The New York herald., 1876-09-04
BROADWAY TABERNACLE.

THE PRIZE OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS SERMON
BY THE REV. A. HUNTINGTON CLApP, D. D.
The Rev. A. Huntington Clapp oflciated at the
above church yesterday morning, In the absence Of
the Rev. William N. Taylor, the regular pastor, who
enjoying vacation. The text Of the was
taken from tie Epise OF Paul the Apostle to the Phi
ppians lii, IL, Is, 14-'Not as though had already
attained, either were already perfect; but follow
after II that may apprehend that for which also
apprehended of Christ Jesus Brethren. count not
myself to have apprehended; but this one thing do
forgetting those things which behind and reaching
forth unto those things which before, press to-
ward the mark for the prize Of the high calling of God
IN Christ Jesus" The words here used by Paul. said
the preacher, are drawn from the national games Of
those days. of which foot-racing was the least SIN
ful and most graceful The contestants were, Of
necessity of pure blood and severe train
ing and dieting before enioring a race When amid
crowds the surrounding galleries the victor reached
the goal, he crowned with a wreath OF laurel
leaves and carried of TO the city from whence he
Here the surrounding walls Of defence down
to signify their useessness in the presence of tho
queror He was placed at the head OF the army and
forever after supported by the State.
Let US pursue the words OF Paul, the seIi.denying
m.ssionary Of Christ, when he says he had not laid
hold OF which Christ had laid for him. 1t not
doubt about the resurrection for he had before given
evidence of his full faith in that Nor he follow
ing Christian hope, which so many OF US think is
enough. Again, he not seeking certainty OF sal
vaton change OF heart How could he after Damas-
Gus, where the prosecutor b. came the aposteS Ho
knew be was in Christ creature Hc did not
he had attained the seals OF his apostlesbip
There Christian of intelligence who will profess
TO equal knowledge OF Christ with Paul and yet ho
only opens heart to know more OF God, view
he gets creating only yearnng tor something grander
yet II boIness and sanctlty that Paul sought
attain and he had not IL was just the plain truth
from the wisest and most honest OF men. II was
after the time AT Damascus Paul himself
light and felt the necessity OF
repentance in sackcloth and ashes And in that con-
dition what does he propose to do about 1t? Turn
back or stop where he was 10 save himself from dis
appointment and mortihcationy And yet how often
do we see this feeling among us in the lower things CT
life Do the words oil Paul sound like turning back
Let US look ut the particulars OF his methods. The
first secret of method q singleness OF AIM so
transcendent that ali others sink from sight This has
been the method OF great artists and inventors and
only such have had the perseverance and energy
necessary to succcss-success whore men OF double
purposes fail There would have been bu, Michael
Angelo had he confined himself To his art Had Luther
aimed At more than one thing the Reformation would
have been failure The second secret OF his method
was in forgetting the things behind him. He gave up
all hopes ana aspirations and AL earthly ambitions,
save Tor the lessons OF good in them. He forgot tho
beolry and hatred OF his home and aid aside his trials
SO far as they tended to unnerve him. He shut tho
door of memory On his successes. 1t would be time
enough by and by to bring them before Him whom
they we're due. We are apt 10 gloat over our good
deeds instead OF seeking 10 perform greater and
richer ones. There is nothing more precious than the
memory OF good lie. and yet how much 1t worth
forgetting The third secret OF Paus method IN his
looking forward to the mark for the prize OF the high
calling Of God in Christ Jesus Ii was, perhaps this
nsp ration to look forward TO the things come that
guided Columbus over the OCEAN Paul had been di.
vncy promised, and was. therefore, sure. So Pnul
ike the racer with ou,streched hand sought for tho
heavenly crown, anticipating the final triumph OF the
Gospel .Ani what contrast is there III the crown
sought Tor by the racertho one coruptibe other
incorruptibe; delivery from temptation and sin and
freedom from the terror OF death.
And we, are we seeking that crown? Does our ex-
pericncc of the world satisfy us with its prizes
Snou.d we gam that impossible prIze-the whole
world-woud 1t compensate Us Tor the loss of Jesus?
How lew gam anything IN the world worth taking out
OF 1t, and bow many take with them what they would
give len thousand worlds to be rid Of
But let us look at brighter prospect the pleasure
of dwelling in communion with Goa and of reipning
with HIM in eternity. Then shall we he perfect then
shall have laid hold OF Him; then shall We with
the Psamst join IN the song OF the eternal day OF
tory and coronation.