The New York herald., 1876-09-18
ST. STEPHENS CHURCH.

TIE IMPORTANCE OF MEDITATION ON DRATH-
SERMON BY REV. FATHER MAcAuLEY
There was as usual largo attendance at St. Ste-
phcns church yesterday. The Rev. Father Cotton was
the officiating clergyman, and at the termination Of
the first gospel the Rev. Father Macauley preached
Sermon taking his text from tho Gospel according to
st. Luxe viii, 1l-16, In which is set forth the raising
TO life of the Widows There was described in the
Gospel said the reverend gentleman, striking illus
tration OF the extensive mercy Of God, only for
the maadcs of spiritual Kind but also for temporal
tribuations In the case mentioned great was His
compassion that Christ not only sympnthizod deeply
with the mother OF the young man who dead, but,
in the words of the Gospel He moved with mercy
Besides the subject Of mercy which suggested itself
from the Gospel there was another familiar 10 us
in everyday life, and that was tho subject
OF death. In the illustration given IN this Gospel
death had chosen for one OF his victims, not man old
in tho ranks - humanity, who had already passed
tho years generally allotted to human beings but tho
great destroyer came among tho Hover OF mankind.
one OF the great misf0uncs Of our lives is that fly
and other kindred subjects. a Wo naturally shrink
from death, and tho old well as the young, those
favored and those iorsakcn by thor fellow beings all
cling 10 life. We know that We are placed in this
world for u purpose; that VIC have but lew days to
accomplish our object md that great part OF our
lives Is taken up with tho temporal concerns OF our
being There was disposition drown these
thoughts but they would nevertheless como up and
bring us 10 the of this amportant SUBJ
ject and Il absolutely necessary 70 ponder IL
II would work out salvation. Tho
riches, honors and pleasures OF this world
distracted and absorbed tho soul to the
exclusion of tho important considerations
that should lead 1t to work for itself eternal salvation
Death showed the vanity OF all these things. II
represented tbom to us they really existed. In
word, by consideration Of this subject complete
revolution in ideas takes place. vision bc-
clearer and purer and consequently aspira
tons and desires elevated and in Keep
ing with the nls3M object OF existence. We are
victims Of the world II understand 1t not The
Son of Man himself has told that the truth alone
could make us free We are, then slaves in tho most
nbicct OF tho term II understand not the
tendency Of our actions Tho salutary effects of mcdi
taton death could not be ovcrcstnatcd. Wo arc
len to anticipate the day when shall into the
endless world, and we things Will SEQ
them at that eternal tima Death Is iOr us
all We know not tho circumstances under
which It will Moreover we know NOT
whether shall have time mako preparation for
entering into tho other world 1t by scnsibiity ot
the truths that hone TO receive the grace that
will enable to pass the ordeal in tho friendship OF
God So far death Is concerned the most plausible
Appearances deceptive The reverend gentleman
IN concluding very eloquent and pathetic DISCOURSE
cxhOrted the congregation TO be Impressed with that
fear alluded to in the Gospel by which salvation
be worked out The result of this fear good
preparation. They had the example Of the holy
Church, death having always boon subject OF her
Elections well as OF the SAINTS Tho same need they
had we nso have, and the same fruits they derived
will also derive The reward OF reflections would be
the grace necessary to meet God in the world come.