Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-06-29
University Of Vermont.


n but was so eloquent and contained 30 man,
truths depicted in clear and forcible STYLE that
=. we attempt an abstract
!, THE BAcoALAUREArE SERMON
He took his text from |. Timothy iv: 81 God
% illness is profitable unto all things having promise
Of the life that now Is and OF that which Is "a
4 come"
! The idea OF the future life, said the preacher
!, while in one sense remote and mythical, Is at the
= same time most potent influence in our presen,
. life. There is theory of human life which pro-
poses to solve It's problem by leaving out the fu-
ture life altogether Now when the true and full
philosophy of life--when Christianity comes to
adjust the respective claims of this life and the
following, it does not forget and despse the life
= that now Is. 10 elaboration Of the Apostle
thought he considered two points;
First, is godliness, or the religious element.
which gives to this life its best characteristics.
Let us remove the obsolete notion, a relic OF
pagan philosophy which long tainted Christian
thought, that all earthly human life il essentially
and without remedy corrupt. This error seems
still to possess strange power over the human
mind. Though no longer proclaming itself as
philosophy, 1t turks in subtlest forms In other
PHILOSOPHERS. That evil inheres in the flesh and
|
that the ascetic life is the most acceptable to God
that poverty and squalor and misery have in them
some merit whereby their victims commend them
selves to the divine favor; that selfdenia in it.
self, and for its own sake, apart from all refer.
ence to the subject Of it, is highly meritorious
virtue,-a doctrine which finds expression in
some OF our sweetest hymns; and the general
notion that the God and Father Of all is placated
| l,t
the present lfe;-al these beliefs lurking half
consciously in many Christian minds, are SO many
remainders Of the old pagan Mancheeism, itself
the offspring Of mans profound consciousness Of
il-desert But this is no part Of Christianity.
When the Lord rose from the dead he redeemed
both our bodies and souls and removed the ban
He honors God most who accepts most thankfully
the grand opportunities for making human life
worthy Of all it has cost the Son of God.
Religion alone can give us a full conception Of
this The present tendency OF physical science
is to lead to a degraded view of man But not
only does religion give us a conception Of large
and full human life, but it furnishes motives to
realize that conception. Nothing so wakes up the
intellect and stimulates 1t to noblest exerton as a
sense Of things divine. Science is the offspring
of an enthusiasm begotten by religion. Take out
vi HUMAN hie the rehgious motive, and every
thihg that IL hlgh and fine goes with 1t. Secure
the presence oil the religious and Christian mo-
tive, and everything high and fine in human life
VIII In time come with it.
Inc second proposition is, that in the life
winch tproduces now religion carries promise for
the life to come. II godlness can give infinite
olessedness hereafter 1t surely should give an APP
preciaby finite blessedness now II the Christian
IxaoA ... -. ~
oeatitudes promise the Kingdom OF heaven to the
blessed, we need not wonder at the promise that
they shall inherit the earth. That religion blesses
the life that now is dignifes, enarges, ennobes
it, as we have seen that 1t does gives presumption
that it can fulfil its promise of far greater bless
ing in the future life. They way TO prepare for |
the life to come is to live well the life that now is
However much may desire it, we cannot live |
in the next life till reach it. Nothing can be
more futile than the efforts of impatient saints to
| see things invisible by strainng their spiritual |
eyes out Of their sockets, or to get into cond-
ton Of extra-corporeal rapture so long as they |
are really in the body The best and only real |
godness for earthly beings is that which BELTS |
the life that now is, its conditions, limitations. |
duties. To be good man, or a good woman, |
after a noble Christ-ke pattern of goodness; to |
try to be such now, to-day, tomorrow, in the |
shop and the counting-room in the field and the |
k'chen' IN the CLASSROOM, on the playground, In |
'ne oour'roonh, III the senate chamber, in the
sanctuary III .ne ciose'' 70 ake the discipline OF
life wherever it comes. to get all attainable in
spia''oa iioni Tue heavenly NE put TO put that
"sp'ta''on in'o earthiy duues,-this Is the best |
Training ior the me 10 come
r,nany 'ne me that now Is inspired and con-
uoieu W eoainess' gives promise oil the life to
oo"e' Wy ah.'cipa'on' IL Is common to attribute
" man Tue oes're Vi immortality. BUT WEAKNESS
Vi me- una AeS 'he thought OF immortality irk-
y, =. na's 1o'he .aiue Una. ,he per-
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