The New York herald., 1877-02-05


stronger should the words OF God appeal to our under
standings they were read or spoken 20 US! The
seed thus sown should be nourisned oy constant medi
taton that It could grow and expand In our SOULS
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES
pLoUGHINa AND SOWING SERMON By Rev. DIR.
HEpwoRTH
Thirteen new converts joined the church yester.
day. and the ordinance Of the Lords supper was
administered Mr. Hcpworth selected his text from
Isaiah xviii, 90, a. 25, 20, 20:-"Gve ye ear and
hear my voice; hearke0 and hear my speech. Doth
the ploughman plough all day.to sowy Doth he open
and break the clods of his grounds When he hath
made plain the thereof doth he not cast abroad
the Atches and scatter the cummin and cast IN the
principal wheat and the appointed barley and tho rye
In their place For hts God doth instruct him TO dis
cretion and doth teach him. This also cometh
forth from tho Lord OF Hosts which Ii
deriul in counsel and excellent in WORKING"
You remember, brethren that when Joshua and Caleb
returned from their tour OF investigation they re-
ported that the promised land land flowing with
milk ana honey, and thoy brought back cluster Of
grapes ocular evidence OF what the soil was capable
OF producing. Years atterward, through neglect Of
known laws and through willul dsobedience not only
the institutions or the Hebrews foil into decay but
the soil ITSELF neglected and uncuvated for genera
lions. became worthless. The only way in which 10
It TO Its original frufnness Is by means Of the
plough and and tho walcklul caro- OF tie lar
Iner.' This seems TO me symbol OF human lie.
delight find types OF myself the Oid Testament,
and there are many ol them. We can read the grand
old book as recital OF actual facts Of history, or we
can look upon them as something m0re-as
the type OF own wants and needs, OF
our own actual condition. OF our own aspirations
and hopes. l have often thought that we are The
promised land OF God-that III the beginning we
brought abundant fruitfath temperance sobri-
ety. confidence In the love and promises OF God but
through dsobcdience OF somo laws, and through VIII
iul neglect of Others no land has gone to rum has
lost its productive power II Is land barren and
rocky and unpr0ductive as wilderness
REACH HEAVEN.
In order, then, that may produce fruit tor tho
garners of heaven what becomes necessary! What
means must be used-harsh or gentle? The text tells
that must needs be ploughed; the harrow with
its sharp teeth, must pass over U.S. the weeds must
Of the original soil must he planted and watched,
and then the promise comes that IN Oc-
.oOsr we shall have harvss. harvest. whose golden
Him who Is our hope and lie. We can DO all this
with Gods help.
BLESSINGS
There Is no chance any human llfe-thank God
for that Nothing happen TO us except ny HIS per-
mission, and everything IN the reach Of possibility
Can be used oy US as stepping stones 70 ngcer things
experiences Will lead ny 10 that ideal, and He
sends the needed discipline In order to produce
the desired result Wo stand aghast sometimes
wnen God sends His richost blessings. ana refuse to
accept His gifts they the gusc Of
sorrow and trouble. But II we could only say ut all
times '.God will take caro- OF u.s. He IS responsible,
and in Him l put my trus,' lie would sing itself
into happiness and all our distress aud misery could
he put aside All, how many troubles we borrow
how many times make to-day miserable because
we fear tomorrow GOD has sad, "As your day Is SO
shall your strength be-" aud why cannot We trust
HINT l wish could catch hold OF God with
closer clasp and walk with him aud let Him walk
with US.
HKPwoRTH's LEcrUREs
According TO announcement yesterday morning an
other balloon journey to the Holy Land is 70 be taken
tonight