New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-11
THE UNIVERSITY BACCALAUREATE.


SERMON TO THE GRADUATING CLASS.
The University Place Presbyterian Church was filed
to its utmost capacity last night, "hen Fce-ohan
ceor Henry NJ MacCracken preached the Daccaiau'
rcate sermon the graduating class OF the
of Arts and Science Of the University Of the city OK
New-York Dr. MacCrachen took for his text the
words but exercise thyself rather unto sounoSS'
and spoke n substance as follows:
The nbrase exercise hyselr is literally make thou
OF thyself an athlete gymnast" As an athlete or gym
mast trains himself victory so train hysef unto inc
attainment godliness or as the woro iary ihpnes'
unto that condition mind and heart that Is acceptaoe
unto God This letter is written TO young man hVig
at one OF the chief centres OF gymnastic exercises NO
doubt when Paul lived in Ephesus, he had himself WIZ
messed the athletic exhibitions and seeing them ana KNOW"
ing all about Them he makes them an illustration ana
help to his preeepts in religion
take a lively pleasure in seeing gynnast IN Dody'
II is OF great importance for business social or
spiritual interests, that have bodily organization
Of highest Order have his body at the least IL ING
average state OF health and yigor Paul IN MS ieefS
.ommends this and in all his illusions to the games nc
never deprecates them Paul was enough Of Greek TO
nartale with Plato or Aristotle In enthusiasm for ply
steal training.
But comparatively the Apostle thinks that the work
every has to do gymnast In the spiritual iie
far more important In this spirit he says In the next
sentence bodily exercise gymnastics, prohteh
little" Rather make athletes Of yourselves unto soo-
ness he exhorts youth of the metropolitan city
This is OF far lasting Importance. ~ pfonte'h
unto all things
In the course OF the week upon which we have now
entered the young to whom especially speak are
exnectinp according to our American phrase, TO finish
college," II they in Germany they would be ex
pecting to finish the gymnasium for very significantly
the place OF the thorough general training OF young
man is there called q gymnasium. But while you are
finishing one gymnasium you beginning another and
higher gymnasium. give as the precept for the gym
nasum Of life these words Exercise thySen unto
godiness" , ......,on o.. NJ.
coming an athlete unto godness for attaining the life
that is acceptable God it is included in the one word
Faith. believe in God person, and that 10 aeceae 70
His will Is as necessary TO breathe the air. pee'e
in His presence with me, and refresh myself with az
refresh myself with water. believe in His gracious
forgiveness and rely on this for every hope as rely
on food for my bodily existence.
Wrestling and runnng-easy say, but how hard to
do How hard also, It is to know If we are succeeding
in either How hard especially to find whether you are
achieving in life much you ought, and whether 1t
can b. said Of you In proportion the opportunities given
! you; ~
You have fought a good fight!
Your course has been well run
Wrestling successful OF old when the antagonist
WAS nut down and forced Yield confessng himself in
eror 1t requisite that he be so hurt as not 10
be able any Wrestling with sin is sue
cessfu when man knows that he haoituay opposes inc
| sin and when he continually seeks the
| helm OF God that the remaining evil
! habits IN him may DO overcome. Running race was
I successful OF old only when faster than any
Of the rest Paul audes the fact that ia the running
only one runner would win the prize, and tells us that
IL is not so in running. Our running is complete
our work is a success, II only keep the eye liked
on the Judge who is at the goal, and keep on running
no matter often falls down. until the Judge say
stop until the herald CRIES Servant OF Cod rest rom
thy loved employ" The course was course the same
which was run by classmae whom we bade farcwei
10 few months since and whose body buried on the
slope of the Alleghenies.
Whether be smooth or rough docs not matter
whether you years hundred years does mol
affect its success provided you run to the last VI
whether you be prominent or obscure does
not much matter 1t is successful race II you perform
whatever you perform, looking TO the Judge 70 for
| give shortcomings, and to accept your SERVICE
| There is q motto in poem Of Goethe
Ohne hast ohne rast'
Haste not and rest not
IL will do well for q motto 10 each In the lie spiritual
Let him begIn and beginning let him not haste neither
|