Morning journal and courier., 1883-03-19
Benign Influences.
The Relationship of n Church to a Muni-
 cipaIIty of Which 1t Forms a Part.

The Relationship of n Church to a Muni-
 cipality of Which 1t Forms Part.
 At Trinity M E. church Rev. Dr. Goodsell
 preached yesterday morning on the subject,
 ssThe Relationship which we as a Church Ought to Sustain Toward a City" The text
 was part of the eleventh verse of the tenth chapter of Matthew, ''And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter enquire who is in it worthy" These words of Christ spoken to his apostles when he sent them forth into the world were intended to impress the i'm portant truth that all would not regard their teaching with favor. The Saviour told them plainly some of the difficulties which would obstruct their labors. The apostles were sent forth to carry the truth, they would be welcomed by some and rejected by others, l they went in spirit of self-sacrifoe willing ! to bear the reproach for Christ's sake. The religion of Christ is elerating. The question comes to US how can we make religion a ! force power for good in the town or city where we live. We know there lives beautiful in many respects which controlt | troI certain clements in city, but are no ! aetuated by the spirit of Christ. That man | in whom the spirit of Christ is 8 force re- gards Lis surroundings and has a personal | desire for the welfare of the community in which he lives Christian ! is not to carry any new doctrine in a city where he resides. A true | Christian goes forth seeking to illustrate the \ love of Christ in his life. By his humility and right living his example gives weight and | character in community. He should seek to elevate the tone of the city. The purity
 of his life should give character to to
 schools that oversight that ought to be pure. Our devotion to Christ should | make our choice in literature. We should | aim to suppress everything that corrupts the minds of the young. Doubtful business relR- ! tions should be considered The political \ life should be watched with interest, and | every form of intrigue should be frowned upon. There is power enough in the churches | to regulate the temperance question and to strike at the terrible sin of intemperance. | Our home life should be made more beautiful | by our devotion the Master so that the force
 of that life may give greater weight to our
 example outside the home circle. Every city has it's own characteristics the busi- ! ness life and it's surroundings, the develop ! ment of art, etc., etc., but the city takes tone
 from the people who live in it. How blessed it would be if the religion of the Lord Jesus ' Christ was the great controlling influence of \ the lives of its citizens. We owe it to the \ town in which we live to exert a religious in-
 fuence. We should watch every form of sin | and evil and fight against wrong. I do not,
 said the doctor, feel at liberty to lower the
 standard of Christianity because some
 churches have not yet reached it. We may
 not see the day when the state of society
 will be such as a true Christian might desire,
 but as the disciples went forth to do the
 work for the Saviour and to inculcate right
 principles among the people, so may the
 Christian church to-day seek to elevate the
 community in which it lives and to rejoice in
 that people whose God is the Lord.
 \ fT71 do1 h koe Hhar | a large audience who listened with intense in ! terest to the discourse. In the evening the
 house was again filled, Dr. Goodsell again | preaching.