The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-03-31
TRUE HEROISM.
Sermon Of Rev. D. @. Browne to
Young Men Last Sunday.

Rev. ID. c. Browne last Sadly pre- Sc he'd
especially 10 the young, taking for hts SUBJ
iect, "Trae heroism," hrs tex beiug "He
that ruleth his own spiri is greater than he
that taketh a city" Proverbs, Is 81, after
The reading of which he said:
There is great and growing disposition
among men To hero worship. Not only the
histurv OF the pas, but the history of
modern times indicates thai the ideal OF
h.rJiSm is military bravery Said young
man 10 me few days since, Spes king Of the
fame and milit arg copquests OF the nstion's
great generals, \ had rather have the fame
Won on battle Feids than that won ip the
empire of letters or even IN the platform or
TIE rosirum."
Men who have returned from the con-
guest OF cities and Kingdoms, have been
welcomed 10 their ovn cities and baden
with honors and cre%ned with earthly
glory. Bnt those wko, for msrr years,
have been sustaining a deadly struggle
with ig lOrsnce and vice i'm the dark re-
treats ii ctr large cities and towns, have
been left 10 persue their great bsttles un-
uoliced Snd unknown.
We saEire, In some respect, the heroism
which LAYS its life and blood upen the alter
which ia higher degree challenges our
admiration. There is nOb;~r courage
than that which encounters physical dan
gers. There is a grander warfare than lhst
of afns. Itis moral beroIstn-the
conquest OF SELF.
The conquest of self i'm plies that there is
ruling power implanted in man by which
and with (which TO govern his
own spirit. This power is reason.
Conscience aud will. II impli-s that
The spirit o. man is in state of anarchy,
thai IT viii not be ruled that there are
certain sinsurrectiousry forces which 81
up an REBELLION against THIS ruling power.
IL implies further that personal religion is
self subiGgatiOn. There is a law of the
members warning against the law If the
mind" Gays 81. Paul. b the influence of
the grace of God man Is enabled TO lule
himself. Revolt in mans nature is guelled;
reasons2 nd conscience are reinsiated, har-
monY and order are established. That
which once governed with an iron sway
DOW Oeeys. Thus The Christian is made
mnreT ih an conqueror. Let Us now ask
aed answer
FEW QUESTIONS
10 the solution of this problem of moral
neToism.
Why is the conquest of the heart or
spinit greater than that of city
Because the enemy Sc more powerful. To
rule the spirit is ID overcome the strongest
imguases III our natures, which were IN
tended TO be servants, but have uSurped
the place of masters. These are ambition,
svacIce, pride, love OF distinction, the thirst
for power and fame, the desire Tor sensual
Indulgence, the spirit of emulation aud ri
yalry. These nave usurped the throne O
mans moral nature. They have ruled the
intellect, the conscietsce and the life. Ies,
they have been the sOyereigns of the world
in al ages. This foe is made strong by
habit. Our perverse tendencies. by re-
peated indulgence, become deeply rooted
habits. Habits Gre chronic dis
easel of the mind The humble,
but ambitious lieutenant soon becomes
emperor of France Habit rules. and with
what tyranny and despOtism. What an
awful foe Reason NAV protest, judgment
NAV reprosch and condemn, the spirit may
groaC beneath its power, but there ii sits,
bidding defiance 10 our best energies The
foe is also strengthened by prejudice.
When sinful heart IS arraigaed before
THE BAR OF CONSCIENCE
il calls in great pleaders for its defense. |
How prone we are to Justify ourselves Tor |
some cours. by looking and appealing TO |
the example of others, whom we may, for |
that purpose, at lesst, have selected as our |
model, So this foe jnsiees its sins by sp-
peslipg TO great names, customs, fashions |
and ussges. Tie most serious questions |
are viewed only In the light of shop win
dows The most weighty concerns are at
tended TO only as they sppe,r 10 be popu |
lar and polite. However binding upon us
an obligation may be, the bord is broken
if we are in auy danger OF losing thereby.
Thus the foe is strongly iuiIenched In his
position. He holds the citadel and realizes
every force at his command Habit, preju-
dice, self interest and the spirit of the
times all combine to make man a slave for
ever and make his conquest of himself The
most formidable undertaking. Assisted
even by Divine grace, he is often life time
in bringing himself under subsection TO the
yoke of Christ and the spirit OF
But when he conquers he
IS the grsndest chieftsin beneath the skies
Why is the conquest of the heart greater
han that OF city?
Because the conflict Is more difficult
4 city may be taken by force not SO the.
,eart No array of force can coerce mans
will or remove one orror. Truth and argu-
nent alone cap do this. God himself will
lot force man TO love him He apl, ais
o US By the force of argument and the ten-
Ierness of love. Force has often been :rIed
tut the history of the rock, the stake, the
word, the dungeon, the inquisition proves
hat mans spirit is far
IEYoND THE REACH OF SUCH AGENCIES
nd can only be Influenced by motives.
The city may be taken by skill or time
actics. Not so the heart. Here the pro-
oundest accomplishments and richest
torres of knowledge are of little avail. Sci
utifc skill may bring the elements OF ma
ure into subsection, it may harness the ,
7inds and make the lightniDgs our messen- !