The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-04
progress of the age; and we have hopes that shall
never be put to shame.
FIFTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.
RIPE, THEN REAPED-sERMoN By REV. DIR.

FIFTH AVENUE BAPTIST CdURCH.
RIPE, THEN REAPED-sERMoN By REV. DIR.
ARMITAoE.
The Rev. DR.. Armitaee preached yesterday morning
on tho subject of "Rpe, then Reaped." taking his
text from Mark, w., 29-"But when the fruit per-
mits Immediately no puts forth tho sickle, because
the harvest Is come" The words Of the text said tho
Rev. Doctor-'Wnen the fruit is brought forth, I'M
mediatey he puteth in tho SICKLE implies that thore
is no unnecessary delay in reapng, the great object
OF sowing Is to reap, and tho only design OF waiting
Is TO obtain rpenng. and at once upon the ripening
follows tho reapng. Keeping this In view, then the
doctrine Of the text would stand as Indicated by
Archbishop French--namey. that 'the Lord Of tho
harvest gathers the SAINTS when they are ripe for
glory" Right here wo meet ono OF the apparent
mysteries the doctrine Of Divine Providence.
Nothing Is likely 10 perpex US more than the ques-
ton Why is II that among Inc avowed and acknowl-
edged servants OF God stand in the wheat fields
SO long before they ripen and some ripen so soonf
For example. you lind young Stephen richly etpe rs
any golden be while yet the flush and thoughts
OF youth arc unimpaired while Paul. the aged, left
TO pat lie with storm alter storm and peril alter peril
before no IS ready DO reaped. And what occurred
in biblical times has been continued all down the
turies. Where we have had faiherly Chalmers tho
GIT las been attended by a Pollock aud McCheyno;
where Rallies, Spring or Conc have stood on tho
bosom OF the field I'LL seventy, eighty or ninety years
had brought thor ripening influences Spencer or
Knstt or Henry Marty have been gathered long De-
fore the noon OF life.
'.wuoM THE GODS LOVE DIE YOUNG"
Within The scope OF your own observation the
young and iair, the influential and promising young
Christian is often taken away before no has attained
the u SGT Of manhood either IN age or position. while
Others equally onsecrated to God, deeply marked by
q meek quiet spirit and noted for unconi-
mon beauty and sweetness OF Christian character,
stand waiting till they bond with age before they
down. Are We to understand, then, that the one
kind fit for heaven and hence are taken there,
while tho others unfit TO 60, and therefore,
Lett I'LL they are personally fitted TO departP
THE HARVEST OF SOULS.
Some wheat Will ripen sooner s0mo soils than
others ana IN some situations by the sort OF tiasc
receives ny reason OF its sowing and by other cir
cumstances. For one or moro oil these reasons you
will often hnd grain OF tie Same kind taken ut tho
same BIN, sown by the Same hand ana In the Same
field in stages oil ripeness some cracking In
ripeness before blazing sun and some even yet
in the milk state, SO green 1t is. In this regard as
well as in others the ripening wheat hcd is fair
typo OF mature immature Christian character, and
again tho ripening also fair test for the reaping
he blade is the childhood, the car but the mid-iie
the iull corn In the car Is but the ripe age oil
wheat. Be not, brethren, reluctant TO go whom the
Lord of the harvest puts forth the sickle 10 gather
you. for Hs will not do this TIL you are ripe. and when
you ripe ''immedately" He will take you like
shock OF wheat lulIy prepared tor the harvest