The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-09-17
SERMON BEFORE THE GRAYS.
REV. E. s. LINES OF ST. PAULp GIVEs GOOD ADYICE TO YOUNG MEN.

GOOD ADVICE TO fooH" "AS'
 The visions of EzekieI-Be Strong and
 Fearless Yet Reverent and doa-ieArlhs.
 Christ's Religion Not Satisfied wh
 Weak. Inefficient Mon-Tho Duty or 'ho
 Strong to tho Feeble.
 And he said unto me. Son Of man. stand upon thy feet. and l will speak unto thee."-Ezek. I-l.
 To Ezekiel. prophet of God, dwelling among the exiles upon the river Chepar in BabyIonia, the heavens were opened and visions Of God were granted. Con scious of the special presence of God in reverence and awe. the prophet fell upon his face. The attitude of rever- ence became man to whom Godswas about to speak and make known Ills will. The kneeling prophet heard the voice of One that spake and the words were these: "Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee" And with the words, the spirit of God entered into the prophet and he was made strong to stand upon his feet and hear Gods message to him. He was sent to the children of Israel to pro- claim Gods will. A message of warn ing and reproof was given him and he was to say to the people whether they would hear or forebear, Thus saith the Lord"
 The two attitudes or positions of the prophet, prostrate in reverent fear be- fore the vision and voice of Almighty God, standing upon his feet to hear the message of God to him,-give us some thing to think about. It becomes man in the presence of God to kneel and reverently pray and hear what God has to say to him. Prayer, devotion, reverence go before the strength to stand upright and hear and do Gods will. He who humbleth himself before God shall by God be exalted. He who has learned how to pray and to seek communion with Almighty God, shut ting out the world, separating himself from men that he may be alone with God, has learned how to be. strong. The sources of strength are in such communion with Him who Is Almighty and Eternal. If you would hear God speak to you and be strong to do what you ought to do, you must on your knees ask God to grant you the vision of duty, and strength to do 1t. He who has learned to pray, to open up his life, his deepest thoughts and desires like child before God, has gone far towards the good and strong life. It is from knees bent in prayer to God while the man listens to hear what God will say to him, that the man rises to stand strong upon his feet That was true Of the prophet Ezekiel and 1t is true of all men.
 It is of Ezekiel standing upon his feet, rather than fallen upon his face, that would speak to you. But as you think of him standing at Gods command to hear His will, remember that he has heen upon his face. There Is truth of perpetual application there,-rever- ence and prayer make man strong,- he who would stand strong in his place in the world must kneel,-a man must how before God if he would stand be- fore God. Will 1t seem far fetched lf T consider the words of our text ad- dressed to those who hear me, a mes sage of God to every one? son or man, stand-2upon. thy feet ana wili sneak unto thee" God hasa word to- say to every one of you as to Ills pur- pose in calling you into being ana as 10 what He would have you be and do.
 And it is of supreme importance that VOL hear that word. He wants you as His child, ready to kneel before Him to acknowledge what is due to Him as vour Creator and Ruler. But He would have you also stand before Him as child before his Father, conscious Of your likeness to Him, of your dignity and strength and power. The call to stand upon your feet suggests self-re-' spect, conscious power, capacity for large work. Religion appeals to what fs generous in life It is not simply repressiye as some have thought. Its message concerning humility and self restraint and self-denial and self-sacri- flee and lowliness of spirit, is simply that those things which stand in the way of large and noble growth may be removed. Religion makes for what IS strong and manly. If men are called to go by the lowly ways of sacrifice ana self-restraint it is that they may come to the heights where light and gladness are found. If men are called to fall down and pray it is that they may stand upon their feet with good con- .cience before God and man.
 The word of God to you is to stand upon your feet firm and fearless, reve- rent and strong that He may speak to you,It is reasonable service,not mind
 It is reasonable service, not a mind overwhelmed with awe, that God wants. He wants you in your full strength,-all your powers trained and developed and brought under the di- rection of right mind. The religion of the Christ is not satisfied with weak, inoffensive, colOrless, inefficient men. It requires men in the full strength of developed powers and fac ulties. And God wants men who can, stand upon their. feet, ready to hear what He has to say and ready to do His work. It is in my mind to tell you how you may stand in your place in the fulness of your strength.
 The first element of power in man has been already suggested. Rever- ence and the fear of God are the begin ming of wisdom and the beginning of strength. If man would go out into life strong to do hfs work, he must have recognized his true relation to God. He must have so consecrated himself to the service of Almighty God oP NoI