National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-03-24
PULPIT PRECEPTS.
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iNoo e''"h pNhhNNiH Ply WV ohihN NN"AN''if
trade all over the country, or when, in the
Capital of a great nation professedly Christian,
theatres are opened on the Sabbath to permit
iugglers to enrich themselves, or braaen
inhdelity to vent Its vulgar spleen and
line its pocket, or German skopticism to
to hold high scnsuous carnival. or q nations
Congress, with q nations banner flying over
head, to desecrate the holy Sabbath by legisla-
ton throughout its sacred hours, it's not
wonderful that the Christian Sabbath should
not be highly esteemed throughout the land.
Keep therefore, and do them, for this is your
understanding and wisdom" The Scriptures
are the palladium Of our national perpetuity.
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The Bread of Idleness.
Rev. DR.. Paxton occupied the pulpit in the
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church yes
terday morning, and preached an able and
eloquent sermon, taking for his text st, John
vi, $500 "Theu said they unto Him, What
shall we do that we might work the works Of
God2 Jesus answered and said unto them,
This is the work Of God that. ye believe on
Him whom lie hath sent. Jesus, said he,
never gave a trihng answer to triaing man.
We can recall niauy foolish questions put to
Him by the disciples, yet we cannot find
where Christ gave a tr1ing answer. He never
let fall from His lips hasty word. He saw
divinity in that. Christ makes all things
great. He never fell below the dignity of
divinity We owe the existence of the sixth
chapter Of John, from the fifteenth verse
through, to n persistent, sell-secking, blind,
heavy, dOgged, designing body of poor, selfish
men.
When Christ worked the miracle of the
lOaves and fishes the multitude exclaimed
with one voice that this was the prophet to
! 4 Nl.us., L.
They WANTED to make their time one long
holiday, free from toll, and let Christ their
king, mako bread for them out of stone.
| They had eaten the bread of ideness and had
found it sweet, and were all ready to call the
| man who fed. them king. 1t was dangerous
upon that mount to eat the bread Of idleness,
and IL Is dangerous now. Man is full of wants
and they love him hest who can supply them
with food without their having to toll for IT,
They cried unanimously, Let us call Hin
king who can give us bread without work
There was deal of human nature in that
multitude. Tho devil is in an unearncd liv
ing. II turns a selfrespecting workingman
into worthless tramp.
There is 10 more evil 10 an Industrious man
| than to he reduced to paupcrism He eXhortcd
! legislators and meu of money to help man to
help himself by giving him work. Resump
| ton is at too great cost if 100000 Of people
are TO live in state Of pauperism. When
Christ found that tho multitude wanted t
make Him their king He went away from
them. They became aware of His whereabOut
aud followed Him. lie said unto them ut il
not you seek, but the bread that | did give
you to eat Lift up your souls above YOU
bodies and work for the everlasting life" They
then cried out Rabbi what shall we do
Tell us how TO mako bread and we will let you
alone" 1t is wonder that He did not lasl
them with the tongue of sarcasm and scorn
but He answered This is the work of God.
There is a class Of people who stand aloo
from Christ There are many people who &C
cept tho morality Of Jesus but do not ac6nowl
edge His person.
Jesus told those who desire Christ's power
without any regard for His person, to beiev
in God and the work will come. The mora!it,
Of Christianity any man can have. 1t is no
religion No man can have Christianity Will
ont taking Christ. Christ's precepts wthou
Christ's person is rs word without deed. Re
lief comes first. Associate Christ from hi
precepts and they fall to the ground. We muI
not separate Christ's prccepts from his person
Christianity wants Christ This is the wOr
of God that We believe. When we believe /
Him We are ready to 20 forward and do h
will. The criterion of work is faith. Christi
anity means Christ. Without Him in Chri
tianity we have a cross too heavy to bear. BE
! lieve unto Nc, come unto Me-"