The record-union., 1894-11-05
TIE new CONGREGATIONAL PASTOR.
Rev. Henry N. Hoyt breaches His
Initial Sermon.
He Makes His Theme, ssHearkening to
the Voice of God," An
Interesting One.

Rev. Henry n. Hoyt, the new pastor of
the Congregational Church, preached his
first sermon yesterday to very full con-
gregation, on the subject "Hearkening to
the Divine Voice."
He took for his text the eighth verse of
the eighty-fitth psalm: II will hear what
God the Lord will speak. for he will
speak peace TO his people and to his
saints"
he spoke Of Wordsworth's poem, the
central thought of which was suggested
by the remark of a friend, who, meeting
MN walking in an unwonted direction,
SAID :" GU are stepping westward"
1t was not chance that led Wordsworth
In that direction that day. 1t was the
blue of the sky, the balmy air, the SUR
roundings of nature. It was Gods beck
oning hand leading him on and we all
step eastward or westward in obedience
to Gods will. 1t is futile TO expect to do
otherwise-we all do it whether we wish
to or not Abraham did so and became
the father of the chosen race.
4Alneas did so when, sailing westward
with his household goods, leaving be-
hind him the ruined walls of Troy, he
built city with stronger walls to with
stand the Conqueror. The westward sail
OF the Pilgrims was to land that gave
them larger privilege ofliberty. Horace
Greeley's advice-"Go West, young
man." was not simply suggestion of
change OF locality, but TO lind more room
and lit it. to seek the opportunity that
was open for him.
1t is the ''westering thought" that is
leading the world TO progress; that
leaps the sea; that reads the stars: that
stretches out the hand to grasp the
thought of God. In the heart and con-
science Of to-day God is present. God
sometimes uses mans voice 10 speak his
message, but man himself is endowed
with private judgment. There is no
thought so large, so lmportunate, as that
we should learn how to hear.
Nature Is always obedient and respon-
slve to the Divine voice, and it is lesson
Tor US TO be likewise. The times also
convey a lesson. God speaks through
the times as well as through nature. and
we Will do we'll to heed the fact. Men
hasten to get rich, but there is a large
lesson in the fact that they do not strug-
gle for their own lives, but for the lives
OF others. No man lives to himself alone.
but III proportion as men precipitate
themselves upon the world and hear
Christ so much the more will we hear
the voice of God. Men who say 81 will
hear' are always on the alert to find out
the message that God sends through the
lips Of his chosen speakers. When the
stars have faded and the sun goes down
on our life God will still abide with us.
and it will be we'll if we have heard his
message.
What does man want? His supreme
need and desire after all is Gods mes
sage-it is peace. That does not mean
simply stagnation, calm, a quiet life. 1t
means the reception OF Gods message.
The sick man needs peace. The physi-
clan who looks at him and examines him
knows, perhaps, that he needs the knife
In order to give him peace. Christ knew
society needed the lancet and gave him
self for men. He laid his whole heart
beside ours, as the physician bares his
arm TO transmit from the healthy current
that pulses in it. health and strength to
the feeble current that flows in the veins
OF his patient, and in like manner we re-
ceive from him the peace OF divine life
OF wholesome life-of conservation.
Mr.. Hoyt is an earnest, forcefuI speaker.
with considerable personal magnetism,
his sermon bore the stamp of the culti-
waited Christian gentleman, full of zeal in
his calling and tempering it with tact
and sincerity that it is evident will make
him useful in his new field. His sermon
made a marked and favorable impression
on the congregation.