Morning journal and courier., 1891-03-23
ISOLATION AND COMMUNIeN.

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 pr. Harwood on the Loveliness of
 Christ-Palm Sunday.
 Yesterday, Palm Sunday, Dr. Harwood preached in the morning in Trinity church to large congregation on the words of the gospel, ''Behold, the hour cometh, yea is now come when ye shall be scattered every man to his own, and shall leave me alone; and yet am not alone, because the father is with me-" "We are hastening on," said he. ''to the day of commemora- tion of the death of Christ. Let us to-day mediate on his loneliness and isolation. There are three forms of isolation; that of kings and commanders, that of great men and that of unpopularity, whether de- served or undeserved. It may happen that these three may be all illustrated in that of all other men. Isolation, however, is not necessarily accompanied by loneli- ness. Our lords affections and sensibili- ties were above those of other men. Here, now, are two points: 'Ye shall leave me alone,' and yet am not alone.' He did not accuse his disciples of voluntary de- sertion. He was taken away from them and left alone with brutal crowd. He was alone all his life, never under stood, even by his disciples. Their thoughts were on the kingdom of this world; and while he was impressing higher thoughts they wrangled as to who should be the greatest. How should we have been as one of that crowds He said to the peo- pie, sYe neither know me nor my father It is difficult to conceive of greater 1onei- ness. Even in his agony, hin disciples in- vited to watch with him could give him no support; they could only sleep. He died and endured the pains of the cross while brutal soldiers were disputing about his garments. Thus in life and in death he was alone.
 'sYet although isolated among men, he assures us he is not alone. Mark his words. He was not cut off from commun- ion with the father, and on this he rested He knew he was the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth. He was not self deceived by the terrors of the pain he was to endure. No pain took away the full pain of his death, and he was still strong in facing it, he did not hesitate. But it seems that in the honor of death some mysterious shadow fell on him, there is no other interpretation of his words 'tMy God, my God, why hast thou for saken me-" It was the last cry of mortal weakness.
 'This, brethren, is the lesson for our selves, that we too may be able to feel not altogether alone It is natural to brood over our misfortunes and wonder whether others have ever suffered as we do. We think our friends forget us, and we are slighted. But complainings do not sancti- fy our griefs. Although we can never at tain to the height of his serenity, we can yet bear our griefs in silence. Neither should we put away the offered sym pathy of men. Our first duty is to have the approval of God and then we will be able to say we are not alone. What contrasts between the life of Jesus Christ and our own. Where is any com plaint against the orders of Providence? When shall we learn his wayss O let us even in our griefs give praise in all things, thinking of the lonely sufferer who bore our sins in his own body or the tree."
 The anthem at the evening service was Faure's celebrated "Les Rameaux," or ''The Palms"