Morning journal and courier., 1888-04-09
PERSONAL REsPONsIBIL1TY
As Exempliled by the Life of Peter
 Sermon hY Rr. NaNRman SnEth.


 Sermon by pr. NeVman Smyth.
 Dr. Newman Smyth's morning sermon yes- terday at Center church was upon two texts. The first was taken from John xxi, 8: "And Simon Peter said unto them, T go a fishing. , They say unto him, We also go with thee !" The second is from Peter i, l. "Peter, an apostle" Upon these Dr. Smyth spoke in substance as follows:
 "These two texts measure the change which has taken place in the life of Peter They mark the old and the new life. They distinguish between his life as fisherman and as an apostle of Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Christ had brought an era of spiritual revolution into his life. He was to be no more the Galilean fisherman, but an apostle. From this we get new view of life, and it forms fitting theme of contemplation on this the first Sunday after Easter.
 ''Since the resurrection of the Saviour the disciples had been waiting for the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, but in vain. Peter but half understood the mystery of revelation. Jesus had come and gone. The past three years seemed like a dream. He stood by the sea ashore. His boats land his nets remained as before. They were certain. Not know ing what else to do he decides to return to his old occupation, and gays, I go @ ishing,' and the other disciples follow him. Had this been the end, Jesus would have seemed like some unearthly dream; an ap- partition from higher sphere; benefaction while here, but vanishing as it came Had the work of Christ ended with the words of the text then the gospel would have been 8 broken utterance of good. But such was not to be the end. Only for that day did Peter return to his old life. Christ was waiting for him on the shore. The gospel of the son of God ended not in sudden break, but is continued in the works of the Apostles and of their successors in the apostleship of the Christian church. Frem this day Peter was an apostle, preaching and teaching the peo- pie, and carrying the word even unto the Gentiles. As with Peter so with us. By the resurrection of Christ, life be- S;en came an an. sposties;shig' paIls;IgP The new when he said to his disciples: Peace be unto you. AS the father has sent me, so send I you.' Although not realized at the time, these words gave new conservation to human life. Every man should look upon himself as called to some holy calling. Every man, woman and child, according to his Christian view, is person sent of God. Every life is Q mission. But this is not the common view of life. Whatl Life an apostleship9 Nayl Rather struggle for existence. It is hard to realize this spostleship, but the word has in it a converting and renewing power. However dark the way, or heavy the tasks, we, too, in haphazard happiness. We were called to the sacred apcstleship. Nothing but the direct command of God brought Peter to a realization of this truth.
 "But we have no right to limit this Chris tian truth to the apostles. The words be- long to universal gospel. We are not all call ed to fill such missions as are deemed sacrced; but each within his limited sphere has mis- sion to perform. Think of life in this new Christian conception. Our poor insignificant life is lifted into the realms of Gods kingly purposes. Each obedient life seems to be a thought of the Father. The elements of chance and accident are removed. It seems as though circumstances had large share in mems lives. Some men are circumstantially good. But it is repulsive to mans nature to yield to accident. It is an indignity, Q Vio- lation of our sense of immortality Yet, do what we may, death must happen to us all. Peter was constantly striking out against circumstances. But with his apostle ship came strength. Peter the apostle could not regard himself as an acci- dent. He was divine decree, had work to do and share in the glory to be fulfilled. It is enough to deliver our lives from acci- dent to know we are sent of God, in free powers of love and conduct and in the eter- nal fulhllment to be realized. The idea of life as Christian apostleship will help us to bear human accidents. It Is not that we make too much of this world. We rath CT make too little of it. We do not appreci- ate the world at it's true worth. How can we unless we see the light of the eternal world shining down upon it? This light will not throw a sober color over a single joy. It will bring out the true worth of things around We are children of the light, children of the day. The present life is from and of the good.
 "Finally: This view of life increases our realization of personal responsibility. Life as an apostleship enlarges our sense of this responsibility. Surely we cannot be content to live though our lives were merely our own little affairs, and not the grand idea of a sacred trust from heaven. Meagre life talents should be as sacredly guarded as largely endowed life. Our Christian apostIeship is an apostleship of the whole manhood. It comprehends all we have, even to our last will and testament. It is an ennobling truth if we can only keep our lives under it's clear light"