New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-03
LESSONS FROM THE PULPIT.
POSSIBILITIES OF LABOR.
The REV. Bideu Lane ne Central Mttodid Episcopal
/J,Kch


church.
The Rev. Bidwcll Lane preached his fare
well sermon yesterday morning in the Central Meth
odist Episcopal Church. seventh-ave and Fourteenth
st Of which he has the pastor for six months He
will take n charge In Covington. KY after making
short visit at his old home in Iowa Mr. Lane will be sue
| ceeded in the pulpit Of the Central Church by
| the Rev. Dr. James 3. Chadwick, who has been
pastor OF the Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church.
Brooklyn for the last three years In beginning his SER
mon yesterday morning Mr.. Lane said that he would not
preach formal farewell sermon, ne disked farewels
and wished to make them short rs possible. q
think" he said, that minister should preach every
sermon with as much sincerity OF heart
as II was to be his last Indeed all work in the service
OF God should he done in that spirit" His text was
from Matthew Xxx" Why stand ye here all the day
idle I"
Labor, said the preacher, is the chief
law Of our being God has said IT, and it shall
stand forever that must labor This law IL
written on every side of manifold natures and ia
revealed in every department Of life. Our adaptabiitY
to multiform toll would alone show Gods purpose.
Labor ia condition Of the highest development Of
physical moral and intellectual powers II God had not
meant that shOnld labor the earth would bring forth
its fruits without toll. He would have formed to
our hand every kind Of IL plement and would have
scattered gold and silver and jewels the face OF the
earth instead Of hiding them far under the gronnd or in
the depths Of the He Commanded Adam and Eve,
when He first placed them IN tne car a,
9 one Of Of His eommanGmens says six days shalt thcu
labor md do all that thou hast do" The New Tesla
ment also condemns ldeness Incidence. self indulgence
softness OF every kind while II commends an earnest
energetic and DEVOTED type OF manhood. IL attacks
idencss whether It he parnpcred amid the ependOrs Of
palace amid the nnthnkable wretchcdncss of howell
At beginning int, eciua life IN itS actuay IL
almost nothing. but In itS possibilities It Is well nigh
bOundess and a tain to none of these pOssibll
ties without labor In religion, too, man must
toll If he would accomplish anything. Not by
passively lying at Tie foot Of the cross, not by
cOuteInp alton however lofty Of the goodness OF Cod
can we reach any lofty religious height but by wrest-
ling with God by fighting evil, by doing good 10 oil
men at all tmcs-thcsc are the means By which we are
to reach mountain heights of goodness and purity.
Work IN the service Of God II everything depended
upon your labor C0nseorat body, sOu and spirit unto
the duties God lays upon yOu Many church members
are oilers because they come into the Church
think It IL religious hospital where the
weak people can be made strong. We should helD our
weaker in the ChurchtO b. sure but that Ia not
the only duty Of Church members Many, too look upon
the ChIrch lum for ncurahles 80 they dspse
all heroic remedies for the restoration Of spiritual health
and vigor Religion is TO many How Of pl, asant ieel
ings soft emotions ana memberships 10 them great
dividing wall between the Church and the world NJ large
Others to the Church because they want 10 save
their sou- and led to believe that II Is ghy I'M
probable that many outsiders VIII be saved These PEG
III seek first for he own pcrsondl religious joys ih'y
think that II they have secured tolerdblc assurance
OF their salvation, they have done oh maj mas
been upon TO DO They never think tnht 10 Try
and ave others OF their dutie What should we
eXpcct from those who become church ncmbeIsi In
crease Of personal purity, and 81 the religious NE ana
the multiplication OF the divine power Gud lupiIts u
rs that outside ~ the Church, in every relation OF
bands and wives better fathers aud mothers and better
aud daughters, by reason OF orr relations WIN
The Church of God. This Is what We expect rom
church members.