The Evening critic., 1883-01-23
MetropoIitnn MI. e. Church.

I0tRe EdftoFQf 1he ECeatnq Cftttc:
The congregation at the Metropolitan NJ.
L. Church Sunday was better than usual.
A choir of nineteen voices led the singing.
The choir has been but recently formed,
and are apparently CLEANED from the Sun
day-school. The singing was excellent in
all respects. The pastor preached an ad-
mirabie sermon from Ecclesiastes xi, 1st
verse, Cast thy bread upon the waters,
for thou shalt find it after many days"
The metaphor was illustrated by the East
ern processes of sowing rice seed upon
flooded fields, and its subsequent reappear-
ance in the form of green fields and richly
laden harvests, and also by the commercial
transactions carried on by King Solomon
through the friendly cooperation of his
maritime neighbors, the Syrians, through
whom he sent out the grains produced in
Palestine to the cities along the Eastern
States of Africa and other distant nations,
and returning with ships bearing gold
and silver and precious stones, enriching
the country in return. Allusion was made
to the pending legislation in Congress in
the interest of education, which he pre-
dicted would be productive of the largest
results in removing illiteracy from the
States, and then proceeded to a discussion of
the missionary character of the church, and
of the NJ. L. Church in particular, which he
claimed was essentially missionary and
aggressive in its character, having for its
motto the spreading of Christian holiness
throughout the lands. The development
of the Church into its present proportions,
girdling the globe with its far-reaching
network of missionary stations, so that the
sun never sets upon the domain of our
branch of Clnist's kingdom is an illustra-
ton of the theme: The fathers had gone
forth sowing beside all waters, not know.
ing which should prosper, butnow the green
fields appear above the dark waters, and
in many cases with richly laden harvests.
These men have fallen, but their work has
gone forward. Elijah was taken to heaven,
but Elisha gathered up his mantle aud
went forth in the same work, baptized by
double portion of the Christly spirit. Bene,
violence is the best investment man can
make. How often human kindnesses we do
TO others come back to the inner sane
tuary of the soul like angels. This life is
but preparatory to that which is to come.
We sow here; we shall reap there. No
man can carry his gold and silver and
mortgages with him to heaven. They are
too gross-all of these material things
must remain here. With these things
however, we can make to ourselves friends.
Their proper investment may result in
something better than that dreamed of by
the old alchemists who sought to convert
charcoal into diamonds. The good results
which, come to us from deeds of faith and
love outweigh all things beside. Here
a number of beautiful incidents H.
Illustrative of the theme were related.
The story of Estella who transferred her
treasures to heaven and had gone thither
to enjoy them,' was particularly beautiful.
He showed that this was the scriptural idea;
that the good we do goes on before us and
will be found of us after many days. The
life, toll and sacrifices of Paul were referred
to. After all he had suffered in death he was
joyous and triumphant 81 have fought the
good fight, have finished my course, l
have kept the faith and honcefOrth there
is laid up for me crown of life which the
Lord will give me in that day" The reward
of well'doing is glory honor aud peace
always. He that winneth souls is wise"
and "he that goeth forth and weepeth
bearing precious seed shall doubtless come
| again rejoicing, bringing his sheaves
with him. He exhorted the church to
faithfulness as stewards of the grace of
God. A collection was then taken up for
the Episcopal fund, i" forlthe superannu,
ated preachers widows and orphans, after
which the congregation was dismissed.