The National tribune., 1892-07-28


the conference that followed, etc.
9 1t is well to rcalize the attributes of God.
g. The Psalms are of greatest service in all
our religious meetings.
a. 1t would seem that all the company united
rs one in uttering the verses $3.50 We can
see how they could readily do so as to verses
25 and 26. How of the rest2 1t seems most OF
the words apply in some special way to the
| particular circumstances. Were they com posed
on the spot and memorized? All the company
lifted up their voice, and all evidently said the
same words. This unity is indicated at least
partly in the word voice" mot voices rs
though the service were concerted. Churches
with precomposed services are of the opinion a
form was prepared and used, or that the Holy
Spirit guided the company in the form inspired
and Taught on the spot to the company. Rev. J.
Il. Kendrick. d. d. baptist, says: .' 1t would
seem that tho whole assembly. under special
Divine impulse broke intoa chanting strain OF
devotional utterances, half praise and hall
prayer. Or, it may be assumed that some one
led tho service, in whose words all spontane-
ously joined"
T. Suggestions
!. Use the Psalms in worship. Rev r. A.
Haliam, ID. d., says: The Psalms have formed
a component part of the public worship of God
ever since they were written" He could have
added they were composed on purpose 10 be
used in aid of worship. One of the religious
bodies makes it rule to read through the
Psalms once every month.
2. Keep in mind Gods omnipotence omnis-
cence, etc, as stimulus to courage and inspira-
ton to prayer A grand ideal of Deity is up
lifting.
8. The clergy should speak. not rudely,
bluntly, impertnently but boldly, with au-
thority. We recall lines by James Russell
Lowell:
They are slaves who will not choose
Hatred. soothing aud abuse,
Rather than in silence shrink
From the truth they needs must think.
They are slaves who dare not be
In the right with two three.
d. Value freedom. To be bound irritates,
clogs dispirits Sin is slavery. There is such
a condition AS religious freedom. We hear Of
the freedom of the children of God. (Ro., 8:
81; GAL SD One object of Christ was to
"let the oppressed 90 free" U.s., 5S:6.) Jesus
came to proclaim liberty to the captives. u.s.,
81: H. When man becomes Christian he is
let 60" Truth makes us free. (St. John,
8: 81 Philo Judaus, an Alexandrian Jew, an
Ambassador to Rome in tho year DO, spoke of
man as " a slave of passion"
Curb these liccntious sons of strife
Whence chiefly rise the storms of life.
If they grow mutipo,s and rave,
They are thy masters, thou their slave.
Some writer says: "sin produces fear, fear
leuu5 VI bOUudpe, anu DOUuHRS Hdhe5 ali our
duties irksome."
Mission Iabors are excursions, incursions
into the lands of bondage in the interest of
liberty.
Spirit OF freedom on,
And pause not in thy flight,
Till every cline be
To worship in thy light.
Then. where the valleys sink
And where the mountains rise,
The heacon-lights of liberty
Shall kindle to the skies.
S. Pray to God in emergencies. Let per-
sons, in dangers common to All, meet and unit
eddy pray for help. Verses 1880 give account
of the very first Christian prayer service. 1t
would seem as though the leading Christians
Of that time aud place, knowing of the dangers
which beset Sts Peter and John, had assem-
bled for prayer. The arrival OF the two ex-
prisoners was an answer. Added inspiration
was given to the meeting by the reports of the
two Apostles. Then followed sort Of thanks
giving and prayer service. Christian expert
ence, even that of peris. providing such be
overcome, is an junction. to prayer.
6. "They went TO their own company" "
23.) The law Of affinity is as true socially and
morally, as in chemistry. Human beings are
not all alike. There is, however, chance for
groupings. 1t is possible to arrange society in
classes. We need not bother ourselves with the
work. People group themselves. We do not
refer here to the artificial and ridiculous pro-
cess of dividing community into SETS" Like
ne8ses, socially and morally, adjust themselves,
and classes thus formed usually for the
good Of society. The principle is universal
Thieves form guilds. Gamblers have concIaves.
The impure cDngregatc. They 90 TO their
own company" We sec this often rs TO men
discharged from prison. They go back to their
old associates and we soon hear of them again
in cells. So of the good 1t was natural as
- D. r
ing liberated should seek their former compan-
ions. Went to their own company" Men
are not happy save in the company atiinitive.
Happy the person so cultivated that he can
find joy only with the pure.
Z. II you want TO know yourself, let your
thoughts "go" sometimes give them full
range; notice their drift; see whether they
naturally have tendency toward purity or in
stead toward evil. BE sure they will seek their
own company.
8. If men were g let go" as to public opinion,
if not hemmed in by the current sentiment of
good society, if needless of what people think
of them, often would see men inc ompany-
their own company by natural tendency COM
pany that would quite surprise ordinary
ideas of fitness
being let 60" ". 23.) Much restraint
was brought to bear against the Apostles
They were not so successful as they might have
been if not hindered and ham cred in many
ways. We see illustrations ON all hands.
There is many a noble spirit capable of better
achievements thsn it attains. 1t is held in by
unbreakable thongs. There are subjective
hindrances. The man has inherited adverse
tendencies or he has become slave to an evil
habit. He is held down. He may have grand
ideals of life and wonderful ambition, but he
is in i'll health. He would be master of some
coveted science, but physical demands require
his time in manual pursuits. So, too. of many
woman. She is SO bound around by restrictions,
or associations, or needs, that she cannot give
full range to her aspirations. Unfortunate
domestic relations have suppressed much other
wise possible good. and kept many man,
many a woman from making the most of life
Thus persons are held back by both subjective
restraints and external obstacles To succeed
best one must not be irrecoverably suppressed.
Z" Being let CO." If person be free; if his
relations be atfinitive; if he be not held down
by natural or cultivated evil prOpensities; if
the age III Church and State be liberal. giving
great souls ample room if the man have not
to beat against opposition and struggle for ex-
istence; if he be :" let 60" We shall see great
soul and grand products.
Too great artifciality holds men in. slavish- !
ness to rules robs the genius of purely auto