Morning journal and courier., 1881-12-12
Church Notes.

ger of Spiritual Notwithstanding Sermons i'm Other Churches.
 Rev. Dr. Burton, of Hartford, occupied the pulpit of Center church, this city, yesterday morning and afternoon. His afternoon dis course was based on the words in Ephesians, 4th, 18th, ''Past feeling," being part of the verse reading ''Who, being past feeling, " etc. It was to be hoped, the speaker said in opening, that the words of the text applied to not a soul present before him. The state of being past feeling as regards spiritual life was defined. Now some present might be partially dead in their religious life. The next thought was the greatness, the far reaching grandeur of Gods work in behalf of man, that he might be blessed eternally. This work was alluded to by the speaker comprehensively and impressively. Having spoken of Gods goodness and benefcence in his plan to save man, the speaker said these things being SO what great hold should they take on men It was grand revelation, one which ought to arouse and hold the attention of men, but nevertheless many men were more absorbed in other topics, in their busi- ness, in their amusements, their households gossip had greater hold on them, so had the weather, so had the newspaper, etc. They were often far more absorbed and anx- ious in such matters than on laying hold of eternal life. The speaker wildly contrasted the state of being spiritually dead with v1- vid spiritual life, examples of which were abundant now and in the past ages. Each soul can look back to some precious expert ence when the windows of heaven were opened to their souls. These were way marks, lights on the stormy coast of human experience. The speaker, proceeding, de- fined the causes of spiritual numbness. It might proceed from innocent causes, as when soul was suddenly plunged into an abyss of disappointment life plan wreck ed On such an occasion the spiritual vision seems dimmed temporarily and the tempest tossed soul doubts and is dormant. Old age caused spiritual numbness. In old age the real spiritual nature comes to the front, and the more broken the man the more distinct the true character appears. If man has been real and true and sound in his spiritual life, it grows brighter and brighter as the lamp of human life is about to be extinguish- ed. In old age ambition has sunk out of sight, the desire for con quests in business are past, and the true man is in the calm sunset of life. Before; when in the thick of ife's conflict, his true moral and religious nature might not have been seen distinctly, as then he was beset on all sides, but now his light shines clearly. The speaker now defined the criminal causes ofspiritual deadness. Extreme self indulgence was often the cause. The speaker contrasted self-indulgence and it's fruits with self denial and self-sacrifcel and their fruits Why did the church approve of fasting viewed as means of grace? Because of the clear spiritual vision 1t gave. When the body gets the upper hand the soul retires, and a change is imperative. The highest civilization of a nation did not imply the highest spiritual life of the nation, be- cause such a nation might be spiritually weak
 Il speaker now defined worldIiness-what it was not and what it distinguishing use- full life in the world from a useless life of se- clusion, or hermit's life. Hermits are no more holy than millions who are not hermits, but stay in the world purifying and blessing it by their lives. Millions too are in the world because they work, tol or per- ish. Loving the world to the neglect of the soul was the wrong position to take. The speaker touched upon important lessons in conclusion, specifying some of the evils of worldliness as shown in business, in politics and in social life by the believer whose exam pie was spoiled by spiritual deadness, the end whereof. unless the right path was taken, was spiritual death.
 At Wesley Chapel.
 The Rev Dr. Goodsen preached an excel lent discourse on Finding Religious At mosphere and Living in it." The text was taken from the 3Sd chapter or JoD and the 4th verse, 'eThe spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life" The doctor spoke of the necessity and the importance of pure atmosphere for mans physical needs, and how earnestly people ought to strive to live in the pure sum- light of Gods love so that the soul may have a healthy existence. Not alone by the public gathering was the religious atmosphere grand; nor sadness alone, nor even ecstacy should be the motive power, but the atmosphere of love must be breathed wherever the Christian should be. Tlte great element of the reli- gious atmosphere was holiness Holiness unto the Lord'' must be the watchword of the Christian. When soul comes to God in earnest and is accepted God satisfies that soul A necessary clement of Christian at- mosphere was prayer, taught from child hood, and they pray best who desire sincerely to come into full communion with the most high. With prayer also must come medita- tion, seIf-sacrifce, self denial and desire to conform to Gods method. How often, the doctor said, are homes disturbed for lack of this pure religions atmosphere there. How can growth be expected when the soul is sell fish, worldly and careless? The soul can only grow into healthy spiritual state when surrounded by the pure atmosphere ofR holy, loving life.
 NORTH CHURCH.
 At the North church Dr. Hawes' morning sermon was from Matthew XIII. '. And