Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-04-16
FAST DAY.


How 1t was observed in Burlington-Two
Excellent sermons.
Fast Day was generally observed in this
city Friday, stores and other places of bus
mess being closed. The day was remark
ably fine and large numbers of our resid-
ents were out taking drive or a walk. In
the union services were held at the Wi
nooski avenue church and morning pray
ers were read at st. Paul's chapel. In the
evening Rev. DR.. Bliss preached II ser
mon, the services being held in the chap
ell.
TnEUNION SERVICE
The union service of the First and Third
Congregational, First and Berean Baptist
and Methodist churches was held in the
house OF worship of the First Congrega
tioual church, Wnooski avenue, at 1890
Il. M. \ large congregation was present,
the body of the church being en-
tirely filled. The pulpit was occupied
and the services conducted by the
pastors of the several churches represent
ed. Music was furnished by the
choir and organist of the First Congrega
tional church The opening anthem.
"Gud is Spirit was finely rendered.
The services were opened by Rev DR.
Halves, pastor of the First church Scrip
ture reading by Rev. Mr. Jump OF the
Methodist church, and Offering of prayer
by Rev. Mr.. Gould of the Berean Baptist
church. The sermon was preached by
Rev. G. f. Carter of the Third Congrega
tional church, and was an able and earnest
plea for the sacredness of religious forms
of worship. The following is brief alb
stract of the sermon
REV. MIR. CARTER's DISCOURSE.
L. :.
is greeted with questions which express
doubt of its real value-questions with
which even we cannOt'help feeling Il Ger.
tain sympathy. Such an experience is
perfectly natural, and we need not blame
ourselves if we only work our way
through it. Bnt suppose that the appoint
ment of Fast Day were neglected. A pro
test would come from all the villages and
States throughout the Union. The day
stands, then, as the conservator of an idea
which we are not yet willing to relinquish
What is this idea Regarded outwardlv
Fast Day reminds one of asceticism But
asceticsm is valuable only rs it enters into
life. The true value of Il fast lies not in
its temporary benefits, but in the oppOr-
tunity it affords for permanent impressions
to enter the life. We turn to day from the
thought of self qualification to the deeper
concerns of life, that we may lay hold of
them more strongly
In accordance with this view of the day,
l would call your attention to "A subject of
the deepest Importance to us: The posi-
tive nature to religious forms and priv
ileges. My text will be found in l. Samuel,
vi: /. and the ark Of the Lord was in
the country of the Philistines seven
months
The ark was trophy taken from the
Israelites in battle and it had been moth
ing but a torment to the PhiilstineS all the
while they had it. What was the ark
that it should have had this remarkable
power Simply chest of wood out
wardly, yet evidently precious, for it was
overland with pure gold; venerable Oh
iect made by Moses at Gods order. 1t
was sort OF bond TO ratify the covenant
which God had made with Israel. 1t
stood TO Israel, nrst as the representation
of their faith in Gods presence; secondly,
as a remembrance that they must keep
his commands if they We're to secure. Gods
blessing. The ark was simply the creed
of lsrael,-rlght conduct toward a pres
ent God. Its two main features signllied,
then, on the part of the people obedience
and on the part OF jehovah his presence
in their midst When the Phiistines
touched the ark they dIsgraced the sym
Dol of God.
The lessons to be drawn rest on the par
allel of the ark of that early time and the
religious institutions OF the present time
In their primary significance they are the
same. Strip the church of its sacredness,
and you degrade it to the level of the lee
ture room and the concert hall The re
ligious sense of man still maintains It's
belief in that old-fashioned creed, obedi-
ent to Il present God. So as we follow
the history Of the ark we are in certain
sense following our own future history.
First, notice the history of the ark while
it was in the hands of the PhilistneS. 1t
was intended for blessing. When they
took hold OF i it was anything but that.
The same will be true of those who main
tain like attitude towards the means of
grace. God is not to be trihed with. and
where he says he will be, there he will be,
TO bless or to curse God will keen his
engagements If in Gods presence we
are persistently disregarding him, there is
in us forming malady which will some
day break out to the souls destruction
But retribution is oftentimes deferred
Mans safety lesalOne in stunning crimts
that induce Gods wrath. The cause OF
the evil mere Indicated is that practical
failure to believe that God is here. The
presence of God must be recognized. His
power will be manifested in one way or
the other in bringing life or death
From the second phase in the history of
the ark we draw another lesson. How did
the ark happen to get into the hands of
the Philistines How did the Israelites
lose it? Under a corrupt priesthood
Israel's covenant relations were not main
tained in their purity. The ark had been
kept, not used. Religious privileges WERE
thus shelved. The army Went into battle
in its own strength and was defeated
They trusted in the symbol rather than
the reality. All religious forms are worth
less except as they bring us to real re
lation with the God who gave them Thu
was the history OF Israel, and will be tn,
history OF every people and every sou
that relies on the symbol of God to saw
them without the spirit of that God in tin
heart,
Note the way by which Israel secure,
zeal blessings from the ark They return
ed to the service of the Lord, aud tn
mercy OF God returned again upon them
A heart relation to God and obedience t,