New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-26
no THISLAVES OF LUXURY.
p1,,r11p, BROOKS BIDS THEM BE FREE.
srxp 1ExrEN SERMON TO BUSINESS
MES-A VAST CONGREGATION.

MEN-A VAST CONGREGATION.
.ey DR.. Phillips Brooks preached his second
i.sermon in Trinity Church during the first hour
LEM. rday afternoon to vast congregation of down
OF !6usincss and professional men. There was a
service of hymns and prayer. DR.. Brooks
' in sequel to his first days subject Christian
sPiomp on The Power of Liberation Which Comes
81 Man, and That Power in Christ, the Son OF God -
sermon was practical in character broad in scope
his Interpretation of the truth that makes free"
AS liberal. From a literary and rhetorical point Of
lew the construction and the wording of the sermon
we're admirable and it listened to with close ana
unfagging attention.
In the first place, DR.. Brooks spoke Of the absolute
freedom Of Christ from that which is holding multi
tudes OF in sort of slavery today lie 81" Ill
Christ figure absolutely free from those ampi-
Uons and the cOvetousneSs which are absorbing 50
much Of our life. Christ cares absolutely nothing lor
riches or luxury" 1t not, he added, UhdV 'lo
desires from which Christ free are not 1Ouhu III
modern times, Jerusalem was great and rich com-
mercal city. Christ had nothing of the vulgar scofn
which condemns a man for gathering the comforts Oh
life Int His life was rich enough for Him without
those things that were not really essential TO H.
Christ was also absolutely free from the thladom OF
sin, and free from the traditions OF society,"
Jesus said DR.. Brooks, "suuck reht
across the traditions OF Jerusalem. Yet IN
Him there was not the least sign of defiance Jesus
was the great Radical WI, ANN""'N IN '"' NV'-
sentative Conservatism and Radcalism' far as they
seem to be from one another on the surface of our
life come together meet and one at the bottom OF
our life No man can be true Conservative who has
not hold of the fundamental principles and truths OF
the universe No can be a real Radical, who has
not hold Of these truths and insists upon them. In
them lies the perpeuty of human happiness and human
goodness"
Jesus Also in his treatment Of men, Dr. Brooks
pointed out the spirit of true democracy, be
cause lie saw men as they We're There is no abb
solute equality OF men, added the preacher mot be-
cause some men are rich and sOme poor not
because some men are famous and some deSpiscd.
There is no absolute equality of men, because the
range Of human character is everastngy varying and
different. There is no difference between rich men
and poor men, but there is everlasting difference
between good men and bad men,
From these views of the Christ Of absolute olsen
thralment, DR.. Brooks went on 10 say that he liked
70 think Of Christ present standing before Won today
70 rebuke you. Why Not for doing the things that
you doing. but for being slaves where You ought
10 be the masters for being ruled by the thing which
you ought to have under your control
Dr. BT0Oks'S closing passages dealt with the freedom
that men should seek in life. OF the grand posi-
bilties latent in human nature he had this 10 say
&C. Will remember the days Of twenty five years
and not know that every man l look INTO the
There was always demand for Christian service and
self sacrifice lie continued. as great demand today
al any time DR.. BrOObS'S last words We're " May
so follow Jesus CHRIST ana share IN MS cniIan-
chisement may enter into that life Of liberty
which free from all slavery that already tho
chains NAV drOp from our hands that sometimes We
comes. if there some magic in that little thing
Of dying. Let forth into the glorious liberty of
the children Of God. into the freedom wherein Christ
Makes all the obedent children Of His Father free.
God grant it. God grant it,