Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-01-03
VOL. ".
SUNDAY SUBJECTS.
Rev. Mr.. Smith, of the First NJ. f. Church,
Riscourses on New Years Resolutions
The Agent of Hamline University, Speaks
for That Institution.

4 Sermon appropriate Jgr the Season by
the Rec. Samuel q. Smith.
Rev s. G. Smith, pastor of the First N.
E. church, preached sermon last even
ing on "Good Resolutions" from the
text, $50 teach us to remember our days
that we may apply our hearts unto Wis
dom"
Some of us, said the preacher doubtless
have reason to feel hard toward the year gone,
1t has taken from us so many unreallzed hopes
and unfulflled purposes. Along the pathway
there are the ruins of so many broken resolu-
tions. We remember what the year seemed to
be bringing; we consider tonight what it has
brought. We thought it would be SO long and
give lis so many opportunities. 1t has been
so brief and now it is quite gone. And so, we
may say, all the years will come and go. And
in spite of our faith, and works as well, little
will be done and, at the last, life will seem to
us 'like tale that is told" So we may sur
render without battle and hide our failures
by our sneers. We may adopt the Mosaic
standpoint without the Mosaic philosophy.
On the contrary, we may take more hopeful
and more Christian views. Lifefs not hollow,
but it has heart, and that heart quivers with
the life which God gives. Let me suggest to
you that though mans earthly career may be
frail as the grass, yet what he does is enduring
as granite. So Moses might write: have
been ''like watch in the night" Yet has his
collosal life entered into society and endured.
His unknown grave has been trampled over
by the rude feet of men. His ashes have been
dissolved from their God made resting place,
but so far from having vanished
out of the world, his legislation, yea, his per-
sonal influence are more potent after
thirty-fiv centuries than they were in his life
iS tci1 pf Erpnpp
than he ever was in his native country. Plato
and Bacon will influence the higher thought
of the world for generations yet to come.
An immortality of deeds comes not alone to
the great men, but every life is a persistent
force from which the world will never escape.
The brevity Of life combines with its vast
effects i'll enforcing the lessons Of this hour.
1t is q truth that must never be abandoned,
that men have power to "apply their hearts. "
Men have not yet fully awaked to the tremen-
dous power that lies in the human will Lord
Beaconsfe1d says in his latest book that
achievement in life depends only
upon man saving l will.
His own career illustrates his principle,
and when genius and will are combined, the
proposition is largely true. But mans heart
is contingent only upon his will ndcycry man
may apply it unto wisdom.
In harmony with this thought is the fact
that God his given theater in which man can
display his will. And SO the statement is,
"The heaven, even the heavens are the Lords,
but the earth hath he given to the children of
men," So man has the proprietorship of
this world turned over to him for the full
swing of his power. The forests wait for him
TO fell them. the mountains wait for him to
level them; the oceans wait for him to cross
them; the stars wait for him to count and
weigh and measure them; all things wait for
his power. So God leaves us to
make oIir civilizations, to conquer our
diseases, to right our wrongs, to construct
our governments, showing in all this
magnificent faith in his children. So lie
puts q premium on the exercise of human
power. So he sends man forth to make his
fortune, and bids him build as splendid palaces
as he will. In moral and spiritual achieve
ments man is bidden 'apply his heart. :" Not
by coerciye means, as some have taught, not
by irresistible decrees, and unacceptable i'm
pulses, does God make us good; but by all
gentle motives, and by the trend of righteous
ness in his general government does he seek
to lead his sovereign children to say, | WILL
l trust you will find in these
thoughts some solid basis for
present resolutions. If God has given
to the race this world as their possessions; if
he has given to each one of us a share in its
dominion; if we are powerful over our moral
destiny; if each life is to enter rs permanent
clement INTO the WOrlQ aCnlcNeUleQlS, III Is
most needful that We consider our ways and
plan our work.
Let me ask you to resolve to do something
worthy in the year to come, and to wait neither
for God nor your neighbor. | say with rever
ence, YOU may not wait for God All, He has
waited SO long for you; waited until you would
enter into your inheritance; waited for you to
accept the light which would reveal your
proper destiny; waited for you to waken to the
knowledge that you are his child. No, you
need not wait for him, he has waited long for
you.
Let ne ask you to live in the belief that the 4
kingdom of righteousness is sure to prevail.
Let me ask you to consider yourself a member
of the conquering legions.
There are those who say that they think
this world must go to the devil, and that then
Christ will come l understand that Christ
has once come that this world might be saved
from the devil. 1t seems to me that the only
conception worthy the trust that cur father
has reposed in us is found in the belief that
the tokens of good in the world are promise
of complete victory.
Finally, some of you have been promising
yourselves that at some time you would enter
upon religious life Perhaps you have passed
the point at which you had expected to be
come a Christian more than once. May you
so number your days as to apply your heart
Unto wisdom, and remember, ''the fear of the
Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil
is understanding ~