Morning journal and courier., 1885-09-14

was left between them, Abraham looked and saw clouds of birds of prey lowering over his victims and Abraham fought them valiantly. Night came on and deep sleep falls on Abraham and he has vision of great dark ness. Suddenly the darkness is illuminated by lamp of fire which passes between the victim and the covenant, and the first cove nant is ratified His faith was not natural but in God He found himself childless, but in his old age he would realize something of the love that a father feels for his child. He had very little evidence to believe he would have any children, but he believed Gods promise. His was faith that defied impossibilities. He asked for nc corroborations beyond the sacrifice. His was practical faith. If one were starving should one go into the chemical analysis ot the process of making bread? No Abra- ham believed in the Messiah that came. We are locking back to the Messiah Look back to Bethlehem, to Jerusalem. We hear the cry, Away with him! cruelty him and rejoice that you have seen the day of Christ"
 CHRIST CHURCH.
 The Rev. s. c. P. Orpen preached at Christ church yesterday morning from the text, "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers" 2nd chapter of Acts and 42d verse. Rev. E. J.. H. VanDeerIin, the rector of Christ church,
 
 his duties. Dan Jones, formerly tenor of Christ church, aided in the singing yester- day The ofertory, 70 word of God 1ncarn- ate," was well sung.
 SIN OF CovETousNEss.
 At the Humphrey street Congregational church yeste day morning the pastor, Rev. MT. Bray, preached a discourse on "Covet- ousness," setting fourth the heinousness of that sin and it's many sidedness. Some men vl,< &<, harJ5 rTahn fall a victim to coveting their neighbours wife, as did one of the greatest of the He brew kings, whose sin was all the more con- spicous because of his exalted station. The pastor referred to King Davids sin and his deep contribution which followed as evi- denced by his own testimony left on record "a most touching example of remorse and sorrow. Men are guilty of coveting, but women fall a victim to coveting likewise, as when a woman covets another's beauty or another's beautiful wardrobe or bonnet.
 UNITED CHURCH.
 Rev. c. H. Richards of Madison, Wis very ably filled the pulpit of the United church yesterday morning and evening. The orphans were in their usual place in the gal leries. Second Peter, first chapter, was read for the morning lesson with much fervor and distinctness. The exceeding great and pre- cious promises in this inspired chapter were pCluIcu OuG dIIO N01y ClCdl1J 1AC speakers own deep interest pervaded the minds of all the listeners. The prayers were fervent and voiced the feelings and thought of the audience. The text chosen was the first clause of the last verse of the nineteenth psalm ''And let the beauty of the Lord our God be impressed upon us." All Gods creation, said the speaker, are of three elements. truth, utility and beauty. This trinity of being applies to physical as we'll as to mans moral and spiritual na- ture The leaf is found true to all it's necessary outward conditions. It is useful to maintain the part or branch to which it grows; and with no less wisdom of design its form is beautiful and perfect. Our nature is aesthetics as we'll as ethic, formed for beauty, delight and enjoyment, as well as usefulness. The ideal of the writer and speaker, of the poet, the painter, architect or sculptor, is higher than his attainment. A fit ideal is the first requisite that God gives whose power is ever ready in approval or disapproval of our work. The nearer we approach full satisfaction the higher and greater our joy. Beautiful illus trations were aptly drawn in demonstration of this truth, by giving instances in the lives of Michael Angelo, Murillo, Raphael and famous names of history with which we are familiar. True genius stretches from high attainment ill one pursuit or calling to other pursuits similar or different, and afording Ilh0 RfdGluCHGlOu W1leu dGIalAOU 1uO beauty of the Lord our God was shown simply, nat 1rally and truly, making one of the finest and most interesting sermons we have ever heard.
 A teacher from Hampton Institute at the Sunday school after the morning service made very pleasant instructive address to he children, describing the location of the institute at ''Old Point Comfort" near Capes Henry and Charles, at the mouth of the Ches- .peake Bay The place got the name of Old Point Comfort from the early colonists if Virginia, who were here feasted with h. lian corn and very kindly treated by the In lians. The institute is paying back to the indians some of that old debt.
 The evening sermon was on the subject of 'Home," from the text: ''The church ! hat is in thy house"-PhilenNn II. It was lear, plain, earnest discourse. The singing y the full choir was very fine.
 CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. ''Day unto day uttereth speech" was the ext of the morning sermon yesterday, and he rector, Rev Phebe A. Hanaford, de- Jared that morning light and evening shade re alike vocal with the praises of God. We re the ch ldren of God, and it is not sur ,rising that his love finds speech towards us TOT is it strange that we perceive the divine | ltterances. He speaks in nature, he speaks 1 ,y conscience. The text tells us that he ! peaks in history Each day is the flower ng of the past. God speaks in history cling that truth and justice alone en- lure Falsehood and injustice may be long ived, but doomsday comes to them in the l md. It is a lesson our own nation | mould not be slow to learn. The Hebrew, hey fell. Let America learn it to ave from fall Are we careful as nation I o secure public and private integrity? If ! we are not it is time the Christian church | poke plainly, as did the prophets of the | 'lden time, the words of needful warning. | Every day is eloquent of something which | nay be to us an encouragement in the path l 'f right or warning against open or secret ! Iin. Every day brings reason for gratitude ! o God and some large or small opportunity | or doing good to man. Let every day be ! reighted with prayer as it passes on: the l prayer which is uplifted life and the life l which is embodied prayer. l ort to prove that Universalists believe in Sod the Father and Christ the Saviour of Ill, and anticipate in all worlds the triumph # righteousness.
 FIRST BAPTIST.
 Rev. MT. Meserve preached at the United ervice at the First Baptist church yesterday forenoon from the words, ''I have fought the good fight" It was excellent discourse.
 TRINITY M. E. CHURCH.
 At Trinity M B. church yesterday morn ! ng Rev. c. NJ Gifin, D. D., formerly pastor ! ,f West Chapel street M. E. church, l preached a very able discourse from Ephe- ians 3, 12: "Having no hope andwithout God n the world"
 In the evening the pastor, Rev. Dr. Peck, ! delivered the second of his discourses on Elijah to a large audience. His subject was ! Elijah wishing to die-cure for despond- | 'ncy." It was most interesting and inst1uc- | i've discourse. EVENING SERVICE AT DWIGHT PLACE CHURCH.
 For the month of September the second | preaching service at the Dwight Place church | s to be held in the evening. If the change | proves an agreeable one it will be made per nanent. The evening order of service will | ,e varied from that of the morning and made ! attractive unsteady. Last evening Dr. | rwiche1l delivered an interesting discourse | 'n the subject of "Musing," bringing out it's \ hangers when abnormally indulged in and \ ts developing tendency when practised nor nalIy by healthful subject. The effect of | morbid "musings" upon the passions and up 1 n the brain showed the debasing influence | # such indulgence, while intellectual and ! piritual elevation marked the healthful I hinker.
 Police Notes. Thomas Duff, a man we'll known to the | ,olice, was arrested Saturday evening for | tealing piece of canton flannel from E. l