New-York tribune., 1884-03-03
PULPIT THOUGHTS.
rxTRACTs FROM YEsrEKpAYs SERMONS
TIE DUTY IMPOSED BY STRENGTH.

.tthe West Presbyterian Church the ReV.
M ca,+on sad "Itis usually the case that the weak
,car the burdens Of the strong that is my ooservaon
Ven and must know that finest qualities of manhood
ore NOT constitutional but acquired not pat ou' pun
into u.s. Nature feels neither pity pam nor ruoiso
sn comes and voos the flowers forth, the WIND shts
to the north and thousand swords OF most put he W
death Plato said that doctor shouhl cuIc "o e''H"
OF a strong man. hut sckly man was oe''er o"e VI ""
NV os no was Of no use 10 the State Herbert spencer
preacbss the survival OF the Htest our "orlu WIN i'
h+tf,l charities owes them all 10 Christianity When
Cosar butchered 10 600 men Rome cried, Ave Caesar
we have had good day That IL the od WoEu: Vt s++b
Sfrencth and weakness antgonize each otneT
!, oratnt Of weakness and weakness Is full of com
Ianfs aeanst strength and there are more weak men
@ fa men lust as In the forest there hundred
aS saDi9es 10 one robust tree. There are more men
wS lS vn n So on your broad shoulders should fall
the burdens Of the household II is NOT LOT an s 70 sp ~
home. You aud live at home, at home We on ouA
armor with which have been fighting competitors a
The week At home are ourselves, but II requires
the eyangestic virtues to make good hohle'
AN INJUNCTION TO MANLINEss.
The Rev Dr. Green OF Princeton preached III the FTst
Presbyterian Church, and said: Mans lnnd Is not
governed by absolute power, and as consequence Ms
conduct Is not uniform. Reason has its sway ana II
changes the direction other faculties at will Not
40 in the lower animals They act instinct leads them
but man train his powers TO do the bidding OF MS
Creator II he would attain his proper place among Ihe
created Much is dependent upon him. aud much more
when we consider the influences around him, which lead
him away from ls true end, and cover up his nooie
capabilities Be true to yourself Develop your lateht
talents and realize your own ideals Man mas a" Tue
strength 70 make OF himself manly man. and he oueh
todoit Every man is 10 his work be that work
great or trivial learn lessons from all things
Teachers for princes are often found in the Owest OF the
peasants Zeal misguided teaches us noble lessons IN
its ruins. The and CORY flag that IS taieu III
the dust points TO the noble men who represent H.
"The fact that has faculties necesates me eHls-
tence of powers to develop them These are ol III SUI
seTt Under them all Not step from hilltop to hilltop
in his daily duties be As the atmosphere h' G3Nes
tbe lovlv valley as well the summit OF the nil honoI
uud uprightness must be in his sport a. wen - @ IN i
business The Christian ought 20 be the hshesl enD9'l,
lneut OF manness His hfe should be perfect rQuhG W o.
sweetness and patence-so lu OF tne lo'e vi O"i7' W
every moment il a ray Of sunsnlhe'
THE ACCEPTANE OF CHRISTENING,
The Rev DIR John Han said: True religion may he
considered AZ consisting Of right thinking and right dong
doing active and passive There Is more pnoHelY
about active doing and prefer to passive erou
ance We shrink from chastening as SICK chd shrlhAs
from its medicine: but remember that It comes
from the hand OF loving Father. For the present u Is
greyous Our vision is obscured must wait patent
" until God shall fit TO make known the reason We
sre making an investment and must wait for s yield
All things work together for good If We are good
children The peaoeabe fruits Of Righteousness will he
harvest But there Is a process I'D me & &worA
restraining influence holding TOm eyll. and bns-
snchautmen the eyes OF Manasseh were opened
by indignitic heape9 upon nun IN ~ b n bl S cl me
TO feed upon hus- But not only are we turned INTO
1ae nsnt way ioTs1eis WI % are ne3ceabe i'm contrast
with chasteuing which is often any thing 3ut eced
bic Chastenug doe. actively prodnce the fruits nen-
toned; but If accepted in the right spirit the result Is
peace"
THE REASON AND GROUNDS or CONFIRMATION
The Rev DR.. Benjamin F. DE Costa at the Church of
ST John the Evangelist said the time OF the Reior
nation all extremes avoided and middle course
was adopted The errors and abuses OF the Romsh
Church hand. and Genevan doctrines on the
other were avoided, and only what had the clear sane
ton OF Holy Scripture was retained, thus restoring
the doctrines Of the primitive Church II we
are not the primitive Church no Church a. all.
