National Republican., 1883-09-17
THE SPIRITUAL HEIGHTS.

SERMON BY REV. DR. TOWNSEND AT THE
CHURCH OF THE 1NCARNATIoN.
And II shall come to pass that every soul that
Til not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from
among the people Acts Ill, %.
From this text DR.. l. j.. Townsend deliv-
cred discourse on the "Spiritual Heights"
to which the soul should be ever ascending.
There was no danger in over estimating the
advantages wo enjoy on being called to dwell
Systematically on the various incidents of our
Lords incaTnate life upon tho earth. All of
them arc the lessons of our childhood. re-
peated to us year by year, leaving us nothing
more to know, whatever else we may
spiritually need. For it may be that
wo need something more spiritually.
1t is not enough TO gaze upon aud admire the
spiritual truths contained in the incidents of
His life and work. They cannot transform
us by that simple, perhaps almost involnm-
tary process into the very image Of Him
whose life we contemplate, and nothing short
OF that should be our constant aim. Aud
hence while rejoicing in the hallowed scenes
through whose story we are annually passing,
we need constantly to bo reminded of the
higher purpose, and tn be watchlnl that our
spiritual enemy does not pcrvGrt them into
q means TO lure us to spiritual stunt or or
hinder us from that life of holy activity,
and reaching after higher aims, to which
it WAS s. purpose of our Lords life to be the
incentive.
1--we are constantly reminded of such q
danger in the history Of Gods chosen people.
They looked, yea, lOnged tor McsSiah'S com.
ing, but alas! with n perverted expectation.
Rejoicing in their spiritual selection of Ieho-
vah, they become deaf to the true teachings
OF JehOvah's prophets, and thought by the
coming Of NJ, ,ssiah as of one whom they
should do little more than follow after, take
possession of the riches and honors lie
should freely and protusely. give them, and
rejoice III the empoTal-perhaps even more
than thc spiritu all blessings which they emu
merated in the one idea Of restoring again the
Kingdom of Israel.
This was danger against which they had
been early warned, and it is sad comment
on the frailty Of human nature when it ceases
to be watchful that it did not save them from
the sad result "A Prophet" said Moses,
"shall the Lord. your God, raise up unto you
of your brethren. like unto me- Him shall ye
hear in all things whatsoever He shall say
unto you. And it shall come to pass that
every soul which will not hear that Prophet
shall be destroyed from among the people"
Alas we know the result of that unhGeded
warning.
st. Peters Guotation-perhaps we may add
st. Luke's narrative of his words--are not eX-
act quotations, but are instances in which the
New Testament abounds of the Holy Spirit
giving the true sense of a passage in the Old
Testament in words other than the original
the guidance of the same inspiration, call our
attention to two circumstances Indispensable
for those who would not incur the penalty
described as being destroyed from among the
people; the first is q state or relationship de-
scrined as being of or among the people the
second is condition expressed by hearing
what Gods Prophet shall declare.
This state condition which God requires
of those who would avoid the penalty of
being destroyed is that men be of or among
Gods people. God having made n covenant
with men would teach them the duty of
seeking Him in His covenanted ways.
OF the truth of this prophecy the Jews are
to-day a conspicuous proof. The glory has
departed from Israel. In their stead stands
the church of tho living God. Place these
facts side by side. Gods Prophet was not
heard. Where, as reckoned among Gods
people, are those who would not hear Him?
1t is clearly the duty looking at these facts,
for every man to enroll himself with the
church They that should be saved are
they who should not be destroyed, and they
who should thus escape destruction are
found among the peOple-that is, in the
church Of God. The duty of hearing Gods
Prophet, is the hearing in Il scriptural sense
not mere reception by the ear. The recep-
ton by tho heart is the duty of the people.