Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-04-18

an unclean urchin namely that of person
OF kleptomaniacal tendencies putting his
hand into ours.
People of an asthetic turn may possibly
think that the subject of trousers pockets is
not a large one but in this world simple
things often carry with them stronger asso-
Citations than others which are more COM
plex or more dignitied. and familiar objects
which are constantly in use, be they ever so
/ insignificant, are more bound up with our
daily life than some philosophers might care
TO acknowledge. e.-Slt,Tddy Reriet5
Fast Day In Burlington.
The visible observance OF Fast Day in our
city was not as extensive as We have some
times known it to be Tho churches were
open, but the extreme unpleasantness OF
the weather and going made the congrega-
tons thin. A whirling snow storm, and
tom, do not contuce to horseback riding
and ball-playing and these secular modes
| OF celebrating 1.-THE Governors Sunday
were postponed to some year when winter
does rot linger 30 persisten.ly in the lap of
spring. The people generally, doubtless,
had abundant opportunity for meditation
indoors, and it is to be hoped improved it.
AT THE COLLEGE STREET CHURCH,
the two Congregational societies Joined,
and an audience Of half church full
gather ed to lear Rev. l.. 0. Bras;ow.
The text was Micah vi. 3: "Ile hath
showed thee. o man. what is good and
what doth the Lord require of thee; but to
do Justly, and to lovo mercy, and TO walk
humbly with thy God"
Every man knows that God requires
something CT him. The conviction OF .obli-
CATION to God is universal in the racs.
The false worshils, which are but the tra-
yesty of the true. prove it. But men differ
in their notions OF what God requires of
men. Our notions Of God will determine
our notions of His claims.
Men bring God down to their own moral
level, and often pervert His character and
torture His claims into something capri
cious. or tyrannical. II God il
being without moral character, His
claims may stop without demand of
moral worth in man. His sovereignty is
the sovereignty ct character. Ii good. lie
demands good. We need not be IN doubt
about His claims lie has showed US what
i good, and what does He require OF US but
to do Justly ard love mercy and walk
humbly. The good is revealed in absolute
final law. Justice, philanthropy, piety,
sum up the exactiOns of GOd-Justice the
root, Philanthropy the stalk, Piety the
fllwer.
The sense Of Justice Is implanted in the
natural conscience. Without it society
would he bedlam. Ii is the common
sense Cf the moral part of US. But as
below the conscience lies the heart, We
must consider principles and motives This
brings US into the province OF religion.
Seli-righteousness is not seli-Iespoct The
Justice God exacts must consist with
humility, yet there Is natural justice
which often puts to shame naudlin piety.
There can be no right culture of the heart
without culture OF the conscience. No man
can have good conscience toward God
without having also good Conscience
towards his fellows. We want no sanctimnni-
Gus patronage OF morality. Let judgment
beel. ID; =. house OF God. The church has
not Jailed in urging the practical duties and
III ralitie-. Ii has, IN TACT, reconstructed
the morals Of civilized lite, the nOb!est viz
tues Uf which are the outcome of Christian
ity Christ gives US new notions OF justice
- s.b.!e aad persuasive that men uncOn-
sciously pride themselves in them. But the
church also concerns itself with what lies
behind the mOralities. Progress sometimes
demands demolition. Ii time comes when
all truth Is .:ls..tsd 70 dogma and dogma
crowded latU d Hai-inate creed when all
must adopt some mans shibbOleth when
excess Oi individualism generates paucity
OF public service: when II IS demanded IN
the name of mercy that criminals shall 60
unwhipt OF justice: when the marriage OBJ
legation ls terminated by caprice or gush of
s.tb hap Ia fruu . he, alrac
quonoh uni'osn iiiH =" hon iA-s i,e ..--t...I
ediy or put Industry INTO false relations
and reward labor with scanty wage when
.Jclal yaniIits tend to the sinking OF the
realities then is the time to recall the old
fact that there is such a thing as moral obi !
cation then Eu-t We abridge our text. ard
read what doth God require OF thee.
but to do Justly
Considering tie obligation of Philan-
thr0phy, the preacher remarked that !
Christianity had enlarged our concep-
tions both OF ustice and mercy. By |
tho Christian standard mercy becomes a
sort Of justice 1t becomes matter 0!
moral obligation. Yet m,rcy cannot be
legally exacted. The quality OF justice is
strained but "thc quality Of mercy is not
strained Ii is an attribute to God Himself, |
and earthly power doth then show lIkest |
Gods when mercy seasons justice. In the |
course o! justice none of uS should see sal /
VI tiOn. We do pray for mercy and that !
same prayer doth teach Us all u render |
the deeds OF mercy" The fnally |
condemned will be those who have
repudiated the claims of mercy. The man
whose lie is not benetcent has not learned |
the first principles OF Christianity. We !
must have principle to make our lives use |
ful. The life useless towards man Is worth /
los ri 10 has ho
pie of service to man. Nothing in liie's be- |
wilderment will help US 10 tho rock. like |
the example Of that matehle>s life which |
stnted nothing, that man might be saved. |
Christianity shows Us that enmlty and !
meanntss are moral wrongs CHRIST has !
shown US that lie requires US TO love men Gs
members OF a common brotherhood. with u |
common interest in a great salvation.
But as justice without mercy may prove !
to be Injustice. SO mercy withOu: piety is |
imperfect mercy. The love OF men, which |
is mercy, demands for its completion the |
love OF God. which is piety. Ii Christian /
is superior to pagan morality, this is the |
explanation OF 1t. The failures of the !
church simply show that 1t has not enough |
plety.
All the best life develops from wIthin-in !
the growth Of the soul as in that of the flower
The interior lite which comes from GOd and
knits the soul to Him, yields the best stalk
OF justice and the best flower of charity.
10 deny Gods claim is II DENY His GJdhead
as well as the chief function of the human
heart and will. The scn>e of Gods claim on
US Is the base OF all authority lie only
can hold Us IN moral obligation. Duty has
no radical significance without tod To
walk with God in humility and obedience
Is piety Thus only We make the most and
L.. 4 Ia. L. L..
ready to die. So living, We may look with
cheerful confidence to the life beyond. Now
abideth Justice, Mercy, P!riy bat the
greatest If these Is PIsiy.
Mr.. Brastow $ sermon was listened to
with close and thoughtful attention
AT THE UNITARIAN CHURCH
the sermon was preached 10y the pastor, the
Rev. l.. G.. Ware. The following is a brief
abstract OF his remarks The prophet
Micah (yi.9l. living seven hundred years be-
fore Christ .nys What doth the Lord re.
quirc of thee, but 10 do Justly, aud To love
mercy and to walk humbly with thy God;'
So tan the o!d But IT seems AS ii God re-
qulIcd something more, Tor IN the New We
read a John. 10. 'And the blood of Jesus
Christ clcnnAeth us from all sin These
passages ngroe. The atonoment in Christ il
tue moral As God gives us knowledge and
grucc. let ur Ice careful that We put the apilt
above the letter. Micah declares. amid the
sacrifices on the altar. that God requires lus-
tic, mercy aud faith We mark three steps
IN the progress OF the doctrine ni sacrifice
first, ITS origin second. IT teaches its iull
thlrd,il becomes corrupted. Let us consider
what may bc nationally h,heycd and devoutiy
cherished about the sac iiiice ON the Cross 1t
is to those words Of Micah Is an, such u4 those
that the New looks back as its authentic
prophecy. The passages IN the Old Testa
ment claimed as ipretcllng Christ can only
Doe made to do 30 by Wrestling them cut uf
Their urnper connection Fore siuht nr e,,.-