The New York herald., 1876-07-17
TRINITY CHURCH.

SERMON YESTERDAY BE- THE REV. DIR. DIX.
Al Trinity church yesterday the morning sermon
preached by the Rev. DR.. Dix. The text from
the first book of Samuel H., 12-"Now the of
ELI were sons of Bcal; they knew not the Lord"
Hophn and Phinchas, the preacher said, the chill
dren Of the tribe of Levi, though brought up to be
priests of the Lord, far off they could be
from the purposes OF their lives. And still 1t
strange that they should So the Temple
birthplace. In its sacred enclosure they made their
home Their duties it would be supposed should hold
them fast by the Lord But in spite of their surround
Ings in spite OF all that should have secured them
IRON wrong, their hearts evil and their con-
sciences corrupted. They used their Offices for
gam Their father made feeble rcmon-
strances, but they thrust him aside and went
on their evil ways Such was the life of
those young priests who, though dwelling Gods
Church, csiranged from her spirit and purpose.
Nothing but special Intervention OF Gods grace
could them, and they had forfeited the right
such an nterposition. After describing their destruc-
ton by the Phstlnes the reverend preacher pro-
cecded TO draw the moral Of their lives There was
great danger, he said In living the good things Of
God and not partakng OF them in hearing the truth
and not accepting it, There was danger in being per-
mitcd TO live where religious privileges may be en-
Joycd and, in disregard OF the opportunities afforded,
living ON as II no such opportunities were at hand.
What once occurred may come IN the latter days
AS it happened in the former. II we examine own
lives tins consideration IS apt to make
thoughtful, for there Is, to say the least possibility
OF danger. IL Is possible that, In spite OF
all God has done in providing with
the means OF grace and the aids to devout aud re-
lisious Lie, some may be strangers TO their divine
Master. the OF Eli. Prccept and persua-
sion hem us IN on every sdc aud TO slight reuso
opportunities is not merely passing indifference
II is positive disregard rejection OF the spirit OF
tho Holy Ghost. In our day nothing is familiar as
tho sound OF the Gospel 1t is familiar Us now and
has been since our childhood. Yet II disregard il
what more Is II to US than a dead letter?
II IS possible with that while living
in the midst of Christian teachings, and while
all they knew, believed and received
as religious truth stands the same 1t did when they
first received II, they may have changed from neg
lectng to participate their duties that the truth
has lost Tor lncm its familiar form. But
the fault is theirs and only theirs, If the
charge comes Should this possible divorce
between man aud his divine Redeemer about IL
is only by continuance in IN defiance to the
proaches OF his conscience in presence of the sigus
o. redemption. Hence the Christians sins havo
about them tingc of desperation. The very
body OF the Christian is q temple OF tho Holy Ghost
and each man is the priest Of That temple. When he
SINS therefore, he must have been trlfng with holy
things and the priest has bee false TO his The
average history OF Christian lives presents but little
VARIETY and the OF direct prov denta interior
10 arouse the sinner from his evil ways very
few We should therefore. accept what God offers
grace, for is not thing OF indifference whether
use the means of salvation or not. To try serve
God ana Mammon at is TO live tho lie OF Uopnni
and Phnchas the sons OF Eli