The New York herald., 1877-10-01
EIGHTEENTH ST. IN. E.) CHURCH.
THE SWEET USES OF ADvERsTY--sERMoN BY

THE SWEET USES OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BY
REV. DIR. HATFIELD.
"Lifc's Ills and blessings was che theme of Rev
DR.. Hat1elds discourse at the Eighteenth Street
Methodist Episcopal Church yesterday morning The
object OF this sermon was 10 the main. 10 demon
s,rate that many OF fe's ills blessings dis
guse and that adversty, like prosperity had It's benc
ncent uses IN the WIN OF tho Divine Ruler. I'VE all
look upon tho loss OF properly said the reverend
gentleman IN the course Of hts remarks, .'as great
evil, a wociui calamity. There is among you
would not regard It as a crushing misfortune 10
lose hall his property. Wealth Is such power;
II hits TO position which they
would never attain but for their Men in ths
city and in this nation have reached positions by the
mere power oil their wealth which they could never
occupy without IL But there not instances where
the loss OF fortune becomes blessing disgusef Tho
man who has been purse proud all his lite, who las
used his great solely for the qualification Of hts
selfish ends, who has given little or nothing for
charitable purposes. secs a lesson the loss OF his
fortune and he determines that II by perseverance,
and industry he make another fortune lie will be
his means rropary in The Old World ior astancs s
bound up generally; II passes from father to son Tor
gencrations and the man who comes into the posses
sion OF great estate knows little OF the means by
wnicn honest, sturdy scfreliance can secure COM
pctcnce. II his fortune Is swept away percnunce how
Will know how to earn his own living except by the
uses OF adversely 2" The reverend preacher pursued
this tram Of argument to show that adversely and
poverty often sotened mems hearts and maze them
better and stronger while wealth and power hardened
their hearts and made them selfish aud coveious. IL
was only reasonable 70 assume that the Divine Ruler,
who allowed sparrow 10 fail unn0ticed. did ull for
the best, and we should IN all our msfortunes and
afiictous placc implicit faith in the
preme love of the Almighty lor all HIS
children. rake physical afi,cIions, he continued
.'they are used like the adversely OF fortune 10 num-
bic those that are proud, and 10 make them take that
position in tho economy OF tho universe which He
His nscrutabe wisdom assigns them. Physical ad-
vantages. like tho power OF wealth, not always
beneficial TO the rcal interests to the eternal interests
OF our souls. l speak to fathers. What kind parent
there here who would grant every whim and caprice
OF his CHILD? Who does not know the story Of tho
boy who urged his father, the commander Of ship
to let him go to sea that he might become
a captain also2 He thought Il would all be
very easy and smooth, but his father. in
stead OF taking him into the cabin, ordered
him into the forecasllc, and when fur,ous storm
broke the shp ne ordered tho boy to climb the
highest siar whence he descended only risk OF
his le. He cried aud said that he had not expected
such treatment But said his father, ~ you want
to become The commander OF . vessel you must know
all its parts And do you suppose that in after years.
when the boy really had become the captain OF the
ship, he sorry tor this stern training which he
had received In youth! We all require tins drill, this
training the ship OF lie to the haven peace"