National Republican., 1883-04-23
The WORD OF GOD.
How It's Truths Were Expounded in Washing
ton PulpitS Yesterday.
Rev. S, H. Greene's Thoughtful Lessons
From the Life OF Jonah
Faith and Hope as Portrayed BY Rev. ]. E. Gaf, Of
Hamilton, Ohio.
REV. WiIford Downs's Reply 20 Colonel
IngersoIl's Recent Funeral Grafton.
THE LIFE OF JONAH.


Jonah, g.
Attention is not asked now to the details of
JNnah's remarkable voyage, though 1t furnish |
ample and instructive material for thought |
In the light of all we know concerning this
man, tn; SO thoughts now especially are in
mind; He was greatly honored by God. He
was commissioned to represent Jehovah in
the city of Nincvah. 1t was an honor to BIS
called by such authority to such work
Many had felt IL the glory of life to voice the
will Of God TO men, and the very work i'm
parted to them sn honorable dignity. What.
ever may have been Jonah's appreciation OF
the trust reposed, 1t was not enough to hold
him to obedience. He shirked his response
bility, and turned his back upon divinely
given work. IL is in this sad phase OF his life
that VIC know him most. But neither waves
nor miles could separate him from that per-
sonal responsibility which follows every soul.
Upon the sea he was face to face with the God
he had disobeyed and through experience not
likely TO be soon forgotten he returned to the
path of obedience. Turn not incredulously
from this divine record, pray you. Jonah
was u representative man with larger con-
stituency than many public men of our day.
A close study Of his life may possibly reveal
some lines of similarity between him and
yourself II is certain that religously he did
only what many are doing now. A serious
danger seen In every department OF lie Is
the ignoring personal responsibility, ana tine
consequent loss TO character and race "The
reward Of our duty is the power TO fuiiill an
other" suid George Eliot. Much Of the fric'
ton among men arises from the unequal dis
tribution of labor, consequent upon lack OF
keen sense of personal responsibility. When
every shoulder bears its own lord there Will
come solution to some OF the worlds vexiug
questions. Let us turn to some of the lessons
~ -. ssNN
First of all we arc impressed with the dig
nifty of responsibility. great trust nat
urally imparts honest dignity to worthy
soul In many of the prophets there was
sublime loftincss in bearing and language.
The greatness of their mission cast its glory
over them. This was Jonah's privilege; 1t
may be ours. 1t is royal thing to live un-
less its privileges are bartered away and its
trusts betrayed. Honorable parentage i'm
parts dignity to life. To be conscious of being
Gods child Is TO be struggling toward the
pattern in Christ; is to be turning Godward
In thought and lile prince in time Of
danger tied disguised to the cot Of peasant,
but neither the garments nor the humble sur
roundings could hide q certain royalty Of
bearing which marked him as one of royal
birth. So must 1t be with the soul in Christ
There comes, moreover, to the well minded
sense of dignity from the very acceptance
and performance Of worthy work. He who
seeks only "to minister mot to be minis
ter unto "-comes with kindly strides into a
character TO be desired. When mon catch the
God thought and move along its line they
grow Him, and life becomasa thing of beauty
and privilege. The divine thought for man
Is service, stewardship. "To every man his
work" Only as we accept our work as God
given do we recognize W true dignity. Inc
meath his hod, the boy on his errand have
only to feel divinely commissioned and their
work Is as holy as the preachers. They repre-
sent God, Christian, recognize your rela,
tionship, your commission. ITO be trusted
is greater compliment than to be loved"
God has trusted you
But opportunity is often close to danger in
this fallen world of ours. "No sooner is a
temple built to God than the devil builds a
chapel hard by" Near the way to Ninevah
is the W harf for Tarshsh, and many arc the
inducements to ship with Jonah. The very
humility which is the charm Of Christian life
is sometimes made the approach of devils
Unworthiness is assumed, and insuttciency
argued. We cannot succeed IL would bepre'
sumptious to try. 1t belongs to the more ex'
perIenced. How many glad soul, whose
voice thrilled many hearts and brought cheer
to all, has been sienced by such considera
tions As tho we had ever been worthy! II
has always been in Christ. | would put up {
danger signal here, where unworthiness and
insuiiiciency arc made the plea for duty neg
lected, and write upon II, Tickets Tor Tars
hish sold here"
Again we are tempted to consider the ac
tual obstacles in the way of the Christian Il
the exclusion of its helps. There are hinder
'ances in tho way. Lot no one overlook thii
fact. Vile inclinations within us ald sinfu
allurements without. "He who would wiz
must fight" Humanely speaking, the out
look is dark. These facts satan will marcl
before us every day in grand review Bu
this is only hall the truth. Elishas servan
trembled whom he saw tho enemy, but wa
brave when his eyes were opened TO see th
chariots of God. Peter saw the engulfni
waves, but also the mighty Saviour Gu
danger Is in seeing but half the truth. Owe
against the hinderance put tho help OF tn
gospel
Life in any of the best senses in which W
know IL is inseparable from activity alon
the line OF some high purpose. Gods MAJ
i'm Eden was a toiler. Gods man In Chris
was toiler in a higher sphere Whom divin
life comes into u human soul 1t stirs 1t as tn
sun earths bosom IN spring time. Activit
is the watchword of spiritual life. But W
love ease. Spiritual industry is toreig
thought. In shop, store, or office haste an
even WEAKNESS may be tolerated, for selfis
ends are served; but in the higher realI
there Is brake on every wheel lest tho strai
be too much. so Satan slows mon up, stea
ing the very beauty and force OF the new III
under the plea of candor or culture, and 30
loving helpful soul Is transformed into col
proper sort of individual whose words chi
like frost. Satan has put many man in III
loafers corner, leaving the impression Of 81
peror wisdom in the mind OF the victim
Beware of Satans sophstry.
We are much tempted to leave till to-mol
row the duty of to-day, with the apology this
IL Is but for little. God writes in His boo
to-day" to-day" For even single waste
day how shall we account to Godp
You represent great spiritual trusts. 1t
an honor 10 be Gods child. The very honC
attracts the tempter. There is devilish d.
light in leading the good astray. anderson
pretext, and II matters not what, you will
tempted TO betray your trust. Those WI
disregard personal duty are grief TO tf
church and a stumbling block to the worl
When each Is true to his trust the sanctuai
will overflow with worshipers, the pray'
meeting glow with spiritual life, the materi
interests of Zion be Cared for, the RedeemeT
church loved aud respected.
Here indeed is tho sequel of the world
trouble to-day. The cry Of the oppressI
comes across the Atlantic. AristocTats m
nopolists have much TO answer for, but n
all. There is not q rum seller, q gambler,
drunkard, a loafer, who has not a personal r
sponsibility here. The conflict between car
tai and labor will not cease till each indiyi
ual bears his own burden. Shirks, men sal
ing for TaTshish, are the troubles Of the worl
Let the story of Jonah teach us finally d
sure result Of seeking 70 escape God assign
work. Men do not leave great trusts u
watched, mother does God. Beyond &C