Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-04-09
TROY n. z. coNFERENcE--4sTE SESSION.
The Conference Sermon.

The first service of the session of the Troy
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church was the conference sermon, which
wss delivered last evening by Rev. NJ. d.,
Jump of Lansngburgh, n. Y, before large
audience, the spacious building being com
pletely filled. The pulpit was adorned with
baskets and pots of flowers and on the wall
back of it was the inscription in evergreen :
"Welcome TO Troy Conference.
THE SERMON.
Jeremiah vi 14-They have healed also the hurt
of the daughter of my people slightly, saying Peace
peace, when there is no peace.
jeremiah was man not only OF tears bnt also OF
unninchIng ndellty TO truth. These words were
spoken not long before the destruction of Jerusalem
and the captivity of the people. The jews had
fallen into a fearfuy degenerate condition. The
cup of their iniquity was full The rod OF chasten-
ing was soon to applied Ii was clear 10 the fore
seeing eye of the prophet. NebuchadnezZar with
his hosts was the march and the destruction OF
their city, the desolation of their homes and the
captivity OF the people were near at hand They
were warned by the prophet but they Would hol Us
ten. He was even counted as an enemy. They
preferred their degenerate and covetous priest
hood. These men were interested IN Inc main
tenance of religious services that would tend to iher
personal gain and had no regard for the people
further than that. They indulged them in EVIL
ways, made false promises and held ont false hopes
thus healing slightly the wounds OF Gods people.
II Is now very much as then-the people delight TO
be humbugged. To-night's theme will he
THE SUPERFICIAL IN RELIGION.
This was the burden of the preachers theme
Peace. peace, when there is no peace He knew
full well the virulence Of the disease OF sin. lie
knew that 1t was incurable by mortal power. He
taught that no priesthood and no rites could cure H.
The scripture doctrine of sin Is an unwelcome one
and men try to break its force and modify It's mean
ing. In De Foes story OF the London
plague men represented as protesting that they
had not the plague, while in fact they were dying
of II. So 1t is with sin. Men are reluctant To ac-
knowledge that they are sick with sin. But they
are sick and ministers should fully recognize the
fact. Nothing but Divine power can cure the dis
ease. Ii would seem as though men wond willing
ly acknowledge il and cheerfully submit 10 the
DIVINE Healer. But there is an all-pervasive ten
dency TO seek out other means. The tendency Is TO
the superficial in religion The tendency exists
In religious teaching. In all honesty believe
that to preach the strict and exact truth requires as
high heroism the church has evercailed out
The prideof the human heart revolts af the utter
ance of IFS wicked and helpless state. To preach
directly and pertiueny on the practical duties and
obligations of the Christian existence and the
highest standards of business and social life drives
the people from the church and perhaps from the
communion. II Is well enough 10 preach Of the
glories OF Heayen-we all delight IN such themes;
but many people who like them turn with horror
from preaching about the final end of the impeni-
tent But should preach of that. not because
delight in 1t. but because IL is demanded by
fidelity TO God and 10 truth. There Is tendency
ular and much religious literature. The way 10
Heaven is made so easy that 4 man can NOT very
well miss IT, Gods mercy and mans worth
are sometimes so handled as 10 drive men
from the truth. The questions Of SIN and reiribn-
ton are put aside. There is nascent treason in
this TO the cause of Christian truth We are drift
ing away from the great cardinal princIples OF the
Bible and men are becoming skeptlcs- We no long
er fight over creeds and questions of minor import
ance. but il is not a matter Of Indifference what we
believe and teach would say to the laymen en-
courage and support your pastors and demand the
whole truth
IL. The superficial in experience The Jewish
people were not healed because of the unworthi-
ness of their accepted leaders Superficial teaching
inevitably leads 10 superficial experience. No soul
will feel rapture in Heaven that has NOT felt the
pain and the horror of sin. true conversion Is
made only when men see that the consequences OF
sin are dangerous and take such view OF me
Creator as melt and subdue their hearts. enabling
them 10 cast themselves wholly on the Lord Death
bed conversions are generally made through lear
alone. Backsliders become such because their
hearts have not really been touched. They have
no apprehension of their dement's as sinners There
is an intimate connection between teaching aud eA-
perience. The perpetuty OF a religious impression
corresponds with its depth. How much. then. de
pends proper instruction Men need 10 he
taught that the infinite recttude OF God cannot looH
on SIN unmoved. In alb history the great religious
movers have been those who fully and thor
oughy preached all the cardinal principles of the
Bible This is no time TO wink at the superficial in
religion. We must have the conversion TO God and
10 everlasting salvation. Every soul should come
in the senee Of its need TO an Almighty Saviour.
Ill Inc supernclal IN religious str'lre hcLleIon
is first Of all life and then manifestation OF that
life. II the experience is superficial then the rel-
gious life is feeble. All the graces implanted by
the spirit work outward. But we ind that the
spiritual life is often so feeble that the
great ambition Of many is simply 10 do no
harm The Christians call means service
as well as rapures. Ne need strong thorough,
stirring appeals 10 men to put on the whole armor
of life. Oh that God might awaken us TO see the
possibilities and the rapiures OF the service OF
Christ The success of the great men OF the world
is due their development of the heart and vital
organs The church needs fullness Of heart-power
and n mighty development of the vital forces II
would then be as fair the sun. as far as the
moon, and as terrible an army with banners.
Let US then, approach the Throne Of Grace and OBJ
tain aid and comfort and strength. Let the church
throughout all her ranks feel the mighty power Of
the Great Healer. Then in deed and IN truth shall
ii he said .'our of Zion the perfection OF beauty.
God hath shined."