We are both Catholic and Protestant-Cahoc in that we
embrace all good doctrine. and Protestant in that We
protest against error Of all kinds.
"Iwoud speak of confirmation this morning, and urge
that rite upon all have not taken that important step
toward fruitful Christian life. Nothing injurious can he
laid TO its charge. II is than ceremony, and the
grounds upon which rests twofod namely, on Holy
Scripture and ancient authority The scriptures clear
" point il. and the example OF Gods holy apostles Is
authority the of confirmation IN the Church TO-
day Objections are raised this rite by men vino do not
know what their Church has sanctioned,
Thd Holv Ghost are mot not today gwen as in
the days OF the Apostles. II is for these O9ectOrs TO
are no longer conferred by the laying of hands II the
blessed influence of the Comforter to cease with the
some intimation OF that fact the scriptures The
rite has prevailed through al the ages and today nne
iavtnr on OF hands is declared by ST Paul to principle
fChIist rite Of man but divine instn-
iion, and not complete in Christ without IT,
sELFABNEGATION IN CHRISTIAN WORK.
The Rev Dr Hamilton sand: In our work we must be
careful OF things FIRST that are doing work for
which We are fitted by God; Second doing
in the right spirit The latter is especially important
for in three ways there is Observation-Disclosures, self
dependence and seseekiug. Do not too often choose
what agreeable TO usi The temptation to this Il fre-
quent 1 conscious OF yielding to 1t. And yet how
uuseemly is How it want OF genuine love To
God II hinders our services. Could a business
succeed in New-York who should set to him
self only agreeable tasksi Much less expect
10 succeed work for God when indulge ourselves
Never does God reward sioh. Ouly wien we 90 i o1g
In self-dependence. This Is very different from the
hnch WbT God has made mans salvation depend ON
human agency at an we 90 not know We must recoS-
succeed. The early Church knew tins and flew TO The
refuge of prayer n every emergency Nelseehg enters
often Love Of appreciation is natural. but 20 love the
praise OF while we are doing Gods service woud
such spirit Isl The selfsceker serves two ard
leads a double ue. IN the Christian service they
seek theT shall lose all and they who lose theu AL
RELATION BETWEEN PRAYER AND CONDUCT.
The Rev. Dr.. Marvin r. Vincent said in the afternoon
ain the prayer which Christ taught his disciples find
the petitions all centring this Thy ed0m
come This means that should seek not own
glory but the glory Of God the Father 'H3Iowod be
Thy name is but prayer that Gods name may be
gOrihed and h0uOred throughout the world Christ tells
that II perfect We might ask anything and
God would give should then desire nothing
what GOD also desired for us. But the difficulty
with us IS that self gets IN between us
and CJd often when great affctiOn is
fmr,endug ON ony desire is that we may escape IT,
Tue relation i,rwn prayers and lives IS very
GlOse We shi prly much as we 1--we II we are seeking
Sod CORY mn"r usiness or our studies tncn We snail
dlesIrc IL when vt.4ne 20 pray
FAUH AND ITS LIMITATIONS.
HIs Aev. Dr. W. II Ferris preaching at the Asbury
Methodist Episcopal Church said:
Faith Is the subhmest exercise OF the human soul Il
cannot be limited by knowledge is not contradic
ton, but supplement OF reason. There is great