New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-09
CLOUDS OF WITNESSES AROUND Us.
The Rev. A. B. Simpson IN the Tt,reeh street PTesbye'
ChHTch.

TIE Rev A. b. Simpson preached in the
Preshvcran Church. Tmrtccnth-st. yesterday morning.
taking for his text Hebrews l. Wherefore seeing
we also comprised about with 80 great cloud Of
witnesses. let lay aside every weight ana the Sin
which doth easily beset usand lei us run Win patience
the race that set before u.s. The preacher began by
comparing the race Of the Christian TO that in the OTm
pic games OF ancient Greece; referring 10 the ador
and enthusiasm 1t Inspired and pointing out the moral
value OF the prize
The race IN which we were engaged today, he said
was the religion Of Christ. Men could not expect to
Gid into the peaceful haven without pulling oar or
making an effort. Christians could not expect TO he
transported to the skies without first striving TO raise
themselves on earth The Christian life knded in our
souls the highest hopes and aspirations which II not
tasted would result In encouragement and ultimate de-
feat in the race before There were many difficulties
TO be overcome. Those little bts OF jeweod glass that
Law upon the ground which we mstoOk for gems and
reckoned real treasures, had no intrinsic value
and ther only glory the hght which shone
on them They were CLEANS Of pleasure only transient
aud iusory an igns fatuus which We followed bind!y
wasting much precious lime In our pursuit TO win them
and when won, discovering to our cost that hey We're
nothing after all Each had aim before him, aud
the vital question whethe 1t were false or true IL
the latter tIen the prize was God real ana eterhh-a
throne that would never be displaced, and joys that
would never fade away. While we were singing the
al gels also singing sOnge In s!npathy anu me
universe was trembling with the vibrations OF their
mighty chorus There prize for every one. be SAID
who sought il in Lord and which was thus
set before u.s. the path that had To be trodden was the
Iord-the path OF duty, holiness obedience OF honest
and truthful integrity and OF humble service for Christ
There was 10 other path. God Himself had revealed IL
TO us and shown us what His service was lie dld not
ouIe us TO live In marty ROOM and pcnaDco but TO 90
what was sweet and Just and night and best seeming 10
ourselves. That obedience 10 God. IL was not
only a path to fOow-but race TO VIVA race mat
was Intensely earnest The Christian lie must De
living thing. II It not earnest 1t would not De
Christian We must have fires within our souls and
Keep them burning 10 serve God faithfully We must
concentrate the one great aim III VIC were
no please God and Him successfully
One OF the virtues needed in this race was patience,
TO temper eIcitement without selfcOEtrol excite
nent would consume itself away. The largest part OF
duty was to suffer In the lowly fields OF LIE there
were men and who winning greater
Victories than those who won the worlds great
battles Christians Uust be patient as well as eager to
win the prize moving step by STEP aud WILING TO 90 on
Tor veara with burning aud unfaggiDg zeal. Patience
wins the race. lie that shall endure 10 the end the
same shall saved. Another help the preacher SAID
was encouragement First there was the piizel hnd
secondly the witnesses There were those who had won
The race looking down from heaven. The skies above
ms were teeming with countless multtudes; Christians
were the gazing stock unto prlncirnltles ana powers
MANY beloved there who mad worked WIN us
hcIow and whose memory as n shining light across
mr slrIzging lives. That was encourageneni-an en-
eouraccIncnt to live they lived, and be worthy OF
their gaze A.. ,,..... TIL. ,r.. al
vay one at least who had the power TO help aud succo
ma He who went before not dead he said but was
alive aud looking still. Christ would come TO our