The New York herald., 1876-02-21
TRINITY CHURCH.
SERMON BY THE REV. MORGAN DIX on ''wANT
OF SYSTEM AND LACK OF FAITH"

sEREoN BY THE REV. MORGAN DIX on ''wANT
OF SYSTEM AND LACK OF FAITH"
At Trluity church yesterday the forenoon services
quite. numcrously attended, tho weather being
such as to entice abroad tho most delicate.
Toward tho close OF the services the Rev. Dr. Dix
preached short sermon from the text contained in
l. Corinthians tx, 90 27-'T therefore run, not
uncertainty; fight !, not one that beateth tho
air: but keep under my body and bring 1t into sub
ccton les, that by any means, when have preached
to others, myself should be q castaway."
THE SERMON.
The greater said the preacher, contains the less,
what apostle feared might happen to plain To
avoid such disaster bodily discipline was necessary.
The figures OF the text wore striking and familiar.
They came home to those to whom they were ad-
dressed The runner IN the race who became dazed
after the start might much effort but II nc
did not run to the goal directly he might
win. So with tho fighter who beat the
air like the old crazed Spanish knight who
atakcd the wndmis In this land Of novelties
among whose people there exists little veneration
for the examples OF tho past the basis of morals and
religion Ia in very unsettled condition Religion IT,.
self is the and life is a a
bat More settled principles are therefore needed
For tho contests want clear heads and good weapons
In the great OF people these things lack
ing and emotion takes their place. The people ac too
much on impulse; they are neryously active, like
butterflies.
WANT or SYSTEM
IL should not be forgotten in all this nervous activity
that each OF us has fixed time TO live and all have
some power to do good Men OF moderate ability by
principle and perseverance have accomplished much,
while others OF transcendent ability bave only left here
and there the OF their genius and merely for
of system AS 1t Is with individuals so
Is II with nations The want OF unity is the loss of
power whether we look at the family, the Church or
the state In day the spirit OF partisanship takes
the place Of saiesmanshp The people the leaders
because the battle of the day Is merely for place
pos er, and for principle hence the ship drifts
I'll reminded of the tex, lest 1t should become
castawsy. Among Christians there is dissonsion One
says Behold here Christ another proclams that He
is elsewhere Neither is there any system ordinary
life How the changes OF hour upset men. Take
for example smsgivlng In that which most needs
system but few give with regularity, being moved
cordng TO momcntary impulses. Blessed is the man
who is systematic in his charities, In his prayers
and in his life His faith is fixed and steady and
his life proclams its power. The lesson
the text taught was a condemnation Of erratic
movements and the misapplicauon of force
There enough real and dangerous foes TO engage
without striking at the shadows Of morbid fancy All
evils may be traced 10 the body-to perverse-
in choosing 10 run by sight and not by faith We
should aside from the tempting sights the strange
and diverng sounds of the world Its haze distorts
the truth mixing friends and oes angels and demons
until We can scarcely tell which is which To avoid
evil need loothold outside the world. the foot
hold OF faith, that marvellous gift which God gives 10
all who rightly seek il, so that we shall see Him with
the heart and desire Him in HIS righteousness moro
thar al else.