The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1883-06-11
BACCALAUREATE SERMON.
BY REV. IA. j. HUNTINGTON, p. y.

IN University Hall on Sunday, une5
10th, where the customary sermon
to the graduates was delivered,
The opening prayer was made by
Rev. S. y. Finney, pastor Of the
| Presbyterian Church.
The text. Of the discourse was
taken from Matthew, I6: "a,
Then said Jesus unto bis disciples.
If any man win come after me let
him deny himself and take up his.
cross and follow me- and Rev.
81: 81, To him that overcometh
will I grant to sit4With me on my
throne, even as Il also overcame.
and am set down with my father
| in his Throne. III.
The speaker said, q come not as
alecturer on any literary, scientific
or philosophical subject, but as "a
preacher Of the Gospel Of Christ.
This is a theme for all, butA es-..
4 pecially for these young men about
| to leave these halls.
Two views. Of life will be pre-
sented to you and their rewards
and inducements. One, that Of
the mass Of mankind always
selfish. Some indulge themselves
lin Incidence; some, in seeking
fame and honor, produce q formal
morality, but all aim at selfgratif- /,
cation and aggrandizement from.
the things Of this world alone. III
On the other hand lis shown a
life Of self-sacrifce, self-denial, pre-
paratory to the enjoyment of q
future life. N
The tendency Of our country, at
| this present time, is toward display
and would urge you 70 aim at the
highest worldly promotion. Il
The theme of this discourse
Is slse duty and rewards Uf ! life
Of christian selfdenial.f First self
denial is1a duty, because it is abso=
lutely essential to moral excellence,
Twill not here DISCUSS human de-
pravity, but no ore will deny the
tendency of the human mind and
heart to evil. i is inclined to
malice, to envy, to jealousy. H !, - =.
jill These must be subdued or it will
make YOU cruel and virdictive, the
traits that spread death and destruc-
ton. 81 :, ..'..-.# . III 4. +.
[ 1. Naturally bent upon the gratif-
cation Of our bodily appetites and
passions, to shrink from hardships
and duty. If all passions be- al
lowed full sway we become british,
devilish, and theymust be checked,
We condemn all who give up to
indulgence wine, in gluttony, in.
licentiousness. But we honor all
who resist these evil tendencies and
curb the natural appetite !: all who
imperil their lives for others. +
III All hold in esteem the memory
Of Leonidas and his three hundred
Spartan soldiers in thepass Of Their
mopyle the Apostles in their
perils by land and by sea, in the
street, and the martyrs Of later
days; and modern missionaries
who in the heafhen lands, risk
life and all the serlse indulgences Of
civilized countries for the purpose
of carrying the gladness Of salvation
to those in darkness. fl
Selfdenial is indispensable to !.
discipleship, YIELD yourselves a iv-
ing sacrifice" II i i N
Even Christ gaveup the heavenly
throne for the manager in Bethle-
hem ; a divine life for a malefactor's
death. 1. E 4
But why make SO stern q de-
rnand7 Why not float gently and
pleasantly down with the current,
instead Of striving to stem it !?
All, Christ knows that left. alone
man will wander in the paths Of /
disc bedience and sorrow. lit is a.
gentle love that prompts the require
nnent and says Turn from the err
ror Of your ways. He speaks
not as on arbitrary master, but as
a kind friend.
We are not expected to re-
nounc E anything not contrary TO a
true devotion to HIM and a per
feet love for him. i