling
die or lot might make known. This lot turns, as
it does, by no mere chance. Plainly, natural laws
control its motion. But laws bespe3k wisdom.
Now wisdom tells of character; while character
pictures forth being, person. The lots dis
pOsal then is all OF God.
Now, II is thus with everything. God reRu-
lates and determines. There is q universal law
of Providence. Aud here word as to lotteries.
HISTORY SHOWS the tremendous influence OF this
mode Of deciding. Usually used superstitOusly,
often Wiekedly, II has always been Il dangerous
thing. With increased intelligence and surer
standards lots may well be dispensed with. Never
should they be used without an implied prayer
As to the common, prOfaue resort to sO-called
CHANGING, it ought not only to be avoided, but
buked by every one who fears God.
Jehovah, then, dispOses even the random lot
Providence is all-peDetrative. Our globe, with
Its sistcrhOod of stars, planets and satellites,
must have firm and vigorous guiding hand.
Indeed, all that each world includes, from CONT
nent to sand-grain, from tiniest insect up to ra.
I1Oual, immortal man, and from earthly spirits
onward to angelic kings-eaCh, Of all these. IN Lde
by Gods hand, lies in that hand, is by 1t nodded
sustained and controlled. This, then, is ProVi-
1ence, the after work Of God.
Sometimes the word is used in an especial
sense. He says this is a providence. WHAT 10
meant? Let the answer be guarded men oft
mistake Just here. Ordinary duties are easy to
be Understood. But when there is doubt what
shall show us Coos leading? Clearly his own
reVt aled will as II applies to the case in hand
able and blind impulse, but the divine require
nent plainly written, and this impartiallY, IN
applied to the existing emergency.
Nov take Z either in the general or special
sense and who will deny that there Is this provi-
1ence Of God. II there IS matter, then has there
been creating Are its changes orderly an
Denehcsnt? Design is evidently in them; and
design is but the token Of providence. DO we
think Of spirit and its freedom? 1t is evidently
within the compass Of the supreme will that all
lower agencies must act, even in their widest
liberty. Significant Is that phrase, free agency.
Man is free, but only a discretionary agent.
Act, Their, your pleasure. God will subordinate
hat very pleasure. Do what you will, you can
rot CncTOach on God. Still beware! ThyselC
hon art free to ruin, il that be freedom. Rather
EOUldst thou be saved? Let thy will freely yield
o God And what is this but perfec: liberty,
OyUus freedom, the attribute Of angels, the very
condition Of heavenly blessedneSs!
Sermons to the Masses.
A remarkably good audience considering the
earful weather, assembled In Lincoln hall yester-
lay afternoon to listen to the fourth the series Of
eTmoDs to the masses which was delivered by Rev.
Dr.. Sunderland. His text was John, i:9: "This
s the true light which lighteth every man that
ometh into the world" He proceeded 10 speak
lTst, Of the means to be used obtaining light
II knowledge, saying that the successive steps |
we're: LIST, Science, which gives US simply knoWl-
dge Of facts; %, Philosophy, which gives q com
OF principles, and 80, Religion which |
Includes all that relates 10 the spiritual interests
nc iutnre destiny OF the race. lie said Jesus |
Thirst did not come merely as a man OF science |
r philosopher, but to bring life aud immor- |
ality 10 light"
He is the sun OF the moral and spiritual world.
'earing the important relation to T. that the
IN does TO the solar system. He knew that many
eohed At this claim Of the Scriptures, but Ir we |
DandOn IT, 10 whom shall we 70 for a theory |
Which will give us any hope for the iIllmItable |
uture? While mocern iphdel sciences REJECTS
bis, Hs we'll as other religious systems he showed
y quotations from Prof. Tyndall that II had
Iothing to offer in the way Of a substitute Hu-
PANTY, inid he, is orphaned, and deprived OF all
.anglOn 'i molecules. But Christ shedding
lg hi hrst upon the heart and through that reach.
ng the intellect, WHITES and Inspires the souls Of
ben, as the light and heat Of the sun sets IN mo
ion all the forces Of nature. How he does this IA
mystery as Is the physical nature Of light IL.
eli even 10 the scientist. But the evidence that
e Goes u IL the personal CONSEQUENCES and teStI
lory OF thousands. yea, milliOnE, to-day whose
cannot be ImpeHched.
What, then, have we to dot To accent these
reEt facts, without regard 70 the dreary specu.
ititns and coujectures Of science '.faiscIT "a.
allCd." If we reject them, who shall conduct
=, weak and helpless as we are, through the
iazIs Of temptation to the realms Of Happiness
I'D immortality One alone can 20 this, and that
Christ the Son Of God.
The discourse was IN able and elaborate one
nd VIC regret that the lnclemeney Of the weather
revt nted the hail being hlled. We trust that II |
pc Octor should deliver II again, at his own
hurt d, u may DO announced 50 that the many
NC would have been pleased 10 hear It may have
neither opportunity.
Jlat Vernon Methodist Church. corner
Ninth and K Streets.
The congregation gathered IN the Iecture.room
the attendance was small, (beng about one
undTsdJ owing to the disaRreeable and danger
ne walking. The room was comfortably heated.
nd the decorative fragments Of the Uhristmas
siiVal ornamenting the ceiling we're very pleas
q 70 the eye the pIEtted cedarE depending from
liar 70 pillR- and forming crossed festoOns
ne sermon was delivered by the Rev A w
'isOn, ID. D.. who did Justice 70 his sHbIect botb
argument and dgures'oT speech, although he |
I'd been suffering from sickness which no 1Oubt |
ndered the effort n strain upon his physical ma