, 1877-08-20
ALL THINGS THROUGH
CHRIST.

SERMON DY THE REV. l.. 7. c1AMHKHLAly.
The Rev. l.. T. Chamberlain, who has been
pastor OF tho New England Congregational
Church, corner Of Dearborn avenue and Dcla-
ware place, for Tho past eight years, preached
his last sermon in Chicago yesterday morning,
as he gocs hence aopn 10 Norwich, Conn, wliete
lie will take charge Of another fold. His dis
course was not what could be called farewell
sermon, being continuation Of that preached
the previous Sunday, With view Of iuprcsstng
more forclbiy upon the minds Of his hearers the
Importance Of making absolute Christian per-
fcct!on their standard. Ills text was:
strcngtheneth me.-Philipians, IT,. IL.
The word "can,n lia eaid, was apparently
used by Paul not in tho mere scnse Of ,,ossiblll-
ty, but In some large degree Of actual acconi
i,crtencc. that ho should writo these words Of
Ills spiritual sNcccss. II should bring to our
tearts the thought Tint Paul had somehow
found tho secret OF divine strcnrth,-tllat he
could tell where tho source OF power was. aud,
in the light OF 1t, was pressing ou successfully
to tho end which va sought. II we would get
the most help from bis example VIC must nsk
ourselves now II was that tle fount strength
in Christ, and by what means Christ
cause Paul wus grateful to Him; and his ecnsc
Of gratitude for 'fayors grew greater and great
er. This euggcstcl what tho Christian sont
owed to Christ We should think Of what 1le
had done for us.-of what we wcrc before lie
catne, aud OF what lie had accomplished, By,
bringing us into Ills Kingdom; and "a We
thought Of this our hearts should EO out In II
limitlc.s and thankful devotion. Paul grew 1t,
cii.s and i'd foand IL tias i liz sas brinr: M is be.s %
lngs to him day by day. f!e drew his insptra-
Non from, tho present a. well as TIC past. We,
too, needed to reinforce our past thaik(ulness
by the remembrance Of The relations 1t had to
The Christian life in tho soul would cease II
Chrtst should Withdraw Ills agency. En NC
should bring Him honle to ourselTcs,-should
remember that llt was az eycr-prcsent sarlor.
doing for It now-whcn IT was filed with thank
fulness for tho prescnt-lt would run back
along the record Of bcncfactfons aud count oyen
tho earliest blessing. Paul's gratitude was
tho thought that Christ had made an atone-
ment not only for him, but for the whole world.
Chrst vas to Paul in himself simply all In ALL
the King eternal and immortal. Would not
such considerations Of Iiltil bcaF u toward new @
strength or q new victory when temptations
COME. when there Is . plea for the omission Of
and, Dtvine,-tr,1st Him, and gain . blessing BY
serving film. and day BY day grow In Ills like
days to come, eTen In this LIFE, that ho should
bo ablo to gain better and better
successfully that worked with a well.cherishcd
hope. Thercfo1a Mr.. Chamberlain bid Ills hcar-
ers to let their souls be faithful With q rudIant
hope .toucl!nE tho future which the promises Of
Christ Inspired. Could anY ono who had such
hope bo content with ilnpurfcctionsi II pcr-
fcction were not our standard. We should never
know how much OF help VIC needed II VIC did
not know how great mas the end. VIC should
IN conrl,ta afnn he ,,r.yrr all IN trrr, IN Chrirt