Connecticut western news., 1880-08-30

dAuCs "uy dEo ldUOTS Udu0 SO SdCTluCluR ] Why are these meetings held here in this grove, but for the estimate men have of the | souls value. Men will sacrifice all comforts, all joys, all ambitions for the souls sake. The soul transcends every sacrifice that can be made.
 We may infer the immense value of the soul from the endowments it possesses. It has wonderful powers it can search the it can look into the parts of the world and know it's history What can it not do? It has immense possibilities The mind of man seems to be able to discover the unseen mysteries of God. It possesses possi- bilities of happiness and of misery. In mans soul resides the power to soar to an angels place, or to sink to demons abode.
 What of Gods estimate of the soul |? There is joy in heaven over sinner that re- penteth. God is interested in the saliva ion of such, He began to redeem man as soon as man began to fall-with the curses there was promise of redemption. Christ's com ing was a necessity, we should have had no place in heaven but for His advent. What was the price paid for our redemption When one can tell what the blood of Christ cost, then he can tell the value of the soul The soul has duration for all eternity, for ever There is much to learn in the contrast of the value of the soul with the value of the world. The experiences of sinful pleasures never carry with them the blessed memory that the soul enjoys in the quiet of religion. When we get religion we do not give up everything. we get everything. Christ gives up all, we receive. All the trials and afflic- tons of a Christian life bring delight, a comfort, that unlawful pleasures never give even for a moment Let it be supposd that it is not true that desire fails, that life is short, that pleasures must end, but that you are to have the pleasures of this world for a thousand years You are never to drop a tear, heave sigh, nor have trial; the whole world is to be yours for thousand years, and you are to enjoy it unalloyed. The years speed on, the time has come, the last year, the last day is at hand Everything is as bright as ever, and you know DO sorrow. The day dawns, noon comes, evening shades follow, and a darkness comes upon your soul The last moment is here, you have had all for centuries, but beyond the last minute there is a dreadful uncertainty-an appalling black ness. O, what will it profit man to To his own soul and gain the whole world The case is assumed to exist it does not and can- not occur. You to-day have an incompara- ble less amount of this happiness that comes from the world, and yet you for this small amount refuse the soul it's happiness, and love the world. Men are now deciding, and they will lose their own souls from lack ot decision.
 What will man give in exchange for his soul? It is lost already-you must redeem it There is no redemption hereafter. no sermons in hell If you lose here, you have irrevoeably fixed your own doom. There is no hope below. There is joy here and joy ab owe. Take it, and take It now.
 SUNDAY AFTERNOON ExERCIsEs
 The shower served to scatter the large multitude so that at the opening of the regular services of the afternoon it had not sufficient ly gathered itself to make very large audi euce The seats had been swept of the rain and those with backs were pretty generally occupied. A larger number were standing about. The exercises were opened by sing. ing "Work for inc Night is hing" Rev J P. Buxton lead in prayer.
 The sermon was preached by the Rev, Dr. G. s. Hare of Poughkeepsie from the text
 John xv, l4-"Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you" This text holds the philosophy of Christian labor, service obedience. The commands of the Master are laid down on all the lines of our living
 They are too wide and too comprehensive to he entered into, in detail. We disciples of Christ are perpetually under orders. There IS something hard and cold in Christianity as 1 it appears to the uneonyerted hpmau mind. The worldly mind shrinks from the obedience. the submission, the walking by rule. The first part of the text Is not comprehended :. ''Ye are my friends Friendship induces service, it grows with service, it, is the inspi- ration and reward of service. The promise of the text is addressed to a more open bart
 than our understanding. We feel that out
 wonder is stimulated as well as our faith. It seems strange that Jesus should be in this in- timate relationship with us. He is our per- sonal friend, more than any human friend
 The value ot Christian life is in our friend ship with Jesus Christ. Ii real Christian ex. 'perience is friendship with Christ. then. in that friendship, there is strlct and perfect in. dividualty. Friendship IS personal. So when Jesus proffers friendship there Is like ndl viduality He regards my temper and consti- tuition, my personal history aud experience. When the p ofounder convictions of some persons begin to be stirred, they run about to ldilute their conscience, they retreat to posi- ions which, if more genial, are less whole some and brave We must stand face to face with the great searcher and accept his re buke. t k If it is true that true dlscipleship consists l|ll lltonuS'lP WlGl SuIlSI, we MuSt rememDer first. His omnipotence, there is no limit to his nightlness and, second, we must remember his wisdom. He can see through all intrica- eies, can provide for all the mixed wants of our condition. If Christ is your personal, in- iividual friend, in this sacred, secret, and per feet relationship it follows that the place in which he puts you is the best Go on and
 abor with no doubt of your ability, but with confidence of certain and ultimate success.
 The coIstancy of the friendship of Christ places it above all others. It endures for, ever; and is truer ln darkness than in day
 light, it's test is in the blackest hour of our life Christ has given you and me more than life,
 He has given us high honor, that of living and working and dying for Gods honor.
 The rewards of Christian service are not slch as can be described before, they are best ymbolized in the idea of friendship. Love to Christ is disinterested devotion. Stipulated wages and hearts love are interested motives for service If we never expect Heaven till we have earned it by legal conformity we had better give it up. We do not earn it by works.
 There must be something higher. Whoever