, 1881-06-20
PAST, PRESENT., FUTURE.

RtHtVs
PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE.
RE1tstDS iIy THE 1lEv. +. ". HFf!fSN.
Tho Following sermon was delivered III the
plymouth Congregational Church, I4aw-
rulcc, kas., n waek ng0 yesterday. by tho
Rev. l., W. Spring, who chose for his thenie
Tile pnst, Present, AMI Future"
Which IL: asla which was, and which is IL come.
-fftr., f.4
Tlircc constant factors prevail like trade-
winds III hulnal, ltfe,-thut w,iu'. Is, and
which WAS, anil which Is to. come. So far
there is' identity Of experience ui,lnng all
met. Yet we nowhere fine repetition or M.n-
nUtony, my mor0 tlnn II, the sunsets, though
painted by thu sans light nill sltatla lu0li
tho snlno sky callvas since the world hcgn'l.
considcr first TINT which ssus-tl.o pnst.
Vast nud manifold are its p1inses. a kind
Of 'ntlnlty broods over it-a largeiless be-
yOntl 0tr grasp. I ca1l only caEf your atte'l-
tIpn to su,tic Of It's lAUre conspicuous and itll-
prcssive lessons. .....
Tho most hurried and superficial observer
cannot full 10 iule tint tho arca Of the past
eMlargcs, that It's boundaries move outward
with every stroke Of the pendulum. All
eternal increase chnrnctertxes lt-an endless
expansion. 1t Is us wien traveller, taking
his post oil tho SLIPS stern md leaning over
the taflrail, watches the fading outlines Of
town, harb0r, 7ntl coast rs they sink below
the horizon, while tho watery xustG COLI
stAntly broadcns md leigtllcMs bclLnd lin.
Then n,ark tho utter, irreparab'c pcrlia-
llencn ut TINT which was. l need not tell
you that change belongs to th1s world. Evil
dence Of Its presc,lce mud power abound O'l
every side. Its lessons nrn written over the
Wl0tu cnrtll, Tile nOblest creations uf
The old lllan argues TINT tho sky Inns fat!ed
and tic s,.l utnmcd since lie was boy.
Sn,nn ',lIs.;nomiahctI. nninter has saItl lint
WINE you are looking ut q iaee, thouEt! you
tttnl liberation of expression Is often obsets..
bic. at times t|lD sense anil impression OF
sEs 4e i sS e ls Sssa %aSst S II edasss ss rs
but mntabt1lty.n
ntlon nor the shadow that ls cast .y, by
Wild, convilslye, struggling, sorrowi9!!
experiences Of humanity which we call
hlstory:-in tho thoughts, words, a1!l deeds
TINT havs flashed into Deing-ti the
nSrniss @ is tbat fra 55oaSss ayx lG 5 s9ae s E9t NJ
one iot Or tittisca,t eYer Iass frot, tat Which
WINS. II Is beyond revision and amendment.
Thy tsxt must stant1 as It Was written: TSr9 n9
Tremendous word "never" belongs 70 tho
past in fullest, most desolate sallse. 1llo wns
'o y. ~, wv WV p.s' ~
so call neek yestcrday; 9'a tame retarn
no; Soy himself e4Gia s mot answer sH aas
Of ,olnl!potencc' ..,- ,,.,,- -, a.. o.n,,,,
NO man cah l9ok Daok on the eSp9ta.
with entire confort,1.,!ot even the p'rcst.
aithfnlesh hollest. Tint would ~. Hlscios1 G,s.,
hopeless. IA iMnel! lett und1ne eo,et. or done !Mn
Ments itleu away. preparations neglected for
a'ys II stSrss e See = snuass a snFts y
Iroter;saail @ al !ls a Il IKE y!sb'H a pus,gns
l tio not ask you. 70. visit t!,at, whicl., was
simply to By scrn.claed AMI tern by it. Keen
It. fain for It's own sake--aiways resnalning
palm ard nAvur converted intu experleltcG-is
| To be deprecnted.- Unless mixed with vital
ling All! reforming impulses Il is l!ks fry
of acrvI1Ns tlia household. There Is II