The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-01-18
PROVIDENCE PREACHERS
Some of the Things Which They
Said Yesterday.
PERCIvAL CHUBB'S LECTURE,
The Anniversary of the Guild at 81.
stephen's-Rector Babcook's Sermon
at Grace Church-The Rev. DIR. Nc
Rector Babcock's Sermon.

AT Grace church last evening the Rev.
Charles Edward Babcock, the rector,
preached from the text st. Matthew VS.;
s. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they
shall see God" When accounting for
the existence of things apparent said the
speaker, we ascertain the causes that
produce these effects. A disregard OF
the rules of health and happiness, results
In sickness and sorrow. Certain causes
produces certain well known effects and
no amount of reasoning can convince
anybody to the contrary. Thus we have
apple trees bearing apples, and pear trees
likewise bearing pears, but apple trees
do not bear pears nor vice versa. While
men see and accept unquestionably the
laws of nature as exhibited in the world
about them, they do not see the causes
and effects in the spiritual world within
them. AT the same time, however, the
fact remains and thus the text. Light
brings light and darkness produces dark
ness and as light is followed by shadow
so our thoughts and actions will be shad-
owed on the spiritual world within us.
Sin bears its own peculiar fruit, called
in the Bible death, and is explained by
the verse ''the way of the transgressor
is hard" An overt act will be followed
~
until the deed is atoned for. The wis
dom of God grows in the purit of the
heart, and grows in proportion TO the
fertility of the soil, As the tiny seed,
planted and tenderly nurtured, springs
up and Gears fruit, so the word of God,
sown in the human heart will by proper
care, flourish and pervade the whole
system with its holy influence Purity,
like the vitality in the seed, will unfold
in the pure and clean heart, and pro-
duces the most exquisite happiness.
But the text states that Blessed are
the pure in heart, for they shall see God"
Blessed is not used in the sense of happi-
ness, but rather that of peaceful. A
man may derive much happiness from
sin, else why so many advocates. Hap
piness is found in the alcoholic intoxica-
ton, but the results of alcohol are far
from bringing happiness. Happiness is
also found by some in breaking the
moral laws, but where is the happiness
after the first wild delirium is over?
The text states also that "they shall
see God" This does not mean literally,
for no one can look upon the divine being
with unshielded eyes. 1t is in the state
of peace and content that we feel the
holy influence in our hearts, urging us
to new impulses of higher and better
order, and inducing us to cast off the
yoke of worldly pleasure.
Unstained thought does not dream of
evil, neither of things corrupt. They
impel you to reach out for the best.
Therefore rise higher in your thoughts
and you will find that impurity lives only
in the malarial districts, and before long
You will find the visions of God stealing
over you and the true sense of happines,
doubly blessed, will be given you.'
AT the close of the service Prof. n. B.
Sprague gave half-hour's recital on the
organ. These recitals attract q large
number to the church and are rendered
in the organist's most pleasing style.
The program selelected is always of the
best, and is arranged with view to the
great ability of the player. Herr
Gustave Saache, baritone, sang
during the recital, and drew
murmur of applause from the
congregation by his matchless voice.
The program opened with ths prelude
"Souate in G Minor" followed by the
"Cradle Song" and "Melodie" adapted
from Paderewski. The latter was inter
preted in the spirit of the composer and
was extremely beautiful. The recital
was ended with March in ID" that
called all the reserve force of the organ
into play, causing the church to fairly
shake on its foundation,