Daily Republican., 1881-04-25
FOURTH EDITION.
ODD FELLOWS AT CHURCH.
Synopsis of a Sermon Preached TO
them Yesterday Morning.


Rev. f. b. Du Val, pastor of the First
Presbyterian church, preached, yester-
day morning. TO the Order of Odd Eel
lows. His text was selected from Ro-
mans II: |.
In his Introductory remarks he refer
red to the Soicitude of Paul for the sal
walton Of men. He compared Paul's
Solicitude with that expressed by Moses
and Christ, and remarked that he who
was capable of such SOlicitud9 rs to be
ready to sacrifice himsclftor the good of
his tellowmen, was always worthy TO
be heard.
What is it that Paul asks ? That We
present your bodies (synonymouS with
Selves) a sacrifice to God. What else is
worthy of you? Nou cannot cling To
earth, because all things have a first
nature in accordance with which they
must developed. The vine is accustom-
ed to climb upon polc and, ifit adheres
to earth, though for n time it may seem
refreshed, nevertheless its foliage will
fade, its bloom blight and fail 10 fruit,
aLd it will he trodden by the beasts of
the earth So with man. His nature
Is created with affections that COma to
that perfection only entwincd about the
Deity. If he falls short of this his adj
herence to the ClodS of the valley will
only eventuate in the destruction Of both
reputation and character A man
cannot devote himself to himself. The
castle in which he stores his goods
must soon crumble, and the glory of it
mingle with the dust, and God saith to
him "Thou fool" and SO is every one
that is not rich toward God. Mans
life is ever dwarfed until he comes into
communion with the Infinite and holds
the divine character rs the model upon
which his life is to grow.
Paul calls upon them to drdi ,ate
themselves to God, because there is no
other source of happiness. All the
heights of human aspiration are only
foundations from which we gain wider
views to increase our anXictieS. The
eve is not satisfied with seeing, nor the
ear with hearing. He that Ioveth sill
yer shall not be satisfied with silver.
nor he that loveth abundance with in
crease. As the magnetic needle lahors
with local attraction, and is agitated
until it is fixed Oh the pole, so is the
soul of man until il finds rest in God.
To devote ones self to God is the high
est brheSt of both natural and revealed
truth.
Paul entreatS lis by the mcrcics Of
God to present our bodies a living Sacri-
flee to God. 1t is indeed Il grovclling
heart that CannCt be touched with love
and tenderness. Gratitude is the mark
of noble soul. 1t is God that com
mandS the sun to rise on the evil and
good, to send his rain upon the just and
unjust. 1t was God who provided IA
priceless ransom for world that was
dead in trcSSpaSSeS and III sin. "SCa.Cc-
ly for an unrighteous man would one
dare TO die, yet, pcradventurc for good
man, some will even dare to die" But
of God, il is said: "lIe cummcndeth
His love toward us in that, while We
were sinners, Christ died fer us. "
Paul demands that our offering should
be Il living sacrifice. In the old TcSta-
lncnt economy the dead animal was
offered in Il typical atoncment for sin,
but Christ, the end OF all types,
having once for all offered him
self As Il sacrifice t0 satisfy the reinS of
divine justice, there is hcnCctorth no
need Of further atonemrnt, but the sub.
ieCtS of his reconciliation are called
upon tor the best thank-u offerings for his
mercy. They are hcnceforth not ours,
but bought with price. Therefore they
are to glority God in body and spirit,
which are his. Every drop of blood
which courses the veins, every magnetic
current which flashes through the ner-
YES, every idea formed III the mind
should be some messenger Of the Kings
business.
There is a grandeur in such Il life of
loyalty to the King of Kings, whether
il be- the mother dcvOtrdly training her
child to his praise; the mechanic or
writing holiness to the Lord
ON the bells of the horses to his engi-
merry: or the Hebrew warrior, refusing
toreturn home, while the
ark Of the Lord was exposed on the |
field or faithful Nehemiah, refusing TO
come down from the wall, because of |
the great work he is doing. Ii is all by |
daily toll, laying up blessings, glory |
and honor US Il heritage of God forever:
a sacrifice OF a sweet-smelling SAVIOR
grateful to God.
The apostle declares this to be a rea-
Sonable service Not in the sense that it
is due to God, though that is true, but
in the sense that it comlnendS itself to
the highest intelligence. 1t is the most
rational and worthy dedication OF ones
being that man can possibly make.
The church was crowded, and the
sermon was heartily appreciated.