Morning journal and courier., 1888-04-16
BY REV I. M. FOSTER.

Street Methodist Episcopal Church
 Yesterday Morning.
 Rev. Mir. Fosters sermon yesterday morn
 ing at the St. John street Methodist church
 was upon the text found in Exodus, the 33d
 chapter and 18th verse: 'tAnd he said unto
 him, If thy presence go not with me carry
 us not up hence. The sermon in brief was
 as follows: It is hardly necessary to recount
 the history of the events leading up to these
 words of Moses. The prophet had led the
 Israelites as far as to Mt. Sinai and here he was summoned Of the Lord to go up into the
 mountain and receive the tables of the law.
 During the absence of Moses, which was con-
 tinued for many days, the people become i'm
 patient and complaining and desire Aaron to
 make for them an image that they might
 worship, and golden oslf is made. This
 act of Israel in wershipping the calf is com
 monly nisapprehended. They did not bow
 down to the image as calf. but as manifest
 ing the visible presence of God. On his de-
 scent from the mount Moses is astonished
 and very angry. And God being grieved be-
 cause of the sin of the people calls Moses
 apart into the tabernacle and talking with
 him face to face proposes to withdraw the pillar of cloud which represented his visible presence and give them an angel to lead them. Most of us would be satisfied to have an angels presence with us, but Moses did not receive the proposal glad- ly. He began to plead with Jehovah, first for Israel and then for himself. Do not think that the thought of self was sel6shness on the part of the prophet It was recogni- ton of his inability to lead the people with out the presence and help of the Almighty. He realized the perils of the wilderness, the nations to be met and conquered and the susceptibility of the people to grumble at c., 4Ia Init and harmony of action were necessary to prevent Israels destruction by her numerous enemies. This unity and harmony could only be secured by the actual presence of God himself. Hence the prayer of Moses; elf thy presence go not with me, carry me not up hence."
 The truth of the text is of interest and value to all. Especially so on this, the first Sabbath of our church year. As Moses | needed Gods presence so do we, thus enter ing upon 8 new year. This is no new doc
 Urine: Since the beginning God has mani-
 fested his saying presence presence to men men; go with them, and with what marvellous faith | did they, trusting in this promise, face the world, without means of subsistence or de- | fense against it's dangers. The presence of \ God is secured by prayer. If as church we | are to exert an influence around us, It IS ne- ! eessary to have this presence. Weak and powerless we are when destitute of divine \ presence. This gives strength. The presence | of the holy spirit is necessary to give unity. | No two men are alike. Each has an indi- ! vidual identity, yet God has drawn us to- | gether into the church and pulsation in one \ part sends life into all parts. This unity of E feeling he has made the underlying principle f of success. Never were twelve men more un- \ like than the disciples, and yet they were as \ one in the desire to carry out Gods com- | mand, 'sGo preach my gospel" This church is our home, but only as Christ is in our midst can we move on in power. In unity \ is strength, but only Christ's presence can ! enable us to work together. God will in- | dicate to each one his part and assure har- mony of action. AS in a watch all the sev- ! eral parts work together to accomplish sin | gle purpose, 90 in the church, if each mem Der follows the bidding of the spirit the | cause of Christ will be prospered and God | be honored.
 | The presence of God is necessary because of | the magnitude of the work before us. By \ the work of the church humanity has been | benefited in all parts of the world. Its | charities, it's missions, it's institutions of ! learning, all are proofs of it's usefulness. But this is not the great object of the church. By it the horrors of prisons have been mitigated ! and the chains knocked of the hands of ! thousands of slaves. And yet all this is not I the chief aim of the church. Christ suffered ! and died 70 deliver the soul from death. We realize the value of human soul when we | hear Christ say: "What shall it profit man | if he gain the whole world and lose his own soulf' The church is in the world to accom- plish' the salvation of souls. Its work is E boundless. There are thousands in this city { to whom no word has ever been said con- ' corning their souls danger. We need ! the presence of God to give us courage to talk like men and to take rebuffs even for love of human souls. We need the power of his presence when we go out into the world, out I of the associations of the church, to give us \ courage to honor God before others. would be glad to see this church filled each Sunday, but, ohl there is better prosperity than this which will abide when all else is gone. It comes when we go out among men and lift them up to the truth and knowledge of
 the gospel. God gives us this spiritual pros perity Is it not noble work to help to lift men up out of darkness into the light of heavens love3 We can only do this as God is with us. Unite in the prayer that God will be our leader. Then shall there be bless ing such as we have not seen before, which shall become brighter even unto the perfect day. May God grant us his presence and blessing.